Chapter XIX

Landslides
~ * * * ~

How ironic, Mrs. Jamison thought, that Gene and Jax' letter would arrive the same day as Oliva and Simon. They had enclosed photos of themselves enjoying their trip. I guess they should at least have their honeymoon trip in peace, she thought. No need to bother them with this little detail.

Her son had finally found happiness with a wonderful woman, and Rebecca didn't want anything to come between that! For too many years, her precious Jax had wandered aimlessly from woman to woman. Oh, he thought she hadn't known about his escapades, but nothing much escaped Rebecca. She was a smart, savvy woman.

She also knew that Jax truly loved Gene. Not only had he committed himself to her mentally, but physically as well. He had tried so hard to make Gene happy and feel loved. How will he take this news, she thought.

Gene had sent her a photo of them in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. They looked so happy, and the note read..."Jax and I threw pennies in the fountain for all of you! We hope you all had a wonderful New Year, and we're looking forward to seeing you soon."

The next photo was of Jax and Gene at St. Peter's Basilica. She smiled when she read the note they had sent...so much like Gene to be thinking of everyone at home. Poor Gene, she thought, how will she handle this news? And, on top of that, I have to tell them about Max. Dear Max....Rebecca had been inquiring about his health all week. He was still not allowed visitors except for Madra, of course. And Kent had proved to be a God send - he had decided that he would prolong his visit as long as need. He was able to keep the news about Max' heart attack out of the press, no one wanted his investors to get nervous about the future of the empire it took him years to build. Inquirors were told that he was having minor surgery, and that's all.

She truly liked Madra, unlike Oliva, she thought, but she had to admit that Simon was an adorable child ~ rather small for his age, but then Oliva was a small woman. She didn't like Oliva ~ the young woman was lazy and spoiled. In the week that they had been here, she'd hardly done anything more than arise at noon, to demand her breakfast in bed, and she practically ignored the child. She never got up with him in the middle of night. Rebecca had heard him crying several nights, until she finally went in and took care of him herself. She tried not to become too attached, as she wasn't certain this was her grandchild, but it was becoming increasingly harder to do. He was a sweet adorable little boy, and every day that passed, Rebecca found herself becoming more and more involved. So had Leila, she thought. Leila loved children, and Simon was no exception. She had been taking care of the child all week. She's more of a mother to him than Oliva!

Mike came in that morning and found Leila in the breakfast room with a cup of tea and Simon on her lap. "Well, well," he said, "who do we have here?" Leila looked up at him, happy to see him -- he had been on call all week and they had hardly seen each other. "This is my nephew, Simon," she said. "Your nephew?" he replied a little surprised -- "I didn't know you had one!" She giggled and replied, "Neither did I until a few days ago!"

Mike took Leila's hand in his and looked at her. What an amazing woman she is! She has so much love inside of her and so much to give. What a wonderful mother she will be! Mike had always wanted a large family an he considered it a plus that Leila seemed to want the same thing. He had no adversion to adopting a few either, he thought. Uncanny, how much April looked like she could be Leila's child. Until we get her a kidney transplant, he thought, that little girl isn't going anywhere.

As if reading his mind, she inquired about April, saying that she was planning on visiting with her after lunch. "I saw her this morning," he said, "and she said to tell you that she made a picture just for you. She's doing fine, Leila." "Oh, thank goodness, you know I worry about her." was Leila's response.

He took Simon from her arms and held him up. "He's a cute little tyke," he said. "Yes, isn't he?" said Leila, "I think he looks a little like Jax." They heard a noise in the hall then entering the breakfast room.

They turned to see Oliva padding in with bare feet and a robe on. "Oh," she began, "I have such a headache. Be a dear and get me a cup of coffee, would you?" Leila told her that the coffee pot was on the table and there were clean cups there for her to use. Olivia looked a little miffed, but got up and got her own coffee. She returned to the chair and spotted Mike holding Simon. "Oh, there's the kid," she said. "I was wondering where he was."

Mike looked at Leila and Leila shrugged. Then she said, "Mike, this is Olivia, Simon's mother." Mike extended his hand in greeting, but Olivia did not respond. Mike then commented that he and Leila were leaving, and handed Simon to her. She looked annoyed and said, "What, don't you people have a nanny or something?"

Meanwhile, the past week had almost been a nightmare for Madra. The girls were crying for their Daddy every day. Madra tried to explain to them as gently as possible that Daddy was sick and couldn't have visitors right now. Thank God for Glynis and Kent, she thought -- and Rebecca. Rebecca had come by several times to see Madra and offer her support. She had watched the twins several times, and today she took them on a special outing to keep them occupied. Brianne had gone back to Ireland to visit her mother for the holidays, and although Madra was glad she could go home for a visit, she had to admit the timing was awful.

Madra has spent all week by Max' side at the hospital. She only left when she was forced to. Max was very weak and barely able to speak, but she held his hand, tended to his needs herself, and read to him.

Max lay there and looked at his precious wife. She barely slept and barely ate. She was becoming alarmingly thin, and he was worried about her. He wished she would go home and get some rest and live her life again. He hated that she was trapped here with him every day. He was supposed to be the strong one -- not her. He was supposed to be taking care of her, and here he was trapped in this damn bed. He suddenly felt his age. Perhaps, I was wrong to think that I could make this beautiful, young woman happy. What a fool I am, he thought. He looked at his wife, thinking that she had never looked more beautiful, or vulnerable. She's such a wonderful woman, she would never leave me voluntarily. She will stick with me to the end, he thought, as a tear slid slowly down his cheek.

The tear had not escaped Madra. She stroked Max's face. "What's wrong, darling," she said. "Are you in pain? Is there anything I can get you, or do for you? Please, Max, just let me help you." Just like her he thought, concerned about me. What I'm about to do may hurt her, but I have to do it, he thought. I can't allow her to risk her own health or sanity sitting here day after day.....I just can't...I love her....too....much.

He turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the pain in his eyes, and said, "I want to you leave. Please...just go. Leave me," he said. Confused, Madra asked if he was tired and needed some rest. "Do you want me to turn the light off so you can rest, darling?" she said sweetly. He mustered up all the strength he had left and shouted, "NO! I want you to get the hell away from me! Do you understand? Just get out of here!"

His shouting caused a stir and several nurses came in. They asked Madra to wait in the hall. The doctor went in and when he came out a few minutes later he said the words Madra couldn't believe she would ever hear. He told her that Max was becoming agitated by her presence and they thought it would be better if she just went home and waited for word. They would call her when it was alright for her to visit again.

The doctor might as well had stuck a knife in her heart. She was physically sick and thought she was going to pass out. The doctor asked if she needed assistance, and she told him no, she was fine. She turned, and sadly walked out of the hospital.

She arrived at home to find Glynis and Kent in the den. She guessed that she startled them, as they were kissing when she entered the room. They both looked up at her surprised to see her. They were sure that she would be at the hospital until the doctors and nurses literally "threw" her out. Kent noticed that she looked unusually pale and asked, "Is everything OK, Madra?" She looked different lately. She had not had time to go to the salon, or primp too much on hefself, and with her hair all loose and flowing, and the softer makeup, she looked younger and more vulnerable. She reminded him of another woman he had known -- one he didn't want to remember.

Madra didn't answer his question. Instead, she told them that she was going upstairs to rest and asked if they would please take care of the girls when Rebecca brought them back home. They assured her that they would, and she slowly turned and started to walk away. As she turned, she noticed the family portrait of her, Max and the girls in happier times. She closed her eyes and left the room and headed up the stairs to the bedroom she had shared with Max for all these years.

Madra entered the room and didn't bother to turn the lights on. The sun was going down, but there was still enough light for her to see Max' presence in the room. She went to his closet, opened the door and took out one of his shirts. She pressed it to her face and took in the sweet smell of him. Then she went over to the bed they shared and weeping plopped down on it. She gingerly touched Max' side of the bed and the pillow he slept on every night. Oh, God, she thought, I just can't live without him. What am I going to do? My life is nothing without him.

A few moments later, there was a gentle tapping on her bedroom door. When she did not respond, the tapping got a little louder and she heard Glynis call out to her. "Madra," she said, I have a cup of tea and a sandwhich for you." She tried the doorknob but found the door was locked. "Madra?" she called out, "are you alright? Please answer me." Madra replied, "Go away, please -- I don't want anything. Please, just leave me alone......"

To be continued.......

How ironic, Mrs. Jamison thought, that Gene and Jax' letter would arrive the same day as Oliva and Simon. They had enclosed photos of themselves enjoying their trip. I guess they should at least have their honeymoon trip in peace, she thought. No need to bother them with this little detail. Her son had finally found happiness with a wonderful woman, and Rebecca didn't want anything to come between that! For too many years, her precious Jax had wandered aimlessly from woman to woman. Oh, he thought she hadn't known about his escapades, but nothing much escaped Rebecca. She was a smart, savvy woman. She also knew that Jax truly loved Gene. Not only had he committed himself to her mentally, but physically as well. He had tried so hard to make Gene happy and feel loved. How will he take this news, she thought. Gene had sent her a photo of them in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. They looked so happy, and the note read..."Jax and I threw pennies in the fountain for all of you! We hope you all had a wonderful New Year, and we're looking forward to seeing you soon."
	The next photo was of Jax and Gene at St. Peter's Basilica. She smiled when she read the note they had sent...so much like Gene to be thinking of everyone at home. Poor Gene, she thought, how will she handle this news? And, on top of that, I have to tell them about Max. Dear Max....Rebecca had been inquiring about his health all week. He was still not allowed visitors except for Madra, of course. And Kent had proved to be a God send - he had decided that he would prolong his visit as long as need. He was able to keep the news about Max' heart attack out of the press, no one wanted his investors to get nervous about the future of the empire it took him years to build. Inquirors were told that he was having minor surgery, and that's all. She truly liked Madra, unlike Oliva, she thought, but she had to admit that Simon was an adorable child ~ rather small for his age, but then Oliva was a small woman. She didn't like Oliva ~ the young woman was lazy and spoiled. In the week that they had been here, she'd hardly done anything more than arise at noon, to demand her breakfast in bed, and she practically ignored the child. She never got up with him in the middle of night. Rebecca had heard him crying several nights, until she finally went in and took care of him herself. She tried not to become too attached, as she wasn't certain this was her grandchild, but it was becoming increasingly harder to do. He was a sweet adorable little boy, and every day that passed, Rebecca found herself becoming more and more involved. So had Leila, she thought. Leila loved children, and Simon was no exception. She had been taking care of the child all week. She's more of a mother to him than Oliva!
Mike came in that morning and found Leila in the breakfast room with a cup of tea and Simon on her lap. "Well, well," he said, "who do we have here?" Leila looked up at him, happy to see him -- he had been on call all week and they had hardly seen each other. "This is my nephew, Simon," she said. "Your nephew?" he replied a little surprised -- "I didn't know you had one!" She giggled and replied, "Neither did I until a few days ago!" Mike took Leila's hand in his and looked at her. What an amazing woman she is! She has so much love inside of her and so much to give. What a wonderful mother she will be! Mike had always wanted a large family an he considered it a plus that Leila seemed to want the same thing. He had no adversion to adopting a few either, he thought. Uncanny, how much April looked like she could be Leila's child. Until we get her a kidney transplant, he thought, that little girl isn't going anywhere. As if reading his mind, she inquired about April, saying that she was planning on visiting with her after lunch. "I saw her this morning," he said, "and she said to tell you that she made a picture just for you. She's doing fine, Leila." "Oh, thank goodness, you know I worry about her." was Leila's response.	He took Simon from her arms and held him up. "He's a cute little tyke," he said. "Yes, isn't he?" said Leila, "I think he looks a little like Jax." They heard a noise in the hall then entering the breakfast room. They turned to see Oliva padding in with bare feet and a robe on. "Oh," she began, "I have such a headache. Be a dear and get me a cup of coffee, would you?" Leila told her that the coffee pot was on the table and there were clean cups there for her to use. Olivia looked a little miffed, but got up and got her own coffee. She returned to the chair and spotted Mike holding Simon. "Oh, there's the kid," she said. "I was wondering where he was." Mike looked at Leila and Leila shrugged. Then she said, "Mike, this is Olivia, Simon's mother." Mike extended his hand in greeting, but Olivia did not respond. Mike then commented that he and Leila were leaving, and handed Simon to her. She looked annoyed and said, "What, don't you people have a nanny or something?"
Meanwhile, the past week had almost been a nightmare for Madra. The girls were crying for their Daddy every day. Madra tried to explain to them as gently as possible that Daddy was sick and couldn't have visitors right now. Thank God for Glynis and Kent, she thought -- and Rebecca. Rebecca had come by several times to see Madra and offer her support. She had watched the twins several times, and today she took them on a special outing to keep them occupied. Brianne had gone back to Ireland to visit her mother for the holidays, and although Madra was glad she could go home for a visit, she had to admit the timing was awful. Madra has spent all week by Max' side at the hospital. She only left when she was forced to. Max was very weak and barely able to speak, but she held his hand, tended to his needs herself, and read to him.	Max lay there and looked at his precious wife. She barely slept and barely ate. She was becoming alarmingly thin, and he was worried about her. He wished she would go home and get some rest and live her life again. He hated that she was trapped here with him every day. He was supposed to be the strong one -- not her. He was supposed to be taking care of her, and here he was trapped in this damn bed. He suddenly felt his age. Perhaps, I was wrong to think that I could make this beautiful, young woman happy. What a fool I am, he thought. He looked at his wife, thinking that she had never looked more beautiful, or vulnerable. She's such a wonderful woman, she would never leave me voluntarily. She will stick with me to the end, he thought, as a tear slid slowly down his cheek.
The tear had not escaped Madra. She stroked Max's face. "What's wrong, darling," she said. "Are you in pain? Is there anything I can get you, or do for you? Please, Max, just let me help you." Just like her he thought, concerned about me. What I'm about to do may hurt her, but I have to do it, he thought. I can't allow her to risk her own health or sanity sitting here day after day.....I just can't...I love her....too....much. He turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the pain in his eyes, and said, "I want to you leave. Please...just go. Leave me," he said. Confused, Madra asked if he was tired and needed some rest. "Do you want me to turn the light off so you can rest, darling?" she said sweetly. He mustered up all the strength he had left and shouted, "NO! I want you to get the hell away from me! Do you understand? Just get out of here!" His shouting caused a stir and several nurses came in. They asked Madra to wait in the hall. The doctor went in and when he came out a few minutes later he said the words Madra couldn't believe she would ever hear. He told her that Max was becoming agitated by her presence and they thought it would be better if she just went home and waited for word. They would call her when it was alright for her to visit again. The doctor might as well had stuck a knife in her heart. She was physically sick and thought she was going to pass out. The doctor asked if she needed assistance, and she told him no, she was fine. She turned, and sadly walked out of the hospital.
	She arrived at home to find Glynis and Kent in the den. She guessed that she startled them, as they were kissing when she entered the room. They both looked up at her surprised to see her. They were sure that she would be at the hospital until the doctors and nurses literally "threw" her out. Kent noticed that she looked unusually pale and asked, "Is everything OK, Madra?" She looked different lately. She had not had time to go to the salon, or primp too much on hefself, and with her hair all loose and flowing, and the softer makeup, she looked younger and more vulnerable. She reminded him of another woman he had known -- one he didn't want to remember. Madra didn't answer his question. Instead, she told them that she was going upstairs to rest and asked if they would please take care of the girls when Rebecca brought them back home. They assured her that they would, and she slowly turned and started to walk away. As she turned, she noticed the family portrait of her, Max and the girls in happier times. She closed her eyes and left the room and headed up the stairs to the bedroom she had shared with Max for all these years.
Madra entered the room and didn't bother to turn the lights on. The sun was going down, but there was still enough light for her to see Max' presence in the room. She went to his closet, opened the door and took out one of his shirts. She pressed it to her face and took in the sweet smell of him. Then she went over to the bed they shared and weeping plopped down on it. She gingerly touched Max' side of the bed and the pillow he slept on every night. Oh, God, she thought, I just can't live without him. What am I going to do? My life is nothing without him. A few moments later, there was a gentle tapping on her bedroom door. When she did not respond, the tapping got a little louder and she heard Glynis call out to her. "Madra," she said, I have a cup of tea and a sandwhich for you." She tried the doorknob but found the door was locked. "Madra?" she called out, "are you alright? Please answer me." Madra replied, "Go away, please -- I don't want anything. Please, just leave me alone......"