B&C III - 37

Brian and Christine
Book Three
Saint Jane's
Part 37

The next day, at lunch time, Wendy called to say that she got a message from Alice Foster. Christy had asked to see Wendy so they set it up for the following day. She explained that the judge was a lazy man, who was happy to adjourn the case on any pretext, so she didn’t think she would have any conflict at getting to Christy tomorrow. She said she would come by afterward and let Brian know how it went.

Brian would have preferred to wait until Wendy could talk to him about Christy and what her future would be, but he felt obligated. So, with a knot in his stomach, he picked up the phone and dialed Connecticut.

“Hello Lydia…..This is Brian Sims….I know….Yes, I know….No, the whole place is closed down and everyone has been arrested….She’s okay, she’s safe….Yes, the court is protecting her….She’s in a safe place, under 24 hour guard….I know….Me too….Well. It’s not your fault. We both thought we were doing the right thing….Yes….Yes, I know….No, I haven’t seen her since that day, but my lawyer, Wendy Klein, who is also my fiancée, has talked to her and is going to see her tomorrow….Yes. Then I’ll know more….Yes it is….Yes, it’s terrible….She was very brave….She could have been sent right back there. But the judge listened to her….Yes she is, everyone says so….Well, Ms. Klein is working on adopting her….I don’t know….Yes, it would….Well, please don’t feel that way, Lydia. We didn’t know….Yes, I will….I certainly will….How is your husband? The last time we talked he was ill….Much better?....Oh, that’s good. And how is Flicker doing?....Good. Christy will be glad to hear that…..I’ll call you as soon as I know anything….I promise….Bye.”

He was glad he made that call. Talking with Christy’s aunt cleared away some of the stress. But the waiting went on. His mind was working so slowly now. Brian felt old, and finished.

He got up and made himself a drink, set it down on the table and let the ice melt. He sat by the pool and stared at the water for a while, but didn’t go in. He went back to his computer and looked at the keyboard: Q W E R T. Nothing made any sense to him. He sat in a corner of the room, on a big comfortable chair, closed his eyes and thought about giving up, And then a silent, soft voice in the back of his mind said “Brian. This is not a good time to die.”


(To be continued.)