CHAPTER NINE
Beth moved her head and groaned. Someone pressed a damp cloth to her forehead. The soothing coolness eased the throbbing.
She frowned. Jason had been talking on the telephone. He'd warned someone to be careful not to let her find out he'd hired an investigator. She couldn't keep the tears from falling.
"Beth." Fingers brushed over her face. Jason.
Eyes closed, she turned away.
"Beth?"
"You spent time with me, had me stay here, so you could get answers. The night of the accident, you pushed and pushed. You wouldn't give up." She opened her eyes and looked at him. "You're no better than Archer. You never cared about me."
Lupita walked into her room followed by Dr. Walters. He wore his doctor smile. The one he used to show his concern, but would calm the patient. "Let's check you. Jason, would you leave us and close the door on your way out?"
Jason looked at her. "I'll be outside in case you need me."
"I don't need you." She turned her head away. "Not now. Not ever."
Years of Archer's emotional blackmail and verbal abuse taught Beth how to protect her heart and soul. She was too smart to let anyone use her again, except she wasn't. While she dreamed of a second chance at a life with Jason, he'd manipulated her for his own purpose.
The doctor examined her and asked questions. Then he said, "Although parts of your memory have returned, you'll still find holes. Your brain needs to process the information, and it'll take time. So continue the bed rest and be patient. You have no new bruises, but I'd like you to come to my office tomorrow for a thorough examination."
After Dr. Walters left, Jason returned. He stood next to her bed with his arms crossed and watched her. "For years I've felt cheated. Nine years ago I found out my dreams were lies. My world collapsed. You asked me to stay away, and I did. Then I got your letter about a secret and decided it was time for me to return to town."
"I never wrote to you."
"We're too old to play games."
"I'm not playing games." She glared at him. "You're accusing me of something I didn't do."
"I want to know what you're hiding." He rolled his shoulders then stalked out.
She stared at the ceiling. Her body and head ached, but her heart hurt more.
Jason returned with a red file. "Did you think I'd destroy the letters?" He opened the file and held out a sheet of paper.
She stared at it but didn't move.
He raised an eyebrow. "Afraid to read it?"
She lifted her chin. Careful not to touch him, she took the paper. The words were ugly.
You were never more than a fling I used you to amuse myself. I'd never marry the son of the town drunk. Don't come back. It would embarrass me to be seen with you. Elizabeth Marie Kingsley.
"How is this possible? It looks like my handwriting, but I swear I didn't write this." She shook her head. "You were never a fling. I loved you."
"When I came back to talk to you, you repeated the words in the letter. You even called me a fling."
"I said what I did to protect you."
Jason stared at her, his lips a tight, straight line. He pulled out another sheet of paper. "This is why I came back."
Beth's hand trembled when she took the paper. This letter hinted at secrets and told him to talk to her. This time there was no signature.
"I didn't send either of these letters. Who would have sent them?"
His brows knitted. "Even if you didn't send these letters, this one says you have a secret I should know. Is it true? Is there something I should know?"
"I don't—"
He jabbed a finger at her. "I want the truth."
"Why should I tell you anything?" Beth yelled, "You abandoned me."
Jason shouted, "You sent me away."
"I didn't have a choice."
"Right, because I embarrassed you."
"No. I was forced to say what I did." She'd fought for so long, but each year her hope withered a bit more. "I explained everything in a letter, but you never read it, did you? When I begged for your help, you ignored me. Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because I deserve to know the truth. I need to know."
Beth shuddered as her heart shattered into a million pieces and sobbed, "My baby...they took my baby!"
"Baby?" Jason stared at her. His mouth opened then closed with a snap. He stalked away then stomped back. "A baby?"
Beth's lips trembled. "Do you—remember our last night together?"
He nodded. An icy chill slid along his spine and froze every cell in his body.
"I was happy and looked forward to joining you in Minneapolis."
"But, your letter—"
"I didn't write those letters." Beth brushed the tears from her face, but more took their place. "Two weeks after you left, I started getting sick in the mornings. A home pregnancy test confirmed my suspicions. I was so happy until I realized you didn't want us."
"That's not true. I loved you and would have wanted our baby."
"You're lying!" She shouted, "If you cared, why didn't you come back? Why wouldn't you help us?"
"I didn't know." Jason rubbed the back of his neck.
"I wrote every day and begged for your help. The letters were returned, except two. You must have read them and decided you didn't want the burden of a family." Beth grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. "I tried to call you, but your phone number didn't work. What was I supposed to think?"
"My first two weeks in Minneapolis, I got a letter from you every day." Jason scowled. "Then they stopped until I got that last one. I didn't want to believe what I read, so I came back to town. You said you'd never marry someone like me."
Beth held a hand out. "After you left, I wrote and explained, but the letter came back unopened."
"I didn't get the letter. After seeing you, I couldn't stay in Minneapolis, so I went to Chicago." He scrubbed his hand over his face. "You asked me why I changed my name. I did it for the family, but also because I wanted to bury Jason Fischer. I wanted to bury a life filled with pain and disappointment."
Beth took a long, deep breath. "Archer made me say those things. He said if I told you about the baby or tried to leave with you, he would have you sent to prison."
"How would he have done that?"
She shrugged. "He never told me, but I couldn't let him hurt you."
He stared at her. "How did Archer learn about the pregnancy?"
"A maid found my test sticks and told him. He was furious and accused me of getting pregnant to humiliate him." She cried. "I was eighteen—desperate—alone."
"What about your grandmother? Wouldn't she help you?"
"She was eighty-seven and wasn't well." Beth wrung her hands. "I didn't want to upset her."
"But you don't have children."
"I told you, they took my baby. Archer sent me away to have my baby and give it up for adoption. That way no one would know about the pregnancy, and it would stay a dirty family secret. After I had the baby, I returned to Serenity Bay. While I was in gone, Archer arranged a marriage for me to a business associate—"
"Marriage?" Jason interrupted. "Why not keep the baby?"
"I tried. I promised to say the baby was my husband's. No one would know the truth. Archer told me, 'No man wants to raise a hoodlum's bastard.'"
"I argued and begged, but he wouldn't change his mind."
"So you went to Europe?" He clenched his fists.
"Mother and I told everyone we planned to travel in Europe, but we moved to Boston. Until the day I gave birth, I tried to find a way to keep my baby. Nothing worked." Beth pressed a hand to her mouth.
Jason handed her a glass of water and waited.
After taking a drink, she cleared her throat. "The day I gave birth was the worst of my life. They wouldn't let me see my son." She shivered and tears ran from her eyes.
"It was a boy?" He jumped to his feet, and the papers scattered on the floor. "I have a son?"
"They took him from me." Beth's sobs tore at him. Did she want my son or is that another lie? "I wanted—my baby."
Jason turned on her. "He's my son, too."
"Nine years ago you didn't want him, but you want him now." She glared. "Why?"
"Your letters never reached me. I would have come back if I'd known." Jason paced. "Where is he? Who's taking care of him?"
"I don't know. I've searched for eight years, but haven't found him."
"Have you talked to your parents? They must know where he is."
"I've tried to talk to Father about him, but he's always refused to discuss my mess."
"I'll find our son. When I do, you won't cut me out of his life." He stomped out.
Jason stalked to the liquor cabinet in his office and poured a drink. He held the glass and stared at the liquid gold. His birth father had used alcohol to numb the disappointments of life and used his fists on Jason to vent his anger. He left the drink on the cabinet and walked away.
Returning to Serenity Bay for vindication didn't seem so important anymore. But if he hadn't returned, he wouldn't know he had a child. Jason paced—back and forth. He had a son.
Beth placed their baby for adoption, was she forced or didn't she want him? She'd searched for him for eight years. At least that's what she claimed. It didn't matter. He'd find his son. Where was he? Was he happy? Safe? Loved?
Jason sat at his computer and opened a new file. People often asked him for his secret to success. They never believed him when he said there were no secrets or tricks. Success took good planning, learning every detail about your opponents, and a bulldog-with-a-fresh-piece-of-meat determination. He would use that same single-mindedness to search for his son.
His first call was to his closest advisor, Matt, the man who'd become a father to him. Three hours and several phone calls later, Jason returned to Beth's room. She stood near the bed, dressed, and packing her suitcase.
"You're leaving?"
She looked over her shoulder. "I'm going home." She dropped clothes into her suitcase.
"You were in a terrible automobile accident, underwent hours of surgery, and lost your memory. Your recovery won't be easy. You shouldn't be alone."
"I'll hire a nurse."
"Beth, you're hurt and angry, but so am I. I have a son. Where is he? Is he happy and healthy? Does he look like me? To find him, we must work together. It'll be easier if you stay here." He had to convince her to stay—for the search.
She kept packing.
He tried again. "I called Matt. He told me about an investigator, Gabriel Michael, who specializes in cases that involve children. I called him, and he agreed to meet with us. Our story caught his interest, and he wants to hear more before he decides whether to help us."
She stopped packing but didn't turn to face him. "I've hired several investigators and none of them found our son. Why will he succeed when the others failed?"
"He's considered one of the best and only handles investigations others have given up. Once he accepts a case, he doesn't stop searching until he finds the child. No matter how long it takes." Jason sighed. "To give him the best chance for success, we have to tell him everything we can about the birth. There might be details you've forgotten to mention to the others that will help Michael."
She turned and stared at him.
"Please stay. Together we'll find our son." J.D. Richards never begged, but nothing had ever been this important. He took a deep breath. "Beth—"
"I'll stay." She took her clothes from the suitcase and walked to the dresser. "For now."
The tension seeped from his shoulders. "Will you answer one question?"
Her eyes narrowed when she looked at him. "What?"
"If you had to give up the baby, why did you agree to your father's arranged marriage?"
"After they took my baby, I didn't care what happened. Jacob seemed like a decent man and marrying him got me away from Archer."
"Was he good to you?"
"Jacob was thirty years older than me and treated me more like a daughter than a wife."
Jason jammed his hands in his pockets. "He didn't want the baby?"
"The way Archer talked, I thought he'd told Jacob about the pregnancy. But a week after we married, I found out Archer never told him. Jacob was furious."
"Was he angry that you'd had a baby?"
"No, he was angry I gave up my baby. When he was a child, Jacob got sick. It left him unable to have children. He would have welcomed my son. Jacob hired an investigator to search, but we never found him."
"Your husband sounds like a good man."
"He was and didn't deserve what happened to him. Someone spread rumors about Jacob's condition. I always believed it was my father."
Jason grimaced. "That sounds like something Archer would do."
"Jacob was humiliated."
"It would be difficult for any man to bear that kind of malicious gossip.
"Within a year, Archer forced Jacob out. Later I learned Archer never wanted a merger. He always intended to take over Jacob's company." She took a slow, deep breath. "Jacob lost his will to live. He had a stroke and died three months later."
"I'm sorry," Jason murmured.
"He was a good, kind man, and I cared for him. His mistake was trusting Archer. Father used him then tossed him aside like yesterday's garbage. I was a widow and hadn't even finished college."
"I'm surprised Archer didn't arrange another marriage for you."
Her face turned bright red. "He tried, but I refused to be part of his schemes."
Beth sat in her bedroom. She'd never forget the look on Jason's face when she told him about their baby. He'd looked stunned and angry. His reaction only made sense if he hadn't received her letters. Was he telling the truth?
A knock on the door pulled her from the guilt that had tormented her for years. Lupita walked in with dinner. Beth inhaled the sweet fragrance of oregano and tangy tomato sauce. She'd made eggplant lasagna that looked as good as it smelled. Beth wanted to eat but pushed the food around for a while before she set the tray aside.
She snuggled deeper into the mattress, but couldn't fall asleep. Could this investigator succeed? What if his new family refused to let her see him?
She wanted her son and walking away a second time wasn't an option. Beth clenched her teeth. The scared eighteen-year-old debutante had become a woman who would fight for her child.
In the early hours of the morning, she fell into a restless sleep. When she woke, her pillows and blanket were on the floor. At the foot of the bed the sheet laid in a tangled mess.
Beth took a hot shower, but the dullness from a sleepless night clouded her mind. She switched the water from hot to cold. When the icy water hit her body, she screeched and scrambled from the shower.
She finished dressing and went to the breakfast room. Jason was at the table drinking coffee. Lupita dashed in with the food that included scones from the shop.
After she left, Beth asked, "What time do you expect Mr. Michael to arrive?"
"He telephoned an hour ago. His flight is late, but he's booked on the next one out of Atlanta. He'll get to town around seven this evening. We'll meet with him then."
"Good. In the meantime, could Marco take me to pick up my car? I need it to get to my appointment with the doctor at one. After I've seen him, I want to stop at the shop to see my friends."
"It seems you still have gaps in your memory. Santos towed your car to his shop. I talked to him. He said it's a total loss. You need to get a new one."
"Oh. Okay. I guess my memory is still faulty."
"When you're better, we'll drive to Minneapolis so you can shop for a new vehicle."
Beth's brow furrowed. "Well, can I borrow Marco for a few hours to visit Dr. Walters and my friends?"
"I'll drive you. After you see the doctor, if you're not too tired, we'll stop in at the shop."
"I don't want to bother you. Marco can take me."
"I'll take you. I hired my management team because they're the best. I'm sure they can manage the business for a few hours without me. Besides, your appointment isn't until this afternoon. That will give me plenty of time to handle urgent issues before we leave."
Beth nodded. She didn't want to be alone with him, but he hadn't given her a choice. They ate in silence. By the time they finished breakfast, the tension and activity made it difficult to keep her eyes open. After a last cup of tea, she went to her room and fell asleep.
A knock on the bedroom door woke her.
Jason opened the door. "I know you're tired, but we need to leave in half an hour for the doctor's office."
"I'll change and meet you downstairs."
Twenty minutes later Beth went to his study. The doors were closed. Was he talking about her again? She curled her hands into a tight fist as she remembered the conversation she'd heard. Beth didn't want a replay of that scene but didn't want him investigating her either. She knocked once on the door and walked in.
Jason smiled and waved her to the sofa. She looked around the room. It was beautiful with its leather and mahogany furniture. Once seated, she listened to his conversation.
"No. I want the construction to be solid, no short cuts. It will have my family's name on it, and I want them to be proud of the complex."
Jason listened. "I don't care what the crew does to cut costs for other builders. That's not how I do business. If they can't do what I want, we'll bring in a new crew. Got it?" After a moment he said, "Great. Call me if you run into any other problems."
Beth stared at him. "You plan to go ahead and build the complex?"
"I may have had other reasons for returning to Serenity Bay, but I gave my word. I don't break promises."
"My father wouldn't have finished the complex once he'd gotten what he wanted."
"I'm not Archer." He smiled as he walked to the file cabinet. "We'll be on our way in a minute. First, I have to pick this lock."
"What?"
"I locked my file cabinet and can't open it."
"Was this an important skill for you to have?" She laughed. "Were you planning a career as a thief?"
"I forget where I hide my key, so a friend taught me to open the cabinet without one."
"This friend of yours, would that be the same man who is studying Swedish?"
He chuckled. "A man of many talents."
"What work did he do before you hired him?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
She shook her head and laughed.
After Jason told Lupita they were leaving, they walked out to the car. Marco knelt in the front flower bed, singing as he pulled weeds. Beth bit her lip. He might have a gift for languages, but his voice would send small animals, maybe even large ones, into hiding.
Beth called a cheery good morning but didn't dare look at him. After they left the driveway and pulled onto the street, they both broke into laughter.
With tears in her eyes, she said, "I never knew a serenade could be so frightening. Do you think the flowers grow faster because he sings to them?"
"I think they're afraid he'll sing louder if they don't grow." He snickered, and their laughter filled the car.
After Dr. Walters examined Beth, she and Jason met with him in his office. He said, "Beth, I'm happy with your progress."
"Is it good enough to return to work?"
He shook his head. "While you're better, your memory is faulty. I know you don't want to hear this, but you need rest if you want to make a full recovery."
"Abbey and the others will help me. I'll take breaks and naps."
The doctor crossed his arms.
Beth sighed. "I suppose that means I can't drive either?"
"It's not safe."
"Angel, give your body time to heal." Jason squeezed her shoulder. "You don't want full bedrest again, do you?"
Her shoulders dropped. "No."
The doctor said, "I'll check you again next week. If you're better then, maybe we can relax some of the restrictions."
After they left the office, Jason drove to Delectable Delights. Beth clasped her hands so tightly her knuckles were white.
"What's wrong?" Jason asked.
"What if my friends are angry?"
"Why would they angry?"
"When Abbey came to see me, I didn't remember her."
"You didn't know anyone." He squeezed her knee. "Your friends love you. They'll be happy you're better and that you remember them."
He pulled into the shop's parking lot. More tired than she'd told Jason, she waited for him to help her out of the car. When she stood, her legs shook.
He held her arm as they walked into the shop then said, "You're getting tired. We'll make this a short visit."
She nodded.
From behind the counter came a squeal. Abbey raced over and pulled her into a tight hug. Tears poured from her eyes when she saw Abbey's smile. Then the other employees and customers stood to clap and cheer. She gave them a watery but happy smile.
There wasn't a dry eye in the shop. The employees from the kitchen came to join the happy reunion. Her friends passed Beth from one set of arms to another. Their faces reflected their joy and relief. But it was Beth's glowing eyes and joy-filled smile that took Jason's breath away.
He suggested they get her a cup of tea and find a place for her to sit. Abbey took Beth's arm and led her to one of the stuffed chairs.
Someone set a hot cup of tea in front of Beth. "It's your special blend."
Moments later, a plate with a warm scone appeared. She looked up at Erik.
"I call it Heavenly Delight."
She bit into the pastry, closed her eyes, and moaned. "Mmm. My favorites—raspberries and white chocolate." Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled at Erik. "It's wonderful."
He turned bright red when everyone cheered. "We have a new scone on the menu."
Beth talked and laughed with her friends. These people were important to her. They were family and cared about her.
Someone asked, "When are you coming back to work?"
"Maybe next week. I wanted to start tomorrow, but the doctor won't clear me. I told him you would—"
"Listen to your doctor." Erik shook a finger. "Don't take any risks with your health. You rest and take as much time as you need to get well."
Beth smiled. "Thank you for understanding."
When she yawned, Jason said, "I need to get our patient home. She's had a long day."
Beth hugged her friends and promised to visit again. Her smile never wavered even when she yawned a second time. As Erik had said, they loved and watched over her as she did them because that's what family did.
Back in the car, Beth leaned back and fell asleep. She woke when a door slammed.
Jason walked around the car and helped her out. They walked into the house and on the table in the front hall was a note. Gabriel called. Beth yawned but followed Jason to the study. He pressed a button on the answering machine.
Gabriel said, My flight out was delayed, and I missed my flight from Minneapolis. I won't get to town until late tonight. Let's meet at nine tomorrow morning.
Jason said, "It's better this way. You need to rest before we meet with him. It won't be easy for you to talk about the past and our baby."
"You're right. I'm just disappointed."
"So am I." He led her to the stairs. "Do you want Lupita to bring you a tray for dinner?"
"Please." She clutched his hand. "Thank you for taking me to the shop. I miss my friends. It's good to know not everything has changed." Then she kissed his cheek.
In her bedroom, Beth changed clothes and crawled into bed. She flipped on the television and found one of her favorite movies. Her stomach rumbled. She hoped Lupita brought a dinner tray soon. In the meantime, she watched To Catch a Thief with the always debonair Cary Grant.
A few minutes into the movie, Lupita walked in with a full tray and set it on Beth's lap. The aroma made her mouth water. She'd made a French onion soup covered with melted cheese. There was a steak salad with seared steak, romaine, tomatoes, red onions, and blue cheese. For dessert, there was an apple tart Tatin.
Lupita said, "I thought you'd prefer a light dinner."
"This is light?" The salad was huge. "If I keep eating like this, I'll have to buy clothes in a larger size."
"It wouldn't hurt you to gain a few pounds, so eat everything. I'll return for the tray later."
After Beth ate, she snuggled under the blanket to watch the movie. She yawned as the tension seeped from her body.
Jason wore a cocky grin as he strolled across the park. He wore a black tee shirt that hugged the muscles of his chest and black jeans that emphasized his long, sinewy legs. Watching his hips roll and sway took her breath away.
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her until she melted against his body. Her blood heated. Hot and needy, she shifted and rubbed against him.
Her eyes snapped opened. The morning sun shone through the window. Beth ran her tongue over her lips as she remembered the taste of Jason's kisses. An ache ignited between her thighs. She rubbed them together, but it didn't ease the hunger.
Beth vowed not to watch romantic movies before she went to sleep. She looked at the clock and saw a note next to it. Gabriel will arrive at nine. She showered and hoped it calmed the pulsing desire. She already spent too much time drooling over Jason.