CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – "Where There's a Will. . ."
A Moonlight NC-17 Fanfic
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Hank had gone through all of it—anger, mostly—anger at Morgan for leaving him down here! Anger at the people who took him! Anger at Mick and Josef who just ignored him! Anger at the two idiots who weren't coming back to bring him blood, and anger at the 'suit' for possibly killing them and not coming back himself. It had been days since he saw anyone, and the silver was making him weaker and weaker as he missed his feedings. Morgan could at least get her butt back here! Pretty soon he'd be a goner and he didn't even know if there was a person or vampire out there who knew where he was! Great idea to become a vampire! Well, if he hadn't, he'd have been dead anyway. If he ever got out of this dungeon, he was going to kill all of them, he swore to himself. Just let him out and he'd show them vampire justice!
--
Josef looked Coraline up and down and thought she was perhaps one of the best looking women on the planet, but her good looks were somehow ruined by the fact that she was crazier than a loon. 'Don't let her play with your head, Josef!' he told himself.
"Come on in and sit down. May I get you anything?"
"No, I'm fine, Josef. I brought the cure for you, so I'm trying to show good faith in keeping my end of the bargain."
Josef rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. "And you're keeping the rest of our bargain as well, I hear."
She sighed. "Yeah. I'm staying away from Mick and his precious little freshie wife! Don't worry—she's no threat to me—it's just a matter of time before he gets tired of being with a human."
Josef said nothing. Just looked at her with his penetrating stare.
"What? You know he'll get tired of her, Josef! Mick's had the vamp life! How could he settle for less?"
"Well, it seems he really loves his wife—and maybe he plans to turn her someday, I don't know. I just see that he's finally happy and I'd like him left that way!"
"Oh, fine! Just don't be surprised! Now—are YOU ready to give up being a vampire and take this cure? I can't imagine you as a human!"
"Frankly, Coraline, I can't either, but I want to have a child, and it's the only way I can see to accomplish that."
"Why would you think taking the cure would give you the ability to father a child? You've been a vampire for 400 years—don't you think it's maybe too late?"
"It very well may be too late, but I have to try. It's my only regret—being a vampire and having no descendants."
"Okay, go get a sharp knife and sit down. All I need is an arm."
Josef went to the kitchen and took a knife off of the magnetic knife holder. "Will this one do?"
"As long as it's sharp!"
She sat in a chair by him at the kitchen table. "Pull up your sleeve."
"Is this going to hurt?"
"Are you a man or a mouse, Josef! Geez, for a 400-year-old vampire you sure are a big chicken! It's just a scratch!"
"Let me see that," he said as she pulled the tin out of her pocket. He sniffed it and it smelled very herbal. "Okay—go ahead." He watched as she slid the knife across his skin, and he winced. Then he watched as she dipped the knife into the compound and placed it in the wound. They both watched as it was absorbed by his body.
"When does the cut heal?"
"I'll wrap some gauze over it. I brought it with me." He watched as she wound it around his arm and taped it closed. Odd to have a cut that didn't instantly heal!
"There! All done! You should start feeling warm any minute—just—be very careful Josef! You can't get into any fights, and you're back to fully human now. No keen senses, no nothing. Being human is pretty boring, as far as I'm concerned, but you'll have to remember not to get hit by any cars, don't get shot—OR staked! Remember you can't sniff out everything—you're going to be going on human instinct now! And no high jumps either. Oh, and worst of all, you can't drain your enemies, so stay out of their way. I'd suggest not trying to turn anyone either."
"Wow—think you've covered it all? Being human is sure going to be weird. I'll have to concentrate on being human—I guarantee, it won't come naturally after all these years! Maybe I just won't leave the house until I get my vampire abilities back. How long for that to happen? For this to wear off?"
"Usually four-to-six months, Josef. I hope you can get your girlfriend pregnant in that time. I'm going to leave town. I certainly don't want to get abducted again!"
"I get your point. Could I ask where you plan to go?"
"I have a house in Italy, you know. I think I'll just go hang out there for a while. I hear Lance is looking for me, and I don't want to return to France!" She sighed resignedly.
"Thanks, Coraline. This means a lot to me."
"I know, and you're a friend, Josef; I care about you. Let me know if it works, okay?"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll know!"
"Josef—do you think I could say good-bye to Mick? I've done what I said I'd do."
"NO!" Josef saw her jump. "I mean, Coraline, Mick asked that you stay away, so please honor that. I don't want to have to kill you."
"I get it. Okay. I'm gone." She picked up her large leather bag and started for the door. She stopped in front of the elevator doors and looked up at Josef. "I'll miss you. Practice your levitating—oh, I guess you can't, now, can you?" The smile she gave him was eerie—almost as if she was glad he was human and couldn't throw her in the tar pits! He had to wonder just what she was thinking!
Josef nodded, and allowed her to kiss his cheek. "Good-bye Coraline. Have a good life."
She stepped onto the elevator and was gone.
Josef felt thirsty, but not for blood—for water! He tried a drink and it was good. He could feel the warmth spreading through him from arm to his body, then to his feet and his head. Very strange! He looked at Sarah's food in the refrigerator, and though he was craving a steak, he settled on a turkey and cheese sandwich with lots of mayo and mustard. He wolfed it down and drank one of Sarah's beers as a chaser. Soon he was on the phone, ordering pizza and Chinese. It should help for a while!
Sarah got up early, expecting Josef to be working, but he wasn't in his office, so she walked out to the living room and was surprised to find him crashed on his sofa with a blanket over him! All over the coffee table and dining room table were empty take-out containers! What the heck! She walked over to him where he snored softly. She decided to let him sleep while she cleaned up. She was packing up a large trash bag when he walked into the kitchen.
"Josef! You ate all of this? It's enough for ten people!"
"I know! It was so good!" She eyed him warily.
"And you fell asleep on the sofa! Josef! Are you human? Did Coraline come here?"
"Yup—I am as human as you are, Baby!"
"Josef! You're human!"
He held out his arms. "Come to daddy!"
Sarah ran to him, but noticed he didn't pick her up, just kissed her. "We are hopefully on our way to parenthood, Sarah!"
She beamed brightly. "I sure hope so! Can we go practice?"
"Absolutely! I figure we need all the practice we can get! It might take a while, you know. . ."
"That's exactly what I'm counting on!"
--
Ben was running down the steps of the Court House and ran smack into Simone. He stopped and looked at her, feeling sorry about the way they had met when he had held her on suspicion of committing a crime, then held her in his jail for twenty-four hours! He was a little uncomfortable.
"Hi Ben. Nice to see you again." She turned around and walked back down to the bottom of the stairs with him.
"Simone! Great to see you! You look—great!" 'What a dork,' he was thinking. 'She's attractive, but you are acting like a brainless high-schooler.' He tried to redeem himself: "Congratulations on the Donato case—I hear you were amazing!"
She shrugged and looked at him with eyes full of humor. "Well, I do try. How have you been since I last saw you in the, ah, deluxe accommodations where I stayed for a full twenty-four hours?"
He looked at her as if he were about to say something, then stopped himself.
"Hey--I'm not used to doing jail time, but at least you let me out!"
"Yeah, at least. I feel badly about that, Simone. I really should have called you to say 'm sorry, and now I've let it slip all these months. I was glad we found out quickly that you had nothing to do with that murder."
"Really? Thanks!" She eyed him and he felt himself growing warm under her gaze. "Ben, if you're really sorry, I'm thinking you could apologize to me tonight!"
"I could? How's that? Is there something else I need to feel sorry about?"
Man! Was this guy clueless or what! "No, Ben. I was thinking maybe you owed me a dinner at least! But I'll understand if you don't want to be spending time with fellow lawyers who end up in your jail!"
"No, no—Simone, I'm just a little flustered." Yeah! A lot! "Dinner would be great. Where would you like to go?"
"Name it—I'll meet you there."
"La Luna at 7:30, and I'll pick you up."
"Sounds nice!" She looked him over. He was tall and attractive, and he had huge feet! Dinner with him might be a lot of fun if she could get him to lighten up a little! She opened up her purse and handed him a card. "My numbers—call my cell later for my address. I'll be ready to leave at seven."
"I'll call by five."
"Great! I'm already looking forward to it!"
He watched her turn and continue back up the stairs. The view was very attractive!
--
Logan had decided today was as good a day as any to get out and poke around a little. He fired up his station wagon—the one his folks had given to him as a high school graduation present! It had been the family car, and it was old. Nineteen fifties old, with real wood on the sides. It did look great with a surf board strapped onto to the luggage rack on the roof! It ran perfectly, though. Among his many skills, he was a crack mechanic, and these old cars were always fixable, with no computer parts to muck them up! He headed to Century City. He had to see this place for himself, he had decided. There had to be something under the ground out there, and he was going to find it. He had his compass, his GPS and he knew exactly where to look. Whatever he did or didn't find would at least satisfy his curiosity.
--
Coraline couldn't keep her promise—she had to see Mick before she left town. She owed him that much, she thought, after all they had meant to one another, all the storms they had endured, all the breaking up and getting back together again. She was sure this new relationship he had with the human girl would only be temporary, and he'd one day wake up and remember that she was his first real love. Yeah, he'd be back and begging for more! She knew him that well!
She walked through the underground garage at his building, and saw both of their cars parked down there, side-by-side. 'How precious!' she thought. It made her mad, Mick pretending to love Beth! Attraction was one thing, but marrying a human was ridiculous! She thought about jumping onto his balcony, but he might not like it if she came unannounced, so she took the elevator. She was knocking on his door as two large men came and grabbed her by the arms.
"Oh no! Not again! You're not taking me back to that dungeon!" She struggled against them, but they were vampires, and she had no way to escape.
"We have orders to kill you on the spot here, Miss Du Vall."
"But you won't kill me, right?" She smiled her charming smile and batted her eyes a few times, then looked wide-eyed and very innocent.
They looked at each other. The one who looked more in charge said "I'm telling you—next time you get your head chopped off. Now get the hell out of here!"
Coraline allowed them to escort her to the door, where she disappeared into nowhere. "I think we should tell Mick and Josef about this," one said to the other.
"I don't! We were supposed to kill that bitch! We didn't! Keep your mouth shut if you want us to keep our own heads!"
"Yeah, guess you're right. I kind of hope she comes back. I'd like to chop her head off!"
"You're dreaming. She'd be crazy to come back here!"
"Right. Let's keep our watch up though. We gotta protect the St. Johns."
"You got that right!"
--
The ultrasound went fine, and Mick was glued to the screen, watching their tiny baby inside Beth. It moved a little, and the tech pointed out the head and limbs on the snowy screen. Mick had to admit that it was hard to picture it as a real baby yet, but he could see things the tech pointed out. "Can you see the sex?" he asked.
"Well, I've been trying to, but the baby isn't really cooperating! I have to get a glimpse of a very specific area, and it isn't showing me anything. Maybe at your next ultrasound?"
"Yeah, maybe next time," Mick said, with a quick glance at Beth, who was holding his hand.
Your doctor will call or send you a letter about the final report, but I'm seeing everything I'm looking for! Heart rate is around 140, and that's totally within normal limits. As far as the size—it's dating right on time! That's great!
"Thanks so much," Mick said, elated as he was handed the stills of the baby while Beth got dressed. He kept looking at the head wondering who it would look like.
He led Beth out to the car and they looked over the pictures together in the car before they went anywhere. They were both so excited to see their first real baby pictures!
He leaned over and kissed her. "Thanks for all of this, Beth! I'm so excited about this baby! And the fact that it's half you and half me—it's just so—I can't even tell you in words! I'm going to be a father!" She smiled and patted his hand.
"I love that you're so excited, Mick." He really was cute when he was happy, she thought, hoping the baby would be a boy with his daddy's good looks! "You know, we have to start thinking of names."
"I thought it was Elliot? For a boy?"
"Well, I just threw that out there— I'm impressed that you remember! Wow! But--I'd like him to have your name too—are you named for St. Michael?"
"Yeah, actually, I am. My father was Michael, "Mike" to everyone, and that's how I ended up with my nickname. I'm not sure about having a Mick and a Michael in the same house, and what if it's a girl? Ellie?"
"No—I think we should get a name book and start thinking about it."
"Let's get a sandwich and some tea for you at the bookstore and we can find a name book!"
"I like that idea!"
As they pulled out, they didn't notice Coraline watching in the shadows. She had followed them to the hospital, wondering what was wrong until she saw Beth. It was obvious she was pregnant! Coraline only wondered whose baby it was, and was happy to think that Beth had had another lover besides Mick—if Mick was even her lover! Mick was being the nice guy, she supposed, taking care of the pregnant unwed mother! Just like him! What a stupid man! But after the baby, Coraline would be the one he came to. She'd make sure of that! For now, maybe her plans to leave for Italy would have to wait. . .
--
A few days later, Coraline walked into Dr. Mineo's office and sat in the waiting room. After thinking things through, she decided that being a patient of his was the best way to find out what she needed to know. She knew this doctor was a vampire, so he'd understand her questions. She had heard he was nice as well from one of her co-workers at BuzzWire who had seen him during her difficult pregnancy.
She was called into the office and sat in front of Dr. Mineo's desk. For some reason, he didn't seem all that friendly. She wondered if he was simply one of those doctors who was all business. Ah well, so what! She wanted to be sure she could get pregnant with Mick's baby as soon as he got rid of Beth, which would probably be as soon as she popped out the kid and got Mick's name on the birth certificate! What a little whore.
"So, young lady, what might I do for you today?"
"I'm just here to confer with you, Doctor. I'm a bit of an unusual case."
"Hmmmm. I seem to be getting those lately—so what's your story?"
"I have this compound that returns vampires temporarily to their pre-vampire state."
"You mean they become human for a short while, don't you?"
"That's right. You don't seem surprised."
"This 'cure' that you speak of? I have another couple here who have become pregnant after one of them used that substance."
Coraline nearly leaped out of her chair. "So it's possible? A woman who has been a vampire can conceive?"
"Oh, I'm not sure of that, but a man is able to father children, apparently, even if he has only been human for a very short while."
Coraline sat stunned. This was the doctor Mick and Beth were seeing. But it couldn't be—Mick was only human for days, and he wasn't having sex with Beth anyway. No—the doctor couldn't be talking about them!
"Well, Doctor, it's important to me to get pregnant. I'd like to make an appointment for an exam, and I was wondering if you could see if my eggs are viable."
"I can do that. You must be planning to take this cure then?"
"Yes, very soon."
He was getting a strange vibe from this woman. "You are married? Your husband is human? He's on board with this?"
"No, I'm not married, but I want to give the cure to my ex-husband and have his baby."
"Oh! Two vampires want to have a child! Now this truly is unusual! Why didn't you bring your ex-husband with you, may I ask?"
"He doesn't know my plans yet."
Dr. Mineo sat back in his chair and twiddled his thumbs. "Well, I can't say I'd feel comfortable helping you until I talk to the potential father of this child. Not only will he have to give up being a vampire for a while, but he'll have to understand that raising a child as a vampire—actually two vampire parents--is going to be extremely difficult. I'd have to interview him to be sure he has the right temperament. I wouldn't want him feeding on the child—or worse—turning it! I hope he knows that would mean death for both himself and the baby!"
"I'm sure he'd pass your test, and we'd be good parents together."
"May I ask why you want to do this? A husband is one thing, an ex—that could be complicated! Are you sure he wants to be a parent with you?"
"Well, we aren't together right now. I think having a child might bring us back together."
"That is very unwise, Miss Du Vall! Very unwise. It hardly EVER works. If your relationship is over, go on and find someone else. Most likely he won't want to try having a baby as the patch on your disintegrated marriage!"
"I get what you're saying, Doctor. You already know my ex-husband. He and his wife come to you."
Now the doctor stopped his fidgeting and felt really uncomfortable. His vampire radar was up on high alert.
"I'm sorry, Miss Du Vall. I can't help you. I won't be responsible for helping to break up a marriage. My business is to deliver babies to couples who want babies. My advice, again, is to forget the ex and go on with your life."
"He only married her because she's pregnant with some other man's baby, and he feels sorry for her, so he's going to stay with her and give the baby a name. After this baby is born, I assure you, Doctor, he'll come back to me. His marriage is only for convenience."
Dr. Mineo put his elbows on his desk, and looked her in the eyes. Something was wrong with her, and he could sense a lot of confict and anger in her. "Can you give me the name of this ex of yours? If you're right about him, and I'm treating his wife, I'd really love to know what the true situation is."
Coraline didn't hesitate for a second. "His name is Mick St John, and his wife is Beth Turner. I don't know whose baby she's having, but it can't be his. He was only human for a few days. He feels sorry for her—that's why he married her.
Dr. Mineo thought back to his favorite couple—they had just been in here a couple of days ago! They had explained this as a miracle—one which had happened after only a few days of humanity for him! Was this crazy woman telling the truth? He doubted it. Mick and Beth seemed to be as in love as any couple he had ever seen in these offices! They seemed almost unable to stop touching each other, which he took as a good sign that they were close, both in public and behind closed doors. When he had last asked her if they had any sexual problems relating to the pregnancy, she had laughed and said that sex had never posed any problems for the two of them! It wasn't a marriage of convenience that he could see! It was truly one of the most loving relationships he had observed in a very long time! He said absolutely nothing to her about them.
"I can examine you if you'd care to set up an appointment. I can't guarantee you'll be successful in your endeavor to become pregnant, especially with a vampire man! If you tried with a human—maybe."
Coraline read into these words further affirmation of what she had always thought—Mick couldn't be the father of Beth's baby. Beth needed a human for that—and who was that human? That old boyfriend of hers who died? She'd have to find out.
"Fine. I'll make an appointment. Thank you very much, Doctor."
He shook her hand and felt a chill go up his arm as he touched her.
--
Mick's phone rang late in the afternoon. He had just gotten out of the freezer and had taken a shower. He had to run to grab the phone out in the kitchen. He saw on his caller ID that it was Dr. Mineo, and his stomach immediately dropped. What could be wrong?
"Dr. Mineo! What's up?" Mick said anxiously.
"Oh, nothing about the baby, Mick. Everything is fine."
Mick let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank God. So—what's going on?"
"Mick, this has nothing to do with your baby, but I thought I needed to pass some information on to you."
There was silence at both ends. Mick spoke first. "Okay, doctor—tell me what ithis is all about, please."
"I had a new patient conference today, a Coraline Du Vall." He heard the intake of Mick's breath. "She wanted to be checked out to see if she can get pregnant while on the 'cure.'"
"Pregnant? Who is the victim? I mean, the father?" His thoughts were swimming.
"She says it's going to be you."
Stunned silence now cracked over the lines. "Me?"
"I can tell you're shocked. She says you married your wife out of pity for an unwed mother, and as soon as you have fulfilled your obligations to her, you will be back with your ex-wife, and will be working on making a family with her."
Silence followed as Mick took in what he said. It wasn't possible! He felt sick, thinking that somehow his ex had found out that Beth was pregnant, and was seeing their doctor on top of it! Coraline was back to her old tricks again! He felt violated, now that she was going to HIS doctor and telling the man stinking lies!
"Mick—are you there?"
"I'm here, doctor, but I'm just so stunned. Everything we've told you is the truth, and everything she has told you is an abject lie. I hope you'll have nothing more to do with her, Doctor. She is out to kill me and my wife, actually. She's so jealous, and I didn't even know how jealous until you told me this. Oh, man, this is really bad! I feel like I need to find Beth—I have to keep Coraline away from her! You didn't say you'd treat her, did you?"
"Actually, she has another appointment to see me. I suppose I could tell her there's no possibility of her getting pregnant, but it's a bit unethical unless that's true."
"Doctor—she is a psychopath and she does want to kill us. Thank you for warning me, but be very, very careful with her. She's extremely unstable."
"I picked up on that. I thought I should let you know, though."
"I appreciate it—very much. Beth and I will have to figure this out."
"One question, Mick."
"Sure."
"She seems very sure you couldn't have gotten Beth pregnant, but the baby is yours, right?"
"Absolutely. Neither Beth or I had been in a sexual relationship for months before we got together. It's mine. No doubt about that!"
"That's good enough for me. Well, good-bye until our next appointment!"
"Yes, doctor. We'll see you next month."
After the phone call, Mick sat down and put his head in his hands. He'd have to tell Josef, and he had a feeling Coraline's life was about to end, and that would be for the best.
He rushed over to the Court House and raced up to Beth's office. She was there, working at her desk. As soon as she saw him, her smile lit up the room. She got up from her desk and came over to hug him. "You're early! What's going on?"
"I had a call from Dr. Mineo—I had to be sure you were safe. Coraline is up to something."
"I'll tell Ben I'm leaving a little early—you can fill me in on the drive home."
Ben told her it was okay to leave. He nodded and waved as they left. "Stay safe, Beth!" He watched her leave with St. John, who had his arm around her protectively. Oh well. He'd have to get over this crazy feeling about Beth! Maybe Simone could distract him—he hoped so!
The drive home was refreshing—the sun was low in the sky, and Mick had the top down on his car. What he told her scared her.
"Did you tell Josef?"
"I called him—got his voice mail. I hope to talk to him later. I also asked the security guys outside of our apartment, and they were very edgy and avoided my eyes, I was sure I could smell Coraline, but they'd have killed her if she got up to our floor! I'm really having some bad feelings about this, though. I'm going to have to review the security recordings of our hallway."
"I don't like it either. To think she'd see our doctor! And that she'd tell him such a story!" She fumed for a moment, then turned, wide-eyed. "Mick! How does she know I'm pregnant?"
Mick smiled and looked at her sideways. "Honey, some secrets don't keep forever."
Beth looked down at her belly. "Oh. I guess you're right about that! I guess I was stupid to think I could get through nine months without her knowing about it!"
"Well, she knows and we'll have to deal with that. Be extra cautious. I've been thinking about something having to do with your work—when we get home, I'll feed you dinner and ask you about it."
"Hmmmm. Sounds intriguing!"
"Well, maybe! I'm thinking—we do make a good team!"
"Better every day, as far as I can see! Okay—I'll have to wait to hear, huh?"
"After dinner." He smiled and squeezed her hand. He always held it as he drove. Funny how having her in his life now came so naturally!
--
Ben Talbot pulled up to Simone's, parked the car, got out and rang the bell. She came to the door looking smashing in a filmy green dress that hung from a sparkling circle that went around her neck, with light billows of fabric which ended above her knees. Her heels were high, strappy, sexy and black. He helped her into her black cashmere wrap. She turned and gave him a killer smile and he wondered why he had never noticed how attractive she was. Maybe because she had been Josef's, and because in the courtroom, she dressed in suits and acted fearless and intimidating. Not that he'd faced her in court very much, but he knew she was smart, and now he also knew that she was insanely beautiful. He looked forward to dinner, more for conversation than anything, but it seemed looking at her across a table would also be very enjoyable!
"Let's go!" he said, taking her arm and leading her to his car.
"Wow! Nice ride!" she said, looking over the sporty convertible.
"I can put up the top if you like. I've found that most women don't like their hair to blow around."
"Uh-uh! I want to feel the wind tonight! My hair will be fine!" His kind of woman! Off they roared.
--
After dinner, Mick sat with Beth in the living room.
"I've just been thinking about how much I could use your help on some of my cases." He looked into her eyes and she was listening without making any objections, which was a good sign, he thought. "You have a good mind—I could use that—and some of the legwork would be easier if you were along with me. When we put our heads together, like we used to do before your job with Ben, well, I liked work a lot more, and cases were easier to solve. I wondered if you'd come back to work with me."
"So—this is a job offer?"
"Yes, it is." He watched her face as she processed his offer, and he noticed her face took on an unreadable, kind of odd look. He wondered what it was?
"Beth—you know by now you can say anything to me! What are you thinking? You think this is a bad idea?"
"No—I guess I was wondering if we could afford it—me not working outside—you know—earning money outside the family business, so to speak."
Mick sat back on the couch and laughed, shaking his head. "We've been married now for how many months? Four? And we've never discussed finances! Wow—I'm really sorry, honey—I guess I just thought somehow you knew. . ." He leaned forward and put his head in his hands. Beth got concerned and slid over to him, putting her hand on his back.
"It's okay, Mick. I don't care if we don't have all that much—I'm okay working for Ben."
Mick looked up into her eyes again. She was concerned about HIM! "Oh, Beth. I love you SO much!"
Now she simply looked puzzled. "I love you too, honey. I'm just saying. . ."
"I know, and I do appreciate that you didn't marry me for my money! But—I should have told you a long time ago—at least when we got married! Oh, I am sorry." He looked slightly sheepish, and she wondered what that was about.
"Mick, you have to be more specific. I don't know why you think you're so wrong not to tell me everything—money doesn't matter to me! Just having you is enough!" She thought about the money drawer—there was always a few thousand dollars in there, and Mick had told her to take whatever she needed, but she really didn't know beyond that how much money he had. "You know, I have that $40,000 from Josh's life insurance. And now that I'm not paying rent on my place, I really don't spend much."
He looked at her sweet face, seeing so much love there, in spite of being totally clueless as to what their situation was financially.
"Beth! Honey, stop. I should have told you--we don't ever have to worry about money. I don't have to work, but I like to stay busy! You don't have to work, but I thought you liked what you do. Over the past fifty years, I've been very good with my money! Josef keeps me on a retainer, and he's generous, plus, I make a very good income as a PI, and Josef has had my money invested for me for years. I mean, I got IBM stock at the issue price! Same with Yahoo and Microsoft! Think about that!
"Okay--but I guess I'm stupid--it means what exactly?"
"Beth, we have at least—oh--thirty million, give or take, in different places, so don't ever worry about money!"
Beth was gasping and he held her hand. "I had no idea!"
"I know, and it's all my fault for never telling you, but it's true. My money is making us more money every day—more than we can earn from working, so if you really want to retire—we can do that! We can move into a bigger place. We can move to any town you want—here or abroad. Like I said, I live here because I love the weather, and I wanted to keep an eye on you, but whatever you want—it's yours, Beth. All I have is yours."
He was bending over, trying to see her face, which she had resting on one of her hands. He still held her other hand and kissed it softly on the palm.
She was thinking now, shaking her head, at all the signs she had missed--the Versace labels in all of his coats and jackets, his shoes! Even the tags on some of his jeans that he hadn't worn yet told her he spent more on one pair than she spent on ten!
She pulled her hand from him and grabbed a pillow off the couch. She stood up and threw it at him. "You never said a word! All this time, I thought we were just kind of getting by! Omigosh! Mick! You're wealthy!" She sat down again and looked like she was in shock.
He slid across the cushions and put his arms around her. "It slipped my mind, honey! I never worry about money, and I just forgot to tell you that we don't have money issues! I'm sorry, Beth. Will you forgive me? I signed a new will the day before we left to get married—it's all yours if I die, so you and the baby are taken care of."
"Mick! I don't know what to say!"
He smiled. "Well, you could say you accept my job offer, now that you know I can afford to pay you!"
"But Josef paid for the wedding! I thought. . ."
"You thought it was because I couldn't afford it? NO. Josef wanted to give us a wedding—as a gift—he didn't know what else he could do, and I said it was okay with me! He loved giving you a wedding, Beth! He loves you!"
"He loves you, Mick—he did it for you! But still. . ."
"Nothing. The things I do for him—he can't pay me enough! The wedding was chump change to him! And sorry—I'm no billionaire, but I don't care. We have enough to be okay, and if we ever run out—I'll just work harder! I have it in Swiss accounts and in the Caymans—I never know if I'm going to have to get out of here, for one reason or another, so I've taken precautions. It's all in my will so you can find it if you need to. And Josef would help you."
"Don't even say it, Mick. I can't think of living without you. I don't care about your money—I only want you."
"That's the right thing to say, Beth!" He laughed and hugged her close. "I'd be so happy if you'd work with me again, but you don't have to--really, anything you want, just say and it'll be yours."
Her eyes were very wide. "I suppose this means we can afford to build a nursery?"
He still hugged her and she felt the laughter deep in his chest. "I thought we should call the decorator. I still have more space behind the office, and I wanted you to meet with someone to get it done. I guess now's as good a time as any, huh?"
She merely nodded. "You say I don't have to work?"
"No—you stay home with the baby, you work, you climb Mount Everest. Whatever you want, Beth."
"Wow. Climb Mount Everest. Hmmmm. Not right now, thanks. You're really sure you want me to work with you? Mister 'I work alone?'"
"Of course! I never loved work as much as when I was working with you! Besides, I'm not going to have a moment's peace with you out of my sight with Coraline on the loose!"
"Oh, I understand! Believe me—she's giving me the creeps too!"
She climbed on top of him, straddling him, wrapping her legs around him on the couch. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly. "Thanks for taking such good care of us, Mick."
"We take care of each other, honey. I'm just happy we have options." He kissed her back, then looked into her eyes. "We'll be okay. I know it."
She moved and wiggled against him and felt him instantly grow firm. "I know you'll always take care of me, so let me take care of you right now." He was already pulling her top off.
"Good trade."
--
Ben wasn't happy when Beth told him she was leaving his employ. He wondered if she could afford not to have a job, but didn't say anything. It was her business. They decided she could finish up her cases in a week, and then she'd be done. She told him she was going back to work for Mick again, and he wished her luck. It was probably for the best, he thought—it would give him a chance to get her out of his mind!
--
Coraline was in her apartment, pacing back and forth, trying to figure out her next move. She heard a key in the lock and the door opened. Hank stood there looking shrunken, miserable, and terribly dirty on top of the rest of his problems.
"Oh. You're back. How did you get out?" She asked him without feeling.
"You miserable bitch!" he said and lunged for her. Unfortunately, he was weak from his time without feeding, and she was much stronger than he. She kicked him and he flew across the room and crashed into the wall. He lay on the floor in a daze. In an instant, Coraline thrust a long piece of wood into him, staking him effectively.
"You are a miserable SOB! After all I've done for you, you come to my house and treat me like this! I've had enough of you!"
She picked him up without effort and slung him over one shoulder. She walked down the hall and threw him down the trash shoot, listening as he sailed down and hit the bottom. Sooner or later they'd incinerate the trash, and he may as well go with it!
She got back to her living room and picked up a broken vase, threw it away, and went back to pacing. She was deciding that waiting for the baby to be born would take too long. She needed to get out of the States. Too bad getting rid of Beth wouldn't be as easy as getting rid of Hank!