RAIN

Chapter twenty three

The sound of the door opening and closing pulled him out of his snooze. There was an unpleasant hum in the room that made his head hurt. He focused his eyes on the girl who was sashaying her way toward him, a bright smile on her face. She was dressed in a floral patterned dress and a white broad-brimmed hat. She removed her designer sunglasses and placed them in her handbag. The smell of her perfume was suffocating and it intensified his headache.

"Hello, Jet. How are you feeling?" He grunted. She pulled up a chair close to the bed and sat. "Your Mom said that I could come say hello. I'm Maggie. I'm your cousin on your Mom's side. I'm truly sorry about what happened. It's all over the news. It's just amazing what you survived out there."

"Thanks."

"I guess you can't wait to go home can you?"

"Hmm...there are some things I have to do first."

"Like what? Maybe I can help you. I mean, we don't know each other very well but I am family even if you aren't that close to your Mom's side. I know my way around."

"It's fine." He shot her a weak smile and closed his eyes.

"You know, Jet, it doesn't surprise me that your grandfather knew that crazy man. There's a lot of things about him that's disturbing." He opened his eyes. She smiled nervously and straightened her back. "Your Mom couldn't have chosen a worse family to get married into. I mean no disrespect to your family but I have heard many bad things about them."

"Like what?"

"Like how your grandfather would trick people into selling their land and houses to him so he could develop large areas with cheap housing that he could then sell for big money. Or how he stabbed his business partner in the back and stole the company from under his nose. He's very corrupt and I'm guessing you didn't know that seeing that you live so far. People aren't brave enough to speak badly about your family. They don't respect your family Jet, they fear you."     

He sat up and leaned his head against the soft pillows. His head was throbbing again.

"Who sent you here?"

She laughed, removed her hat and sat it on her lap. She fluffed off her long needle-straight hair, the smell of her shampoo drifting in the air.

"You are very smart. She said so. Sophie."

"So she finally remembers me! Not even a call to see if I'm dead or alive."

"She doesn't like having anything to do with her parents, you know that. And she tried to call but your mother intercepted it and told her off. She blames her for what happened. Said she shouldn't have encouraged you to come out there knowing that a storm was coming."

"No, I didn't know she doesn't like her parents. And why not?"

"Remember when her husband passed away? Think about it. No one's solved his mysterious death since then."

"Oh right, they found him floating in the pool with a bump on his head, the police said that he fell and hit his head. I remember. My Mom told me."

"No one ever investigated it and she's never forgotten. Your grandfather never liked him. Didn't want Sophie to marry him. They had a big falling out about money. Two months later, he's dead. Anyway, I didn't want to make you upset or anything in your current condition. Sophie asked me to tell you to come see her as soon as possible. She has a surprise for you and she has something to discuss with you. And if you need me, Jet, then this is my number," she said as she placed a business card on the small bedside table. "Just take care of yourself, okay? Even if you want to hang out or anything. Give me a call. Let's catch up."