I signed a lease and was putting a staff in place. This would be a bit more luxurious than my previous clinics. I was including a salon for beauty make-overs, realizing that if a woman felt beautiful, she felt healthier. The department store had their shopping assistants and would bring hand-picked clothing selections into the clinic. The idea was that a woman could walk in the door in the morning, looking tired, aging and dull and walk out an entirely new person. We were gaining some traction with some of the local news outlets and even a few shows were booking time with us for their on-camera staff and guests. I was working my way north and eventually east.
Auggie was on board for the expansion but she had no desire to leave grass behind for concrete. She was willing to help me however she could, as long as I stuck to our deal and went strictly by the book. I was guilty of a bit of manipulation regarding my clients purely out of boredom and rebellion against my father. How ironic that although he’d put a bullet through his head one night, he was still in control of my life. I couldn’t seem to rid myself of his cruel influence.
For the time being, however, I was content to leave Auggie at home with Ford to supervise the additional building plans underway. We had hired an architect, Beverly Dexter, to build additional outbuildings for Auggie’s horses and an eventual grandstand and Steeplechase track. This was Auggie’s love and her horse, Carlos, and she had participated regularly. She was anxious to return to the track and it made me happy to give her these opportunities.
Auggie had a pet project in the Sunset Village retirement home, having taken an interest in one particular resident and then championing the initiation of a foundation to expand and maintain the home. I was very proud of her accomplishment. The last I’d heard, Sunset Village had become quite the desirable place to retire.
Prior to building our home, we bought a large condo not far from the first clinic. After Father’s death, Mother moved into it and took it over as we moved into the main house. I looked in on her from time to time, but she was enjoying living in town and re-entering her social scene. She had been denied friends while my father was living; he controlled every life within reach.
Although I was exhausted from the day, I decided to drop in on Mother and see how she was faring. She never asked anything from Auggie or me, so it was up to us to initiate the visits. She adored it when we brought Ford along, his being her only grandchild.
I pulled into the condo development and parked outside her entrance. As I neared her door, I heard voices inside and hesitated to knock. If she was entertaining, I didn’t want to intrude. I turned around and got back into my Escalade. I was backing out when her door opened and a man walked out, glancing in my direction.
Son of a bitch. It was Linc!
Running for Mother’s condo, I found the door still unlocked and I didn’t hesitate to enter. With my heart in my throat, I found her seated in a club chair looking out the patio doors, her back to me. “Mother!”
Calmly looking in my direction, she said, “Worth, how nice to see you, dear.” Tears gleamed in her eyes.
“What did he want?” I didn’t bother with formalities, assuming she already knew who he was.
“Do you know who that was, Worth?” she asked, her voice filled with sorrow.
“Yes, Mother, he calls himself Linc LaViere. Did he hurt you?” I was looking her over from head to foot but as far as I could tell, she was physically unruffled. Every silvery hair was in place, as usual, and she was tastefully dressed in a jacket dress. It was the faraway look in her eyes that was troubling.
“Yes, Worth, Linc came back,” she said.
“Mother…” I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. “Mother, you didn’t understand. That wasn’t Linc. Not our Linc. It’s a long and sordid story. Did he threaten you?”
Her hand moved to her throat as her eyes widened. “Threaten me? No, why would he? He just asked my help is all.”
“Mother? Did you give him money?” My temples throbbed as my blood pressure rose. Anger churned in my stomach.
“No, dear. He didn’t want money. He just wanted a place to live.” She smiled and wiped away the tears.
“What did you tell him?” I asked, hoping I wouldn’t hear what I feared.
“Why, what could I tell him? He belongs on his family’s land, of course.” She was wide-eyed that this hadn’t occurred to me already.
“Mother? Mother? What did you do?” I lamented, knowing what was to come.
“Why, I gave him title to the farm, of course! You don’t want it, Worth. Especially with all that’s gone on there. You and Auggie are all set. I have all I need here. He’s your blood. Why shouldn’t he have the farm? Your father left it to me and now I’m giving it to his son.”
I leaned against the wall, needing the support it offered as her news sank in. My enemy had threatened and found the weakness in my defense. He could now abide within its confines — not only with permission but the aid of those I was fighting hardest to protect.
CHAPTER FIVE
Auggie
“You have got to be kidding,” I exclaimed, just as Worth had probably expected. “Why would she do that? Is she losing her mind? Seriously, Worth?”
I was cuddling Ford against my chest but suddenly felt contaminated by the words I’d just heard. I put him down in his carrier to keep him clear of this sordid news.
“I have no idea what she was thinking, Auggie. I think he’s just damned good at conning people and she’s an easy mark,” Worth speculated, throwing a pillow across the room in anger.
“Worth, whatever he is, don’t let him get to you. I can tell it’s eating at you but so far, has he really done anything to us?” I didn’t want Worth to lose perspective on this whole thing.
“Am I hearing my own wife correctly?” He had a look of astonishment atop the anger of his expression.
“I’m only saying this. The farm belonged to your mother to do with as she wished. You gave it to her, remember? I know I don’t want to live there and I doubt there’s many people in the county who do, given the history in that study.” I was trying to be sensible.
“He’s an interloper, Auggie!” Worth was beyond reasoning with.
“Worth, listen to yourself! He truly is your brother. You share blood with him. You might not care for his manner, or for the fact that he threatened you, but has he really done anything to harm us on his own? Isn’t this all part of the crappy legacy your father left you? Why not let him have the farm? Good riddance! Go on with your work and let our family go back to the way it was. Don’t let him ruin our lives,” I pleaded with him to see the logic of my words.
“That’s precisely the point, Auggie. This is my family and I will protect it.” Worth could not let go.