A Memory Unchained (15 page)

tion.

Aunt Lydia seemed to know who Pamela was. She

explained that Rex had been hit by a drunk driver at a

stop sign at a busy intersection on his way to the airport.

She also explained that she had raised Rex and they were

very close.

There were four cars involved in the accident and Rex’s

maroon limousine suffered the worst. His chauffeur had

been killed and Rex was in a coma, critical.

Pamela choked up. She could hardly speak. She apolo-

gized to Aunt Lydia but assured her she would be on the

next available plane to Paris.

Aunt Lydia was gracious and planned to meet Pamela

when she arrived.

Jill held her mother close and tried to comfort her.

Pamela let all her pent up emotions go.

Finally she regained her composure. “I’m alright now,

we must hurry,” she said, wiping her eyes.

Jill drove her back to Jeff Desmond’s office. When Pa-

mela entered the room she could tell by the way the two

men were talking that Jeff and Grant had hit it off. Jeff quickly announced, “This is some smart fellow! I’m sure

we can do business!”

Pamela managed a small half-hearted smile.

“What’s wrong?” Grant’s smile faded!

Jeff walked toward her, his face taunt and full of ques-

tions.

“It’s Rex,” she said solemnly. “He’s been in a terrible

138 __________________Gloria Graham

accident, on his way to the plane, yesterday.”

“Is he alive?” Grant burst in.

“Barely – he’s in a coma – he hasn’t regained conscious-

ness since the accident.”

“How did you find out?”

“I located his Aunt Lydia. Rex had told her all about our plans. She has his power of attorney.” Pamela paused.

Grant interrupted. “Aunt Lydia is a very special person

in Rex’s life. I know. I should have realized she would know if anything was wrong.” He looked apologetic. He put his

arms around Pamela, consoling her.

Jeff looked bewildered. “Without our designer – what

do we have?” he asked.

“He’s critical – not dead!” she answered abruptly. “I’ve

got to go to him now!” Pamela’s eyes were red, but set with determination!

The hours that followed were hectic. Grant planned

to go to the airport to make their reservations. In his de-parture he hesitated only long enough to apologize to Jeff.

He looked intently into Jill’s eyes and said, “You’ll come with us, won’t you?”

His lips formed a tight line and his brow wrinkled with

concern as he awaited her reply.

Jill looked quickly at her mother, her eyes shining with

hope.

“Yes, of course,” Pamela answered.

Grant nodded in agreement and quickly disappeared

out the door of Jeff’s office.

Jeff stood speechless, his handsome face marred with a

forlorn, helpless look. His blue eyes echoed his sadness.

“I’m sorry,” Pamela quickly added as she faced him.

A Memory Unchained___________ 139

“It’s not what I planned. I’ll call you from Paris as soon as I know something.”

Jeff pulled her close. It surprised Pamela but she didn’t resist this time. She wanted a compassionate friend, someone who cared about her.

“Be careful,” he whispered and he kissed her softly on

the mouth.

“I’ll be waiting for your call,” he said. “If you need me, I’m here.” He smiled. Pamela loved the way his moustache

twisted slightly when he smiled. She had that same funny

feeling in the pit of her stomach. His concern touched her and she was definitely taken aback. Just when she began

to wonder if there was no man left in the world with any

compassion Jeff’s concern came through.

Jill watched them, her cute half-grin showing. It was

the kind of all knowing smile, like she thought she knew

a secret about her mother and Jeff Desmond that they

didn’t realize.

Grant met them in the lobby of the airport. “We’re

lucky,” Grant called to them as Pamela and Jill came closer to the flight desk. “They had three cancellations on the

flight leaving tonight – 8:00 o’clock.” He finished paying for the tickets.

“Tonight!” Pamela gasped. “Doesn’t give us much time,

does it?” She sighed.

“I haven’t even had time to unpack yet, have you?” Jill

said looking at Grant. He nodded a “no” gesture in disbelief of the whole situation.

“I didn’t pack for Paris but I guess it will do,” Jill

smiled.

“And I packed for America!” he laughed, adding, “It

140 __________________Gloria Graham

isn’t as if we didn’t have the way to get you more clothes! I knew there would be some good reason I owned a department store!” He smiled. His face lit up with pride as he

spoke. It was obvious he wanted to impress Jill.

“Come on you two, we haven’t much time,” Pamela

called. “Now, let’s see,” she mumbled, “we’ll eat dinner, grab a shower, I’ll pack…” Pamela’s voice trailed off as she headed for the door.

Jill sighed, looked at her mother and shook her head.

She winked cutely at Grant.

“Mom’s mind goes a mile a minute,” Jill said as they

dodged in and out of the crowd, trying to keep up with

her mom.

Jill sat starting out the window of the plane at the glittering lights of Logan International Airport.

“Too bad this trip is not for pleasure!” Grant said, looking at the beautiful young girl sitting next to him.

Jill smiled. “Rex is very important to Mom.”

“To me too,” he added. “We’ve been friends a long time

and he brought your mother and me together.”

Pamela heard Grant’s remark. A cold chill ran through

her. She wondered if he was remembering their afternoon

together! She hurriedly dismissed the thought. Jill was

obviously excited about going to Paris with them even if

it was on such a solemn occasion.

After the jet was airborne, the seatbelt light went off.

Jill turned around in her seat to talk to her mother. Tears were streaming down Pamela’s cheeks.

“He’ll be alright Mom,” she said, “you’ll see.”

“It was such a serious accident. They don’t give him

much hope.” Pamela’s voice cracked as she tried to swallow A Memory Unchained___________ 141

the lump caught in her throat.

“Mom, you’ve always taught me that there is always

hope!” Jill waited a few minutes for Pamela to regain her composure and realize again that God is in control.

“Will you be able to show Rex’s collection now?” Jill

asked with concern.

“Yes,” she paused. “Aunt Lydia assured me she would

take all the necessary steps to give us the rights. She wants us to proceed with our plans, for Rex’s sake.”

“Will you be meeting her right away?” Jill tried to keep

her mother’s mind off Rex for a time.

“She’s expecting me. But I want to see Rex first.”

Pamela’s eyes were red and swollen.

Grant shook his head in agreement. “Yes,” he said, “we

have to see Rex first.”

Pamela knew how much Rex meant to him. He was

just better at hiding his feelings than she was.

Grant showed what a magnificent organizer he was. He

took charge as soon as the plane landed. He rented a car

and they started for the hospital with no delays.

Jill gasped and hid her eyes as he darted his rental

car in and out of the traffic. Pamela also buried her eyes behind her hands. “I never got used to this traffic,” she murmured.

“Tell me when we’re there,” Jill said and ducked down

in the seat.

Pamela had to laugh at the terrified look on Jill’s face.

“So, how do you like Paris so far darling?” she asked.

Jill smiled weakly! “I can’t look at it now, this ride is so unreal!”

“Gotta drive like the natives do, or you’ll get run over,”

142 __________________Gloria Graham

Grant said and held on tightly to the steering wheel!

At the hospital Grant explained to the doctor how Pa-

mela came all the way from the United States to see Rex.

They finally agreed to let her in.

As she entered the dimly lit room of the intensive care

unit, the sound of the heart monitor beeping and making

its scratchy marks on the screen gave her a sick feeling

inside.

Pamela caught her breath when she looked at him. His

usually shining eyes were barely visible. His cheeks were swollen over the bridge of his nose. She would never have recognized him if she hadn’t known it was Rex.

Pamela sat quietly beside him for a long while holding

his hand! Grant had promised the nurse she wouldn’t make

him talk. Pamela honored that promise.

She prayed silently. God had been good to her by

providing this friend. She prayed for his life. “If it be thy will,” she added humbly.

She held back her tears until she left the room, then

they came uncontrolled.

“Did you see the doctor?” She looked at Grant and Jill,

her sobs interrupted her question.

Grant’s expression held the answer.

“Will he live?” she begged.

“He’s holding his own,” he said blandly.

“Tomorrow, if he gets through tomorrow...” he paused.

Grant was shaken, his face torn with grief.

Jill put her arm around her mother.

“He will make it,” she assured her and added, “Come

on, let’s get something to eat. We can’t help him here.” She tugged on Pamela’s arm. Pamela hadn’t eaten for a day and A Memory Unchained___________ 143

Jill was worried about her.

Grant agreed. “We have other things we can do for

him now.”

Pamela followed reluctantly, she knew they were right.

As they left the hospital she wondered if she would ever

see Rex alive again.

Pamela insisted that she talk with Rex’s Aunt Lydia

alone.

“Grant will you show Jill some of Paris?” she sug-

gested politely. “I can take care of the business with Aunt Lydia.”

Grant realized from the look on her face that she really

wanted to be alone with Aunt Lydia.

“If you’re sure you don’t need us?” he asked.

“Please, Jill must see some of Paris before we leave. We

haven’t much time,” she paused, kissed Jill on the cheek

and added, “I’ll be fine now, really!”

Jill smiled. She knew her mother’s faith would sustain

her. There had been times when she felt her mother was

too religious and straight but now she could feel the power her mother was receiving. Jill watched and prayed too. She thanked God for having a Christian mom who showed

great strength.

Aunt Lydia was only a phone call away. In a matter of

minutes she arrived at the restaurant Deux-Magots. Pamela thought of how only a few short weeks before she and Rex

had dined together in the same spot.

Pamela watched the door. She knew she would recog-

nize the very matronly Aunt Lydia when she entered the

room.

“Mrs. Thornton?” a soft spoken voice addressed her

144 __________________Gloria Graham

from behind.

Pamela jumped.

“So sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, but you just look like an American, am I correct?” She smiled graciously.

“Aunt Lydia?” Her tone reflected her surprise.

There stood a tall dark haired woman who looked like

a model out of Vogue, elegantly attired and not at all a

little old grey haired aunt like she expected.

Pamela apologized and explained why she hadn’t rec-

ognized her.

She was every bit as friendly as Rex and anxious to

help get the legal documents to Pamela so the “collection showing” could proceed.

She had already called her lawyer and everything would

be ready for Pamela the following day. Their meeting was

filled with emotion and sadness but both women felt the

need to pursue Rex’s interests.

“Rex has mentioned you quite often. Now I can see

why. You are as beautiful as he said.” Aunt Lydia spoke

with a very French accent which only made her more at-

tractive.

“He is very special to me. We became good friends in

such a short time. Something quite unusual these days.”

Pamela smiled.

Lydia embraced Pamela. “He is very special to me too.

He’s the son I never had. The only child of my sister. I

promised her I would take care of him. Now...” Her voice

was filled with emotion. “He needs me more than ever.”

She got control of herself emotionally.

“It’s what he would want of me. His designs are his life.

We must make sure the “collection showing” goes on.”

A Memory Unchained___________ 145

Pamela had the feeling she had met another beautiful

friend in Paris.

“Now, you must go back to America and begin plans

for this gala affair.” She said with a determined tone of voice.

“Just as quickly as I can. I want to see Rex again, but

then we will be leaving. May I call you often and find out about Rex? The hospital won’t tell me a thing.”

“I’ll be disappointed if you don’t. Besides, I must know

how your plans are going.” Pamela hugged Aunt Lydia and

they made an appointment to meet at the lawyer’s office

the next morning.

Pamela kissed her new friend on the cheek. “God will

be with him, I just know it,” she whispered.

Lydia smiled faintly, “He must be. We must pray posi-

tively for this.” It was obvious to Pamela that Aunt Lydia was a Christian. She felt a wave of peace flow through her at that moment.

“I wonder how mother is getting

along with Aunt Lydia?” Jill looked at Grant with her baby blue eyes.