and Jeremy’s anger as he shook her.
Malcolm made a strangled sound, and his mounting anger was palpable over the phone when she told him why she was in the hospital. Telling him the entire truth, she sensed it was taking all his strength to try to remain calm.
“Honey, I’ve suspected that all was not well, but I had no idea it was this serious. I’m heart-broken. I’ve known and loved you all of your life and was ecstatic to welcome you into the family as my daughter. I can’t answer for my wife. She’s been wrong in spoiling Jeremy. Honey, your parents need to know. They love you with all their heart, and regardless of how old you are or how far away you live, you’re still their little girl. Your dad is not only my partner, but he’s like a brother to me. They’ll be deeply hurt to learn you told me and kept it from them. However, Jeremy is my son, and I’m partly responsible for his actions. That’s why you called me first. Honey, you need all of us loving you and supporting you as you deserve.” Malcolm could hardly stop talking for his anger. He wanted to be there to hug Sharon and comfort her.
Sharon couldn’t control her tears with Dad Taylor being so sweet and understanding. Through her wrenching sobs, she reluctantly agreed that he could tell her parents.
The next day when Jeremy came in, Sharon was prepared to discuss their future, hopefully without breaking down.
“Darling, something is seriously wrong. Regardless of what you think, I’m on your side. I’ve not told anyone here what happened, but they’re not fools. They guessed, and heard for themselves.”
“Yeah,” he sneered. “Everyone’s guessed. They guessed after you told them what a monster you married.”
“No, Jeremy. I’ve never said anything negative about you. Why have you turned against me? No one here knows for sure how badly you’ve treated me.”
“I’ve treated you!” He jumped up raising his voice. “What about the way you’ve treated me; your neglect of me.”
“How have I mistreated you, Jeremy?” she asked in surprise.
“You expect too much from me. I should never have married you, and mom thinks so, too.”
Sharon looked him straight in the eyes. “You can go on pretending, but you’re not fooling anyone. You’re only fooling yourself. I’ve been willing to lie and cover up for you. I married you because I believed in you and I loved you. Why did you marry me?”
“Because Miss Pure and Proper would not go to bed with me without being married,” he answered insolently. “And mom thought you’d make good connections.”
“Is that the only reason?” she gasped.
He laughed and then like a bolt of electricity it dawned on Jeremy. “No one here knows. What do you mean, no one here knows. Who does know?” he snarled.
“Your dad knows and by now my parents and Lynn.”
“How does dad know? Who told him?” he shouted.
Two nurses, working on records at their station, had looked up when Jeremy raised his voice. One ran into Sharon’s room while the other one called security. They struggled with Jeremy to keep him off Sharon’s bed until security came. He had just slung one nurse to the floor when the M.P.s rushed in. Jeremy fought the two guards while yelling incoherent phrases and profanity as they wrestled him out of the room. They fell to the floor in the hall while they placed handcuffs on Jeremy.
“Please don’t hurt him,” Sharon sobbed. She was so upset that a nurse called the doctor who immediately ordered a sedative.
Sharon was awakened in the late afternoon by the sound of the nurses’ starched uniforms moving around. She slowly opened her eyes and then shrieked.
Chapter Three
“Glory be! It’s an angel!” Tears of joy streamed from Sharon’s eyes.
Lynn was standing by Sharon’s bed with misty green eyes. Lynn’s long, dark eyelashes grazed a smooth complexion tanned lightly by her outdoor activities. Shoulder-length honey-colored hair fell in soft curls with a wavy bang over her right eyebrow.
“That’s enough,” Lynn broke in after several minutes. “We’ve shed enough tears, and they’ll stop right now. Sharon, you’re a beautiful person, inside and out, who has done no wrong. You’re an intelligent person with a tremendous amount of common sense even if you did lose your mind temporarily,” she smiled. “By the way, I want to meet your friend, Linda, and thank her for calling me. She sure is concerned about you.”
“I know. She and Philip have been great friends. They’re worth a million. You’ll meet them soon.”
The next day Sharon felt a little better. The two vivacious girls put a sparkle on the whole floor much to the delight of patients and medical staff as Lynn wheeled Sharon through the halls greeting everyone. Sharon rested peacefully that night.
The next morning, after a bath and breakfast, Sharon was just settled in bed when she heard Jeremy’s voice at the nurses’ station.
Col. Kirkpatrick and an M.P. were with him as they entered her room. Jeremy sat subdued in a chair by her bed. “I guess you know I’m under arrest. I’ve also lost my officer’s rank and--. Well, never mind. Tell me, how does dad know?”
Sharon told him of the phone call. Sitting with bowed head in his hands, he said, “I truly am sorry that I hurt you. I hope you heal quickly.” He stood up.
“Jeremy, I meant it when I said I wanted to save our marriage. Will you go with me to a marriage counselor?’
He stared down at her, shook his head, then left without looking back.
Megan and Sean came in the afternoon while Lynn was there. “How lovely to see both my girls,” Megan tried to smile. There were hugs all around, but Sharon noticed how her dad was shaking while trying to control his anger.
Gritting his teeth and clearing his throat, Sean finally spoke. “We talked to Dr. Davis and a Capt. Pallister before we came to the hospital. I hope I don’t see Jeremy or I’m afraid I’d be arrested for what I feel like doing.”
Dr. Davis walked in. “Good news. If our girl has a good night’s rest and a good check-up tomorrow, it might be possible for her to leave the hospital. I didn’t want to send her back to the base alone, so we’ve kept her here to make sure she started healing well. Too, I was hoping someone would be with her that would love her and care for her.”
“Dr. Davis, you’ve earned my undying gratitude.” Sean shook hands with him.
Everything did go well and the next day Sean and Megan took Sharon and Lynn to a hotel where they had rented a suite. Lynn brought them up-to-date on her horse program with the handicapped.
Later the two girls were alone in their bedroom. “Sharon, are you returning to Ft. Lauderdale or would you be willing to give Zephyrhills a chance and stay with me?”
“I know I don’t have a future with Jeremy. As much as I hate to, I’m going to file for divorce as soon as possible. Philip has offered to represent me. The University in Tampa sounds good so that I can finish my education
