Under the Tall Pines
Episode 9: Sin and Desire
By Keith Yates
Published by Keith Yates
Cover Art by: Keith Yates
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011
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It was cold in the hospital waiting room. The building’s air condition system had been running constantly due to the humid night outside.
Worth had his arm snugly around Cassie as they watched Molly, who was weeping on the other side of the room. Since Clarissa had been found in the yard on the east side of the mansion, the elderly woman had done nothing but cry.
With his boots propped up on the table in front of him, Paul sat on a bright orange couch next to Cassie and Worth. He was flipping casually through a Field and Stream magazine. Every few minutes, he would cautiously peek over the top of the magazine and scan the room nervously. Luckily for him, Paul’s subtle tension was non-detectable to the rest of his family waiting with him. After all, he had plenty of reason to be anxious. He had been the one who had left his own mother to die in the yard without offering a hand of assistance.
Worth was his usual strong, noble self - always in head-of-the-family mode with his head held high and eyes forward, waiting to face anything to come into his path.
The room was silent except for Molly’s sobs.
Cassie found the whole situation strange and ironic that the old cook seemed to be the only one expressing any emotion over Clarissa’s condition. Cassie was all too aware that Clarissa was not exactly up for ‘Mother of the Year’ with any of her kids.
The Westerveldt matriarch had been found nearly an hour after she had collapsed. Trusty Shep had been the one who had come across her. Paul, who had gone to bed already, had been awoken by the shouts from downstairs about Clarissa…after she had been found. Naturally, Paul had feigned initial concern and had gotten caught up along with the others in the craziness about getting the unconscious old woman to the hospital. He had been bitterly disappointed that his mother had not already died. There was still a huge chance that she could expose his schemes to everyone.
Mean old woman heard all my plans cos of that idiot, Eve! She has to die! If she comes to, she can finger me in Pam’s killing!
“Where the hell is Dean?” Cassie asked, looking up at Worth. “I wonder if he has gotten your messages yet.”
“Who knows? He should’ve been here by now!” Worth replied, gazing down at his Rolex. “That boy is never where he should be.”
She could tell by the look on her lover’s face that he was irritated by Dean’s not being there with them. “Maybe he’s still with Monica,” she suggested.
“This late?” He questioned sharply. “Unlikely…. But knowing that strange woman, I wouldn’t be shocked if she had flipped out and had him tied up in her basement or something.”
Just then, Dean came through the double doors into the waiting room. He looked over at Worth and Cassie once, but opted to walk over toward Paul instead.
“What’s goin’ on with Momma?” He asked his elder brother.
“Shep found her outside. Looks like she had some sort of spell,” Paul told him.
“Really? It’s probably because of Pam gettin’ killed,” he theorized. “Is she real bad off?”
“Yep, she’s out and hasn’t woke up since Shep found her.”
“Where the hell have you been?” Worth said irritably as he got up from his seated position beside Cassie. The eldest brother had not appreciated being overlooked during Dean’s entrance.
Dean looked over at him. “I was out!” He said defensively, slightly puffing out his muscular chest underneath his white dress shirt. “What do I got now a curfew or somethin’?”
“No, boy!” Worth said angrily. “You can check your attitude outside! Our mother is in there fighting for her life!”
“Like you give a shit about her!” Dean shot back as Paul and Molly watched them. “You ain’t got no regard for anyone but yourself!”
“That woman in there gave birth to the whole lot of us!” Worth declared. “No matter how cantankerous or crazy Momma might be…she is our mother!” Worth continued, pointing at his brother and getting in his face. “Besides, I know what this is about!”
“Yeah, what would that be?” Dean asked scathingly. “The fact you lied to me, and you and your little girly there pulled the wool over my eyes about the two of you fuckin’?”
“Guys!” Cassie said loudly as she moved between them. “We are in a hospital, waiting to hear about your mother! This can wait!”
“Cassie’s right, but you and I need to talk, boy! After we hear about Momma, you better save me some time!”
“Whatever, man!” Dean huffed.
Then, Dr. Melanie Stone entered the waiting room. Molly and Paul stood up as they all faced the red-haired doctor in the white coat.
Seeing Melanie caused Paul’s eyes to widen.
Damn! Who the hell is this hottie?
He stared at the beautiful woman as his mouth watered like a dog staring at juicy prime rib. He surveyed her long curly hair and pretty face as well as her blue eyes and large breasts.
“The Westerveldts, I presume,” she said professionally. “I’m Dr. Melanie Stone.”
“Yes,” Worth said, stepping toward her. “Any word on our mother?”
“I am afraid I have some very bad news,” began Melanie soberly.
Molly began to weep loudly. Cassie took the old woman into her arms.
“Your mother has suffered a massive stroke.”
Worth and Dean’s faces were void of any emotion. Paul listened eagerly.
“Clarissa is in a vegetative state, but in stable condition. So far, she is non-responsive to all stimuli.”
“Oh God, that’s horrible,” Cassie muttered.
Hell yes! Paul screamed in his mind as the urge to do a cartwheel came over him. Instead, he managed to utter: “This is awful.”
“Dr. Stone, what exactly do you mean by a vegetative state?” Dean asked completely dumbfounded.
“Well, it is similar to a coma, but the patients eyes are often open. Unfortunately, they completely lack cognitive function,” Melanie said with a slight compassionate smile.
“I think I seen that on TV before,” Dean replied, scanning his mind for the memory of the show that he had seen.
The doctor looked over at Dean with an incredulous look. “I see,” she replied flatly as she did a quick double take from his comment. “Yes, sort of like on television…except in Clarissa’s condition her eyes are open, but lifeless…completely unresponsive.”
“Sort of like a state of living death?” Worth asked, digesting the situation.
“Yes, I’m afraid your mother is completely incapacitated.”
“How long will Momma be like this for?” Paul asked slyly.
“We are uncertain. Unfortunately, this could be a permanent condition, or your mother could possibly regain her faculties at some point in the near future. I do want to caution you of this, though…. The longer that your mother stays in this vegetative state – the less likely it is that she will recover from this incident,” Melanie sadly informed the family. “We are going to keep her here for a few more days, but after that, we will release her to you.” She paused. “You must understand something. Clarissa will need constant care from here on out. I suggest you either hire a full time nurse or consider a long-term care facility.”
“We will see to it,” Worth said solemnly.
“Tell me something,” Melanie started. “Did something unexpected happen to Clarissa? I mean…was there some sort of huge stress that might have precipitated this event?”
“Well, we did lose a family member the other day,” Dean stated glumly. “That hit her real hard.”
“That could have contributed to this, but we cannot be sure.” The doctor paused. “Please let me know if I can do anything further for you, or if any of you have additional questions.”
“Thank you,” Worth stated mechanically.
As Melanie turned to leave, she noticed Paul smile at her. She returned with her own intrigued smile before leaving the waiting area.
Hot damn! Paul thought. She smiled at me! I think I am gonna get to know Dr. Melanie Stone a little bit better!
After following Trixie’s directions to the letter, Tim pulled his little car into the driveway of a little house at 316 Sussex Street. In the dim light of the night, he looked up at the house. It was a small Victorian with lights coming out of every window. As Tim stepped out onto the driveway, Trixie pulled up behind him.
“You just now gettin’ here?” She asked as she hopped out of her old truck and slammed the door.
“Yeah, I rode around for a little while to do some thinking,” he replied sedately. “To say the least, the events of the last few days left me with a lot for my mind to absorb.”
“Well, I got off work early - thank God!” Trixie exclaimed. “Kristen let me go after the show cos things died down a bit.”
“That’s good,” he stated nonchalantly.
She looked up at her house. “Damn, that Jason! I done told him a thousand times to keep them lights shut off when he ain’t in the rooms!”
“Well, maybe he’s like cleaning or something,” Tim offered as they began up the walk to the front door.
“Are you kiddin’? By this time of night, that boy is as stoned as a goose!”
They walked into her house, and the stench of marijuana smoke nearly knocked them to the floor.
“Hey!” Jason screamed happily as he ran out of his room to them. Jason’s hair was pulled back in a rubber band, and he had his glasses on. “God, I am so glad someone is here! All I’ve been doing is listening to my old Kate Bush CDs by myself! Even that damn chicken of yours won’t come out from where ever she’s been hiding.”
“A chicken?” Tim questioned curiously. “Did he say a chicken?”
“Yep, Miss Prissy.... She’s my baby!” Trixie stated proudly.
If there was ever any question in my mind that I wasn’t back in the country, it has now been answered! Tim considered as he digested the fact that they lived with a chicken as a pet.
“Where the hell is Miss Prissy anyway?” Jason asked her as they sat down.
Meanwhile, Tim eyed the living room. There were country wreaths on every wall. It was obvious they were homemade. Ceramic chickens of all shapes and sizes were scattered atop most of the furniture, which was rather dusty and worn. A comfy-looking couch and a love seat sat in front of a large entertainment center.
“She gots two favorite hidin’ places - under my bed and up on top of my towels in the bathroom closet.”
“I just don’t get it!” Jason exclaimed. “We’ve been roomies for years, and she still hides from me like I’m a stranger.”
“She just misses her Momma.” Trixie paused. “Miss Prissssyyyy!” She called out. “Mommas home!”
A few seconds later, as Tim watched, a medium-sized black and white hen dashed out of one of the back bedrooms as fast as its legs could carry it. Letting out a gleeful cluck, Miss Prissy jumped up on Trixie’s lap.
“Good, girl,” she said, petting the bird.
Just then, Tim looked up on the opposite wall to see a huge framed picture of Trixie with Miss Prissy on her lap, which he later found out, had been taken last year by an Olan Mills photographer over at the Wal-Mart in Salmonella.
Meanwhile, Jason was packing the bowl of a pipe with some of the green herb.
“Where does she go to the bathroom at?” Tim asked quizzically as Jason passed him the pipe. Tim took a long hit off of it.
“I got her a litter box set up in my bathroom. She uses it just like a kitty cat. Also, she’s got her a pet entrance out the kitchen door.”
“Wow,” Tim said with a loud cough as the harsh smoke filled his lungs. “That’s…uh…intense!” He passed the pipe to Trixie.
“Hey, Tim” Jason began as he sipped on a clear glass of what appeared to be red Kool-Aid. “I heard what happened to you at school. That was crazy!”
“That’s one word for it,” Tim replied as he exhaled. “That William Everett was jealous of me and had me kicked out of school!”
“Oh well, honey!” Trixie said as she exhaled some smoke. “Shit happens!”
“Well, I am going to march down to Chancellor Montgomery’s office tomorrow and demand to be let back into WJC!” Tim exclaimed as he was passed the pipe again. “I’ll be damned if I let that jealous queen mess up my career in Astrology!”
“You tell him off, girl!” Jason began, laughing hysterically. “Tell ‘em all off!”
“You gotta excuse him. I would bet money that he’s been hittin’ this smoke all night!” Trixie said, inhaling more.
Then, she bent down toward her chicken. Miss Prissy leaned up toward her. Holding the chickens head gently, Trixie blew some of the magic smoke into the bird’s beak. Afterwards, Miss Prissy’s head spun around a little. Tim watched in astonishment as Trixie finished shot-gunning her chicken.
“You would win that bet!” Jason declared proudly.
The room began to spin slightly for Tim as a smile began to unfold on his lips. “Give me some more of that!”
Trixie passed the pipe back to him.
“Hey, you wanna pet her?”
Tim nodded his head in affirmation as his breathing increased. Starting to feel the effects of the pot, Tim cautiously extended his hand toward the chicken in her lap. As he moved in toward her, Miss Prissy pecked his hand and gave him a sassy cluck.
“Owwww!” Tim screamed.
“Miss Prissy!” Trixie said in a scolding tone. “I’m sorry, Tim. Sometimes it takes her a while to warm up to folks!”
“I will try not to take it personally,” he replied wryly.
The chicken climbed up on Trixie’s shoulder and rested its head on her stiff, red hair.
“I wanted to thank you again,” Tim began again. “I appreciate you letting me crash here tonight. I didn’t expect to wind up suddenly homeless like this!”
“I know we ain’t known each other too long, but I ain’t gunna have you living in some cardboard box or under a bridge, eating out of garbage cans!” She looked down at her watch. “Its 11:30…time for Falcon Crest!”
She reached down and grabbed the remote, clicking on the television, which sat in the wooden entertainment system across from them.
“Falcon Crest?” Tim questioned with a laugh. “Isn’t that the old 1980’s soap opera with Jane Wyman?”
“Yes!” Jason moaned with disgust. “She watches it every night!”
“It's me and Miss Prissy’s favorite show!”
“Well, I don’t know why you don’t watch The Golden Girls on Hallmark Channel! You’ve got every episode of Falcon Crest on tape already!”
“Shhh, it’s about to start!” Trixie exclaimed.
“Well, I am going to my room to visit my bong and watch The Golden Girls back there. Tim, you wanna come?”
“No, I think I’ve had enough weed for a few minutes. I will in a little while, though.”
***
About 30 minutes later, Tim and Trixie were sitting in the living room, watching Falcon Crest with the lights off and every candle in the room lit. During the time, he had hit the pipe so many more times that he had lost count.
It all amazed him. He had never been so wrapped up in a television show before. Every character seemed right there in the room with him. He felt every emotion and every word. He was so into it that it felt as if he were there in Tuscany Valley with the rest of the characters.
Watching TV and smoking weed are some of life’s true pleasures! Tim realized suddenly, while both of them sipped on beers and smoked cigarettes.
“Timmy, this is what life is all about!” She proclaimed.
“Yeah,” Tim moaned highly content as his feet joined hers up on the coffee table in front of them. His body sank further into the comfortable couch. He and the couch seemed to become one. He had not been this relaxed in weeks. “I am so high....”
“Me too,” Trixie laughed with a wink. “Isn’t Angela Channing so cool? I would love to be her one of these days!” Trixie stated.
“Well, I don’t know about those old lady haircuts and those little dresses, but I sure would love her money and power!”
“Well, maybe one of these days you will, Tim.”
“God, I wish. Right now, I can’t even afford another meal!”
“I know you’re gonna be alright, Tim.” She said looking over at him.
“Really?”
“Don’t be worrying about all this mess you’re in. It’s gonna pass, and I know you are going to be a huge success and get everything you want out of life.”
“How do you know that?” He asked.
“You’ve got a spark, Tim. You’ve got a fire in you. It’s a determination that I don’t see too often, and, believe me, I see a lot of people come and go working as a bar maid.” Trixie said with a smile. “Besides, you are about the same age as my little boy.”
“You have a son?” Tim asked in a surprised tone.
“Yeah, I did. I had him in my teens. He was real sickly, though. Unfortunately, he only survived for a few months.”
“I had no idea.”
Trixie looked away for a moment. Her eyes still glazed over from the large ingestion of pot. “I don’t mention Joey too much anymore. I think about him all the time.” She paused as past feelings crept up on her. “Ya know, I don’t even remember the last time that I even spoke of him to anyone. He is always in the back of my mind. Losses like that sort of stay with ya thru life….”
Suddenly, the door from Jason’s room busted open; the light from the open door flooded the dark room! Jason leapt out of his room with his hair wild all around his shoulders. He sprang into their view. The only things covering his hairy body were a knit shawl around his shoulders and a pair of black bikini briefs.
“I am the forest primeval!” Jason declared with his hand in the air as he twirled about.
Tim and Trixie exchanged a quick incredulous look.
“I am Diana - the great huntress of the Baltic woods of yore!”
Tim and Trixie busted into hysterical laughter.
“Do not scoff at me! I am the Great Toad, who knows only the truth and speaks no lies!”
“Boy!” Trixie said, getting up. “You ain’t makin’ no sense! Ya talkin’ outta ya damn head again!” She grabbed him by his arm. “Sit down here! I am cutting you off for the night!” She helped him into the chair across from the couch.
“You cannot contain me in your world! I am space and stars and simple dust in the mind of a Chinese girl, who is eating free cheese!” Jason screamed at the top of his lungs.
In response to Jason’s loud stoned declaration, Miss Prissy clucked loudly and ran as fast as her small feet could carry her into Trixie’s room and under her bed.
“Is he gonna be okay?” Tim asked, standing up from his seat.
“He’ll be fine!” Trixie said. “He’s a hoot, ain’t he?”
Within seconds of hitting the chair, Jason passed out and began snoring loudly.
“Well!” She declared, putting her hand on her hip. “That was quite a show-stopper!”
***
After Falcon Crest, which had been followed by What’s Happening!, Tim went out to his car and got his night bag. After walking back inside, Tim saw that Trixie had put Jason to bed and had sat down in the chair across from the sofa. Also, she had set out a blanket and a pillow on the couch for him. He could not help but smile from her kindness.
“I want to thank you again for taking me in,” he offered.
“Honey, it ain’t no problem. You can stay here as long as ya like.”
“I appreciate that, but I have got to find a place tomorrow!” Tim declared, putting his bag beside the couch. “You know of any place for rent?”
“Well, the Spanish Moss Apartments is all full up from what I been told, but the house two doors down is open. You should talk to Mrs. Fogarty about renting it.”
“Mrs. Fogarty, eh?” Tim questioned. “What all do you know about the neighbors round here?”
“Well, on the way side of the street, there are two sisters…. Nurse Patty and her sister - a real butchie-lookin’ thing…. I can’t recall her name. Patty is a sweet one, though. Then, next door to me is this secretary named Monica - she’s sort of weird, though, and keeps to herself a lot.”
“Sounds manageable…. And it would be cool to have neighbors like yourselves!”
“That’d be a ton of fun! You should definitely give Mrs. Fogarty a call!”
“Well, if I can’t get back into school, that sounds like my next plan of action!” Tim said. “I just hope I can scrape together enough money for the deposits….”
Following the tragic news about Clarissa, Worth pulled Dean outside of the hospital on the empty ambulance ramp. This conversation would have to be in private, and for now the ambulance ramp would have to do.
Worth had always had these sort of talks with Dean all of his life. Usually, it was because of something stupid Dean had done. Like the time three years ago when Dean had been arrested from public intoxication after a football victory at Ole Miss, or the time Dean had skipped class in high school and got busted by the head master of Lancaster Academy. That had all been kid’s stuff. This time was different…this conversation would be over something that Worth had done.
“I think you know why I pulled you out here, Dean,” Worth began in a fatherly tone. “You have been running round here with a chip on your shoulder, and it’s got to stop!”
“Who put that chip on there, huh?” Dean questioned loudly, getting in his elder brother’s face. “You did…that’s who!”
“Step back, boy!” Worth ordered as he took a deep breath. He knew Dean was right on all counts, but the animosity in the family had to stop. Also, Worth could not stand for any other male to come at him in an aggressive manner…even if it were his kid brother.
“Yes, Cassie and I are together now. And, yes, we lied to you and deceived you.”
Dean stared at him with hatred in his eyes.
“You may not believe this now, but we lied to you for your own good…no matter how wrong it turned out!”
“My own good?” Dean laughed aloud. “You were married to Julie until a day or two ago, and I was trying to get Cassie to marry me! If you cared about me like you say you do, you should’ve stayed away from my girl!”
“You’re right.”
“Huh?” Dean was astonished. He had not expected Worth to accept blame so easily. Blame was usually the last thing that Worth Westerveldt ever owned up to.
“I was selfish...me and Cassie both were. But, we want to be together, Dean,” he stated calmly. “In the end, she loved me and not you. This is just the way things worked out, and I know this has been an awful blow to your pride.”
“Both of ya hurt me! But you hurt me way more than Cassie ever could!” Dean said, softening his tone. “You’re my big brother, man. You’re supposed to love me and watch after me...not go after my girl.”
“I know,” Worth conceded. “I do love you, and I am sorry I did what I did to you. But Cassie and I are going to be together, and I am going to ask her to marry me.”
“How can I get past this, man? We live in the same house for Christ’s sakes! I’m going to be seeing you and her together every day! How do you think that’s gunna make me feel?”
“I don’t know, but it’s something you are going to have to work on,” Worth said bluntly. “It’s something we all will have to work on. This is going to be for the long haul. I am planning on starting a family with Cassie as soon as possible, and I still want you to be part of that family.”
Dean turned away and walked over to the steel railing, overlooking the parking lot. Worth came up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“I know I’m asking a lot out of you, but with Pam gettin’ herself murdered, and Momma in that awful state, I need you to be at my side, little brother.”
Dean turned back toward him. “I will try to deal with all this, but don’t expect me to be happy with it at all!”
“That’s all I can ask for,” Worth stated, extending his hand toward his. “It’s just me, you and Paul now.”
Dean took his hand, sealing this uneasy truce.
“It’s about damn time, you two made up,” Paul said, coming up toward them from the door to the lobby. “Tough break about Momma, huh?”
“Yes, being in a state of living death is not exactly something to be desired,” Worth stated curtly.
“Damn straight,” Dean agreed.
“So, what ya’ll wanna do? Put her in a home or hire a full-time nurse?” Paul asked.
“I vote we put her in a home,” Dean said.
“So do I,” Paul added.
“Fine with me,” Worth agreed. “Dean, I am a little surprised at you. I figured you’d be tender-hearted toward Momma.”
“Are you kidding?” Dean laughed. “That woman hadn’t said a nice word to me in over a decade!”
“It’s decided then,” Worth said. “It’s just us guys now, and we need to be sticking together from here on out….”
Dr. Melanie Stone walked into the staff break room on the top floor at Dark Pines Hospital. Sitting at the round table in the middle of the room, Nurse Patty was there, reading a magazine and eating some Vienna sausages right out of the can.
Melanie had worked with her several times over the last couple of days, but she knew little about the usually stressed-out nurse.
Earlier in the evening, the doctor had noticed something about Patty. Particularly, it was her black eye and the bruises on her arms. The dark areas really stood out in contrast because of Patty’s pale, white skin as well as her white nurses’ uniform. Melanie could also tell that Patty looked as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“Hi there,” Melanie said, coming up to join her.
“Hello, Doctor Stone,” she greeted her.
She took a seat across from Patty. “What are you reading?”
“Just Soap Opera Digest”, she replied with a smile. “Gotta have a little escape…. Being the only nurse on night duty can be very hectic.”
“I sympathize. Being the only doctor here tonight is not too easy either,” the red head replied. “For such a small community, there are a lot of people in and out of this hospital.”
“Welcome to Dark Pines!” Patty stated jokingly. “There are a lot of freaky things that happen around here.”
“I will keep that in mind,” Melanie said with a smile. “You look like you’ve had an accident there. What happened…if you don’t mind me asking….”
Patty gave her a nervous look. “A bathtub fell on me!” She blurted out.
“A bathtub?”
“Yes,” Patty replied with an unsure smile. “My sister and I were...uh...moving a new bathtub into the house, and it fell out of the truck on me.”
“Good Lord! That could’ve killed you!”
“I’m fine, though,” she assured the concerned doctor.
“Well, that is something you don’t hear every day,” Melanie said.
Obviously those marks were made by someone...not something. She did not buy Patty’s story for a second, but she was not going to let Patty know that. Dr. Stone had seen too many examples of spousal abuse in her years as a doctor. She hoped that Nurse Patty was not experiencing that.
“Are you married, by the way?”
“No, I just live with my sister, Eve.”
“I’m a single gal myself too,” Melanie replied nonchalantly. Getting Patty to open up was obviously not an easy task.
“Well, I need to be getting back,” Patty said, getting up.
Melanie stood up, as well. “Patty, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I want you to know I would be here for you.”
“Thanks,” Patty replied as she quickly left the room.
Patty had a strong feeling that Dr. Stone had not bought her story. She seemed nice and like someone that she could put her trust in, but how could she tell Melanie or anyone else that her sister had been the one who beat her up because she had threatened to tell the police about her killing Pam Westerveldt. She wondered who would even believe such a crazy story. For her own safety, Patty knew that she would have to keep Eve’s physical abuse and the murder to herself...for now.
“Look, lady!” A country woman, named Judie Potts, with an overly tanned face, a mullet and two teeth missing screamed at Crystal Boudreaux, who was behind the teller counter at the downtown branch of the Union Planners Bank in Dark Pines.
“I can’t be payin’ this bank for all these bounced checks! I gots four kids, and a good fer nothin’ husband, who can’t hold a job for a week! How we supposed to cough up a hundred and eighty extra bucks?”
Crystal rolled her hazel eyes. She had heard this story a million times from haughty soccer moms to careless teens to obvious white trash like Mrs. Potts.