Without You I Have Nothing (35 page)

_{The smile on Susie’s
face lit the room, and she bent to kiss first Jennifer, then Peter.}

_{“Well, you secured
Bill’s employment at the BMW Dealer. That gave me the opportunity to have
children - something that up until now has been out of our reach. With Bill in
the navy and at sea so often, I wasn’t prepared to raise a child by myself so
we waited. Now, both Bill and I are so very grateful.”}

_{Jennifer wasn’t the
least jealous as she and Susie sat on opposite sides of the bed, holding
Peter’s hands as they chatted. She realized how silly her jealousy had been. Peter
had eyes only for her and it was soon obvious he didn’t want to share her with
Susie.}

_{Susie noticed as
well, and almost dragged Jennifer to the door as she was leaving. She took
Jennifer’s hands in her own and held them tightly.}

_{“Take damn good care
of him. You hold his life in your hands as always.”}

_{A quick kiss on
Jennifer’s cheek and she was gone.}

_{Peter didn’t have to
tell Jennifer the drive from the hospital to his apartment tired him. She
watched him creep from the car to the elevator holding his body stiffly,
fighting the pain in his chest.}

_{In the third bedroom,
Jennifer dragged the twin beds together.}

_{“A shower will make
you feel better. Then, get into bed,” she reassured him.}

_{Gently, she tugged
him to the bathroom. “Do you need help?”}

_{Peter was too tired
and too sore to make a comment. After showering, he studied his face in the
bathroom mirror. He saw the scar running from his left eye past the corner of
his mouth. It was an ugly, red, barely healed, crescent moon and made shaving
difficult. He didn’t like the scar but he could do nothing about it.}

_{He snarled at the
gaunt, battered face staring back from the mirror.}

_{“What’s the matter?” 
Without bothering to knock, Jennifer rushed in looking anxious.}

_{“This scar looks as
though I’ve been in a duel. I must get it removed.”}

_{“You’ll do nothing of
the kind. That’s my scar.”  Standing on tiptoe Jennifer stretched up to kiss it
lightly. “That’s mine. You got that believing you were rescuing me. It stays.”}

_{She put Peter to bed.}

_{That night Jennifer
appeared in a pair of her own pajamas and, declining his offer to share his
bed, she slipped into the other bed and reached across to hold his hand.}

_{“A girl wouldn’t be
safe in your bed,” she smiled knowingly.}

_{During the following
days, Peter enjoyed lying back in bed having Jennifer fuss over him. When he
felt comfortable sitting, they sat together on the balcony holding hands and
watching the comings and goings on the harbor.}

_{All the while, she
remained so particular - demanding he eat a little, slowly and often - yet
somehow she always knew when he was drowsy and she’d lie beside him until he
slept. When he awoke, she was ready with something to tempt his appetite. Peter
knew he was getting stronger when he was no longer hungry for anything but her.}

_{Then one morning as
he lay in bed, Jennifer, definitely the boss, brought him back to the present.}

_{“Make yourself
decent, you have visitors.”}

_{Although it was very
early morning, Peter believed he must have been dozing, as he hadn’t heard
anyone arrive.}

_{“Come on, sit up!” 
As Jennifer fluffed the pillows behind his head, she didn’t struggle as Peter
grabbed her and rolled her over onto the bed with him.}

_{“That’s unfair!”  She
smiled up at Peter. “Let me up. I might hurt your ribs.”}

_{“By the look in his
eyes you’d better break the rest of his ribs and,” Bob was chuckling, “both his
arms.”}

_{As Jennifer struggled
to untangle herself from Peter’s arms Bob strolled across to the bed, closely
followed by Ted.}

_{Jennifer sat up and
pushed her hair back from her face.}

_{“I’ll get us all a
drink.”}

_{“Make mine a beer.” 
Ted was quick to place his order.}

_{“You’ll have an ice
cold fruit juice and like it.”  Jennifer called back from the kitchen. She was
relaxed and comfortable, even with Peter’s two friends.}

_{“Well, well!”  Ted
examined Peter’s scar. “You don’t do things by halves do you?  You go missing
for the week and then we get a phone call from Joe. We drive to the hospital
where the Sister in charge threw us out. She told us next-of-kin only.}

_{“Of course, we were
as welcome as a ham sandwich in a synagogue so all we could do was return home
and wait. Next, we get a phone call from your girl here and one from Susie to
say you’re home.”}

_{Ted patted Jennifer
as she handed him his drink then sat on the bed close to Peter.}

_{Noticing Ted’s
attentions did not offend her, Peter caught her quick smile as if to say,
‘Men!  They can’t keep their hands to themselves. Don’t worry, I’m yours and
they know it.’}

_{“Don’t know what
Jennifer’s done to you.”  Bob pointedly stared at the twin beds pulled close
together. “It must be magic. I must try some myself.”}

_{“Doctor’s orders,
Bob.”  Peter reached out to tug Jennifer closer. “My medicine is for me only.”}

_{“When are you going
back to work?”  Good old Ted, the bean counter, was always thinking about
profits but Peter was not interested in returning to toil back at the workshop
just yet.}

_{“He’s returning to
work when I say so!”  Jennifer interjected firmly. “Not a minute before. It
certainly won’t be earlier than the New Year.”}

_{“But that’s over
three months away and the work is pouring in.”  Ted’s words died, cut short by
the ferocious glare that flashed across Jennifer’s face.}

_{“Peter’s coming home
with me.”  It was obvious Jennifer wouldn’t argue. “Mum will make certain he’s
fit, rested and well fed before he returns to work.”}

_{“Well, Peter, explain
what happened.”  Ted was anxious to change the topic.}

_{“All I know is that I
tried to rescue a woman from a burning car. I was knocked unconscious and woke
with my fingers in Jennifer’s hair.”}

_{Jennifer began her
story.}

_{“Oh yes, I got a
phone call, but I don’t know how she got my number.”  As Jennifer continued,
Bob just shrugged innocently. “She talked for such a long time. When I hung up,
she even rang back.”}

_{“Who for heaven’s
sake, who rang back?”  Ted was still uncertain.}

_{Grinning, Jennifer
patted Peter’s hand.}

_{“My best friend and
Peter’s adopted mother, Susie Williams. She ordered me to Peter’s bedside as he
was on life support. I thought it was all a conspiracy until I saw him lying
there so still and almost lifeless.”}

_{Jennifer smiled
broadly. Grinning at Peter she continued, “You were supposed to be in a coma
and almost on the point of dying. What rot!  You fooled everyone - you were
only waiting.”}

_{“How did you reach
that conclusion?”  Suddenly Bob was interested.}

_{“Well, the moment my
lips touched his,” Jennifer reddened from her hair to her finger nails, “this
beast flicked his tongue across my lips.”  She wasn’t used to putting such
ideas into a conversation.}

_{“Oh my God!”  Ted
rolled his eyes in mock modesty and roared with laughter. “It’s a wonder the
filthy beast didn’t try to drag you into his hospital bed. You know he’s an
insatiable sex maniac.”}

_{“To be truthful, I
think that was his intention but he just slept. I ended up falling asleep with
my head on the bed and the nurse had to pry his fingers out of my hair.”}

_{“I wasn’t going to
let her go.”  Peter grinned at his friends.}

_{“Don’t blame you. You’re
a lucky man.”  Bob had lost that ‘win some, lose some’ attitude. He sounded
almost wistful, as though he recognized their deep feelings for each another.}

_{Listening to the
banter between his friends, Peter realized how much he depended on each one. He
was enjoying his rest and recuperation.}

_{Suddenly the
realization that he may not be at work for the next three months forced Peter
to comprehend that he had to make some arrangements with Ted. He knew he could
no longer hide behind the façade of being almost an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ when
it came to business. If he continued his pretence of being weak and unable to
gauge people’s motives he would gain nothing and instead, stood to lose a lot. From
the depths of his mind came the acceptance that he could no longer conceal his
competence.*}

_{The time had arrived
to reveal he was stronger in business acumen than his friends suspected. He had
to abandon that veneer he had hidden behind.}

_{Grinning at the
thought of how he would shock Ted, he looked at his friends.}

_{“Now, everyone out
except Ted!  I have some business to discuss with him.”  Peter was suddenly
serious.}

_{As Ted sat on the
edge of the bed and the door closed, leaving them alone, the two men discussed
the forthcoming bonuses to be paid. Ted was noticeably surprised at the size of
the bonuses, especially the generous bonus for Joe.}

_{He was even more
astounded when told to pay five thousand dollars to both Bill and Susie as
something special in the way of a Christmas present to them both, especially as
they would soon be parents.}

_{To alleviate Ted’s
concern, systematically and patiently, Peter took him through the full
implications of his wealth and his business empire. By the time Peter had
completed his explanation, Ted was astounded.}

_{“But I thought you
are... “}

_{Quickly Peter interrupted,
“You thought what I wanted you to think. However, this little fracas has made
me realize I have to allow you into my business affairs. I can no longer put
out a smokescreen of weakness and lack of education. You look shocked but there
are more revelations to come. Alongside the workshop is the BMW Dealership,
which I own.”}

_{Ignoring Ted’s
reaction, Peter continued blithely.}

_{“I am the major
shareholder in your company and, by some strange co-incidence the major
shareholder in the insurance company employing Jennifer.}

_{“In fact I am a
billionaire many times over. However, all this news is confidential. I’m sure I
can trust your integrity.”}

_{Ted could only stare
at Peter and nod.}

_{“Now, thanks to your
suggestion, I also own the motel down the road. Between the motel and the BMW
Dealership is a Lexus dealership, which hasn’t been doing too well. I had heard
the owner wants out, so buy it at the lowest price possible. I want to own all
the businesses facing the main road because I have plans - big plans.”}

_{Still in shock, Ted
could only wipe his glasses as he stared at Peter.}

_{“As you’ll be paying
cash, the price will be especially low. I will be arranging to pay two hundred
million into the shop account and you will have authority to spend.”}

_{Peter couldn’t help
teasing Ted, who had turned white at the huge amount Peter blithely mentioned
as though it was just coins in a piggy bank. He continued, “Just give me your
passport and don’t try to flee the country.”}

_{Ted could only grin
and gulp helplessly.}

_{“Now, your thoughts,
would Bob be better at managing the Lexus dealership or the motel?”}

_{He could no longer
contain himself and chortled at the amazed look on Ted’s face.}

_{Unable to curb his
curiosity any further, Ted demanded to know the origin of all this money.}

_{“Where the money
comes from is no-one’s business but mine. It’s legal and all taxes are paid. It’s
international money and the overseers are extremely tough and brutal. They
would make Shylock and his demand for a pound of flesh look like an atheist at
a Sunday School Picnic, so keep your nose clean!”}

_{“Which should Bob
manage?”  He repeated the question to Ted.}

_{After careful
consideration Ted could only stammer, “The Lexus dealership. You couldn’t let
Bob anywhere near the motel. He would believe it was a carte blanche to all the
bedrooms!”}

_{“Right,” Peter
ignored the comment about Bob’s wild escapades.}

_{“Immediately start
head-hunting Bob and then approach Susie about managing the Motel and don’t
take ‘No!’ for an answer. They are my friends and this affair has made me
realize how much I depend on all of you.}