Elliotts Cousin CH 2

Joy bolted upright with a gasp for air and a frightened scrambling out from under the covers and over the back of the couch. She was completely disoriented for a few minutes. "It's okay, Joy. It's Elliott. It's Lee. You're safe. It's okay." he said soothingly not moving from his spot in front of the couch.

"Lee. Thank God. I thought I was dreaming."

"No, you're not. You're here and your safe. I'm right here."

"It is you, thank God." She nearly collapsed again, catching herself on the back of the couch. "Oh, wow, am I dizzy."

He got up slowly and moved around to supported her over to the chair and she sat down. "Just take some deep breaths. You're probably oxygen deprived. Has this happened before?"

"Anxiety attacks. I have some pills but I don't take them unless I absolutely have to. A doctor prescribed them. They make me feel like I'm swimming under water."

"Do you need one? I can get it for you."

"No, I'm okay. Thank you. My throat is dry. Can I have a glass of water?"

"Sure. Do you want something else? I have milk, juice, beer and bottled water."

"Juice would really hit the spot."

"Coming right up. I made a couple of calls while you were asleep. I have the name of a good divorce lawyer. I called her and asked her to call me back. She was recommended by a good friend. I think we should get in to see her tomorrow if possible."

"From what I understand, I have to file in the place where I live. I need to find some place."

"You'll stay here. We'll get your license changed and establish residence."

"And for my place of employment?"

"You're a freelance writer. Your editor can be your verification. And I am not going to let anyone hurt you. I promise you that."

He got up and went out to the kitchen. She followed him. "I'm sorry, Lee, but it's hard for me to believe that."

"Believe it. I have connections and this is my city. Even if he comes here, he won't be able to intimidate you. We can get a restraining order for him and he has no standing here. The best he can hope for is to try to get a change of venue to Michigan and that's going to be difficult since you now live here."

"I don't know anything about this except that I'm so glad there're no kids involved. At least we don't have that to keep it from going through. Can he have half of my income? From the new publisher?"

"I don't know. Kathy gets child support from me but she doesn't get alimony since she works. I don't know all the laws of New York much less Michigan. I do know that if you need anything you have only to let me know."

"I just need to be safe here for a few days. You've already done that. Thanks."

Elliott gave her her juice and sat down at the table. She sat down oppposite him. "What else are you not telling me?" he asked.

"Excuse me?"

"Freckles, I'm a detective. I know when someone is not telling me the whole truth. I need to hear the whole of it."

"Otis and I could have some pretty loud fights. He used that when the case went before the judge. He said I was the one who started the whole thing and there was some discussion if I made it up to trump up the charges. I'm not saying I wouldn't if I had thought of it, but I didn't do that. I consider that two different matters. I wouldn't have connected the two issues. That's just not a normal thought pattern for me. I'm into human interactions, animal interactions, not legal things."

"Can you show me some of the things you've written?"

"Sure."

She got up and went into her room and came back out bringing her laptop. Elliott plugged it in for her and she brought up the documents file. There was an entire list of stories on it. Some with several chapters, some only one. She pulled one up and leaned back drinking her juice while he read. It didn't take long. It was a simple story for preschoolers. Meant to be read to them or for them to read at the very earliest stages of reading. It was called the Elephant and the Bee.

"Can I see the rest of the list?"

"Sure." she closed that out and opened the list of documents.

"You wrote all of these?"

"Or I'm working on them. Some of them are working titles, some I have a writers block on, and some of them are just ideas yet. I have alot of ideas I just have to have time to get them done."

"I recognize some of these. Elizabeth and Dickie have these. They used to love these when they were little. I didn't know you wrote them."

"I have the first copy of each one in my truck. I'll sign a copy for them it you think they'd like it."

"I think they'd love it."

"How old are they now?"

"Thirteen."

"Ah. I'll let you read the proof of the one I'm working on now and, if you think they'd like it, I'll sign a copy of it for each of them for Christmas. It's designed for that age bracket."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to. Besides, I want to show you that I'm not pilfering the writing."

"I never said that." he protested.

"Not in so many words. It's hard to hide your expression from me, Lee. If I can't convince you how do you suppose I'd convince anyone else? Right here, right now." she pulled up a story. "This is the working copy. I had this chapter set to add to it and the editor liked it without it so I dropped it. Here's the e-mail she sent me to prove it. Here's her e-mail if you want to contact her. Her cell # and office number is on my cell phone."

"Hey, Joy, relax. I believe you."

"Now that I've proven it. Elliott, relax. I had to show you. I had to prove it to you so you would know what I'm saying is the truth."

"I'm on your side. You don't have to prove everything to me. Joy, I wish you would talk to me. You came here, but you don't trust me."

"Lee, if I didn't trust you I wouldn't be here. Okay, so I'm not exactly the most trusting person you'll ever meet. I will try to do better."

"That isn't what I meant. Not everyone is out to mess with you. I think you need to find somewhere here that you can call your own and put down your roots. When you're ready. I'm not hurrying you. You're welcome here as long as you want to stay. We learned from Grandmother that roots are where we plant them, aren't they?"

"You remember that, too? I think sometimes I remember her only when I'm under stress and I don't always hear her say things I remember. It bothers me that I can't remember her face, but I still hear her voice."

"I have some pictures of her at Kathy's. If you want, I can dig them out. I don't look at them too often. You know why."

"I know." Joy reached over and touched his hand. "Maybe together we can banish some of those bad memories and see the good ones. I think, if you don't mind, I'm going to go to bed. I'm just exhausted all of a sudden."

"Go ahead. This is your home too. Good night."

Joy came around the table and gave him a hug. "Thank you again for letting me stay here." she kissed his cheek.

"You're welcome. Sleep well."

She went to bed. He stayed up for a while then hit the sack himself.

TBC