There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 32

"Oh no you don't, you would probably pick one out that won't hurt you. I'll have my father take me; he will get a sturdy one."

"Remember you are only a tiny girl, and girls cannot pick up a heavy paddle. You may want to start out with a Ping-Pong Paddle, and work your way up."

"Gordon Luck, you are in so much trouble you may never be able to dig yourself out of it."

"I won't have to use my hands dear, just my tongue."

"You're in Texas, and your tongue is not that long."

"I'll see if I can remedy that in short order. I'll talk to you later love. I want to be much closer to you than I am now."

"All you want to do was get laid."

"If you don't, I'll stay here."

"Well, since you put it that way, get here in a hurry, I'll change the sheets on my bed."

"Don't change them until we make them messy. I'm going to talk to my dad, and see what arrangements can be made. Your mother is very fragile right now. I don't want to do anything that will make her fall back to the way she was."

"She's in dad's office talking with Doctor Russell. She's been in there a very long time. I hope he can help her."

"You can help her too."

"How?"

"Did she give you all those pretty things she bought for you in Paris?"

"No she didn't, I don't know where she put them."

"You could tell her you have to buy a suitcase for your trip. It has to be a big one, because you have to pack for winter and summer. Then you could ask her about the items she bought in Paris, and see how she takes it. If she does well, see if she wants to go shopping with you for the rest of the things you need. If not, after were married, you can go shopping with my mother, and my sister in Dallas to pick up everything you need."

"I like the way you think Gordon. You're getting as sneaky as your father."

"I've had over fourteen years sitting at his knee learning how to deal with people. He is the sneakiest person I have ever known. By the time contractors leave his office, they believe it was their idea to do something he wanted done.

"Your dad is something else Gordon."

"So is yours baby. He was willing to give up his life to save yours. I think he loves you."

"I think so too."

"Have you told him you love him lately?"

"Not in so many words."

"I think now would be a very good time to start, don't you?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Don't think, do it now. I am going to talk to my dad. You go to your dad, put your arms around him, and tell him how much you love him. Do it now and do it often. Good bye baby, I will talk to you later."

"Good bye Gordon, I love you."

"I love you too shorty."

"You are dead lover boy."

"I was just testing to make sure your temper was still intact."

"You will find out personally when you are close enough to feel it."

"Temper, temper little one, no hitting, and I still have my paddle."

"Gordon, you are impossible."

"That is why you love me. Goodbye. I love you more every second we are apart."

"Me too."

**************

Zoey went to find her dad, and found him looking at the spot on the railing where she made her jump.

"Are you thinking of moving to the first floor dad."

"No, I was thinking about how brave you were to make this jump. I could never do it. Fear would have overtaken my body, and I would have stepped back from the brink."

Zoey walked over to him, put her arms around her father, and told him how much she loved him.

"Dad, I know I don't say this often enough, and over the last three months, I haven't had the chance to say it at all. I love you so much you make my heart sing. All the years I was a bitch, you loved me, and never gave up on me. I wanted to tell you I loved you, but I couldn't because of the way I acted. I wish I could take it all back, but I can't. I love you dad, with all my heart. No one else would have risked their life to try to save me, except you. I can never repay you for that act of self-sacrifice. If you were an inch shorter, we both would have gone down."

"I knew there was going to be a dig about my height in there somewhere."

"Mister Short is the only person shorter than you are on your staff. All the women are taller than you are."

"They all wear high heels to make it seem that way."

"Mom is taller than you are."

"By half an inch, and she never lets me live it down."

"Are you going to forgive her for what she's done to you, and to us?"

"I already have. The broken paddle was a message to her, and she read more into it then was there. She thought I was leaving her, and I would never do that. People at work saw how difficult it was for me to work when I couldn't be with your mother. I was close to a nervous breakdown, because I couldn't be with her. You know how hard it was for you to be without Gordon. It's just as hard for me to be away from your mother. My life is so intertwined with hers, it's hard to tell where I begin, and she ends. We are one person, one team. One cannot work without the other. She cracked, and so did I."

Doctor Russell emerged from Dycke's office, and came over to talk to him.

"Mister Schneider, your wife is in a very fragile state of mind. It's a tossup if I should hospitalize her, or give her a chance to heal at home. Here are three prescriptions that need to be filled now, if you want her to stay here. If you would prefer to have me hospitalize her, I would suggest the University of South Carolina. I do not want to put her in the mental ward. That would be too radical. I would rather put her in an observation room, where she could be watched twenty-four hours a day. The decision is yours. You could have private duty nurses here at home to keep an eye on her while you are at work. I would suggest she never be alone.

I want to see her three times a week. I like these buildings, and the area. I will pick one and proceed to move in shortly. As far as my business office is concerned, I think I will have it more towards the downtown area."

"Where are you staying now Doctor?"

"I'm staying at the Marriott."

Dycke took out his cell phone and called the Marriott's manager.

"Hello Steven, Dycke Schneider, Doctor William Russell is staying at your hotel. Move all his items to our suite and charge all his expenses to our account."

"Yes Steven everything. Limousine service, the works."

"That was unnecessary Mister Schneider."

"We have a permanent suite of rooms at the Marriott, just in case we have an important guest stop by unannounced. You are an important guest, and that room is empty. Why should we pay double, and we can pay for one?"

"You are sounding much better, since our last talk."

"I can't tell you how much our last talk helped me. Everyone at work noticed it immediately. I would like to continue seeing you at least once a week so I can get my mind back in order."

"Very good Mister Schneider, I'm glad you feel that way. I don't want you sliding back to where you were. It happens very easily to type 'A' personalities."

"I don't want it to happen to me. I have a lot on my plate right now, and it's very important that I stay focused. I want Payne to stay at home. I will have nurses here twenty-four hours a day. If there's anything else you think will be helpful, let me know and I will have it done."

"Well, since Miss Schneider decided to take a little dive this morning, which helped break her mother's shell, I would suggest having some of your guards patrol the balcony, especially by Mrs. Schneider's bedroom.

I can't believe you made that jump. You and I are going to talk about that once things settle down here."

"Dad, I'm going to see a shrink?"

"You're going to see a shrink, or fuck your English Literature teacher so you can pass the course."

"I'll see the shrink. You haven't met my English Lit teacher."

"I take it there is a story behind passing an English literature class."

"Yes Doctor there is. I'll tell you all about it during one of our sessions."

"Mister Schneider, I think your family is going to take up one of my days."

"If we do Doctor Russell, I'll raise your retainer."

"I don't think that will be necessary, $6 million a year is more than enough."

"I'm leaving in twenty-six days dad, so it will only be you and mom."

"Where are you going Miss Schneider?"

"I'm going with my husband to the stars."

"I remember now. You are able to marry Doctor Luck's son Gordon. Congratulations, I wish you all the best."

"Thank you Doctor Russell. Gordon, and I were meant for each other. You can ask my father why."

"Mister Schneider would you care to answer your daughters question."

"Many years ago, when I first saw Payne I said to her 'My God, are you beautiful.' When we went to visit Doctor Luck and his family, Gordon opened the door, and looked at Zoey and said those exact words. Payne and I looked at each other, and I asked her 'How much trouble do you think we are in?' She told me not let go of Zoey's hand or we were in big trouble."

Somehow, during all the greetings, I lost track of both of them. They weren't in his bedroom or any other room upstairs. We checked the basement, and there was no sign of them. We asked the guards outside if they left the house, and they said no.

Payne said, "Thank God she's on those birth control pills, because she won't be a virgin when we find her."

Doctor Luck asked me if I was talking from personal experience. I told him I wasn't. It took me six weeks to get into Payne's pants.

I was hit from behind. "It was seven weeks asshole, and the only reason it happened was because you were going away, and I was going into the hospital to have my face operated on. Otherwise you would've never gotten lucky."

Dycke knowing the fragile nature of his wife took her into his arms and agreed with her.

"You know you could always out debate me, so I will not argue with you over this point. However, every time I took you out for pizza and egg creams, I got closer to your thighs."

"It's only because my thighs kept getting larger because of the calories you were putting into me."

Doctor Russell said, "Payne you must start taking your medicine as prescribed. If you don't, I'm going to put you into the hospital. Your husband wants you at home, and to be honest with you, I'm not thrilled with that decision. Take your medicines, and I will see you the day after tomorrow at 10 AM."

"I will take my meds Doctor. I have to prepare for a wedding for my daughter. I will be there to see her get married. I realize I did a lot of things wrong, but now, with the help of a lot of friends, I'm going to make that right."

"I don't want you to overstress yourself. It's the worst thing you can do in your condition."

"I will have a lot of help Doctor. I'm sure my daughter will help me with it here at home, and a lot of friends will help me in Temple."

"You bet your ass I will."

"Zoey watch your mouth."

"I was just checking mom."

"How did I do?"

"You passed with flying colors."

"Here is a list of agencies that supply registered nurses Mister Schneider. I would have each nurse checked out by your security people, before you hire them. Registered nurses have been known to kill people who are just hanging on to life. You should have a minimum of seven, the younger the better. They haven't been tortured by the system yet, and they are not jaded by the signs of illness."

"Thank you Doctor Russell, we will get on this instantly. Zoey do you want to go to pharmacy?"

"Who me?"

Payne put her arms around Zoey and said, "Yes baby, you. Would you like to go to the pharmacy for me?"

"Let me get my purse, and I'm on my way. No jokes about my driving."

"The pharmacy is half a block away, I thought you would walk."

"I'm taking my car to the pharmacy. Do I hear any objections?"

There wasn't a sound made in the room.

"Hearing no objections, I'm taking my car to the pharmacy."

Zoey grabbed her purse, kissed her parents, and said goodbye. She walked out the front door, got into the elevator and proceeded down to the first floor.

Doctor Russell gave his final instructions and was leaving when Dycke said, "Watch out for Zoey, she will be coming back, and she will be angry."

"Why is that Mister Schneider?"

Dycke reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the three prescriptions. "She forgot to take these with her."

"Would you like me to call them into the pharmacy?"

"No, she wanted to drive to the pharmacy, now she can drive back to get the prescriptions, and do it all over again."

Doctor Russell left, and a few moments later his cell phone rang.

"Do you have the prescriptions dad?"

"They are on the dining room table; you forgot to take them."

"Would you ask Doctor Russell to talk to the pharmacist and give him the prescriptions?"

"Doctor Russell left five minutes ago. I guess you are going to have to come back and get the prescriptions."

Zoey screamed, and hung up the phone.

Steve asked her what was wrong.

"I left the dam prescriptions on the dining room table. I was in such a rush to get out of the house I forgot to take them. My dad is going to gloat over this for a very long time."

"No he's not Zoey. He loves you too much to do that to you. You're only going to be here for twenty-six more days, and he is going to love you every moment you are here."

Zoey stopped the car and looked at Steve. "When did you get so smart? That's exactly what Gordon told me to do with my parents. I have been squandering all this time complaining about them, when I should have been telling them I love them instead. Thank you for reminding me about what I should have been doing and haven't."

She parked in front of the building, went upstairs, and awaited her fate. The agent opened the door for her. She yelled, "Your daughter is back to pick up the prescription."

Payne and Dycke walked out of the bedroom and smiled at her.

"I guess it was a good idea that you took the car."

Zoey walked over to her mother, and hugged her.

"Do you remember the things I said to you this morning? Please forget them. I don't know what I would do without you. I love you mom, I'm a pain in the ass, but I really love you."

Payne did not know what to do or say. She thought she had lost her daughter forever, and here Zoey was professing her love for her. She began to cry.

Dycke waited for Payne to move her hands to hold her daughter but she stood there like a statue as Zoey hugged her. He took Payne's hands, and moved them behind her daughter's back and left up to her to do the rest. It took her time but she did, and when she did, she began talking to her.

"I feel like the worst mother in the world Zoey. I kept you from the one you loved because I didn't want to be alone. Everything I did was for me, not for you. I didn't care about your feelings, I didn't care about your future, and I didn't care about you. All I cared about was a forty-four-year-old woman, who is going to be alone for the rest of her life. I should've been the one up on the railing today. I should've jumped. I don't think your father would have jumped after me. I just felt sorry for myself, instead of being happy for you."

"You're wrong mom. Daddy would have jumped after you just as he did me. He told me how he feels about you. I don't know if he wants me to tell you or not but I'm going to anyway. He said you and he are one person. One without the other is nothing. When you broke off relations with him, he nearly had a nervous breakdown. His work suffered, and the people all around him new something was terribly wrong. Many of his top ranking people threatened to quit unless he got help. He loves you mom, he loves you more than his own life."

"Why did you have to become so smart and perceptive just before you're ready to leave?"

"Remember mom, if it wasn't for Doctor Luck, I would still be running around, driving everyone crazy, with my attitude problem."

"You're right baby, I wish you weren't but you are right. Doctor Luck did change your life, and so did Gordon. Now go get my medicines and hurry home."

"I will mom; I'll be back as soon as they are ready."

************

"Did you have a nice talk with your mom?"

"How did you know I was talking with my mom Steve?"

"If you were talking with your father, he would have been pulling your chain about not taking the prescriptions with you, and then you would have run out of the house quickly."

"Yes Steve, I've remembered the prescriptions this time. You did put it very nicely however, and I do appreciate it."

"What are friends for if not to drop hints diplomatically?"

She put the car in gear and headed for the pharmacy. It took less than a minute to get there, and when she handed the prescriptions to the pharmacy technician, she was told it would be ninety minutes before they were ready.

"Where would you like to go Steve? We have an hour and a half before the prescriptions are ready."

"Do you mean I have a choice of telling you to go home or allowing you to drive me around and take my life in my hands again?"

"That settles it, we're going for a ride."

"I knew you would say that. I'll check in with security and tell them what's going on."

Steve was very pleased when she went southeast on Highway 171 towards Foley Beach. It was a very lightly traveled road especially at this time day. Much to his amazement, she was driving on her side of the yellow line, and just slightly above the speed limit.

He was relaxing keeping track of the time when Zoey punched the accelerator to the floor. He noticed oncoming cars veering off the highway, panic stopping.

"Zoey, what the fuck are you doing?"

"Take a look behind us."

Steve looked over his left shoulder. "Push it Zoey, push it hard. Stay with the road, don't try to turn off or we are dead."

"Why do they bother putting 160 mph on the speedometer, when this thing will only do 130?"

"Shut up and drive, that jet is still eating us up."

Behind them was a small twin-engine jet, with one engine smoking badly, and his nose gear badly damaged. It was trying to make an emergency landing on the roadway, and it was over taking them very quickly.

Steve couldn't look any more. He turned forward and tightened his seatbelt, he told Zoey to do the same thing.

"There's nothing you can do Zoey just keep going straight and hope for the best. We have twenty seconds at the most. It's been my pleasure to know you."

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings Steve. I don't hear any singing."

No sooner had she said it, then the SUVs roof began to crumble. Zoey took her foot off the accelerator, and let the jets forward momentum push them along the highway. She did not dare touch the brake pedal for fear the Jets nose would slide forward and crush them to death. They heard the jets engine go into reverse, and after a treacherous half mile, the car and the jet came to a stop.[1]

Zoey turned the ignition off, removed her seatbelt, and took a deep breath. Steve removed his seatbelt, and looked at her.

"Miss Schneider, please don't take this personally, but I never want to drive with you again. I don't know what it is about you, however things happen when you are driving I've never seen happen to anyone, anywhere, ever."

"Steve, unless it's a life or death situation, I'm not getting behind the wheel of the car again. I think someone's trying to send me a message,"

The pilot of the aircraft started banging on Zoey's window.

Zoey opened the door, got out and stood up.

"Are you guys okay; was there anybody in the rear of the car?"

"Are you fucking out of your mind, you scared us to death?"

"I really am sorry, but you just saved seven people's lives. There was no way I could have made a safe landing without using your truck to keep the nose of my aircraft up. I have too much fuel on board, and one spark from my starboard engine would have made us into a fireball. Our company will be more than generous to you; I can guarantee it."