Weeds in the Garden of Love (25 page)

Life is full of surprises,
Craig thought.
I remember where
Garth was at. He thought he would never be happy again. Look at him now. The old saying is right—you should never say never. Anything is possible.

* * *

Turning onto Hillview Court, Lorne saw his ex-wife’s car parked in the driveway. He remembered happier times when he and Melinda moved into this house. It was one of the first built in Botsford Downs.
Kimberly was four, and David was barely two. Man, that wasn’t very long ago. But it feels like a lifetime.

Lorne was here to ask Melinda to give him a break on his child support payments. He was having difficulty finding work. He was not well liked when he was at the SOE. Now, to make matters worse, he was drinking heavily. No law firm in town would take a chance on him. They knew he was trouble.

Kimberly answered the door. “Hi, Dad! What are you doing here on a Tuesday? Are you here for supper?”

“
No, sweetheart. I want to talk to your mother.”

The disappointment showed in Kimberly’s face. The divorce had been particularly hard on her. She blamed herself and did everything she could to get her parents back together. She hated her new life. She wanted her old one back. She turned and went to get her mom.

Melinda was wearing a bathing suit cover-up when she came to the door. She had obviously been in the pool. “Hi, Lorne. I didn’t know you were dropping by. I asked you to call first and let me know if—”

“
Sorry. I need to talk to you. Can we go into the library?”

Melinda didn’t have a lot of time for him. “Okay, but I have to get cleaned up. I’m running late. I have a meeting with a supplier tonight.”

“
Won’t take long.” Standing behind a large wingback leather chair, Melinda listened intently to Lorne’s every word. He explained to her in spite of his best efforts, he was unable to find a job. “Now my credit cards are maxed. I have no money in the bank, and I’m getting calls from creditors.”

Melinda watched for the slightest hint of aggression. She had to be careful. He had a vicious temper and could quickly erupt into a fit of rage. She also smelled liquor on his breath. “Lorne, I knew you were in trouble when your last couple of child support checks bounced.”

He immediately became defensive. “That was not my fault! My bank screwed up!”

“
Calm down,” she said. “Please don’t raise your voice.”

Lorne’s temper flared. “Don’t you tell me not to raise my voice! Don’t you get it? I can’t find work! No one will hire me!”

Experience had taught Melinda when and how to pacify him. She was familiar with the pattern. He took any disagreement or opposition as a personal threat and became agitated. The more he was challenged or questioned, the more irrational he became. She was afraid a day would come when he would totally lose control and flip out. “We can work this out, Lorne. My lingerie shop is doing okay. I can carry us for a while.”

He wasn’t listening. He was too busy railing about the unfairness of his situation.

“
Please,” she said. “Let’s be civil to each other. Please don’t yell. I don’t want the kids to hear. They’ve heard enough.”

Lorne stopped. He knew she was right. Kim and David told him they hated to hear their parents shout at each other. It scared them. He also realized he was defeating his own purpose by yelling at her. “Sorry. It’s just that I’m going through a rough time right now.”

“
I know you are.” Melinda wanted this conversation to be over. “But I think it would be best if you leave. Please. I’ll be in touch.”

The living room sheers provided a veil of secrecy as she watched Lorne walk away and stop beside his car. She didn’t want him to know she was watching. She didn’t want him to know how frightened she was. He turned and stared at the house for a moment. The look in his eyes sent a chill down her spine.

She was an irritant in Lorne’s life. He didn’t handle irritation well. She wished he would go away and never come back. Melinda was terrified. She had good reason to be. She had contacted the SOE yesterday and applied for help in collecting his outstanding child support payments. She relied on his money to provide for their children. She didn’t want them to be deprived. Her business was cyclical, and some months her income didn’t cover all the household expenses.

She knew the SOE would pursue Lorne with extreme prejudice. He could go ballistic. It was a risk she had to take. She had no choice.

* * *

Craig was on the phone in his office when he heard the front door open. He saw Julie Helmer standing on the other side of the counter. He held up a just-a-moment index finger and quickly extricated himself from the phone call. “Jules! So good to see you. What an unexpected pleasure.” Craig wondered why she was here. He had always liked Julie, but they had lost touch over the years. She was more Chrissie’s friend than his anyway.

“
I see you’re still the smooth talker, Andrews.” Julie turned her head for a kiss on the cheek. “Nice place you have. Andrews Office Supply. What is it you do here?”

“
Very funny. How’ve you been?”

“
I’ve been good. Seattle is a nice place to live. Hard to find a cup of coffee—but a good city, nonetheless.”

Craig sensed this was not a social call. “Okay. What’s up?”

“
It’s Chrissie. She’s drinking herself to death, and I don’t know what to do.”

Craig told her he wasn’t surprised. He had been down this road with Chrissie many times before, to no avail. He explained the fights they’d had over her drinking accomplished nothing. Alanon had taught him you can’t force an alcoholic to stop drinking. They have to decide that for themselves. Craig said he was worried about his kids’ safety and had even considered suing for custody. His lawyer agreed he had a strong case but advised the battle would be long and costly. He also said Craig would almost certainly lose.

“
How are Robbie and Heather?” Julie asked.

“
They’re doing okay. I see them as often as I can. They seem to be adapting. I mean … as much as kids can adapt to an insane situation.”

Julie appeared to be upset. “They’re such terrific kids, Craig. I’ve been worried about them ever since you and Chrissie—”

“
Don’t worry, Jules. Those kids will be fine. Listen, the best thing you can do for them is to try and convince Chrissie she has a problem. Have you considered an intervention?”

“
I’ve heard of those, but I don’t know much about them. How do they work?”

“
I learned about them at Alanon,” Craig said. “You and as many friends or acquaintances who are willing to participate, confront Chrissie about her drinking. A.A. claims if an intervention is done in a kind and loving way, it can help persuade an alkie to enter rehab. Chrissie is obviously at the stage where she needs professional help. Call A.A.—those folks are great and they’ll help you.”

“
Would you be a part of it?”

“
I wish I could for Robbie and Heather’s sake, but it wouldn’t work. For years, I pleaded with Chrissie to stop drinking, begged her to go to A.A. She wouldn’t listen to me then, and she certainly won’t now.”

Julie agreed. “You’re right. Listen, do you know any of Chrissie’s friends who might be willing to help?”

“
She has no friends. Well, no female ones anyway. I mean, other than you.” Craig realized he was allowing old wounds to show. “Sorry—guess I still have some issues.”

“
That’s okay,” Julie said. “Who wouldn’t?”

“
I suppose. I appreciate you coming to me. I know you have Chrissie’s best interests at heart. She’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

“
Thanks, Craig. I’ll see what I can do about that intervention thing. You busy tonight? Want to do dinner?” Something in her voice hinted this was more than just a dinner invitation.

“
I’d love to but I’m seeing someone.” Craig checked her pretty eyes for a reaction. “But if I wasn’t—”

“
Stop right there. It was silly of me to ask.”

“
I’m glad you asked. Makes a guy feel good, to be asked to dinner by a gorgeous woman.”

“
There you go smooth talking again, Andrews.”

“
I’m serious. If I was single, I’d ask you out in a minute. It’s just that your timing is rotten. This lady is special to me and—” Craig hesitated. Then, he decided to finish his sentence. He didn’t want to hurt Julie’s feelings, so he told her the truth. “Actually, I love her and I’ve—well, I’ve asked her to marry me.”

“
Lucky lady,” Julie said with a sultry gaze any man would understand.

Circumstances continued to dictate they would be nothing more than friends. Craig thought about his first encounter with Julie. He wondered what would have been if the note she delivered that night in the campus bar had been from her—instead of Chrissie. Some things are best left unanswered.

* * *

Vikki was in a meeting with her marketing team and Lloyd Patterson, the vice-president of operations. Her executive assistant tiptoed in and handed her a note. Vikki excused herself. She had to call some lawyer on an urgent matter.
Everything’s an urgent matter with lawyers
, she thought, as she walked to her office.

The lawyer told Vikki her ex-husband Eric was in jail. He had been involved in an altercation outside a bar and allegedly assaulted a police officer.

“
And what do you want me to do about it, Mr. … Mr.?”

“
Kent, ma’am. Steven Kent. Eric needs someone to post his bail.”

Vikki couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You’ve got to be kidding! You tell that cheating son-of-a-bitch I hope he rots in jail!” She slammed the phone down and took a few deep breaths. She had to cool down before returning to the meeting.
No way I’d ever help him.
He can get that trollop Chrissie Andrews to bail him out.

Steven Kent’s next call was to Towercrest Realty.

* * *

Lorne opened his briefcase and took out the papers he’d been served earlier that afternoon. He placed them on the bar and threw back another shot of whiskey. He unfolded the legal document. The first page said it all. “Paternity suit,” he groaned. “I still can’t believe it—a stinking paternity suit. With no job and creditors all over me, that’s about all I need right now.”

The suit had been filed on behalf of Joyce Myers, a former client of the SOE. Lorne had been assigned her case and was immediately enthralled by her. She was a ravishing willowy blond. He wasted no time in asking her out. They dated for some time, but she ended it when she learned he was also dating several other women.

When Joyce confronted Lorne about his womanizing, he became angry and threatened her. She contacted the SOE and lodged a complaint. She was so shaken by the whole incident; she moved away and tried to put Lorne out of her mind. A short time later, Joyce discovered she was pregnant with his child. When she contacted the SOE once again, Charles Talbot suggested she pursue a paternity suit.

Lorne didn’t notice the police car parked at the convenience store next door. He staggered from the bar to his car. After several clumsy attempts, he managed to insert the key into the driver’s door lock. As he swung the car door open, he lost his balance and fell into the driver’s seat.

He drove over a curb on his way out of the parking lot. Swerving down the street, he heard a siren and saw the flashing lights of the police car behind him. Too drunk to realize the police were pursuing him, Lorne rolled down his window and signaled them to go around. He was driving ten miles per hour on the wrong side of the road. He didn’t stop until the police finally forced his car off the road into a hedge.

At the station house, two separate Breathalyzer tests were conducted. Lorne blew .26 both times.

Rock bottom wasn’t far away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Felons

When Charles Talbot called that morning, Melinda Davis was pricing a new order of exquisite lingerie from her European supplier. Top of the line satin and lace undergarments were Melinda’s stock-in-trade. She sold elegance to an elite and discerning clientele. She was one of her own best customers. Melinda answered the phone, and Charles went right to the point.

“
You may be in imminent danger, Melinda. We served Lorne today with a summons to appear in court. He’ll know you instigated the arrears action against him.”

Melinda thanked Charles for the call. His warning shook her. She had known Charles since he became head honcho at the SOE. She knew how he operated; he was all business. If he thought this was serious, it was very serious. Melinda opened the small safe in her office at the back of the store. She took out her gun, holster and ammunition. She and Lorne took small arms training after they purchased their handguns. He had insisted the guns were necessary for their family’s protection. Lorne told her at the time: “Some of the deadbeats I’ve dealt with would like nothing better than to harm us.”

Melinda stuffed the revolver into her purse.
I’ll take it
home with me. Won’t do me much good here if—
The thought of a confrontation with Lorne made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Melinda hated guns and never wanted to own one. Now, however, she was glad she had it. It gave her a sense of security. She wondered if she would actually have the guts to shoot another person. She hoped she would never have to find out.