Betrayal and Redemption

This is a work of fiction and does not relate to actual events. While some authentic geographical points may appear, any person, building, event, company or descriptions thereof are completely fictitious. Issues such as proper birth control and STD prevention are incorporated without specific mention. No one under 18 engages in sex.

Each episode should be freestanding, but reading in order allows the reader to follow the character development better. Part 6 fills in Ann's backstory and how she ended up married to a man 30 years older than her. The threads of their lives are wrapping around each other and result in an unusual situation.

Tuesday, February 15, 2010

Ann Lauter walked into the offices of QuickTemp Nursing Services one minute before her ten-a.m. appointment. She took her heavy coat off and laid it on a vacant chair. Within a few minutes, Linda Templeton, the person in charge of scheduling, opened her door and waved at Ann to enter.

The 24-year-old woman grabbed her coat, stepped inside the office and closed the door. She sat primly on the nearest chair, coat folded on her lap, her right leg jogging up and down as she waited. "You said you might have another weekend assignment for me."

Her long black hair was done in single braids that hung behind each ear. The rest of her hair flowed down her back to below the top of her shoulders. She wore blue paisley scrubs and white soft-soled shoes. Despite her lack of makeup, she turned heads wherever she went.

When she dressed to appeal, she appeared perfect with black hair so dark it shone blue in the sun and blue eyes that reached a person's soul. Her body was fantastic, with small firm breasts, a tiny waist, long legs and a nice bottom. She couldn't care less right now because survival was her goal, not dating.

She had finished the long Valentine's Day weekend taking care of a bedridden woman. A former college professor, the woman could control her mind, but not her body because of a series of accidents and the onset of arthritis.

Her son took his wife and their two teenagers skiing in a well-deserved respite from providing care. They drove back from Winter Park Tuesday morning and encountered bad weather.

"I have something much better. I got a call Friday from a woman who will need full care for anywhere from four to six months. I immediately sent her your resume, and she's interested.

"She received her official diagnosis of Stage 4 intestinal cancer on Wednesday. After consultation with her immediate family, they decided not to fight it again. She went through it once 12 years ago. She is nearly 54 now."

"Perhaps this sounds heartless, but that sounds good for me and bad for her. It all depends on the pay. I'm barely breaking even working three 12-hour shifts at various hospitals and picking up the occasional weekend work. After my mother died during my freshman year of college, I needed to take out more loans than I wanted."

Ms. Templeton wrote a figure on a piece of paper and handed it to Ann. "That is the salary per month. But more importantly, they want you to live in their house. Free room and board are included.

"I explained Nancy is seven years younger than you and depends on you for support. The woman said that was okay. They have plenty of vacant rooms. Here is the information. When do you think you can meet with them?"

"I'm working from six a.m. to six p.m. on Wednesday and Friday this week. Maybe Thursday afternoon or evening."

"She said she has stopped working because of her cancer. I'll call her and set a time Thursday afternoon. Let's say two p.m. Their home is on a bus route, if that helps."

"Yeah, it does. I had to drive to the other side of Denver to work this weekend. I'm on a restricted policy and my miles are over halfway to the limit."

Ann received a confirming text before she arrived home. Nancy had an away basketball game this evening. They didn't talk until Ann arrived home after her shift on Wednesday.

"I've got an interview tomorrow afternoon for a permanent position that lasts from four to six months. They want me to live at their house. It will pay far more than I'd make at the hospital and working occasional weekend shifts. You can move into their house with me or you can stay here. Mrs. Kirkland next door will watch out for you."

"Let's wait to decide until after you do the interview. I love playing basketball. I don't want to switch high schools or ride long distances on the bus." Nancy was two inches taller than her older sister.

This time, Ann arrived at the Cavanaugh house ten minutes early. At first sight, the house didn't impress her as if it belonged to someone rich enough to pay the money Ms. Templeton wrote. She rang the doorbell and waited nearly a minute before anyone opened it.

She wore her heaviest slacks, thermal underwear under her best blouse and a heavy full-length coat with a fur-lined hood. She lucked out last summer and found one that fit her perfectly at a thrift shop for less than $20.

"Come in," the woman cried, her hand extended. "My name is Brenda Cavanaugh. We can talk in the living room because no one else is here."

The woman was shorter than Ann, which wasn't hard because Ann was five foot nine. Brenda was probably five inches shorter. Despite her robust greeting, Ann could see the effects of her illness, especially the dilated pupils.

Ann revised her opinion as they walked through the foyer and into the living room. From working for an antique dealer during high school, she knew enough to recognize an antique hutch and a table. The quality of everything from the chandelier to the rug showed these people had money and class. She hoped they were not snobs, like some of her other clients.

The living room was bigger than Ann's apartment. It contained a gigantic fireplace. The walls were covered with paintings Ann recognized and many family pictures, some of them from the 1800s.

Once they were seated, Brenda picked up Ann's resume from a side table. "I have this document, which I've read. Ms. Templeton gave you a glowing recommendation.

"What I need to hear is the story behind these words. This is important to us because we're a close family. Anyone we hire will live in this house and interact with all of us.

"We have three children, all of whom are older than you. They are all married and we have six grandchildren. We always have Sunday dinner. Some of us go to church and some of us don't.

"Our family owns MMP, Inc., but Paul, my husband, is the president and CEO. When his father owned the company, it was called Modern Motorcycle Parts. After Paul took over, he changed the name to MMP and expanded to after-market parts for all off-road vehicles.

"I'm not bragging. I'm telling you this so you know why your background is important to us."

"I understand. My life was nothing like yours. I don't know who my father was. I have one sister, Nancy, who is seven years younger than me. She is a junior in high school, an excellent student, and an outstanding basketball player. She has a different father who was at least partially Black. We don't know who he is or was. She is taller than me.

"Our mother died of lung cancer when I was a freshman in nursing school. That forced me to take out more student loans than I had planned. She was a heavy drinker and smoker. She worked as a barmaid or bartender her entire life. I hope that doesn't disqualify me."

"Not at face value. Do you or your sister drink, smoke or use illegal drugs?"

"I drink wine sometimes. I don't smoke. If anything, I try to live my life completely opposite of the way my mother did. She had a good heart and men took advantage of her."

"Good for you. I know people like your mother. I had an aunt like that. Would you like to see the house and your room? We can talk while we walk."

"That is fine. I have many questions related to your illness and care. I'm curious about how many pain pills you've taken today."

"The doctor has me on two pills a day. I took one 30 minutes before you arrived. The predominant issue is not pain, but a sense of lethargy. I wanted to be on top of things when we talked.

"Who is your doctor? Will he and she talk to me if I have questions?"

They were walking up the stairs. They paused on a landing. Ann could see Brenda trying to catch her breath.

"Certainly. As soon as we agree on terms, Doctor Devi Mukherjee will meet with you and go over everything. He will do it here because he is a family friend.

"I work as a temporary nurse. I met him at the Swedish Medical Center. He has an excellent reputation."

They continued their journey. About midway along the landing, Brenda pointed to an open door. "This was our oldest son's room. Daniel is an engineer, and he works for MMP. He is 32 and his wife, Laura, teaches school.

"If you'll follow me toward the back of the bedroom. We put a Jack-and-Jill bathroom between the two boy's rooms after we moved into this house. It belonged to Paul's parents who are deceased. So are my parents. Both were heavy smokers.

"If you've never run across those, the toilet and the shower are shared, but there is a door between the two sink areas. I would suggest Daniel's room as yours and Christopher's room next door for your sister."

They walked through the two bathrooms and into Christopher's room. "My second son is 30 and is more outgoing than Daniel. He heads up sales at MMP. Rachel, his wife, is an accountant who doesn't work for MMP."

They went into the hallway, walked along the landing and paused in front of another bedroom. "This belonged to our daughter, Kimberly, 28. She works for the advertising agency and handles our account. Her husband, Josh Miller, is a sales agent for one of the TV stations."

"I see several more closed doors. I don't want to be rude, but I'm curious."

"The last door is the bedroom for Paul and me. We have an ensuite bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. I'll be using it more as the pain gets stronger. The two rooms in between are guest bedrooms. There is a bathroom for these three rooms.

"Let's go back downstairs where the chairs are more comfortable. I need to explain more about Paul and the company."

Once downstairs, Brenda showed Ann the large, modern kitchen, a dining area, a music room with a piano and Paul's office, which doubled as an extensive library. Each book showed signs of use.

In the living room again, Brenda explained each picture and how they were part of their families. "My dad was in the mining business. He left his two children well off.

"You are probably wondering why the house is so big. We often ask ourselves the same thing.

"Paul's grandfather built the house in the 1920s. He was active in commercial construction and he built it for his bride.

"He had eight children, two of whom died in World War II. One was a nurse who died in the London bombings.

Paul has one younger brother and a younger sister. The brother lives in St. Louis where he runs a medical testing lab. His sister lives in Fort Collins and teaches history at Colorado State. They worked at MMP so much, they wanted nothing to do with the company when they reached college age."

"What line of work did you do?" Ann asked. "I've worked so many jobs it's hard to keep track."

"That is a complicated answer. To understand Paul and MMP, a person needs to understand Anthony, Paul's father. He was a rigid man who was so stuck in his ways he nearly killed Modern Motorcycle Parts.

"He insisted everything must be made in the United States and refused to update his equipment. That is a commendable idea, but as costs rose, his sales dropped because we couldn't compete on price alone. No matter how high quality a part is, if a person can't afford it, they will buy something cheaper.

"Paul concentrated on building the company in two steps. First, he updated the equipment the company used. Second, he changed the name and expanded into parts for all off-road vehicles.

"MMP still makes a goodly share of the parts we sell in our local factory, but we were losing market share to lower priced competitors. Paul and Daniel set up several price lines for each product. Some come from Mexico and from the Orient. The local factory concentrates on high end parts mostly for motorcycles and the type..

"I started out as a teacher, but once Paul became president, I worked nearly every job in the company. As we grew larger and we had enough money, I worked as an assistant in schools. Because their mothers and fathers were so busy, I sometimes acted as a surrogate for my grandchildren

"Paul is more adaptable, but he's like his father in one way. He hates people who aren't honest. He has an acute sense of ethics and demands that others perform honestly and use their abilities. But he isn't harsh in his demands. Does that make sense?"

"Very much so. I tell Nancy that I need the truth. Even if she screwed up, I need to know. I'm more disappointed when she lies than if she makes a mistake. "

They talked for another 15 minutes before Ann could see Brenda's energy level lagging. "I probably should go soon. Can I do anything for you before I go?"

"Yes. You can tell me if you want the job. The job is yours."

"I agree with two stipulations. My sister doesn't want to change high schools because she starts as center/forward on the varsity. If she lives here, she would need to change schools or travel a long distance. There is a widow next door in our apartment building who can watch over her.

"The second is that I talk to Doctor Mukherjee as soon as possible."

"I agree. Tell Ms. Templeton as soon as possible that you want the job. I'll get in touch with the doctor's office and set up a time when you can meet with him. That doesn't mean Nancy can't spend weekends here if she wants. If she wishes to bring friends with her, that is also acceptable.

"In fact, join us for dinner Sunday. We start about 1:30. My daughter and daughter in laws will prepare the meal."

"We'll do that. Or at least I will. I'll do as you suggest and text you how many people will come with me."

She turned to leave. Brenda rose also and walked toward her. "One thing I need to warn you about. We are a family that hugs. I didn't hug you when you arrived and I won't hug you if you don't want. It's up to you."

"I'll accept a hug. Nancy and I hug often."

Ann figurately pinched herself as she rode the bus back to her apartment. After years of dealing with a barely functional mother, who always was drunk to some degree, and with no men present in her life, she had a tremendous opportunity to explore life with a genuine family for a change.

Yes, it would only be for a short time, but even that long would help keep her morale up. She was tired of pinching every penny until it squealed. The only real question involved whether to pay down more of her loans or to set aside money for a rainy day. She decided on the latter.

Thursday, April 16, 2010

All the hurdles jumped, Ann accepted the position. Nancy stayed in the apartment during the week and rode the bus to the Cavanaugh's house on the weekends. Sometimes she brought her friends with her and they were welcomed as much as Ann and Nancy.

"This is neat," Nancy told her one evening. "For the first time that I can remember, I feel like I'm part of a family. I'll be sad when your time here ends."

On this afternoon, Brenda was teaching Ann to knit. When they paused for a rest, Ann had a question. She had poured a small amount of red wine for Brenda and some carbonated grape juice for her. Doctor Mukherjee said it was good for her heart.

"I don't want to be too nosey, but I'm curious why you hired me so early in the process? Even now, nearly two months later, your condition isn't bad enough to warrant full-time care."

Brenda took another sip of her wine and set the glass down. She folded her hands in her lap.

"A frank question deserves a frank answer. You see, my dear, I'm a romantic at heart. But I'm also a pragmatist. As wealthy people in Denver, we have certain social obligations. I've made most of those events so far, but that will not be possible much longer.

"I wanted enough time to evaluate someone to replace me." Her words hung in the hair like a bolt of lightning for several seconds.

Ann drained the last of her juice and put her glass down harder than she wanted. "Wait a minute," she said, her voice hard and unyielding

"What are you saying? Paul is your husband. He's 30 years older than me. I'm not looking for a husband and certainly not someone who is married to one of my patients."

She leaned back and considered her words for several seconds. "People would call me a gold digger, and say Paul is robbing the cradle."

"So what. Knowing the weak points will help you face them head on. I've been watching you closely. We're much more alike than you think.

"I might be near my end with cancer, but I still have eyes and ears. I see Paul's attraction to you. I can see how much you respect him. I'm not urging or expecting anything. But I have to face facts. I will not be around much longer. Paul is the type of person who doesn't do well on his own. In business, he is a lion. At home, he is a lamb.

"He is a true gentleman. Despite his interest, he will not take the first step. I can guarantee that.

"At our age, there are dozens of single women who would jump at a chance to marry someone like Paul. For my peace of mind, I'd rather have him be with someone I know and like than some charlatan who is after his money first."

Ann stood up. "No, no, no. I object. I don't want to lose this job, but I'm going to tell Ms. Tempelton to find a replacement."

In a stern voice, Brenda's words bit the air. "Sit down, young lady. Don't let your pride impede something good.

"I'm going to tell you a story that only Paul and I know. While you haven't mentioned this issue, I suspect part of your problem is the difference in economic levels. When I finish, you'll understand how much you and I are alike."

Brenda finished her wine as she considered her words. "I grew up in a home much like yours. I had a father, but he was worse than useless. All his wealth came from his father and he was spoiled as any only child. The only place he excelled was pinching pennies, which is why he left us well-off when he died.

"He became what is called a mean drunk. The only things that saved my mother, and me were my older brother who could box. Dad still gave mother a black eye a few times. He was tricky and he usually hit her where no one could see the bruises.

"When Reggie, my older brother, turned 18, he left for the Army. He talked Mom into leaving Salt Lake City where we lived, and moving to Denver. We lived on the run for over a year before my father drove his car over a cliff while he was drunk.

"When it came time for me to start college, the administrator of the trust fund set up for Reggie and I after my father died, told me I couldn't draw on the account until I was 25. I knew I needed a college education, but I didn't have the money to pay for school.

"Reggie, my brother, and I discussed how to pay for school. Some of his high school buddies were paying for their college by acting as escorts for older women. He referred me to the agency that supplies escorts. Sex was not allowed, but the money was so good, some of us did it, anyway.

"At least you didn't do that. I specialized in older men who wanted someone to accompany them to high class social events. It is much more common than a person might think. I wasn't happy about it, but many older men dump their wives and find a younger substitute.

"During my sophomore year, I was at a party with a man who drank too much. Paul volunteered to help me get the man into a taxi and help me take him home. After we did that, he took me out for a coffee.