Conflicts of the Heart (33 page)

Who in this world could she trust?

“Anywho, to make a long story short, it was my idea for Joel to have Michael visit. I thought Mikey was your weak spot and you'd back off the minute Joel got near him. You fooled me.”

“My lawyer fooled you. I would never have sent Michael over on my own.”

“Well, no matter. What you need to know is your loving ex-husband has a multimillion-dollar deal to computerize a national chain of hospitals. It’s the latest thing putting medical records on computers. He’s developed some new-fangled equipment that makes it easier and faster than anyone else out there can do right now. He has the money to pay all the bills, honey.”

“I don't get it? Why would he withhold on me?”

“Because he blames you for the divorce. If you hadn't filed those charges against him, he would have come around in time. What you did pissed him off. Royally!”

“You certainly are something. Each time I see you, I'm more confounded by you.”

Stiffening, Teal marched to the door. “Don't sweat it, honey. I found out a long time ago, I have to take care of myself. Maybe you should start doing the same for yourself.” She stopped short of the door and turned. “Oh, and maybe you should stop trusting these men so much. They're all a bunch of pricks. A big one is in your outer office right now. I'd advise you to keep our little deal to yourself. If Patrick gets in my way, he may live to regret it.” She pulled the door open and breezed out before Dana could utter a word.

“What’s Teal up to? I saw her looking down at me in the parking lot from your office.” Patrick stepped in unannounced.

Tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them. “Just some personal business about Joel.” Teal had been right, Patrick must not know about their deal. Once Teal cleared up this mess with the board, Dana and Patrick could get back to the negotiating table and settle the contract.

He moved to her side and started to take her in his arms.

“Don't! No more.” A tear tumbled down her cheek. He pulled a tissue from the box on her desk and handed it to her.

“Thanks.” She wiped the tear away and straightened. “You had a quick recovery. We were worried about you.”

“That Teal has a mighty strong right hand.” They laughed.

“Are
you ready to go back to work?”

“I am, but something's in the wind. I have to see my boss
. He told me not to make any plans until we talked.”

“I wonder what he's up to.”

“God only knows. I'll call you when I get the skinny.” Patrick stepped back, obviously restraining an impulse to hold her.

“You look so beautiful standing with your mascara slightly smeared. I don’t want to leave you. “

She grinned and wiped her face with a tissue.

“I've canceled the election. I'll reschedule in two weeks. We were waiting on you.”

“Maybe we can settle our contract before the election.” He held up crossed fingers. “Here's hoping. May I call you at home tonight?”

“Sure. We can talk about those people waving to us at Shaver Lake.”

Patrick paled. “Who were they?”

“Let's talk about it later.” Her intercom sounded. “Call me after you talk to your boss.” He strode out.

“John Meyer on line one,” Maria announced.

As Dana's heart sank deeper into her chest, she picked up the receiver. “Yes, John.”

“What's going on? I got a call from Bennett, Joel's attorney, first thing this morning. He was fuming. Said you told Joel he couldn't see Michael without a court order.”

“I did. He upset Michael so much he hid in a closet for over fifteen hours. We had a search party out looking for him the entire time. I can't take any more of this. Neither can Michael. Now I find out Joel has a very big deal with a chain of hospitals throughout the United States.
Worth millions. Wouldn't you think he could take care of his debts and help with Michael too?”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Positive. Can you subpoena any of the records, if I give you the name and address?”

“As soon as we're finished, I'll put you back on with my secretary. Give her the info.
Anything else?”

“We just need to get Michael's custody straightened out as soon as possible. No more delays in court. Use everything we've got to get this settled.”

“I'll call you tomorrow.”

A few moments later, after giving John’s secretary the information, she went to her private restroom to freshen her makeup. This is it, my friend.
Last chance. She headed to Gil’s office.

Gil's secretary waved Dana in. She closed the door behind her and held onto the knob for support. “Don't say a word until I'm finished.” He leaned back in his winged chair. “The least you can do is
sit down. I'd rather talk eyeball to eyeball.”

Reluctantly, she sat in front of his desk. “Teal wants to talk to you and the board. She’ll exonerate me from any involvement. She also
wants to avoid any legal charges against her. I told her that would be up to you and the board. I'd try to support her in any way I can. I've already started putting a case together, but if she comes clean, backs off, maybe Patrick and I can get this contract settled.”

“What about you two?”

“There is no ‘you two.’”

Gil frowned but said nothing. “I'm glad you're making your move.”

“I want to present the plan I proposed before all this happened with Michael.”

“Are you through?”

“No. On the personal side, I called Joel and told him that he couldn't see Michael until we go to court. He's PO'd, but I'm not letting him sit on me anymore.”

“Good. You should have taken that stand from the get-go.”

“Hindsight is twenty-twenty.”

After dinner that evening, four sharp knocks at Dana’s door startled her. Michael ran to his room as he always did when someone came unannounced.

“Who is it?” She listened through the unopened door. A long silence followed.
“Who is it? I won't open this door unless I know who it is.”

“It's me,” Joel snarled.

“Oh, God!” She should have filed a court order preventing him from coming near her. She hadn’t. She either had to let him pound on the door or let him in and hear what he had to say. He was probably angry because she refused to let him see Michael. Was he angry enough to drive all the way over to deal with her in person? She opened the door.

He burst into the room, wearing enough cologne to knock her out. The wind had tousled his hair, and his shirt hung outside his jeans to cover his newly acquired paunch.

“What's the matter? You live in a bad neighborhood or something? Can't open the door without the third degree and twenty dead bolts?”

Their ten years together had been a bad dream. “What are you
doing here without calling first?”

“I came to talk some sense into you.”

“I have come to my senses. Talk to my attorney.”

“Get off it, Dana. We were married for ten years. I'll talk to you anytime I want to.
With or without an attorney.”

Michael slammed his door shut, hard.

“I'm not changing my mind about anything. When we go to court and a judge decides what we should do about custody, I'll comply. Whatever it is. Until then, I'm keeping Michael here with me. If you push, I'll get a restraining order.”

“You think that'll stop me?” Joel roared. “I'll do what I want where Michael is concerned.”

“Why now? You never did before.” “Everything's different now.”

She wanted to tell him that she knew about Teal and his hospital deal, but she bit her tongue. That knowledge was all she had going for her.

Joel went to the couch and sat down. “Bring Michael out here.”

Knowing Joel would never leave without seeing him, Dana went
to Michael's room. She opened the door and found him huddled in the corner, his thumb in his mouth, his eyes darting with fear.

“Daddy's here. He wants to see you.”

Michael cowered, shaking his head.

She wouldn’t force him. She returned to the living room. “He doesn't want to see you.”

“I want to see him. I want him to tell me that he doesn't want to come with me.”

“No. I won't force him.”

Joel sprang to his feet. “You're screwed up just like your mother.”

“You better leave before I call the police.”

“I'll leave when I see Michael.” Joel strode to the bedroom door.

“Don't open that door.”

He spun on his heels. “You think you're going to win this, don't you? Well, little lady, I've got a flash for you.” He strode to the front door. With his feet firmly planted, he held onto the knob. “I really came here so I could see the look on your face when I told you that you overlooked one important detail.” He paused for dramatic effect. “You signed those tax forms you're using against me, right under my name. Squirm out of that one, pussycat.”

“We were legally separated. I did not sign those forms. They’re forged. I filed separate taxes.”

He yanked the door open. “Don’t worry. My papers will stand up.” Before the door had completely closed, she yelled out in total frustration, “Your hospital deal is getting me out of that one!”

Twenty Three

Dana hurried to her bedroom window to watch Joel slide behind the wheel of his silver Mercedes, her heart pounding. She should have never mentioned the hospital deal. Now, out of anger, she played her trump card. Why, in God's name, had Mullen, her first attorney, and John Meyer not seen her signature on those tax forms?

Michael came into her room and crept to her side. She rubbed his head, grateful he stood next to her. He wrapped his arms around her hips and glanced up with a probing look in his eyes that melted her heart. For the first time, she could see his thoughts. From within, he seemed troubled. He stammered a moment, then blurted in his broken speech pattern, “I love you, Mama.”

A cry of joy broke from her lips. He’d never told her that he loved her before.
“Oh, Michael.” She dropped to her knees and held him by his shoulders. “I love you too.” With tears streaming down her cheeks, she pulled him to her. “I’ll never leave you again with anyone I know doesn't just love you to pieces.”

He drew back, grinned impishly, reached over, and ruffled her hair just as she always did to him.

“You're the best boy in the world.” She laughed and hugged him.

“We’ll make it, Michael.
No matter what.”

She’d been waiting for this moment from the day Michael was born. Now she could communicate with him through their eyes too. As angry as Joel was, and no matter how much he threatened her, she finally had her son completely. She had to give Patrick credit for helping Michael come around. What a man. And soon he would be gone. A lump formed in her throat.

An unsettling feeling drew her attention back to the window. Something wasn’t right. Joel's car was still down under the streetlight, and he was sitting inside, his head on the steering wheel.

She swung around. “Michael, your daddy hasn't left.”

Michael stood on tiptoes and peered out the window. Dana stepped back, pulling him with her as Joel got out of his car and headed back toward her apartment. She smothered a groan. Why had she mentioned his new business without her attorney?

The cement-slab stairs rumbled under his heavy footsteps. Her first thought was to call the police, then her mother. What could they do? Joel's knock came before she had a chance to call anybody. Michael clutched her skirt.

“I’m scared, Mama.”

“Go to your room,” she whispered and patted him on the bottom.

“No.”

“Please, Michael. Do as I say. I'll come and get you in a little bit.” He inched away, staring back at her, a disappointed expression on his face.

When Michael had retreated to his room, Dana walked to the door, paused, and then pulled it open. “Now what?” Her insides quaked from fear, but she wouldn’t allow Joel to see that.

He leaned against the doorframe, looking down. “May I come in?” His subdued tone startled her.

Stepping back, Dana gestured him into the living room. “I told you that we can't talk without our lawyers. I meant it.”

Joel sat on the couch, his head bowed. “I'm beat, Dana. The fight is over. You won a long time ago. You can keep Michael. I'll settle my debts. Our attorneys can set up the support payments.”

“Why didn't you tell me about your deal?

He shook his head. “It all got out of hand. When I told you that I
was going to Washington, I lied. If you hadn't pulled that lawsuit on me, none of this would have happened. I would have taken care of the bills, and you.”

“You mean to tell me that you made me drive all the way over to Casa de
Fruta to pick up Michael and you were coming over here?”