Eye of the Storm (Hudson 3)

"We can't have someone like that for your driver. I don't want someone like that associated with the family name."

"No," I said, shaking my head vigorously. "He wasn't drunk. He was perfect. Don't you dare fire him. He's not your driver. He's mine ,

"What's the matter with you? The man's an inebriate. He always was. I told my mother time after time that she should hire herself a decent, well-trained and respectable chauffeur and not someone without any ambition or class."

"Jake is my best friend in the world," I said. "Don't you even think of saying anything like that to him."

She saw the resistence in my face and softened her shoulders.

"I spoke with the doctor. He thinks your physical therapist might be working you too quickly, too strenuously. I've called the firm and asked for an older. more experienced therapist for you."

"It's not the therapist's fault. It's a common problem for paraplegics. I want Austin."

"Austin?" she said twisting her mouth into her cheek,

"I won't cooperate with anyone else. I won't," I assured her. She studied me a moment and then shook her head slowly.

"You're not developing an attachment to this therapist, are you? That's a dangerous thing. I've been told so by people who know."

"No," I said too quickly. "I just feel comfortable with him and we are making pro Tess, Call them back and tell them he's all right."

"We'll see," she said.

"If you don't, I won't cooperate with you and sign any of your papers," I threatened. "I mean it."

She stared, her anger firing up her eyes ag.ain before, she quickly quenched the flames and smiled.

"Don't get yourself so upset. Rain. I was just thinking of what was best for you. If that's the way you want it for now, that's fine. I'll take care of it. What I want you to do is rest and recuperate quickly so you can go home after the weekend. On Tuesday now. I'll be at the house with Grant to help explain some of the things we have to do with the estate. Okay?'

"Okay," I said, still not trusting her.

"Let me see to the van at least. I'll do that today myself," she said.

"Don't sell the Rolls-Royce" I told her.

She smiled that cold, sharp smile, stretching her lips into thin, pencil lines slashed across her narrow face.

"All right. We'll keep it for now. It's one of those things that can gain in value if kept up properly anyway," she said, determined to turn every disagreement into to a victory for herself one way or another.

She rose and patted me gently on the back of my hand.

"Just get better and don't worry about the other matters. I'll keep in touch with the doctors. Is there anything you want right now?"

'No.' I said. I closed my eyes. When I opened them, she was gone.

Later, while I was eating lunch. Austin came to see me.

"Talk about finding ways to avoid going for a swim," he said smiling, He had a bouquet of red roses for me.

"Thank you," I said smelling them. He put them in a vase and pulled a chair closer to my bed.

"This is a minor setback," he said. "Don't let it get to you. You'll just watch your medication and you'll be fine. We'll be back at work in a few days. Don't think that you've gotten away with anything. There are plenty of other days ahead when it will be ideal to go swimming."

"I'm really not worried about that." I said laughing.

"My uncle said your aunt was upset with me and wanted me replaced," he said after a moment.

"I've already spoken to her about that. You're not going to be replaced."