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The Wind Up

Francis was released from the hospital and allowed to go home. Lina knew despite this little accident, it would hasten rather hinder his departure. He was already making arrangements to fly out and return to New York. She knew he kept a little chippy Jessica’s age there. Not that she minded, given the nature of her relationship.

Speaking of Jessica, she was hovering around like a child waiting for a cookie, practically underfoot. Getting Marta to help, they got Francis packed. Lina killed two birds with the same stone by having Jessica drive him out to the airport.

Seeing them off, she dismissed Marta and made her way into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of 2005 Château Pétrus before going upstairs to her bedroom. Setting the half-filled glass down on the surface of her dresser, she went into the bathroom to draw herself a bath. It had been a very trying week and she desperately wanted to relax. A wistful smile crossed her face as she wished she had a little Tom to help her unwind. Turning on the faucet, she waited a moment before she tested the water and finding it hot, sprinkled in some scented oil beads.

Returning to her room, she proceeded to undress before wrapping her knee length fluffy white robe about her nakedness. Passing in front of the full length mirror on the wall, she lowered the robe down over her back and paused to study her reflection, turning from side to side to look at herself. A self-satisfied smile touched her lips as drew the robe back up and retrieved her glass.

Returning to the bathroom, she set her glass down and perched on the edge of the opulent bathtub, turning off the faucets when the water was high enough.

Stripping the robe and hanging on the polished gold colored rail, she stepped into the bathtub, tendrils of steam dancing over the reflective surface as she lowered herself body down and slid into the hot embrace of the water in the tub. Draping arms over the edge, she allowed herself to soak, soothing tense aching muscles.

“Knock, knock,” came Janine’s voice from the doorway.

Opening her eyes, Lina rolled her head to the side, smiling warmly at her daughter.

“May I come in?” Janine inquired.

“Of course,” invited Lina.

Strolling in, Janine sat on the edge of the bathtub, trailing her delicate slender fingers through the water.

“You seem pensive child,” Lina said, remarking on the girl’s expression.

Turning to meet her mother’s eyes, “I saw Tom today, no more than a few hours ago,” she informed.

“None the worse for wear in the custody of Nurse Lane I trust?” Lina remarked.

Janine shook her head, blonde hair swishing across her shoulders. “He’s actually looking really good,” she stated.

“Surely you didn’t come up here to taunt me with this little morsel of information?” she queried.

“Today is Monday. His mother is coming to town Friday,” Janine supplied. “Tom wants to dodge her, but I have a suspicion, Tess will not intervene.”

Lina chuckled, “None of us have made the task any easier for Tess, including irascible Tom himself,” she said.

“If Tom’s mother comes, any chance of retrieving him will essentially be lost,” Janine protested.

It was obvious by her tone, Janine was seeking her intervention, but why? She was of two minds. Less likely, the girl was at wits end and desperate, or two, and the more seemly, she was hatching a new ploy to put Tom back in her hands. Laughing softly, not derisively, “One might suspect the validity of your repentance for your previous handling of Tom in the hospital the other day was disingenuous,” she said, arching an eyebrow.

Half-smiling, “I think I took him for granted somewhat, lost myself in the pursuit of exploring new and exciting things,” she conceded directly.

“Coming from you, that’s awfully mature, perhaps I should have your head examined to make sure there isn’t some hidden trauma there?” the girl’s mother teased.

Janine grinned. “Don’t get me wrong, I want him, and I mean to have him,” she admitted. “But.”

“You feel your chances slipping away and you are asking for me to help. Bringing Elle into the picture certainly complicates things though,” Lina added.

“Elle? Is that Tom’s mother’s name?”

“Raphaella, though when she modelled she used the name Elle,” she answered.

“Elle? As in Elle da la Riva? Related to my benefactress Donatella da la Riva?”

“Raphaella and Donatella are sisters, Elle the senior,” Lina replied.

“Donatella da la Riva is Tom’s mother’s sister?” she inquired.

Lina chuckled, “Or aunt, you could have called her that,” she teased, smile on her face. Levity aside, Elle’s involvement did complicate things. Not just for her daughter, but for Lina too. She had known from the outset, getting Serena to explore the legal aspects of taking ownership of Tom were at best a long shot, but the lawyer was clever and dogged. Putting together a legal submission of this magnitude in just four days, even with the benefit of endorsement from three of the country’s highest justices friendly to the Lindholm cause would not be enough time. Add to it, once his mother took possession of him, as Janine pointed out, there would be little hope of getting him back, legally or otherwise. She felt she had at least one trump card left, perhaps two to play, but was unwilling to use either of them just yet. For the moment she wanted to see how things unfolded in the next couple of days before taking action. She had mentioned it to Jess during their conversation, Tom was truly an instrument of chaos. Four days was a long time and much could happen. “So, why should I aid you in getting your hands back on Tom?” she asked directly.

Janine smiled a vulpine grin, “With father out of the way, I’m sure you have your own stake in this affair. I’m just asking that you exert your influence to enhance opportunity for both of us,” she stated.

“How so?” Lina asked, curious to hear her daughter’s plan.

“In the interim, I want you to extend a personal services contract offer to Cassidy for the duration of her care of Tom. Here, in this environment. You have the authority to not only make the offer, but also the wherewithal to smooth the waters at the hospital to get them to provide the time,” Janine stated, not beating around the bush.

The strategy was flawed, but not without some measure of merit. While it could certainly establish leverage over the nurse, the mitigating problem was the fact there was no way to separate the nurse from Tom discreetly. Any action would immediately lay blame on them and did nothing to dissuade Tom’s mother from coming to visit. “I could certainly make a few calls and arrange for her to have the time to be your personal nurse during your ‘convalescence’, but I think bringing her here is not the right approach,” Lina said, patting Janine gently on the thigh. “It creates more variables than it removes.”

Janine shook her head. “I think if he is here, it increases the chance to perhaps influence him to make a choice,” she said.

Lina shook her head slowly, understanding Janine’s idea of influence by having Tom here meant it would give her the opportunity to simply wait for Cassidy to make a mistake and let her guard down making it easier for Janine to simply take him from her and damn the consequences. No, it would not be wise to dangle that bait in front of the girl.

Seeing her mother’s negation, Janine frowned.

“I will make the arrangements for Cassidy’s continued absence from work, but it will be in her residence, not here,” she advised.

For Janine, it wasn’t entirely what she wanted, but at least it was a step in the right direction. “Given the accident, I will need for you to let the school know I’ll probably be absent for the balance of the week as well,” she said.

“OF course dear,” Lina replied. “You and I can go over tomorrow and visit with Cassidy and Tom,” she added.

Standing up, Janine smiled and nodded, “Thank you, I love you,” she said.

“And me you,” she replied, watching as her daughter turned and exited the bathroom.

 

Chapter End Notes:

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