Through a forced smile, Harper said, "I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Mrs. Zachary. Kim, would you please fetch Lauren and I some robes so that I can have a proper introduction. I would love to sit and have tea in the lounge, so I might have an opportunity to change your opinion of me. If you"ll excuse us, we"ll join you there momentarily."
Mrs. Zachary was so taken aback by Harper"s manner and invitation she stopped in her tracks. She wrinkled her brow, just like Lauren, and then smiled in acceptance, "I would love to have tea with you and my daughter. I will be waiting in the lounge."
Martha Anne turned and nodded at her daughter. Harper couldn"t see her face, so she wasn"t sure what she was communicating to Lauren. Martha Anne left the two of them alone, exiting through the cloth dividers. Lauren"s mouth was hanging open and her head was c.o.c.ked to one side. She stared at Harper like she didn"t know her. Harper sat up quickly and hopped off the table. Kim appeared with two thick white terry cloth robes. Harper grabbed the garment and put it on quickly, so glad not to be naked anymore.
She turned back to Lauren, "I had to say something. I certainly didn"t want to lie there anymore, bare a.s.s naked."
Lauren finally spoke, "Where did that voice come from? Were you channeling Martha Stewart or something?"
Harper shot back, "I was imitating my rich grandmother. Your mother appears to be one of her kind."
Lauren took the remaining robe from Kim. "Thank you Kim, I guess we"re going to have to reschedule."
The spa staff left them alone. Harper looked at Lauren, "What do you think she wants?"
"I"m a.s.suming it has something to do with Shelby," Lauren replied.
Harper nodded, "That"s a safe bet."
The two of them put on the terry cloth slippers provided by the staff and shuffled off to the lounge to meet Lauren"s mother. Martha Anne had taken over a corner table and was having fresh m.u.f.fins and orange juice delivered to the table. Lauren led the way and took a seat on her mother"s right. The way the table was set up, she was sure by Martha Anne, Harper had to take the seat on the left across from Lauren and next to the woman Abby called "Cruella."
Martha Anne smiled at them, "I am sorry for interrupting your ma.s.sages, but I really do need to talk to both of you."
Lauren was not a happy camper, "What is it that couldn"t wait until I returned your call?"
Lauren"s mother remained smiling, but Harper felt it was a decoration like the inviting look of a deadly plant. Plants that are so pretty you want to touch them, but if you do, you die some horrible gasping death from poison.
"I have just been informed that the two of you are the defendants in a civil case brought by Shelby West and, quite frankly, I would have preferred to be informed by my daughter and not some reporter from a local rag."
Lauren rolled her eyes, "Jesus, the media has the story?"
"Yes dear, a fact that may have been avoided had you called me when this nonsense started."
"Molly Kincaid is taking care of it. I didn"t think you would want to be bothered, since you"re so busy taking care of the person who filed the suit against us," Lauren shot back.
"Well, at least you had the sense to get a good lawyer. Now, Harper, I want to know more about you. Let"s cut to the chase, shall we. Do you mind giving me a brief bio so I can compare notes from previous descriptions of you?" Martha Anne was digging for information and quite blatant about it.
Harper gathered her courage and proceeded, "My name is Harper Lee Lynch as you probably know, and yes my mother was a To Kill a Mockingbird fan. She was a stay at home mom with a love of the arts that drove her to support them through charity work. My mother was from Oklahoma and my father from Wilson, North Carolina. My father was a geologist for the Phillips Oil Company. They raised me in Antlers, Oklahoma until they were killed in a car accident when I was sixteen."
Lauren interrupted her, "Harper, you don"t have to do this."
Harper said, "It"s okay, your mother just wants to know what kind of person her daughter is living with. And as you said," Harper addressed Lauren"s mother, "let"s cut to the chase. I have a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Oklahoma and am in the process of completing my Doctoral Thesis here at UC. With the money I received from my parents" accident, a trust fund and oil stocks that came to me through my mother"s parents, I am able to live a comfortable life and do not need your daughter"s money."
"Very impressive, Miss Lynch. You are intelligent and intuitive, a nice combination. I hear there are rings. May I see?"
Harper and Lauren surrendered their left hands to be examined.
Martha Anne looked at the rings, then looked at Harper, "Very nice taste as well."
"Okay, Mother. What do you want from us?" Lauren was growing impatient.
"What I want darling, is for whomever you are f.u.c.king not to be making headlines." Martha Anne was honest if nothing else.
Lauren had learned from the best and shot back, "I think you should talk to your newly adopted daughter Shelby about that."
Martha Anne slid her chair back, "That is exactly what I was thinking. I would like the three of us to speak with Shelby together. I"ll be waiting in the car for you to dress and we will ride together." And with that Lauren"s mother excused herself.
Harper thought this was a bad idea. "Lauren, we can"t talk to Shelby, Molly would kill us."
They hurried back to the dressing room where they left their cell phones. Harper dressed while Lauren called Molly"s private number. Molly had given it to her after she made the little office worker cry. Fortunately, Molly answered. Lauren put her on speakerphone so Harper could hear, and dressed as they talked to Molly.
Lauren spoke first, "Molly, my mother is about to kidnap us and take us to talk to Shelby."
Molly laughed, which surprised both Lauren and Harper. When she finished laughing she said, "I spoke with Martha Anne earlier today. I have an idea what she is about to do and I agree with her. Go ahead, I think this whole mess is about to go away."
Harper was not sure about this, "I don"t think I should talk to Shelby. I mean she really hates me."
Molly a.s.sured Harper, "I think you"re in good hands. I have to go, the judge is back."
Lauren and Harper said, "Thank you," at the same time, then Molly was gone.
Harper looked at Lauren and shrugged, "I guess we better get going."
They exited the spa and found Mrs. Zachary and her driver waiting in a black Mercedes. Lauren sat in the middle as they drove the short distance to the hospital. Martha Anne wanted to know if Harper was enjoying her time here in Chapman"s Mill.
Harper remembered her manners, "Yes m"am. I really like it here."
"Are you planning to stay after you"ve finished your research?" Martha Anne was probing once again.
Harper was actually growing more comfortable with Lauren"s mother, she was nosey, but for the right reasons. She was protecting Lauren. Harper answered, "The Corporation I am working with is based here in Research Triangle Park, so I"m sure I"ll be calling Chapman"s Mill home for a long time."
"That"s wonderful, too many of our young and bright move away after graduation." She paused, and then added, "If I may be so bold, there are a few things I"d like to know before we see Shelby. Lauren dear, were you having an affair with Harper, before you separated from Shelby?"
Lauren glared at her mother, "No, I was not."
Martha Anne leaned up so she could see Harper"s face, "And you Harper, are you in this for the long haul. I don"t think I could take another lesbian divorce, they"re incredibly messy."
Harper couldn"t help smiling, "Yes m"am, I"m in it for the long haul."
Martha Anne smiled back at Harper, "Well then, welcome to the family. I"ve always thought the Zachary clan should get into the oil business."
Lauren was as shocked as Harper, but only winked at her and grabbed her hand. They arrived at the hospital and followed Lauren"s mother to Shelby"s room. Martha Anne knocked once and entered the room. Lauren and Harper close behind. Shelby was sitting up in the hospital bed reading. Harper had no idea what to expect. She hung behind Lauren and waited for the fireworks.
"Martha Anne, I wasn"t expecting you..." Shelby began then stopped when she saw the other two invaders. "What are you doing here?" She was focused on Lauren and Harper.
Martha Anne took over, "They"re with me. It seems you forgot to mention your little law suit the last time we talked."
Shelby tried to interrupt, "I was going..."
Martha Anne was having none of it, "Save it. Shelby, did you honestly think that I would continue the promised support and care my money can provide while you were trying to steal money from my daughter? As of this moment, all the handicapped accessorizing of your home has stopped. There will be no private nurses and you will be doomed to the care your state health insurance can provide."
Shelby was stunned, "It was the only thing I could think of that might shock Lauren out of this infatuation with this child who only wants her money."
Martha Anne was not impressed, "I am going to consider the fact that you have had a traumatic brain injury and are on G.o.d knows how many pain killers, to explain how you could think that this scheme would work. I a.s.sure you it won"t. Lauren is happy, Shelby, and the country b.u.mpkin, as you referred to her, happens to be a very refined, intelligent young woman who loves my daughter and puts her needs ahead of her own, something you never did, I understand."
Shelby began to lose her composure, "Lauren is happy for the moment, but she"ll get bored with her, too. That"s her M. O. I"m the only one who"ll stick with her through these... whimsies. Martha Anne you know I"m right, she"s not stable."
"Not stable?" Lauren stepped forward, "Shelby, I don"t even recognize the person I fell in love with in you. I guess I didn"t know this side of you, until I finally said, no, enough. Now I only feel pity for you and I"m as rock steady as I"ve ever been in my life."
Shelby tried pleading, "You can"t leave me now. I need you. I can"t do this without you."
Lauren answered calmly, "I didn"t leave you when you needed me. I"ve been right here all the time, Harper too. Your friends all rallied around you so you would feel safe, but you have destroyed all that because your ego can"t abide someone saying no to you."
Shelby lost it, "No, what I can"t abide is you f.u.c.king around with some cowgirl and ruining our lives."
Lauren was frustrated, "For the last time, I left you before I became involved with Harper. It"s over, Shelby. Move on!"
"I"ll ruin her, and then we"ll see how attractive she is, with no job and no future, living off of your money," Shelby said, turning nastier.
Harper couldn"t stand it any longer, for some reason Shelby"s ranting mad her laugh. She burst out laughing causing everyone in the room to turn and look at her.
Harper gathered herself and addressed Shelby with a huge grin on her face, "I"m sorry, it"s just so pathetic. I couldn"t write soap opera dialogue better than that." She mimicked Shelby, "I"m going to ruin her... Please Shelby, you"ve become a caricature of the once great Dr. Shelby West. It"s sad really. Even if Lauren wanted to go back to you, there"s nothing left of the woman she once loved. You did that with no help from me."
Shelby tried to swing a crutch at Harper, but came very close to hitting Lauren before Harper caught it in midair, removed it from Shelby"s hand and placed it gently against the wall. Harper got very close to Shelby and in a cold steely voice she said, "Family is the most important thing to me and that"s my family standing over there. You can threaten me all you like, but if you go near my family again I will destroy you and that, Dr. West, is no threat."
Martha Anne spoke from behind Harper, "You see Shelby, your involvement with this family is over and if you continue to pursue these frivolous lawsuits, I will be forced to bring all the force and fury down on you that my money can provide. That includes releasing the Hill family from their agreement not to sue you for wrongful death, because as Harper says, family is everything." She let that sink in then signaled the other two women, "Let"s go girls, I think we should go to the club and have a drink. I"d like to get to know my new daughter-in-law better."
Shelby tried one more time, "We"re not done, Lauren."
Martha Anne didn"t miss a beat, she wheeled around on Shelby, "Oh, but my dear, I do believe you"ve missed the point. You and my daughter are most definitely done."
The last sound Shelby would ever hear of her relationship with Lauren was the click of Martha Anne Zachary"s high heels echoing down the hallway.
Chapter Thirty-Three.
Two very drunk and giggling women stumbled out of the back seat of a black Mercedes sedan, still in possession of a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal, about to make their way up the front porch steps of Harper"s house. Lauren thanked the old driver with a hug when he came around to shut the door. They had a history. He drove her to her senior prom.
It was only eight o"clock and the sun was just setting but Harper and Lauren were calling it a night. The afternoon spent drinking and chatting with Martha Anne and some of the club ladies had been an absolute blast. Those old broads sure know how to party and then they go home and play hostess to a dinner party. Lauren said it was because the ladies who lunched were already pickled. Harper could never keep up. She was too much of a lightweight.
They made their way inside and shut the door behind them. Lauren started immediately pulling on Harper"s clothes. Harper had the Cristal bottle in one hand and a ma.s.s of Lauren"s hair in the other. This longing had been building all afternoon and neither could wait another moment. They bounced off the walls in the hallway heading for the great room at a high rate of speed.
Lauren pushed Harper up against the back of the couch. They toppled over onto the couch and sliding off onto the floor in front of the fireplace. The coffee table was pushed out of the way to clear more s.p.a.ce on the rug. Harper"s breathing was coming hard and fast. She couldn"t get Lauren"s clothes off of her fast enough and Lauren seemed to be having the same trouble with Harper"s.
They kissed each other frantically and finally managed to get each other naked. They faced each other on their knees Harper"s hand finding its way between Lauren"s legs until Lauren moaned wrapping her arms around Harper"s neck, moving in unison with her. Lauren lowered one hand, tracing Harper"s body, stopping briefly at a nipple, then following the curve of her body to the waiting heat between Harper"s legs. They came together in a rush, both of their chests heaving, as they clasped each other, awaiting the subsiding of the waves of pleasure before either could move.
They finally relaxed into the floor, their heads protruding past the end of the couch. Harper turned her head toward the gla.s.s windows in the doors then tapped Lauren on the shoulder to get her attention. "Look," she pointed at the windows. There sitting on the porch looking back at them were all three dogs lined up according to height.
Lauren giggled, "I think we need to feed the children, before we continue this."
Harper started putting her clothes back on, "Okay, I"ll feed the dogs. You make us a tray with some grapes and cheese and crackers, because I intend to drink that bottle of Cristal and I don"t want to pa.s.s out before it"s done."
Harper went outside, fed the dogs, let Jasper into the house and kenneled the other two. When she came back in Lauren was not anywhere on the bottom floor. Harper started noticing items of Lauren"s clothing leading up the stairs and then she heard the shower running. A huge grin crossed her face and she took the stairs two at a time.
Chapter Thirty-Four.
Sat.u.r.day morning Harper awoke to a pounding on the door downstairs and Jasper barking. Her head was pounding with every beat of her heart. As Harper climbed down the stars, she bent down to see if she could see through the gla.s.s around the door and realized that was a bad idea immediately. She straightened up too fast, which made her woozy.
The pounding continued in both her head and on the door until she reached the bottom step. The person could see her coming and stopped the unG.o.dly noise. That"s when she heard the voice and knew who it was. She unlocked the door to let J.R. in. She was mildly p.i.s.sed.
"Where is your f.u.c.king key?" Harper said heading for the kitchen. She needed fluids. She grabbed a water bottle and a Gatorade and drank them while J.R. rambled on about how he left the key in a rental car and he hadn"t gone by to pick it up and blah, blah, blah. It all just sounded like noise to Harper. Her head hurt in ways she never dreamed possible.
Lauren joined them with her hair all matted up and sticking out in an interesting arrangement. Harper wondered what her own hair must look like and tried to see in her reflection on the refrigerator. All she could make out was a strange shaped silhouette staring back at her. Lauren shuffled along in her big fluffy slippers and merely waved at J.R. as she pa.s.sed.
J.R. stopped talking for a second, and then he stated the obvious, "You two got drunk and f.u.c.ked all night and now you are hung over as h.e.l.l."
They both looked at him like they were trying to decide who was going to kill him.
J.R. put up his hands and said, "Alright, I know what to do. You guys sit here on the couch and I will take care of you. Harper, where do you keep your vodka?"
"No, no alcohol," Harper thought she was going to be sick just from the mention of the name vodka.
"Don"t you remember? I make the best b.l.o.o.d.y Marys. You only need one and I"m going to make you a breakfast that will pep you right up. You know no grease and c.r.a.p, just food that feeds your body and your brain. One of my buddies came up with the hangover diet plan, so we could recover to play afternoon games."
Harper conceded, "Vodka, cabinet over the bar."
Lauren regained her ability to speak, "How do you know we have the stuff you need?"
J.R. laughed, "We"re ball players, not gourmet cooks, I"m sure you have what I need."
Harper and Lauren shuffled over to the couch and let J.R. take care of them. It was nice to be pampered for a change. Lauren curled up next to Harper, pulled the blanket off the back of the couch, and wrapped it around them. Harper started remembering the night before. She began to see flashes of Lauren on the floor in front of the couch, Lauren naked standing in the light from the refrigerator door, Lauren soaking wet with her hands pressed against the gla.s.s...
"Where were you?" Lauren asked, interrupting her thoughts.