a big shot in town. They'll be all over this one. Girlfriend beaten up. Wife comes out of coma on same day. Husband arrested. Oh, yeah. This has
Carla was as good as her word. Dr. Sam came back from the Buckley house with a coat over his arm to find her sitting in his car, already belted.
'Let's ride, Clyde,' she told him.
He laughed and, tossing the coat in the backseat, got in next to her. He turned the key in the ignition and backed out of his drive.
'She's really okay?' Carla probed him as they drove.
'She's amazing,' he replied. 'I don't know what the hell happened to her, and I don't know how she came out of it. But she did. And the entire time she appeared to be unconscious, her pulse and respiration were normal. It was more like sleeping.'
'It was a heck of a nap,' Carla said. She was just a little bit frightened by everything that had happened to Nora, yet it hadn't prevented her from visiting The Channel herself. And seeing Nora on her beach, switching men with her, and drinking with her at the pirates' inn was a trip.
They were almost at Shorecrest Nursing Facility. The car turned down Shore Road. The morning sun was sparking on the water to her right.
Dr. Sam parked the car, and they entered the lobby of Shorecrest.
'Ohh, Dr. Sam,' the receptionist at the desk said, 'I hear there was a hostage standoff in your neighborhood!'
'Just came from Ansley Court, Judy, and all's quiet there,' Sam Seligmann responded. 'Turn right,' he hissed at Carla. 'She's on the main floor. Room 112 at the end of the hall. Ah, here we are.' He knocked and then, opening the door, stepped inside. 'Nora, I'm back, and look who I brought with me.'
The two women hugged and sat down in the twin club chairs grinning at each other. They were sharing the most delicious secret.
'Listen, Nora, something has happened, sweetheart. I don't know how upset you're going to get over it, but…' He paused, trying to figure the most delicate way of saying it, but there just wasn't any. 'Jeff's been arrested for beating up his girlfriend. She's at the station house now pressing charges.'
'What?' Nora feigned shock. 'When? Where did this happen? Omigod, the kids! I have to call the kids!'
'I've got my cell with me,' Carla said, 'but wait, and hear Dr. Sam out.'
'The police think it happened during a bout of rough sex. He's mad as hell, of course, and threatening everyone,' Sam said.
'My God!' Nora said slowly as if she were having difficulty understanding.
'That poor girl.'
'I'm releasing you from the facility right now,' Dr. Sam continued. 'I'll drive you and Carla back to Ansley Court. This situation could generate some publicity given Jeff's position in Buckley, Coutts and Wickham.'
Nora began to laugh. 'They really are the most conservative of advertising firms. Blue-chip clients. Veddy proper. They weren't very happy with Jeff and Heidi and the divorce situation. That's how Rick was able to bargain for me. The one thing Messrs. Wickham and Coutts didn't want was a noisy, public divorce; this, however, will send them round the bend. A partner arrested for beating a female employee of the firm while his wife lay comatose! Poor old Jeff. How he looked to the world has always been so important to him.'
'You're staying with me,' Carla told her.
Nora stood up. 'Can we go now, Dr. Sam?' she said.
He nodded, and wrapped her coat about her. 'Shoes! Oy! I forgot shoes.'
'Bring the car around to the entrance, and it won't matter. These little paper slippers are really warm,' Nora said.
Dr. Sam tossed his car keys to Carla. 'You get it while I check Nora out,' he said.
Carla caught the keys and hurried out.
'You ready, Nora?' he said. 'There shouldn't be anyone in the lobby right now. It's still early.'
'I'm okay,' she told him.
At the desk in the lobby Dr. Sam signed all the necessary papers, and Nora signed where she was told. They heard a car horn beep, and knew Carla was waiting for them. Dr. Sam escorted his patient to the car and helped her into the backseat. Then he climbed into the front seat, letting Carla do the driving this time. After they pulled into the Johnsons' driveway, the doctor helped Nora from the car and into the house.
'You're okay?' he asked anxiously.
'Yes,' she said.
'Come on,' Carla said softly. 'We can talk inside.'
They went inside, where everyone was now waiting in Carla's living room. After the other women had hugged Nora and welcomed her home, Rina, Tiffany and Joanne left with their husbands, but not before Dr. Sam had checked Nora's pulse again. Satisfied, he suggested rest, and said he'd be back later in the afternoon. They went into the kitchen, where they found Rina had left a box of glazed Krispy Kremes and made coffee.
'Well, Rick,' Nora said quietly, sitting down and reaching for one of the donuts, 'what now? Do I sign the settlement agreement?'
'No,' he said. 'You're still legally his wife. Trust me when I tell you that Heidi Millar isn't going to back down. She hasn't just accused him of assault and battery. She's added rape to the charges. Says she came up to bed from watching the television, and he was hot to trot. She wasn't, told him so, said no, but he forced her anyway. Jeff is now in really serious trouble.'
'Everything's still in his name,' Nora said. 'What if she sues him for damages?'
'No judge or jury will award compensation to a woman having an affair with a man who has a wife, especially when the wife and children are as presentable as you and the kids are. And especially if the circumstances are made public.
'I gotta go to the office,' Rick Johnson said. 'You two going to be alright?'
Nora nodded. 'I'm going to call the kids. Carla will tell them I'm okay, and then I'll tell them what has happened. Thanks, Rick.'
'I'm glad you're okay, Nora,' he answered her, and then left the kitchen with Carla, the two of them talking softly.
'Thanks,' she called after him.
Carla returned shortly. 'Let go upstairs,' she said. 'You're staying in the guest room until Dr. Sam is certain you're okay. Rina brought some of your stuff over so you can get dressed.'
'You know I'm absolutely alright,' Nora said as they walked up the staircase.
'I know, but I can't believe this is happening. I just spoke to Heidi last night. I knew when she left, she was fascinated. I knew she'd try The Channel. Poor kid. She was bored to death out here. And Jeff was hitting the sack early, leaving her in front of the television. Do you know what happened to her? I mean you were there, in The Channel.'
'I imagined someone like Caleb Snow to be her lover last night. I knew you would have enticed her with the fourteen-inch penis, and every little girl wants one of those at least once,' Nora said as they entered the guest room. She sat down on the edge of the bed. 'His name is Brad. He's a dominant, and I just somehow knew that while Heidi wants to be in charge in our reality, she secretly wants to be controlled when no one else can see it,' Nora said with a small smile. 'Of course if you ask for a favor you must repay it. Because Brad's bisexual he wanted my Rolfie. I can always get another masseur so I let Brad have him. I guess Heidi had a good time, considering what happened when she got back from The Channel.'
'What are you going to do now that Jeff is going to jail? Rick will get the house for you, but I don't know about the rest of it,' Carla said.
'Well, I am the poor wife,' Nora replied with a twinkle.
'I'll share my Channel connection with you,' Carla said.
'No, thanks,' Nora told her. 'I'm going home tomorrow, Carla. I want to be in my own house. Tomorrow I'll order The Channel just to be with Kyle for an evening, but I won't stay now. I'll be back by morning as always. I have to see what Rick is going to do to protect me now. What if Jeff insists the house be sold so he can pay his lawyers? I know he'll hire only the best.'
'Too bad she didn't kill him when she beaned him with that vase,' Carla said.
