Reliving The Past
Chapter 15
As Elizabeth takes her shower, her thoughts run wild. She just keeps hearing the word shrink. She's thinking that they are going to try to have her committed. So she tries to figure a way to not get so emotional. She has to make herself stronger. Once she gets that mind set, she lets the warm water relax her tense muscles.
Downstairs, everyone sits around drinking iced tea and soda.
"Well, this is a little awkward." Franco says, looking around at the people there.
"Yeah. Well, this creep is putting us together for a reason. So let's just keep this in mind." Maxie says, still nervous around Franco.
"Yes. Let's remember that. When are they supposed to get here?" Lulu asks, feeling the tension.
"They just said as soon as the shrink got there then they would be on the way. They have all the evidence. But I just ask as a fellow human beings, that what happens here stays here. I don't want one of you getting mad at her and throwing it in her face. If you can't do this, then you can go sit on the porch while we tell her what's happening. Oh I better call Lucky and have him on standby. He wanted to be put on speaker and maybe help. At first he didn't think she should know. But then changed his mind. She needs to know what she's facing." Franco says, grabbing his cellphone and calling Lucky.
"Franco, are we ready?" Lucky says without a hello.
"Well, she went to take a shower. Dante and Nathan aren't here yet. But I thought I would have you on standby. Would you like to chat with your sister while we wait?" Franco looks to Lulu.
"Sure. Why don't you use the land line and call them to make sure they are on their way." Franco hands the phone to Lulu. And then he goes to the cordless phone and calls Nathan's cellphone.
"Hi Lucky. It's good to hear your voice. It was nice today. Everyone was having a good time. For a little while that is. Aidan's getting so big. When are you coming home for a visit?" Lulu feeling kind of sad.
"I'll try to real soon. I'm just working a lot. When I feel they can do without me for a week, I'll come back for a visit. I sure miss the boys. Is this Franco thing really just friends with them?" Lucky cuts to the chase and cuts the small talk short.
"Yeah. I think it is. I never thought I would say this. Wait." Lulu gets up and goes into the other room. "Ok, I thought I would be the last person to say this, but Franco is very gentle and cautious with her. And the boys. Almost like if he gets to close he might break them. I don't think he would. But it's refreshing to see him actually care about someone. I saw it a little with Nina. But he's been very kind to Elizabeth. And to all the boys. Although Cam has been acting a little off. Mouthing back to Liz and being rude to Franco. Now grant it, Cam could be seeing some tension with others that are still not friendly to Franco, but it's hurting Liz. You can see it." Lulu says, while wiping down the counter tops. Trying to feel useful. Elizabeth comes down the stairs with Roco in her arms.
"Someone wants his mommy." Elizabeth kisses his forehead. "Here's mommy big guy." She hands Roco over to Lulu.
"Hey big guy. Say hi to uncle Lucky." She puts the phone up to Roco's ear.
"Hey big guy! I miss you. How are you?" Lucky asks in the gentle voice he uses for the kids.
"Mommy. News house." Roco says. Still having a little trouble with his speech.
"Really? You got a new house? Cool. When uncle Lucky comes to visit I will have to check out your new bedroom. Are you excited?" Lucky tries to sound happy.
"Yeah." Roco pushes the phone away. "Juice mommy."
"Here, I got to get him something to drink." Lulu hands the cellphone over to Elizabeth.
"Hey Lucky. How was your 4th?" Elizabeth doesn't want to really talk. She's afraid that he's behind the shrink.
"It was ok. But it's not the same as being home in the states. How was yours?" He waits for a few minutes in silence. At first he thought she wasn't going to talk.
"It was great for the most part. I think Cam is becoming a terrible teen. I don't know what's going on with him. I'm worried. I plan to talk to him before he goes off to my parents. Please, if he does call you or text you will you try to get it out of him. I don't care if he talks to me or you. As long as he talks to one of us. I'm sure it's hard for a boy to talk to his mother. I know it was hard to talk to my dad about girl things. Even though he was a doctor." Elizabeth is quiet for a second. "Sorry. I have a bit of a headache from this afternoon." There's a knock at the front door. "Oh, there's someone here. I'll let you talk to Lulu again." She hands the phone over to Lulu. Then heads for the front door. But Kevin answers the door. The opens it and lets Nathan, Dante and Kevin Collins come in.
"Hello boys. Happy 4th. Dr. Collins, I hope you had a good 4th. Please come in and sit down. I'm sure this is a waste of time. Can I get anyone a drink or refill?" Elizabeth plays the good hostess.
"I would love a big glass of Ice tea if you have it." Kevin Collins says, while setting his briefcase down and waits before sitting down.
"Same here." Dante says.
"Me too." Nathan says, putting down a plastic bag. As soon as Elizabeth goes into the kitchen, they talk softly.
"Now, we need to be gentle and if she lashes out, let her. Don't let her goad you into an argument. I know that everyone here has had some shaky times with Liz. But she might try to pick a fight to avoid the real issue. If you can't hold your anger or tongue, then leave now please. This will be very hard for her to handle. Let her feel the way she needs to so she can accept this. You all know she was raped, correct?" Dr. Collins looks around. Pretty much it was just Ric and Maxie. Other than Kevin the body guard, Dante and Nathan. They all shake their heads yes. Lulu brings Roco out to the living room.
"Time for daddy to take him up to one of the boys rooms and play. Mommy and uncle Lucky need to be here. You mister, still have an Ouchy. So go play with your son. Bond away. Now what did we miss? I knocked over some water. Well, Roco did so I could get briefed while she cleans up." Lulu says, handing her son to his father and sitting down.
"Just let her feel what she will. She might try to push some of your old history buttons to avoid. Don't let her. If you can't keep on topic and keep your anger in check, then leave now." Dr. Collins says.
"I'm good." Lulu says.
"Me too." Lucky says via speaker phone. Then Elizabeth comes in with a tray with three glass of iced tea. And a plate of cookies.
"Here you go. Now I am not trying to be rude here, but why are you hear Dr. Collins?" Elizabeth looks at him seriously.
"Well, I thought that we might have a talk. And your friends wanted to be here for you in support." Dr. Collins starts.
"Oh God! Is this about Cam?" She looks concerned.
"No. This is about you. You and your stalker." He watches her face for any sign of avoidance.
"Oh. Sorry. I'm just worried about him."
"That's understandable. But we need to talk about you and your stalker. Why don't you tell us about what's been happening." Dr. Collins puts it in her court.
"Oh. Ok. Well, about two months ago, I started receiving these really sweet letters. I thought they were from Franco originally. As they started right after he brought us a toaster as a house warming present. But then I got a rude, graphic letter. So I confronted Franco, who denied he was sending them. Then I received long stem red roses. The note attached made me believe it was Ric, Lucky or Jason. Well, Jason isn't here. So I called both Lucky and Ric." She looks at Ric and smiles. He smiles back. "They both denied it too. So I thought it best to go to report it to Dante. Him being family-ish and a cop. Well, Dante came back here with me to get the letter. I got another one. Threatening my friends and family if I go to the police. He knew about a patient dying. He called. He wrote that he pretty much killed this patient and made it look like an accident. That he could do it to anyone. He put snakes in my house. He's been lurking outside my house. He's been in my house. I have to send my boys away because I fear for them." She stops suddenly. She just stares at Dr. Collins.
"Elizabeth, what's wrong?"
"You want to lock me up again?" She looks into his eyes.
"No. I never said that. It was never a thought. Why do you think that?" Dr. Collins focuses on her body language.
"Because. Everyone is looking for me to mess up with my boys. Jason is waiting for me to screw up so he and Sam can take Jake from me. And I messed up with Lucky. He can't even stand to be in the same town, let alone the same country. We used to love each other so much that we spent most of our free time together. Now I'm lucky if we can even talk about the boys. He loves them. But I get in the way." Elizabeth stands up and turns away from everyone. To hide her tears.
"No one wants you to mess up with the boys. No one wants to take your boys away. It's just the fear that this stalker is creating in you. I can see how upset you are about having to send your boys off to keep them safe. That is a good mother. No, a great mother that would suffer to protect her kids. Would you like to tell me what put you in the hospital yesterday?" Dr. Collins decides to bring it back to the stalker.
"I was drugged. It happened just before the body guards got here. I only way it could have happened was the coffee that I had set out for Franco and me. I drank the coffee. I just remember feeling uneasy with Kevin. Sorry Kevin. We called Sonny because Dante never showed up like he was supposed to. I was going to ask for another guy to replace Kevin. But then I got fuzzy and I woke up in the hospital. The guards have been wonderful. But if this guy wants me, he will get to me." She stands there with her back to everyone.
"Why would you think that? Because it happened to you before?" Dr. Collins gets closer to her. "You can tell us."
"No. I'm not bringing this up again. I know he wants me to. But I refuse to give him what he wants." Elizabeth clenches her hands into fists. So tight her knuckles turn white. Dr. Collins knows that she's feeling corner. So he backs off a little. She starts to move things around like she is picking up.
"Elizabeth, can you tell me what happened today?" Dr. Collins asks.
"We had our BBQ. It's our first. I'm hoping to make it a new tradition. All my friends and family came. We laughed and had a good time. I kicked Max's butt in volleyball." Dr. Collins can see her body start to loosen a little. Kevin grilled. The best tasting dogs and burgers. My boys were happy. Everyone seemed to be. Then I came into the house." She stops. He can see the tension come back in her body.
"It's ok Elizabeth. Continue."
"I don't think I have time. I have to go get my boys from Grams. We have to pack them up tonight. I was going to spend some times with them before they go tomorrow." She starts to cry. Everyone can see her back quake a little in silent, deep down sobs.
"Your boys are fine. We need to talk about this. I don't want to make you feel bad. These people are here to help you. I'm here to help you. You have been trying to hold everything together alone for so long that I bet you have been tense for so long that you don't even feel the tension anymore. You have been trying to be the prefect mother. The perfect nurse. The perfect person for everyone but yourself." Dr. Collins points out.
"I would love to paint again. Draw. But I don't have the time. I feel like a bad mother if my boys aren't with me when I'm not working. I just don't have time." Elizabeth wipes away tears, still facing away from everyone else.
"I'm sure the boys wouldn't hate you if you took an hour a day to draw or paint. Kids are not as demanding as you would think. Put them in a room with toys and you have a little time. I'm sure that your friends would help you out. You have to learn to ask for help. Guilt free help."
"No. That part of my life is gone. That was in my youth. My Lucky and Liz time. Even my Ric and Liz time." The memories flood back to her. Ric motions for Dr. Collins' attention. He shakes his head yes.
"Liz, I could come and get the boys for a few hours a day. Everyday. I'm sure they would love to go do guy stuff. I miss them. Then you could draw and paint or sit and stare at a wall. But it would be your time." Ric smiles. She turns around.
"Ric, you are in a new relationship. I can't ask you to take time away from Lori. Thank you for the offer."
"Elizabeth, take him up on the offer. Those boys need to go do boy stuff with boys. You are a great mom, but they need male influence too." Lulu points out.
"What would Lucky says Lulu. He hates Ric. Sorry Ric. But that is a fact. And he hates Franco. Sorry Franco. I don't know what I can do if the fathers don't like who are willing to be their male role models." Elizabeth grabs the few empty glasses and goes to refill them. When she's out of the room, Lucky speaks.
"I am willing to let you guys spend time with Cam and Aidan. If it will help Elizabeth out just a little bit. I know that I was supposed to be there for them. Since I left her to carry this all, I will allow it. But I need to know that you guys will use common sense. And I love Jake like he's mine. But he is Jason's. I can see you have changed Franco. But you really did a lot to Jason and Sam. You might have to prove to them you are good." Lucky can hear her come back in the room.
"Here you go. Did anyone want anything else?" She looks around.
"Yes. I want you to sit and talk to me." Dr. Collins says.
"I am talking to you." Elizabeth smiles, like it's a joke.
"I hope you don't mind, but I contacted Gale Baldwin. I know she was your therapist when you were 15. She gave me your file. Now I haven't read it at all. I wouldn't do that to you. But I would like your permission to look at it."
"Why?!" Elizabeth begins pacing. "I'm not liking this. There is no need for you to see that file. That was between Gale and me."
"Elizabeth, we need to talk about something that is not something you are going to want to talk about. You know what I am referring to. What happened today?" Dr. Collins waits.
"No." Elizabeth closes her eyes.
"You have to. How can you go get your boys when something else could happen and you drink another half bottle of Tequila? That's not you. Not the responsible mother that we know you are. But yet you did that earlier today. Why? What happened?"
"Please, don't make me do this." Elizabeth starts to cry. "I don't know if I can get through this…again." Elizabeth cries so hard her body shakes. Lulu and even Maxie are fighting the urge to go hug her.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth. I don't like having to dig something up that you had dealt with and left in the past. But this person is determined to reopen it. So we're going to have to revisit this issue. Now you need to say it. Then we can move on to the next part."
"Fine! He came into my house. Went to my bed room, put a box…put a box on my bed. Wrote a message on my mirror. Inside that box…was that. It was that dress. That once beautiful dress. That dress I wore to the movies and then the park that night. The color red. Red as the blood I bled that night. And my white negligee that I wore the night of my wedding to Lucky. I don't even know how he knew about that white negligee. Lucky was the only one to see it. Not even Gram or Emily saw it. There, are you happy now?" Elizabeth wipes away what feels like a bucket of tears from her face.
"I'm not happy about any of this. But saying it out loud takes some of the power he had over you. Now this next part is what everyone is here for. It's going to be hard for you to handle."
"Harder than the dress?" Elizabeth looks terrified.
"Yes. Much worse." Dr. Collins says, holding a hand out to Nathan. Nathan gets the picture of the plastic bag. "Have a seat." Elizabeth slowly sits down. Her heart has stops beating. Her mind runs wild. Dr. Collins holds up the picture.
A/N: Thanks for all the reading and reviewing. I love hearing from you all. Hope you liked this chapter. Next one to come soon.
