Unstilled Voices E-Book

Lois Cloarec Hart

• Herausgeber: Ylva Publishing
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 70

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

A stroke silences her voice—but love still speaks. For decades, Audrey and Marni have been a loving couple, their happiness marred only by the hostility of Audrey's son, Richard. When Audrey is rendered silent by a stroke and unable to assert her wishes, Richard assumes power of attorney and banishes Marni from his mother's life. The women long for each other, but since they aren't legally married, Richard can prevent them from being together when they most need one another. With the help of sympathetic relatives, they see each other for brief moments and only from afar. Resuming their life together seems impossible, until a compassionate stranger decides to get involved.

Leseprobe

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Table of Contents

Dedication

Unstilled Voices

About Lois Cloarec Hart

Other books from Ylva Publishing

Coming from Ylva Publishing in 2015

May our voices never be stilled

Unstilled Voices

“And in conclusion, our aim is to ensure a smooth and trauma-free transition for your mother. We will be available to you 24/7 until your mother is happily settled in her new home.”

A derisive snort interrupted Daena Thorsen’s patter, and she shot a glance at her business partner. Gabriel responded with a subtle shrug and a sympathetic expression. The Stanger family had proven to be difficult clients.

Taking a deep breath, Daena tried to resume her summation, only to be interrupted again.

Callie Stanger stabbed a finger at her older brother. “New home, my ass! Mom was perfectly content no matter where they were until you stuck your big fat pretentious nose in their affairs.”

Richard Stanger shot his French cuffs, adjusted a diamond link, and dusted a non-existent piece of lint from the lapel of his tailored suit.

Aven Stanger, evidently long versed in keeping the peace, reached out a hand to her sister. “We’re all just trying to do what’s best for Mom, Cal. You know she can’t go on living as she did before the stroke.”

“You neglect to mention that Mother no longer even owns her home, thanks to that piece of shit—” Callie lunged at Richard, knocking over Daena’s water glass.

Daena jumped back and tumbled over her chair to the floor. As she extricated herself from the chair, Gabriel and Aven tried to pull Callie away from Richard, who returned punches like a street brawler.

When the dust settled, Callie stormed out of the office with her backpack slung over one shoulder.

Richard withdrew to the men’s room to make repairs.

Aven shook her head. “Oh my God, you must think us utter Neanderthals. I’m so, so sorry that you were subjected to this. I thought we had ironed out a reasonable compromise before we got here. Obviously, I was wrong.”

“Please don’t worry, Ms. Stanger. My partner and I are well aware that family dynamics are often strained in such life-altering situations.”

Daena hid a smile as she listened to her partner spin the situation. Gabriel could weave silk thread out of donkey dung, though it looked as if he’d have to draw on all his oratorical powers today.

“Strained family dynamics?” Aven Stanger shook her head. “I wish that was all it were. Look, can we reschedule for another time—”

Richard re-entered the room, shaking his head. “Impossible. Winnie and I are leaving for Palm Beach in three weeks, and the arrangements for Mother need to be wrapped up before we go.”

“Couldn’t you delay your trip, or maybe let Winnie go on ahead and join her later? This is important, Richard.”

“I don’t disagree; however, there is no reason for delay. I’m sure Ms. Thorsen and Mr. Pierce are perfectly capable of arranging Mother’s new accommodations and facilitating her move from the care facility. As far as I’m concerned, it makes no sense to involve Callie when she is clearly emotionally unprepared to deal with the situation.”

“Callie has as much right as either of us to be involved. It’s her mother, too, and she’s not the only one who’s upset about Marni being banished—”

“Do not ever mention that woman’s name in my presence.” Richard glared at Aven. “She’s the reason Mother drained her savings and lost the house. She’s probably the reason Mother had the stroke, since she’s responsible for all the stress of these past five years.”

“Marni would never hurt Mom! They’ve loved each other and taken care of each other for over thirty years.”

“She stole our mother from our father and broke up our home. Don’t think I will ever forget that. That bitch can rot in hell for all I care, but she’s never going to be a part of our mother’s life again.”

“This is so wrong. All Mom wants is to be with Marni again.”

Richard snatched up his briefcase. “You’d best keep in mind that the only reason Mother will even have a home is because I am paying for it. Callie’s couch-surfing with her latest pot-smoking boyfriend, you’re barely making enough with on-line tutoring to pay for a studio apartment; where else, exactly, do you think Mother could go when she is discharged from the care facility?”

“To be with Marni.”

“Living on the streets? Is that what you want for our mother? Because that’s exactly where that woman is right now.” Richard strode out of the office, leaving a breathless silence behind.

“Damn him.” Aven slammed a fist down on the table, causing Daena and Gabriel to jump. She slumped in her chair, clearly distraught by the confrontation with her brother.

Silently Gabriel mouthed “your department” at Daena and slipped down the corridor to his office.

“Ms. Stanger—”

“Please, call me Aven. After what you’ve seen of our family’s dirty laundry, we might as well be on a first name basis.”

“Aven, then. May I get you a cup of coffee?”

“Please. Just cream.”

Daena went to the coffee nook and poured for both of them. She set a cup in front of Aven and took the opposite chair. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Aven regarded Daena steadily as she sipped the hot brew. “I have to ask you a question first.”

“Please do.”

“Now that you know that my mom has…had a long-time female partner, does that fact change the way you’re going to treat her, or us?”

“I assure you, Ms.…Aven, that Gabriel and I are sensitive to the needs of our clients, regardless of their orientation, race, disabilities, or any other of the diversities of humankind. We take great pride in accommodating all our clients, and if you require more than my word, we have files full of grateful letters that specifically make that point.”

Aven blew out a breath. “Thank God. But please don’t mention that to Richard. This is the one thing that he’s totally irrational about. He’s done everything in his power to force Mom back into the closet since she got ill. When the first hospital refused to ban Marni from Mom’s side because of the federal hospital visitation law, Richard had Mom transferred to a private care facility where the director grovels obsequiously at his feet. Richard won’t allow Marni in the front door, and he’s had a private security guard stationed there ever since Marni tried to see in Mom’s window one night.”

Daena fought a growing loathing for Richard, even as she strove for neutrality. “I’m very sorry to hear that.”

“You don’t know the half of it. With that toady director’s acquiescence, Richard hired private caregivers for Mom. We set up a surveillance camera to see how they were treating her when we weren’t around. Callie and I caught one of them reading Mom passages from the Bible to illustrate what a sinner she was. Mom can’t walk or talk now, so she’s trapped. When we saw what was going on, we threw one woman out on her ass and raised holy hell with Richard and the director about another. We told them we’d have both of them in court for elder abuse if they didn’t let Callie do Mom’s care from then on. Callie was unemployed so she had the time then, but now she’s got a job starting this week that she really has to take.”

“I’m so sorry. No one should be treated so cruelly, particularly someone in such a vulnerable state.”