Eye of the Storm (Hudson 3)

"I'm only doing what's best for you. You're not capable of making these sort of decisions at this time. I'm looking for a new therapist for you and will have one shortly," she promised with that weak, plastic smile.

"I don't want another one. I won't cooperate with anyone else."

"Suit yourself." she said. "You're only hurting your own rehabilitation by biting off your nose to spite your face. Remember." she said waving her long, honey right forefinger at me. "the moment I learn he's been within ten feet of you, I call my attorneys." After her admonishment, she left me sitting there. fuming.

As soon as I could. I tried to take the van and drive away, but I discovered the keys to the van were gone and naturally, her precious Mrs. Churchwell knew nothing about them. When I asked my aunt, she told me doctors have advised her that I'm not ready for driving.

"But I already have driven!" I screamed. "I've done it many times and gone shopping and

everything."

"That was a mistake, something that fortune hunter got you to do for selfish reasons," she told me.

"I want my keys. That's my van!" I shouted at her. She stared as if I had barely raised my voice. "I'm calling Mr. Sanger and tell him about all the things you've done and are doing. We'll sue you." I said. It was my turn to threaten, but she was always a step ahead.

The phone in my room was still inoperative. When I wheeled myself out to call from the kitchen. I was shocked to discover that now it didn't work either.

"Why are all the phones dead?" I asked Mrs. Churchwell, Whenever I asked her anything, she always acted as if she didn't hear me. I had to repeat myself and be louder and more demanding before she would finally acknowledge my existence.

"They're not all dead." she said dryly. "The one upstairs works."

"What? Only the one upstairs?"

"And in your aunt's office, of course." she said and I quickly whipped myself around and rolled down to my aunt's office because I knew she wasn't home. I should have saved my strength and realized that the door would be locked. I wheeled back and demanded Mrs. Churchwell open it. Again, she ignored me until I practically ran over her foot.

"I can't open it." she said. "I don't have the key and even if I did. I wouldn't open it without your aunt's permission."

"My aunt's permission. You can't breathe without my aunt's permission," I spit at her.

She glared at me and then she walked away and upstairs to clean my aunt's bedroom and bathroom.

In the evening after dinner, after Mrs. Churchwell left. I would go out on the portico if my aunt wasn't home and hope that Austin would just come driving up to rescue me. Usually my aunt returned before I saw any sin of him. I was sure once he saw her car parked in front of the house, he would simply turn away.

"Why are you out in the cold evening air?" she would ask. "Surely you know that can't be good for anyone in your weakened condition."

"I'm not in any weakened condition. You're treating me like some prisoner and I won't stand for it. I want my phone turned back on and I want the keys to my van."

"Just like your mother, not showing any gratitude. Here I decide to sacrifice my time and my energy for you and all you can do is threaten and complain."

"I don't want your help. How many times do I have to tell you?"

"Megan. Megan. Megan." she muttered shaking her head.

"I'm not Megan. Stop calling me Megan,"

"You're getting yourself overly excited. Calm down. You'll end up in the hospital again." she warned, but at the moment, that sounded like a good place to be. I was actually considering complaining about severe pains just to get myself out of the house. But before I started my act. Austin showed up.

I had returned to my room after dinner. Aunt Victoria had called to say she would be late as she was at a meeting. She asked Mrs. Churchwell to remain a little longer. I knew she offered her time and a half for it because she put up no resistence. She sat like a sentry in the living room thumbing through magazines and watching the driveway, ready to leap up and run to the upstairs phone if Austin appeared.

Fuming, frustrated and enraged. I wheeled back to my room and sat there, mumbling to myself, trying to decide what to do next when suddenly I heard a gentle tapping at the window and turned to see his face in the glass. My heart leaped for joy. I quickly went to my door and locked it as he pushed up the window and climbed into my room.

I started to cry and he rushed to me, kneeling down quickly to embrace me.

"Rain, don't cry. What's happened?"

'Oh Austin, my aunt has moved into the house. She's hired the most horrible maid to be here during the day and spy on me constantly. She cut off my phone, too."

"I know. I tried to call and was told the number was no longer in service and there was no listed replacement. I wanted to come here days ago, but your aunt's attorney called my uncle and told him I had been trying to reach you. I had to lie to him. I felt terrible about it and then I just decided this was silly. I'm coming to see you somehow. I just knew you weren't doing well."