The Battered Heiress Blues - By Laurie Van Dermark Page 0,3

lifeless body. The song became harder and harder to hear until the melody and my angel disappeared altogether. I was alone again, but no longer afraid.

Peace washed over me. My mind displayed a montage of life experiences- small triumphs and heart wrenching losses. The images appeared one right after the next until a strong kick summoned me, with a fortitude that no longer matched my own. Clutching my belly, I let out a guttural scream. I’d forgotten him. I was dragging him into this abyss. He was an unwilling participant; his kick reminding me that our fates were linked. Climbing out of the quiet, I found my voice. “Help me. Please help my son.” With my strength fading, the tenseness in my body relaxed and my eyes closed. My body was becoming his tomb.

Chimbote was a far cry from the privileged life I led in Manhattan. Fleeing to Peru was my most masterful escape to date. John Spencer the third, my father, labeled my trip a vacation. He related stories of me traveling in style to tourist destinations like Machu Picchu, neglecting to share that my departure was precipitated by finding my husband in bed with his associate. Somehow, disclosing that information would have embarrassed the family. I was certain that he blamed some inadequacy on my part for Jackson’s little indiscretion. And so, I broke through my shackles and outran the search parties. The only person to eventually locate me was Henry. He was the only man I had ever loved. He was my Tru.

Henry Truman Walker was my father’s right hand man. He was his lawyer, confidant, and all around errand boy. I had no doubt that my father would play upon our past, in asking Henry to find, and persuade me to come back to the States. He hadn’t taken into consideration that I was my father’s daughter. As much as I despised John, I could be every bit as stubborn as he.

Henry had it all- a Harvard law degree, stellar relations, and the good looks to match his English pedigree. He came to our family business as an intern, but quickly surpassed the skills of John’s upper level executives. You couldn’t help but be dazzled by his charm and dedication.

Deep down, I knew that Henry would have insisted on coming. College sweethearts- we were now the best of friends. I preferred his empathy to my father’s work the problem mentality. We had a history. He was the first person I called when Jackson cheated on me. Henry was the clear choice. The priest in Tommy would have instructed me to pray, and my father would have cautioned about the impending scandal, but Henry just wanted to kick his ass. I loved that about him.

I felt his warm touch as I tried to open my eyes, squinting to shield them from the bright, harsh lights of the hospital room. I’d lost time. My body felt very heavy.

“Jewels.” There was an apprehension in his greeting.

“Tru?” My head was pounding and my stomach uneasy. The room began to turn circles as if I were looking through a kaleidoscope. I tried to focus on his eyes.

He rose over me and kissed my forehead. His image was clearer now as I adjusted to my surroundings. “Thank God you’re awake.” His delivery was solemn, as he sat next to me on the bed. He was never very good at disguising truth- it just poured out of him.

“What’s the matter?” I said, becoming keenly aware of the immense pain in my abdomen as I reached to greet him.

“You’ll be okay, Jewels.” He stroked my forearm without meeting my gaze. His evasiveness betrayed him and I began to panic.

Memories flooded back into my hazy consciousness. I was stabbed. My baby. My Conner. My hand slid down to my belly and anxiety swept over me. “Where’s Conner? Take me to him,” I demanded angrily.

His head dropped and after a long pause, he whispered, “He’s gone.”

“What? Gone where? I don’t understand. Just take me to him.” My mind wouldn’t allow his words to register- self protection. I would find my son alone, if need be.

Struggling to get my body upright, Henry braced my torso and pushed me back down on the bed. I fought against his hold to no end. I was too weak. He placed his arms under my neck and drew me to him, whispering in my ear, “He didn’t make it Julia. I’m so sorry. There was so much damage. The knife severed