Below the Surface: A Return to Pleasure Point

By Marilyn Randall

Glen had tried to destroy the Philips family in the novel Pleasure Point. They thought they had been successful in stopping his evil ways when he was locked up for kidnapping and rape, and the family felt secure as long as he was incarcerated.

Pleasure Point was a novel about abuse, manipulation, and control and the workings of the mind of someone who used those methods to get and keep a grip on an innocent family.

Below the Surface, the sequel of Pleasure Point, takes a deeper look at the family who experienced those tragic events. This new, fast-moving novel by Marilyn Randall shows us how truth becomes the catalyst to solve the mysteries and purge answers as they once again try to save this innocent family.

A new twist for this author shows us all the deep and raging anger found just below the surface that festers over years and how it destroys the serenity of so many when Pleasure Point is revisited in this sequel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524589288

Marilyn Randall

Marilyn Randall’s journey into the writing world, began many years ago when she wrote and illustrated her first children’s book titled Best of Best Friends and after, she went on to add five more children’s books to her growing list of accomplishments. In 2010 she won the Pacific Northwest’s Pinnacle Achievement Award for her book, A Hard Nut to Crack. Later that same year, after a tumultuous relationship, she began to write fiction novels with her first being, Quicksand, a heartfelt and emotional tale of an interracial love story, peppered throughout with her powerful poetry. She has added to that list many times and her final fiction novel will be out later this year. An author with a flair for the imagination, while perfectly marrying it with real life issues, she has developed a style noteworthy of the attention she now receives. Her adult fiction novels are one of her most treasured accomplishments. In this final anthology she leaves us with thought provoking pieces as well as life issues that she always enjoyed writing about.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Marilyn Randall.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017903358

ISBN:      Hardcover   978-1-5245-8930-1

                 Softcover     978-1-5245-8929-5

                 eBook          978-1-5245-8928-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 03/07/2017

Xlibris

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Below The Surface

From The Author

This book is dedicated to everyone who is HIV positive or has the Aids virus and those who are caregivers. Those trying to manage HIV do so, sometimes for years, but with many degrees of difficulty.

Those suffering with Aids are facing years of illness and eventually death made very difficult by the loss of their immune system to ward off other diseases. This illness and the struggle to manage it is one of the most horrible illnesses known to man that is contagious and active in today’s society.

Chapter One

Lauren was just about to wrap things up for the day. She was tired, having worked overtime every day for the last week on a brand new account she had recently been awarded. She was a very dedicated worker and the business she had started twelve years ago had grown in leaps and bounds partly because everyone really liked her and partly because she did excellent work. She had only taken a break for maternity leave nine years ago and since returning she was determined to make the business even more successful.

She had hired three associates over those years and a girl Friday and she was worth her weight in gold.

Karen, though she began as a receptionist to answer phones and schedule appointments, she quickly became the go-to person to help solve the annoying problems that would crop up on a regular basis and very soon she was also dedicated to helping Lauren make her business an even bigger success. She loved working for Lauren these past few years and since she didn’t mind the long hours and she was also ambitious, that often kept her at work long after the usual quitting times. She was in a long-term relationship with a woman whose name was Tess and who understood and supported her ambitions even when it meant those long hours at work. She paid close attention to detail and since coming into the advertising business with Lauren she quickly made herself indispensable to her and the other three agents.

Coeur D’Alene had grown and expanded over the past twelve years as Lauren had always thought it would. It was such a prime area for growth having to do with resorts and it had continued to be a playground for people wanting to experience both summer and winter activities and Lauren’s business was busy year ‘round trying to keep up with all the new business they provided her. She often took on the majority of the workload since it was her vision that had started it all twelve years before.

Her husband Lee had once been employed as an accountant in Post Falls, but five years ago he made a change in employment, which landed him in a very large accounting firm in downtown Spokane. It was a difficult decision for Lee because he didn’t like being so far away from Lauren during the day, but the financial reward to their family finally won out and he accepted the offer and made the change. He and Lauren often met for lunch or dinner while he worked in Post Falls, but more and more since making the change to Spokane they found it more difficult because of the distance and time between them. Four years earlier they had purchased a beautiful home where they hoped to raise their family, which was located near the river and still considered the suburbs of Coeur D’Alene and although it was a great family home it was now quite a distance for them and this meant they more often than not just met at home rather than have those lovely, relaxing dinners out after their long days. Lee often reminisced about the dinners they used to have together at the Twin Lakes Inn. It was a favorite spot for them both, but these days it was saved for a weekend Saturday date night or Sunday dinner as more often than not Lauren couldn’t get off early enough to meet him on week nights, and when she did, she wanted to get home to their daughter Abbie who was now nine years old and their only child.

Abbie was a beautiful little girl and Lee and Lauren had long ago accepted the circumstances of her birth as being the miracle it was, but also the constant reminder of darker times in their marriage. Lauren had become pregnant while involved in a dirty, secret affair with a man named Glen who used to be in a relationship with her sister Carol and both Lee and Lauren had long ago decided to never find out who the father of their baby really was, deciding instead to accept that the child was Lee’s and try to put the affair as far behind them as they could. That was easy for Lee to do because he loved Lauren and had been willing to forgive her for her one indiscretion. Everyone learned what a despicable man Glen was when Carol was diagnosed with HIV, which she had acquired from Glen. When he found out he was HIV positive he legally had to tell all his partners and Lauren also had to be told. She and Lee had been thankful for years that Lauren, Lee or the baby had not acquired the disease. They had all been tested and re-tested for the months following Glen’s incarceration for the kidnapping of a fourteen year old with the intent to commit sexual and lurid acts with a minor. His incarceration had kept him away from them for all these years and Lee and Lauren were both grateful for that.

When Abbie turned four Lauren became suspicious that she was actually Glen’s child. Both she and Lee were blondes and in fact they had been nicknamed the golden couple many years before, but Abbie Lin was very dark, with coal black hair just like Glen and when she turned four Lauren secretly had a DNA test done. She had kept the secret ever since, even from Lee. Abbie was Glen’s child. Lauren hated that that was their truth and she was even more determined to protect her. She had never told Carol or her parents the truth either and as Abbie got older Lauren lived with the fear daily that someone would guess one day.

Carol had been managing her HIV for years with medications prescribed by her doctors and everyone hoped they would keep her from going into full blown Aids and until a year ago it had worked, but in the last few months it was becoming more and more difficult for her and only last month the doctor had diagnosed her with Aids. Everyone was devastated for her and they all knew what was ahead. Lauren and Carol had remained very close for all these years although Carol had a burning anger that she carried below the surface for Glen and all the trouble he had caused her. She had asked Lauren when she was pregnant if the baby were Glen’s and Lauren told her no and neither sister had mentioned it again, but now Lauren couldn’t help but worry that as Carol became sicker she might ask her again. Abbie looked more like Glen every year and even Lauren was amazed that Lee hadn’t mentioned it. Since her sister was so very ill these days and probably wouldn’t live longer than a couple more years, Lauren wrestled with whether she would share the truth with her if she ever asked.

Lauren was grateful that Glen was still in jail and she didn’t have to be concerned that he would start snooping around and trying to see her. He had once accused Lauren of carrying his child, but thank God when they arrested him he was found guilty and as a repeat offender had been sentenced to seventeen years in prison. As the years passed Lauren was aware that the time was coming one day when he would be released and she would have to worry about him, but like she reminded herself every day, he was still incarcerated and she didn’t have to add that to her list of things to worry about yet.

When her phone rang the sound of it helped to snap her out of the fantasy she was processing.

Hello, she answered.

Hi Sweetheart, Lee said. Do you have plans for dinner tonight, Honey? he asked.

Dinner? Oh Lee, I’m so sorry, but I haven’t even thought about it yet. I’ve been buried here with this new account. Do you have any ideas? she asked him.

How about I swing by Brenda’s and pick Abbie up tonight and we can all meet for Pizza? How does that sound? he asked.

That would be great. Brenda can only keep her until six o’clock tonight and I’ve been trying to figure out how to get home then, but if you could pick her up it would be perfect. She told him.

I’ll call Brenda and ask her to have her ready by then and let her know I’ll be picking her up tonight. Can you meet us at the Pizza Palace by six thirty? he asked.

Yes, Honey. I’ll see you then and Lee, thank you for saving the day one more time. She said, before ending the call and smiling as she thought about how stable and responsible Lee always was as both a husband and father. She was so grateful to him for so many things and even after all these years she loved him very much.

Brenda was a great sitter and had been taking care of Abbie after school since she had started school. Brenda had two small children of her own, but she loved having Abbie with her too, so every day after school the bus left her off at Brenda’s and either Lee or Lauren picked her up on their way home. Abbie loved helping Brenda with her babies so it had worked out to be a very good solution. She would have loved to have siblings of her own, but so far it hadn’t happened. She often asked her mom if there would ever be more babies in their own home and Lauren always answered her with the truth as she believed it. If God chooses us to be a home for new babies we absolutely will, but we have to be patient and trust Him to know when we’re ready. And that answer had satisfied her daughter so far.

Hi Sweetheart. Lee said as Abbie crawled into the backseat of his car and buckled her seatbelt.

Hi Daddy." She replied quickly and with a smile to show him she was happy to see him.

Lee marveled at what a beautiful child she was and every time he looked at her these days he was reminded more and more of Glen. He knew instinctively now that she must be Glen’s little girl, but each time that thought surfaced he forced it away as it was way too painful for him to acknowledge. He loved her. She was his daughter and he would always be her daddy no matter what. He had never told Lauren that he suspected that she was really Glen’s. She and Lee had never discussed the possibility once they’d decided not to do the DNA while Lauren was pregnant. No, Abbie was his in every way and always would be. She was a beautiful little girl though with all that dark hair and those blue eyes were just like her mother’s and Lee thought they were lovely.

We are going to meet your mama at the Pizza Palace for dinner tonight. How does that sound? he asked her.

Oh wow! she said. That’s great. I love pizza and Mama works so hard. I know she needs a break from cooking dinner sometimes, so that will be good for her too.

When Lauren walked into the restaurant it was nearly seven o’clock and all she could do was apologize profusely for being so late.

Just after we hung up Lee, my new client called and insisted we go over all the changes for the new campaign at that very moment and I couldn’t break away. I’m so sorry. She said again. Have you two eaten yet?

Yes, Mama. I was hungry so Daddy said we could order and hope you would get here in time. The pizza was really good too. Can I go play in the playroom for awhile before we leave, please? she asked them both.

Sure Honey, Lee said, but we’ll be ready to go before too long. I have a feeling your mom’s tired and will want to get home soon too. Am I right Lauren? he asked her.

For sure, but you go play while I eat Abbie, and then we’ll go home, okay? she asked her, but Abbie was already running towards the playroom with a huge, happy smile.

You look exhausted, Honey. Lee said. Aren’t those girls you hired helping you out with this work load?

Oh yes, sure they are. I don’t know what I would do without Karen and Marsha. You know they carry more than their share. The last two though, Lisa and Patty, well I’m not sure yet if they will make it in this business. I just can’t depend on them yet to leave them on their own, so I not only have my clients, but I have to oversee everything they are doing. Karen and Marsha are so self sufficient that they are actually a huge help to me, but I might have to figure something different for the other two one of these days. She told him.

You know when you hired Marsha a couple years ago, I was really reluctant to agree to that one, but it sure turned out to be a great move, didn’t it? Sometimes hiring someone who has become your best friend just doesn’t work out, but she sure has for you, hasn’t she? he asked her.

She is the absolute best. I trust her and we are still best friends. I wasn’t sure how her boss, Mr Lyons was going to accept her leaving him and working for me. My biggest fear was that I would loose that account completely, but he was really a good sport about it when we told him and he has continued to be my best client, so it all worked out really well. Now how about I order a small pizza so we can get ourselves home before too long? she asked him.

Great idea my beautiful wife. He said in reply and handed her the table menu so she could choose what she wanted as he motioned for the waiter so he could get her something to drink also. As soon as they were finished ordering she asked him how his day was and he gave her his usual answer. It was a good day. But boring. You know by now that my days working with numbers are not exciting for anyone, but me. He told her.

Well, I thought being in a larger firm over in the big city things would sometimes be more exciting. She laughed as she said it and was thinking that some things never change.

She loved Lee because of his steadiness and because he was reliable and she didn’t think that would ever change. She knew he loved her also. He had dealt with her one, shameful betrayal in a way that only a man deeply committed and in love could have and she had never questioned his devotion to her and their daughter. They had worked through the worst possible thing that could happen to a couple and they had come through it stronger than ever.

Just as the pizza was delivered to their table, Abbie appeared and quietly sat down beside Lauren. When Lauren looked at her she saw that Abbie had been crying and she immediately asked her what was wrong.

Honey, have you been crying? What happened Sweetheart? she asked.

Lee became instantly alert to his daughter’s despair at the same time and waited with Lauren for an answer, but Abbie was clearly struggling and more tears rolled down her cheeks. She reached up to wipe them away with the back of her little hand and then began to tell them what had happened.

While she had been playing with several other children, someone asked her whom she was with and she proudly told them, my Mom and Dad. while she pointed to Lauren and Lee sitting at their table across the room. One of the children, a scruffy little boy of about her same age, started laughing at her.

Then you must be adopted because they are both blondes and you have black hair. You couldn’t be their kid. He said to her as he began pointing at her and chanting over and over, adopted, adopted, adopted, until two other children joined in with him. Not knowing what to do, Abbie ran away from them crying and she ran directly to Lauren and Lee. After she told them what had happened she looked directly at Lauren.

"Mommy, am I adopted? She asked.

How was it possible? Lauren thought. My absolute worst nightmare was coming true.

Oh Darling, she said as she wrapped her arms around her, of course you’re not adopted. You are Daddy and my perfect little girl and when we get home I’ll show you your birth certificate that says so. I gave birth to you, Honey and you are not adopted. Those other kids are just jealous because you’re so pretty and they are trying to make you feel bad, right Daddy? she asked Lee.

Lee backed her up completely when he told Abbie that her mother was right and her birth certificate would prove the other children were wrong.

You are our child Angel, he told her, and you are not adopted.

She sniffled a few more times as she tried to wrap her thoughts around what they had just told her. Until fifteen minutes ago she had never heard of adoption relative to her, nor did she know what a birth certificate was, but she trusted her parents and was willing to let them show her. When she was in more control, Lauren put her pizza back in the box.

Let’s go home guys. We need to show Abbie that very special document which will prove to her once and for all that we are a family. She said.

I’ll get the check. Lee said. Which one do you want to ride home with, Sweetheart? he asked his daughter.

I’ll ride home with Mommy, please. She replied.

Lee smiled and as he tickled her under the chin he said, Of course you will, you little turn coat. And when she giggled he said, I already know that when things get tough, it’s Mommy who can fix it.

He paid the bill then and escorted the two most important women in his life to Lauren’s car, kissed them quickly and said he would see them at home, all the while knowing the time had finally come. Tonight he needed to voice his concern to Lauren so they could prepare for the possibility of the inevitable happening in their future.

When Lauren went into Abbie’s room to tuck her into bed after she had her bath and had put her little orange pajamas on, she carried with her the birth certificate she had carefully kept inside the locked box they stored in their home office. Lee followed her into the room and sat on one side of her bed while Lauren sat across from him.

Here Sweetheart. I want you to see this Abbie. This is your birth certificate and it clearly shows you belong to your daddy and I. We are your birth parents and now you can put to rest any thoughts you’ve been having about that, okay? She asked her.

Lee pointed to the paper and said, See Honey. Your mother’s name and my name are right there and that means there is no question about who you are and where you were born. Now maybe you can forget about all the ugly things those kids said to you tonight. You are not adopted. Got it little monkey? he asked as he tried to get her to smile and lighten the mood a little and it seemed to be working.

Abbie studied the paper carefully and then she said to Lauren, Mommy, why is my hair so black and you and Daddy have blond hair then?

Well Sweetheart, you didn’t know your Great Grandmother because she passed away the year you were born. Both she and her brother who was my Great Uncle Dan had very black hair and I’m guessing you got the dark hair from them. I’ll look for their pictures the next time we go to visit Grandma and Grandpa and you’ll see what I mean. She and Uncle Dan were very close and they were so excited when you were born. It was very sad that we lost them both the same year, but they sure loved you. Now how about we turn the light off, say your prayers and get some sleep? Tomorrow is another busy day and we all need to get some rest. I love you little one. She told her as she leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Lee leaned over for his forehead kiss and Abbie said to them, I love you both and I’m so glad you’re my real mom and dad. Goodnight.

Lauren and Lee left her alone after that moment and while Lauren took the birth certificate back to the box, Lee went into the kitchen and poured them each a glass of wine. When he approached Lauren in the family room awhile later he told her he thought it was time for a talk. Lauren wasn’t expecting what came next and it slammed into her with the force of a bullet.

She looks more and more like Glen every day, doesn’t she? He asked her.

Lauren felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room and it took her a couple of minutes before she could answer him. Oh Lee, I’m so sorry. She finally said.

How long have you known?" He asked her, all of a sudden realizing she did know and probably had for some time.

Lee, I’m sorry. I suspected a couple of years ago and I asked Doctor Evans to do the DNA test. I was sick when he told me the result and I just didn’t want to hurt you, so I didn’t tell you, but I’m really glad you know now. It’s been a secret I didn’t want to keep from you, but I just didn’t know how to tell you. I’m so sorry. She told him.

What do we do now? He asked her as he quietly took another drink of his wine.

What do you mean, Lee? She asked.

I mean, do we keep this our secret; do we tell her one day? What do we do? I think we need to have a plan because this might not be the end of it. I don’t think anyone else has suspected yet, but they might one day since she looks so much like him. Carol might guess, Lauren and we need to know what we’re going to say if that happens because we need to be a united front for Abbie. We’re either going to deny it or we’re going to eventually have to tell the truth and we need to know what we’re going to do. He finished.

Oh my God, Lee, we can’t tell her or anyone else. I think we have to deny it, no matter what, don’t you? She asked him.

I don’t know. I really don’t. There might come a day when she’ll find out and if she does she might hate us for having lied to her. I just don’t know what is right, Honey. It’s too hard to know for sure. He said.

For now we don’t tell anyone and if anyone asks us later we can talk more then, but until that happens let’s just forget this conversation and go on like we’ve been doing. Please, Lee. I can’t do it any other way. Let’s just stop this and pretend it’s never been an issue, at least for now. She asked him.

Okay, Honey. That’s what we’ll do for now. He said, but Lauren we might have to do it differently one day and you need to be aware of that possibility too." He told her.

Chapter Two

Marsha was in the office when Lauren arrived the next morning. Lauren always thought her work ethic was amazing and since her daughter Becky had moved to New York last year, Marsha worked harder than ever.

Becky was the fourteen-year old girl that Glen had kidnapped nine years before. She was a sassy, little flirt at fourteen, who thought she was God’s gift to men. Out of that very scary situation came a young lady willing to throw herself into her studies, go on to college and end up in New York with the start of a successful journalist career. Everyone had been so proud of her. She was brave enough to testify in court against Glen and it was her testimony that ultimately sealed his fate. The transformation from a sarcastic, self-indulgent teenager to a productive, lovely young adult had been amazing to watch. She had babysat for Abbie during her last years of high school and during the summers between college years and the girls still remained close. Abbie loved her like a big sister. Lauren and Lee had been a huge influence and Marsha was so grateful for their advice and the interest they had been willing to share with Becky. It was very hard for Marsha these days, since she’d recently moved to New York and Marsha missed her even more than she thought she would. Her mother had been so protective of her, and New York was a long way away from Coeur D’Alene. Marsha threw herself into her work because she loved working for Lauren, but partly because she missed her daughter so much.

Her last attempt at a relationship with Glen had ended