Magic in Our Hearts (6 page)

“I, I … it was several years ago, and we saw each other for such a short time,” Taylor stammered, somewhat shocked at this revelation.

“My daughter has never forgotten you. She has photographs of the two of you in her room.” Mrs. Camden looked directly at Taylor as she spoke. “Taylor, I know my daughter better than just about anyone. She has never kept a thing from me. She doesn’t lie to me. I know how much you meant to her because she told me she would only love one woman in her life. That woman was you.”

“We saw each other for just a little over a month.” Taylor’s hands shook as she folded them in her lap. She wasn’t expecting such brutal honesty from Brett’s mother.

“I know. I also know that you refused to see her after you thought she was unfaithful. Taylor, I know how Brett behaved. She was wild, uncontrolled, and drank way too much. She treated the women in her life as passing toys. That is, until she met you. I always knew that when Brett met the right woman she would settle down.”

“I don’t know what to say to you.” Taylor’s hand trembled as she pushed her hair back from her face.

Mrs. Camden smiled at Taylor’s confusion. “The day you and Brett went to the zoo she called me and told me she had met the woman she was going to marry. Taylor, I’ve always known my daughter. She reminds me so much of her father. He was a wild and impetuous man who lived life to the fullest, but he loved me with a single-minded intensity. My daughter is exactly like him. One thing I know about Brett is that she would never tell me she loved someone unless she meant it. She told me she loved you. Another way she’s just like her father is that when they love, they love completely and deeply for the rest of their lives.”

“But she had another woman in her hotel room.”

“Yes, but I believe my daughter. She’s never lied to me. She told me she didn’t sleep with her that night. She did say that they had slept together months earlier. But after she met you, Brett said she didn’t sleep with anyone else. I know what her reputation has been. She didn’t hide anything from me. I believed my daughter absolutely when she said that she was in love with you.”

“I can’t do anything about that now.”

“No, but I know you loved my daughter very much. Brett shared her photographs of you with me and I could see it in your eyes in every one. I’m hoping that those feelings aren’t completely gone and that you can help her.”

“What if she doesn’t want my help?” Taylor’s eyes were glassy with emotion.

Mrs. Camden relaxed in her chair now that she knew Taylor was going to try to heal her daughter. Taylor’s face was so expressive that she was able to hide nothing. Taylor still cared deeply for Brett. “Oh, my daughter is going to make you miserable. She’s going to do everything in her power to make you hate her.

She’s going to fight you every step of the way.”

“Why would she want to do that, and why would I subject myself to that kind of abuse?” Taylor was charmed by Mrs. Camden’s smile. It was just like Brett’s.

“Because if she was indifferent to you, you couldn’t help her, and you need to teach her how to channel her anger into energy. Her anger and frustration are not really about you. She has lost so much since her accident. Her whole life Brett dreamed about skiing on the World Cup Circuit and going to the Olympics.

Through her own irresponsible behavior, she destroyed all of her dreams. She has endured seven painful surgeries, and months of recovery in the hospital. I honestly don’t know how she survived that ordeal.” Brett’s mother grieved deeply for her injured daughter, and her face was etched with sadness.

“I’m so sorry. She didn’t deserve what happened to her no matter what decisions she made. If I agree to work with her and she demands that I leave, am I to stay on anyway?”

“You’re going to be working for me, not Brett. No matter what she says, you
will
stay. But it’s you who’ll have to deal with her refusal to do much of anything to help herself.” Mrs. Camden’s voice was firm and direct, and her expectations were crystal clear.

“Okay. If I agree to take this on, I’m going to ask for a few concessions.” Taylor couldn’t take on this challenge if she wasn’t given complete control over the entire situation. That was the only way she could work and have any chance of helping Brett.

“Name them.”

“I want to live in the same space with Brett. I can’t spend just a couple of hours a day helping her and then leave. And we need to be left alone as much as possible. I also want to have control of her diet and meals.” 

“Done. When can you start? I don’t have much time left, and I want to see my daughter healthy before I die.” Mrs. Camden had hidden strength that now became evident. She would do whatever was necessary to save her daughter.

The statement was so matter of fact that Taylor wasn’t sure how to respond, but it was the hint of pain in Mrs. Camden’s eyes that made Taylor stand up and move directly in front of her. “I’m so sorry about your illness.”

“I am too, because I’m probably going to miss seeing Brett get her strength and spirit back. She’s the only family I have left, and I don’t want to leave her in such pain.”

“I’ll do my very best, and I can start after this weekend. Do you want me in Boulder?”

“Yes. She has a house there and Brett has been living in it. I’ve hired a small staff to help her, a cook and a housekeeper, not that they’ve been able to help very much. Brett refuses to eat much of anything. She much prefers to drink. And her cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired.” The words were uttered quietly. Anger and pain made them even more poignant.

“Will you be there?”

“Yes, but in a separate house. I’ll honor all of your requests, but I would like to see my daughter occasionally.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll make arrangements for your airfare and arrival. Is Sunday okay for your flight?”

“That’s fine. When are you going to tell Brett that I’ve been hired?”

“I’ll arrange for you to be picked up at the airport when you arrive and have you brought to my home. Then the two of us will tell her together.” Both women knew that the meeting was going to be extremely difficult for everyone, and Taylor was glad that Mrs. Camden would be there. She had no idea how Brett was going to respond.

“I’ll pay you very well, and all food and expenses will be taken care of for as long as it takes.” Mrs. Camden stood up and looked into the stunning blue eyes that she had seen in Brett’s pictures of Taylor. Brett was right. Taylor was a beautiful woman, and it was obvious that she was still very much in love with Brett.

That much Mrs. Camden knew. It pleased her no end.

“Thank you.”

“I owe you my thanks. My daughter is slowly killing herself, and I don’t have enough time left to help her. I know you can.” Taylor was hoping she could help both Brett and her mother. She would do everything in her power to improve things for both of them.

CHAPTER 6

Taylor saw the sign with her name printed on it in large, looping letters as soon as she exited the airport. A uniformed chauffeur helped her into the town car and loaded her luggage into the trunk. The rest of her things were being shipped later in the week. She sat anxiously in the backseat as the driver announced that the trip would take a little over thirty minutes and then fell silent. Taylor was beginning to panic as she reconsidered what she had committed to do. She almost missed the beautiful city that they drove through. The city was clean and businesses sprawled out in an inviting way, but it was the mountains in the distance that caught her eye. They were covered with snow and their jagged peaks were majestic. She could see why Brett had found skiing so appealing. The mountains had a way of calling to a person. The streets were wide and the majority of the cars on the road were SUVs with ski racks on top. Taylor counted four ski rental companies in a two-block section of town, several quaint restaurants, and a large shopping mall. After traveling for almost a mile out of town they turned into a suburb of high-end homes. The houses were large and sat comfortably on mani-cured lawns. Ten houses from the entrance, they pulled into the driveway of a colonial style white house with black shutters.

“Ms. Aronson, I’m to pick up Ms. Camden and then we will we will have another twenty minute drive.”

Taylor watched the chauffeur go to the door and then escort Mrs. Camden to the limousine.

“Hello, Taylor, how was your flight?”

“It was fine, Mrs. Camden. I like your city. It’s very charming.” 

“It is unless it’s overflowing with weekend skiers. Just getting to the mall can take an hour. Are you ready to go to Brett’s house?”

“Yes, I am.” Taylor shivered as she thought about Brett. She was also terribly nervous about confronting her again after so many years. She had been able to avoid her until this moment, and she knew the meeting was going to be painful.

She also expected Brett to be furious.

Taylor was dead right!

“Get the fuck out of my house!” Brett slouched between her crutches, her hair long and shaggy, and her eyes dark, sunken pits in her face. The tee shirt she wore was wrinkled and soiled, hanging loosely on her frame. The sight of her former lover all but knocked the wind out of Taylor. She had to bite her lip to prevent herself from crying out loud.

“Brett, Taylor is here to work with you as a physical therapist. She’s going to help you with your rehabilitation. “Brett’s mother had remained calm as she faced her furious daughter.

“God damn it, Mother, how many times have I told you? I’m not going to get any better? Don’t you get that? There is no recovery; this is the best it’s ever going to be. And why her? I don’t want her here!” Brett railed at her mother. And then to Taylor, “Leave now! There’s nothing you can do here.”

Taylor was too shocked by her first glimpse of Brett to do anything but stare.

The photograph she’d been shown couldn’t compare to the actual sight of the woman. Brett was gaunt, her eyes dull, her hair filthy. She was wearing a pair of baggy, wrinkled sweats and a torn, dirty tee shirt. She leaned heavily on her crutches as her eyes shot bolts of rage at her mother and Taylor.

“Brett, won’t you please try for me?” Mrs. Camden’s softly spoken plea shut Brett’s anger down completely.

Brett’s eyes filled with tears as she walked awkwardly toward her mother, the crutches keeping her steady. “Mother, I would do anything for you, but no one can perform miracles. I did this to myself, and I have to live with it. I’m not going to get any better than this. I’ve accepted that, why can’t you?” Taylor held back her tears as she witnessed the scene between mother and daughter. There was no doubt they loved each other deeply. Mrs. Camden’s hand reached out and stroked her daughter’s cheek, her hand gentle against her daughter’s face. “Brett, I love you so much, and I know you love me. Do this for me, won’t you please? Just try it for a little while.” Brett could not refuse her mother. She asked so very little of her, and Brett did love her dearly. She was the only person Brett trusted. “For you.” 

Taylor had to turn away from them, choking back her tears. There was so much love between them and so much anguish.

“Taylor will be staying here with you while she works with you.”

“No!” Brett screamed, as she swung away from her mother, her face once more dark with anger.

“I need to be here, Brett,” Taylor spoke for the first time since her arrival minutes earlier.

Brett shivered as the familiar voice penetrated her Scotch-fogged brain. “I don’t want you here.”

“I know, but I need to be here.” Taylor gazed into the dark, familiar eyes.

There was no way she was going to walk away now. One look at Brett had renewed her resolve.

Brett stared long and hard at Taylor before slowly turning her back without speaking a word. That dismissive movement hurt Taylor more than angry words.

It showed complete indifference to her, and Taylor felt the tears well up again, this time for a different reason. It took all of her composure to keep from weeping.

Mrs. Camden spoke calmly. “Taylor, I’ll show you your room and then introduce you to Helen and Fran. Either one of them can get you anything you might need. Helen is an amazing cook, and she’s prepared to make whatever meals you request. She and Fran have both been told that you’re in charge. They’ll take their orders from you.”

Taylor listened, but her eyes were on Brett who stumbled out of the living room through a doorway and slammed the door shut. She finally turned and looked directly at Mrs. Camden. “She breaks my heart.” No other words could have shaken Mrs. Camden more than those. Her arms reached for Taylor and she hugged her tightly, knowing in her own mind she had done the right thing. She tenderly held Taylor as she cried. After a few moments Taylor pulled away and wiped her face clear of tears.

“Show me my room, please. I need to get started as soon as possible.” Taylor straightened her shoulders and stiffened her resolve. She had a lot of work ahead of her if she was going to help Brett.

“This way, please.”

Taylor carried her suitcase up a short flight of stairs to the second story and a large bedroom with connecting bath. The view from the window revealed a scene of magnificent snowy mountains. The back of the house had a lawn that stretched out about seventy-five feet where it butted up to scrubby trees and foothills at the base of the mountains. The room was spacious, the double bed covered by a down comforter in pale yellow with green sheets and pillowcases. It was a soothing room with a natural wood dresser and armoire. The walls were a soft green moiré, and colorful floral paintings adorned the walls. A small desk was placed just under the window so the picturesque view was perfectly framed.

“The telephone is on the desk and I’ve set up a separate line for you. There’s also a data port for a computer, if you need one. The bathroom is through this door.”

Taylor followed the gracious woman into a bathroom that took her breath away. It was marble with a glass-enclosed shower and a deep soaking tub. The room was done in the same soothing pale green and yellow colors, including the large, fluffy towels. Someone had done an impeccable job of putting the room together.