“I’m not a fool, Brandon.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“I know my limits.”
“I certainly hope so.” We were done with that topic; he made it clear. “Where can I find this Linc?” he asked.
I exhaled, frustrated. “Just told you. He’s on the family farm and brought my mother there to live with him.”
“He took in Caren?” Brandon rolled his eyes. “That was a mistake.”
“That’s what I thought,” I agreed.
“Maybe he’s not as smart as he wants you to think.”
“He’s like a bad version of Worth, Brandon.”
He nodded, thinking. “So, Bernie, you sure you want in on all this?”
“Yes, sir. Auggie is giving me a wonderful opportunity and I plan to prove that her confidence was not misplaced.”
“Good. She’s good people, Bernie and I wouldn’t take kindly to anyone who was to cross or hurt her.”
“Message received, sir, but you have nothing to fear from me.”
“Bernie…” Brandon went on in a speculative tone, “is there any legal reason you wouldn’t be permitted to carry a concealed weapon? Have you ever used a gun?”
“Oh, yes, sir. I’m quite comfortable with them. Only reason is that I don’t have a concealed permit, but that’s just an application away.”
“Good man. Get it and come see me. I’ll give you a weapon that will suit the situation and I want you to carry it any time you’re with her, is that understood?”
“Yes, sir. Consider it done.”
Brandon reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of his business cards, sliding them across the table toward Bernie. “Here, keep my number handy.”
“Already have three of them and you’re in my phone favorites. Let’s just say I anticipated your stewardship,” he grinned and I could see in Brandon’s eyes the reaction to those beautiful teeth. It made you feel slovenly just to look at them.
We finished dinner and hugged before we left. Brandon walked us out to the parking lot. “Auggie, take care. You know where I am.” He kissed me on the cheek and I nodded, hugging him back.
The men shook hands and Bernie and I climbed into my car. As I fastened my seatbelt, I took the precaution of saying, “By the way. That NDA you signed includes anything and everything you may hear, see or learn in connection with me.”
Bernie nodded. “Understood and unnecessary to worry. I was way ahead of you,” he reassured me and while I drove, he was looking up class times for concealed weapons permits. He was a very fast learner.
CHAPTER NINE
Worth
When Auggie’s car pulled in, she wasn’t the only person who got out. There was another car in the parking area and the man who emerged from her passenger side gave her a brief hug and got into the parked car. He was extremely good looking, even from this distance and I went into alert mode. As he pulled away, I made note of his license plate and texted it to Bill to be checked out.
She came in, threw me a barely-disguised disdainful look as though she was having trouble remembering to be nice. “Hello,” she said, her voice decidedly cool.
“Hi, baby. Come here. Are you feeling better?” I asked.
“Better, but not completely over it. Better keep your distance another day,” she advised, holding up a hand between us.
I didn’t want to fight so I didn’t bring up the fact that she didn’t seem to be as concerned about the health of the gentleman in the parking area. “Who was that who drove in with you?” I couldn’t pretend to be a total fool.
“Who? Oh. That was Bernie, my new assistant.”
“Oh, really? I would have liked to have met him.”
“Next time, Worth. We’ve been out all day and I want to spend some time with the baby.” Then, as though she remembered she was “ill,” she thought the better of it. “Well, actually, I’m still feeling puny so I guess I’ll go up and get a hot bath, pump, and not cuddle him tonight. I’ll be back to my normal self by tomorrow, I’m sure.” She waved with a half salute and after looking with longing at the kitchen where Betsy was feeding Ford, she plodded up the stairs with an exaggerated weakness.
Why is she pretending to be ill? I wondered to myself. That wasn’t like her. She wasn’t one for self-pity. Is she mad at me for something? Women! I’m tired and will just let it go. Time generally resolves most things and besides, I’ve got more important things on my mind.
I grabbed a sandwich and headed for my office. Betsy piled my mail in a woven basket on the corner of my desk and as much as I hated paperwork, I thought I may as well get it out of the way. I sorted through the envelopes and threw away the junk mail. There were a few bills and while I generally paid things online, some second sense persuaded me to open the one from a well-known men’s store where I generally purchased a good deal of my clothing. I hadn’t been in there for some time so I was puzzled that they were sending a bill. I opened it and couldn’t believe my eyes. The bill was for over twenty thousand dollars! I sat back and laughed then, relief filling my brain. It was obviously a mistake since I hadn’t bought anything and in this computer age, mistakes weren’t caught. I picked up the phone and called the store, who put me through to their billing department.
“Dr. LaViere, we’re showing those purchases were made May eighth at our Oxford Manor store. You signed for them, sir.”
“No, no that’s impossible. I never even shop that branch, only the store downtown. I wasn’t there and didn’t sign anything.”
“Now, Dr. LaViere, I’m afraid we have the signed bill. This is a serious situation, sir. We’re talking about a great deal of merchandise. I’m afraid if you refute this charge, we’ll have to turn this over to the authorities. It is store policy, but I’m unable to do anything about it.”
“Now, wait just a minute. You need to prove this. You can’t just intimidate me into paying it. Let me see your evidence and I will gladly pay.”
“Very well, Dr. LaViere, would you be able to come down to our corporate office in the Brown Towers? Perhaps tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll be there at eight a.m.,” I said.
“See you then, sir.”
The aggravation of the day had accumulated to the point that I didn’t think I could take much more. I went in and played a bit with Ford, reading him a story before Betsy put him to bed. He was growing so fast. I made some special voices and sound effects as I read to him and he laughed. I realized then that I was being given a rare chance to make a change in my lineage. Not every LaViere had to be like my father or brother. Ford would be a LaViere I could be proud of. I made a resolution then and there to spend more time with him.
I fell into bed and could hear the television on in the room where Auggie was sleeping. She wasn’t making any effort to say goodnight so I let it go. I really wasn’t in the mood to fight.