Eye of the Storm (Hudson 3)

"Doing well? I'm a virtual prisoner here. She took the van keys and hid them, too, claiming doctors told her I wasn't ready for driving. She said if I violated one rule she would have her lawyers reinstate the complaint against your uncle and destroy him. She's capable of doing just that. I want to leave here. Austin. I want to leave here forever."

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I know," he said. "I know." He wiped away my tears and kissed my cheeks. "We'll do just that. I'll plan it."

"I have money, Austin. A lot of it. I just have to get to my attorney. I'll have him advance us enough money and we'll go somewhere else and I'll leave her here in her own hell. Then I'll have the house sold out from under her. I swear I will," I vowed, mean it, every syllable. Oh. Austin. I can't stand it another minute."

"Rain, just let me plan it out," he said in a soothing voice to calm me.

I shook my head.

"I can't stay here much longer. Austin."

"I know, I know. The problem is she might still go after my uncle. I've got to think about how we will manage this."

"No, she'll leave your uncle alone. I'll have my attorney negotiate with her and give her what she wants as long as she lets me go. You'll see. Just take me there tomorrow. okay?"

He nodded, but didn't look convinced. "Let's just take it a step at a time." he said. "I've got to plan where we will go and what I will do afterward."

"We'll have enough money. Austin. Don't worry about it."

"Money's not our only problem. Rain. You have greater needs. I've got to be sure you'll be well attended to," he said.

"I'll have you. What could be better?"

He smiled.

"I'm just a therapist. Rain. I can help you with your basic needs and get you strong, but we have to be concerned about your health needs. too. Let me plan." he repeated. "C'mon. Relax. Rain. Let's let things calm down."

I nodded. "Now that you're here. I'm calm."

He smiled and kissed me. I held onto his neck while he put his arm under my legs, lifting me out of the chair and setting me down gently.

"I really missed you," I said. "And I missed you."

He knelt beside the bed and kissed my hand. His smile was like sunshine, warming me all over, restoring my hope and my strength, like a rainbow after a storm.

"What have you been doing?" I asked him.

"Working with my other clients. Still, as always. all I could think of was your face." He laughed. "I even called someone else by your name and she got upset with me. The only way I could calm her down was to describe to her how much in love with you I was

"Describe it to me," I urged.

As he spoke, he quietly and gracefully began to undress me and himself. For me it was hearing the fairy tale of fairy tales come true.

"It's like I don't have to eat anymore or sleep or do anything to keep myself alive: only think of you. I dream so vividly. I can actually feel your lips on mine. All day. every day. I see your face in someone else's face. I spin around and wonder if you've just gone by. My heart pounds. Every part of me is filled with longing and loneliness.

"I can't read, watch television, go to a movie, do anything. Nothing will take my mind off you. I wrestle with the temptation to come to you constantly. It's only la-lowing how much of his life and money my uncle has put into his company that keeps me from defying your aunt and her attorneys.

"But finally, the love raging in my heart burst and I couldn't stand being away. I drove here, parked my car far enough away, and ran through the darkness and the woods to sneak onto your property and to your window.

"And now," he said lowering his body to the bed and crawling in beside me. "I am here and I feel complete again."

We kissed. I clung to him.

"It will be all right," he whispered. "We will be all right."