The Contract Read online

  Mrs. MacDougal appeared before the silence became too awkward. “Jason, escort Miss Sara to the study. I will be in momentarily to place the calls for you.”

  “That is not necessary, Mrs. MacDougal. I will place the call for… calls for us.”

  “Very good,” Mrs. MacDougal replied. She gave Jason a long look, then turned to Sara. “Jason’s father passed on over five years ago.”

  Before she could continue Jason interjected, “Mrs. MacDougal, I do not be-lieve…”

  “Quiet, young man. Miss Sara has the right to know a few things about this situation. She is a young lady alone in unknown surroundings. It is only right she has full knowledge of things.”

  “My apologies,” Jason said quietly.

  “Accepted. As I was saying, Miss Sara,” Mrs. MacDougal continued, her words bringing Sara’s eyes back to her from watching Jason calmly accepting what she realized was a strong reprimand from Mrs. MacDougal.

  “Master Jason’s father passed on over five years ago, his mother almost ten. His stepmother, Mrs. McKindrick, is travelling. Master Jason is head of this house in his stepmother’s absence. Mr. Lawrence, Mrs. McKindrick’s personal attorney, as Mrs. McKindrick is unavailable due to her trip, is Master Jason’s legal guardian for the duration of her absence.

  “Master Jason is a responsible young man. He has been raised to be a gentleman, and to make informed decisions.”

  Mrs. MacDougal gave Jason a fond look, but turned back to Sara.

  “However, with that said, if you have issues with him, as I suspect you do, no one in this household staff will interfere if you wish to discuss them with him, even if the discussion becomes… intense.

  “Do I make myself clear?”

  She looked over at Jason. “And do I make myself clear to you as well, young man?”

  Jason responded before Sara. He stood with hands clasped behind his back. “Yes, Ma’am. She has your permission to rake me over the coals, at least verbally, if she so chooses.”

  “At least verbally. Miss Sara has already shown very good judgment in accepting the circumstance into which she was forced through no choice of her own. I doubt she will do anything remotely life threatening.”

  Mrs. MacDougal turned back to Sara. “Miss Sara?”

  “I understand,” she replied, not quite believing the implication in Mrs. MacDougal’s words. It was almost as if she had given Sara permission, even encouragement to do Jason some bodily harm, which is something Sara had thought about several times that day.

  When Mrs. MacDougal turned and left them, Jason extended an arm and said, “The study is this way.”

  After allowing Sara to enter, Jason closed the tall, wide carved double doors of the study.

  Jason suspected, though he was never entirely sure, that the entire staff huddled outside the study doors the entire time he and Sara were inside the study.

  “Was she… Was she serious a while ago?” Sara asked, unable to resist.

  “Yes,” replied Jason. He moved to the large desk, but did not go behind it, or sit in one of the chairs facing it. His hand on the telephone, he looked at Sara and asked, “Would you like me to call Sally so you can talk to her… Or… do you want to do as Mrs. MacDougal seemed to be suggesting, not just giving her permission to do.

  “You have my word I will not resist.”

  Sara fumbled in the small pocket that was part of the skirt of the dress. She suddenly sat down in one of the overstuffed club chairs of the study, her tears starting despite her assurances to herself she would not cry any more.

  She thrust the money clutched in her hand toward Jason. When he did not take it, her hands fell to her lap. Through her tears and the occasional sob she said, “First, why? Why did you do everything today? The money. Lunch. Bringing me here. Oh, and the basketball in that creep’s face.

  “Mrs. MacDougal is right. I have… issues… as she put it. I would like to take your head off your shoulders. But before I do, I have to know. Why? And how did you even suspect, much less know?”

  Sara stared at Jason, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Jason could not think of ever having seeing anyone look so lost and forlorn. He could only stand there, watching her tears fall, one hand still on the telephone as he said, “I just saw you by the car this morning… There was just something about you. I honestly do not know what.

  “I heard a couple of things you said… Saw your reactions to a couple of things… I just put two and two together. I do not really know. I just wanted to.”

  “It is not fair to put me in this position. I hate charity. I hate owing anyone. I hate…”

  “I know,” Jason said softly. “I am sorry you are upset.”

  Sara’s eyes narrowed at Jason’s next words, but her tears still fell.

  Firmly Jason added, “I am sorry I made you cry. I am not sorry for doing the things I have done.”

  “Why you!” Sara jumped up from the chair. Her right arm flew back, then forward, palm open. She barely stopped the impending slap before her hand connected with Jason’s face.

  He had not even tried to dodge away.

  Her tears were gone now, and for that Jason was glad.

  “I will pay you back for all this. Somehow. Mrs. MacDougal said I could help in some way…” Her eyes suddenly crinkled up slightly. “Though… Not for tonight…” Sara glared at Jason again, standing almost toe to toe with him.

  “I don’t think she knows about the other things today.”

  Jason did not respond.

  “Well, say something!” Sara insisted.

  “There is nothing to say. You are right. I did things that make you uncomfortable. Things that were wrong in your eyes. I do not even disagree that they were wrong.”

  Sara frowned. “So?”

  “I cannot take them back. I would not, if I could. I cannot accurately describe why I did them. Honestly. I just… You really can lay me out, if you want. Mrs. Mac-Dougal has never lied a word in her life. She will not make trouble for you… about this… nor will the others.”

  “It is so tempting!” Sara hissed. “But it is too easy. You are going to have to pay for what you did to me much more than just a slap… or even a slug to the chin. But that will come after I have paid you back for… You know what I mean.”

  “Yes. I also know it will do no good to tell you that you do not owe me anything. I am sure I would feel exactly the same in your position.

  “So, since we will not resolve those two issues right now, would you like me to call Sally?”

  “Sally?”

  “My attorney.”

  “You actually have your own attorney.”

  “You will understand when you meet my stepmother… or even her attorney.”

  “I will not be here anywhere near long enough for either of those events to come to pass. Yes, please make the call.”

  Sara sat back down, this time by the desk. Jason made the call, then handed Sara the receiver.

  Jason knew Sally. For her to say anything to make Sara suddenly clutch the telephone receiver that hard and tears to start streaming again, things with Sara’s mother must be rather more involved than first appearances.

  Sara almost dropped the receiver. Jason took it from her as she slumped back in the chair, tears still streaming from her eyes.

  “Sally?” Jason asked into the receiver, unable to take his eyes from Sara.

  “Jason. Mrs. Lee is in a great deal of trouble. I suspect her daughter had no idea. There are things from her past… I cannot tell you. Client confidentiality. Are you sure you want me to…”

  “Do everything you can. Please Sally. This is very important to me.”

  “I will, Jason, I will. Tell Sara I will talk to her tomorrow after school.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Sally.”

  Jason hung up the telephone. “Sally will do everything she can to help. She will talk to you after school tomorrow.”

  “I can’t go to school tomorrow! I need to see my mother
! But she said they would not let me in because I’m a minor. I… I…”

  Head down, her long red hair now hiding her face, Sara sat there sobbing.

  Jason knelt, taking Sara’s trembling hands. “Sally will do everything possible. I know it is going to be difficult, but try to get at least a little sleep. If you do not go to school tomorrow, it could cause problems later. I know you do not want that.”

  Sara shook her head, pulled her hands free from Jason’s and hurried out of the study. She did not realize anyone was near as she ran toward the stairs.

  The group that had been clustered by the study doors watched Sara for a moment. Juliet hurried to follow Sara at a motion from Mrs. MacDougal.

  Mrs. MacDougal started into the study, but she saw Jason punching in a number on the telephone. She pulled the doors closed without entering.

  “What do we do?” Candy asked.

  “Nothing at the moment,” Mrs. MacDougal said. “I have a feeling nothing is going to be quite the same around here.”

  “That is a good thing, right?” Candy asked.

  Suddenly Mrs. MacDougal was smiling. “Despite the problems, yes, I heartily think so.”

  Jason steeled himself as the telephone at Jack Lawrence’s home began to ring.

  “Lawrence here.”

  “Mr. Lawrence, it is Jason McKindrick.”

  “Explain yourself young man.”

  “In what reference, sir?” Jason asked. He knew he should not antagonize Jack Lawrence, but Jason found himself doing it on a regular basis.

  “You know exactly what reference. Your house guests. MacDougal said you brought some unsavory street walker into your mother’s home.”

  “You are my guardian, because my STEP mother wished it while she is away. And you administer, for my stepmother, what my father left to her after his death. And for the moment, you administer part of what my father left to me, including this house and property. I do not like your inference, Mr. Lawrence. Do not refer to Sara Lee in that manner again.”

  “And just what do you think you can do about it, Jason?” snarled Lawrence. “I will call her a little whore if I so choose. Now, I suggest you get her out of that house by tomorrow noon, or I shall take steps to remedy the situation myself. You will not bring shame to your mother’s good name by carrying on this way.”

  Jason hung up the telephone gently when he heard the click of the disconnect, rather than slamming it down the way he wanted. Jack Lawrence had not given him time to respond.

  Jason suppressed the flare of anger. Jack Lawrence’s threats were for the most part meaningless. And Jason knew he had several ways to divert the attorney from any action that would cause Sara problems.

  With a sigh Jason left the study, heading upstairs. He met Mrs. MacDougal just coming out of Sara’s room.

  “Is she okay?” Jason asked quietly.

  “No. Not okay. But Miss Sara is coping, for the moment. Juliet is keeping her company as she prepares for bed.”

  Jason looked over at the door. “Perhaps I should try…”

  “I think not,” Mrs. MacDougal said gently, taking Jason’s arm to direct him toward his own bedroom. “For several reasons.” She did not elaborate, and Jason, distracted as he was, did not think to ask her to do so.

  Still thinking, trying to understand his own confusing actions, Jason prepared for, then slipped into bed. He fell asleep still wondering what he would do.

  Sara, on the other hand, was coming up with a plan as she prepared for bed. Juliet was talking to her through the open bathroom door of the attached bathroom and Sara made appropriate comments. But she worked out what she intended to do the following day. It kept her mind off her mother’s immediate plight, and her own. Having no clue that the plan would not work, Sara, emotionally exhausted and satisfied that she did have a plan, managed to fall asleep quickly despite the strange surroundings.

  Sara was much slower to wake up than she had been to fall asleep.

  Juliet’s opening of the window curtains to allow the bright sunshine into the room and directly across Sara’s bed did work. The knock, the soft word and the louder word Juliet had tried having failed.

  “Good morning, Miss Sara,” Juliet called cheerfully when Sara groaned and placed her arm across her eyes.

  “I am afraid you might want to hurry a bit. It’s already almost seven.”

  “What!” Sara exclaimed, throwing back the comforter to dash toward the bathroom.

  Juliet grinned.

  “I know I set that alarm last night,” Sara said, returning to the bedroom a few moments later.

  “Yes, Miss. I was in the hall. I heard it sound. I think, perhaps, you turned it off and fell asleep again.”

  “Well, rats!” Sara said. “I think I did. I sort of remember that.”

  “No matter,” Juliet said, laying out underwear, a blouse, skirt and shoes for Sara.

  “What is this?” Sara suddenly asked when she turned and saw what Juliet was doing.

  “Your clothes for the day. I brought up others and put in the closet if these are not suitable,” Juliet said evenly.

  Jason and Mrs. MacDougal had both warned Juliet that Sara might object to the clothing she had gathered up for Sara’s use.

  “Where are my jeans and shirt?” Sara asked.

  “They are in the closet, as well, with your athletic shoes,” Juliet said softly. “And your underthings are in the dresser. I will lay them out while you shower, if you insist. But, at the moment, there is no need to wear them two days in a row.”

  “But…” There were tears beginning to form in Sara’s eyes.

  “Miss Sara,” Juliet said, “My instructions are to provide whatever you want in order to make you comfortable. I believed, and still believe, that you will be more comfortable today in these clothes, than in the things you wore yesterday. Not physically, though that is a factor.”

  Even more softly Juliet continued, “I honestly do know how hard it is to have to wear the same thing to school several days in a row. To not have enough… of anything.”

  Sara had dropped her eyes from Juliet, but she looked at her now, studying her expression. Sara realized that Juliet was not just saying those things to get Sara to do what Juliet wanted.

  “I’m sorry,” Sara said.

  Juliet smiled. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Miss Sara. I turned out just fine. As will you. And you have done nothing to me to be sorry about. Expressing your opinion or stating your wishes is the way we communicate. You did not do it in a negative manner.”

  “Well… Maybe…” Sara replied. “I had better get a move on if I plan on getting to school before the first bell.”

  She stepped to the bed and picked up the clothing.

  “I’ll give you your privacy. Do not worry about being late. There is still plenty of time for breakfast before Candy takes you to school.” Juliet was out of the room before Sara could respond.

  “I am not going to show up at school in that limo,” Sara said aloud.

  She was ready to tell anyone that would listen that very thing when she went downstairs wearing the clothes Juliet had laid out for her.

  But Mrs. MacDougal was ushering her to the dining room for her breakfast, and Duchess was serving her before Sara could get a word out.

  “Miss Sara I packed a sack lunch for you. Maggie said you might prefer to take money for your lunch.”

  From the sound of it, Duchess thought buying lunch at school was a distant second best to her sack lunch. Remembering the loaded tray that Jason had obviously intentionally provided for her the day before Sara suddenly asked, “Does Jason usually take a sack lunch?”

  “Almost always,” replied Duchess. “Only when he thinks it might be inconvenient for me to prepare one does he choose to purchase his lunch.”

  “So he took his lunch yesterday,” Sara said, mostly to herself.

  But Duchess heard the comment and said, “Oh, yes. One of his favorites.” Duchess shook her head. “I do make a ve
ry nice meatloaf, of course, but the lad is inordinately fond of meatloaf sandwiches.”

  Sara realized that she had neither heard or heard about Jason that morning. “Isn’t Jason going to have breakfast?” The thought annoyed her slightly that Jason might not have to put up with the regimented routine she was finding herself in, despite the benefits the routine held for her.

  “Oh my, Master Jason had breakfast over an hour ago. He is probably at school already. He mentioned something about track tryouts,” Duchess said, taking the already prepared lunch from the serving cart to hand to Sara.

  Sara simply smiled at the quality cloth bag that held what Sara was sure would be a gourmet lunch. There was no simple brown paper bag. The food would not be peanut butter and jelly or baloney and cheese.

  “Thank you, Duchess,” Sara said politely, rising after drinking the last of the orange juice in her glass. “If I am to be there on time I shall have to hurry.”

  “Plenty of time, Miss,” Candy said. She was standing in the doorway of the dining room. Sara had not noticed her arrive.

  Mrs. MacDougal entered through the other door, obviously to consult with Duchess. Sara decided to wait until she and Candy were alone before insisting on walking, rather than taking the limo to Kennedy High School.

  “The limo is warmed up and ready to go.” As Candy led the way out a side door she cut a quick look at Sara and added, “I suspect, that like Master Jason, you would prefer not to be dropped off at the front door of the school.”

  “He doesn’t take the limo to school?” Sara asked, surprised despite the fact that she had seen him on a bicycle the day before.

  Candy smiled. “Oh, occasionally when none of his various means of transportation is suitable for the weather. But I always drop him off at least two blocks from the school. He walks… or more truthfully, trudges, the rest of the way since it is only in the most severe weather that he does not prefer his bike or in-line skates.

  “Oh,” Sara said thoughtfully, trying puzzle out Jason’s behavior. She shook her head. She probably would not see Jason again after today. No need to waste time trying to figure out his actions.

  “Would you mind… doing the same thing for me?” Sara asked, looking at Candy again.