Home Is In Your Arms part 3
I am not a psychologist or a lawyer, I have not studied in either of these fields so anything I put in this story comes strictly from my imagination and is intended solely for your reading enjoyment and to make my story flow.
The next morning Sara sat in the diner trying to eat, her butterflies had butterflies. Never had she been so nervous. ?You ready to go?? Sara heard Catherine ask. Sara lifts her head from the book she was reading, ?Just about.? Catherine pulled out a chair and sat, ?I took the day off so I could go with you.? ?That is not necessary,? Sara said. ?Gil made me promise to take care of you,? Catherine said. Sara laughed, ?Thanks. I think for the first time I might need the company.? Sara programmed the lawyers address into her GPS and took off.
Sara had never been to Mesquite before, she was thankful for the GPS. ?Gil dose take care of everything,? Catherine had mentioned when she seen the GPS in the rental car. Sara parked the car in front of the lawyer's office, pulling in a deep breath she slowly let it out, ?Ready.?
Sara walked up to the receptionist, ?I am Mrs. Grissom, I have an appointment with Mr. Dunn.? ?Yes Mrs. Grissom,? the receptionist said, ?Have a seat and I will call him.? Catherine and Sara sat in a small waiting room, a short time later the receptionist told them that Mr. Dunn would see Sara now.
Sara introduced her self, shaking her hand Dunn pointed to a chair. ?I am sure you have a million questions,? he said. ?Why,? Sara asked, ?Why would she not let me know she was still alive?? Dunn sat, ?Laura figured that would be your first question. Laura had me make this for you.? Mr. Dunn pointed a remote control at the DVD player, Sara looked into the face of the woman she had not seen since she was 6 years old.
?I hardly know where to start,? Laura Sidle said, ?I think the first thing would be to explain myself. I am not sure how much you were told or what you remember about what happened that night but that is not where I want to start. I want to start 7 years before that.? Laura told her daughter about meeting the man of her dreams and of the wedding that dreams were made of. Laura told Sara about their first three years of marriage and how happy they were. She told Sara how excited they both were when she first found Sara was coming. ?We named you SARA LEANN after our mothers,? Laura told Sara. ?The day before our fifth anniversary your father lost his job. Paul could not find another one so I had to go back to work. At first your father didn't mind it, he enjoyed the fact that he could spend time with you. I honestly can't tell you exactly when or why things changed, all I know is they did. Your father started drinking heavily, anything anyone did would set him off. It was shortly after that the abuse started, I know now I should have left but I felt trapped. It all came to a head two days after your sixth birthday, I came home from work to find Paul drunk, passed out on the couch. You were lying on the floor crying, it was obvious he had beat you again. I don't know what came over me it was as if I had no control of my body, but right then and there I decided he would never lay a hand on you again. I walked into the kitchen, picked up a butcher knife and stabbed him, over and over again, I couldn't seem to stop myself. It was your screams that alerted a neighbor. That is the last thing I remember, the doctors said my mind snapped. There is a long medical term for what happened but basically I lost touch with reality. They admitted me to a mental hospital. Everything for the next four years is a blur, all I know is what I was told. I was told you came once to see me but I didn't recognize you, I didn't even know you were there. I was also told that I would sit in the middle of the room, eyes looking no where, mumbling incoherent words or sentences. By time I knew who I was and who you were you were in your early 20?s, I thought it was to late to try to be a Momma. Do you remember the plant and the big black teddy bear with the pink bow that was delivered to CSI on your birthday? That was from me. I followed your career and everything that happened to you, it tore my heart out why that lady kidnapped you. I lost contact with you for a while but when I found out you went to Costa Rica, well I was glad you found happiness. I was thrilled when I found out you and Mr. Grissom married. I never tried to get in touch with you, I don't know for sure why. Maybe I was afraid how you would react. Maybe I was afraid how I would react, that is my biggest regret. Two years ago I was diagnosed with cancer, I didn't want to be a burden to anyone. I took care of myself as long as I could, then I admitted myself to a nursing home and, because you are seeing this, I died there. James is a dear friend, he is the one who kept me updated on everything you were doing. He has my will and will help you take care of things. I made a lot of mistakes in my life, the biggest one was not trying to reconnect with you. But know this, I have always loved you. I only hope you can forgive me.?
The DVD stopped, Sara couldn't remove her eyes from the screen. ?Mrs. Grissom, are you alright?? Mr. Dunn asked. ?Yes ? No.. I guess so,? Sara said, ?This is all such a shock.?
?I can only image,? Mr. Dunn said, ?Do you need a few minutes before we continue?? Sara was about to say NO when her phone rang, ?Excuse me,? she said. Looking at the caller ID brought a smile to her face, ?Hello darling.? Sara excused herself she wanted some privacy. Sara briefed Gil on the DVD her mother made, ?Mr. Dunn said I can keep it.? They talked for a few more minutes, ?Gil, I miss you so much,? Sara said starting to tear up. ?Hon, please,? Gil said, ?You know this has to be settled.? ?I know, I just wish you were here,? Sara said, ?But I guess I will have to settle with just holding the bear for now.? ?I love you,? Gil said. ?Love you too,? she said hanging up the phone.
Walking back into the office Sara stated the obvious, ?That was my husband.? Mr. Dunn smiled, ?I assumed as much.? He opened a drawer and took out a folder. ?You parents owned quite a bit of land,? Mr. Dunn said getting down to the business at hand. ?You mother had sold most of it to pay for her expenses. All the money was put into an account here at the First National Bank of Mesquite. What was left after your mothers final expensive she said to give to you, that and the one thing that she did not sell.? Mr. Dunn handed Sara the bank book and the deed to a condo in Mesquite. ?It was where your mother lived right up until the time she had to go to the home,? Mr. Dunn said handing Sara the keys and directions, ?Call me if you have anymore questions.?
Sara thanked him and went into the waiting area where Catherine was seated, looking through a magazine. As they walked to Sara's rental car she told Catherine all about had happened. ?So do you want to go see your condo?? Catherine asked. Sara smiled, ?Why not.?
Sara stopped at the main office. Mrs. Green, the lady in charge showed Sara and Catherine to the condo. The condo had three bedrooms, a loft master bedroom that took up the entire second floor. The other two bedrooms, a great room, the kitchen and a dinning nook along with a washer and dryer made up the first floor. The view of the mountains was breath taking, there was also a pool on the grounds also.
?This seems awfully big for one person,? Sara said walking around the condo. ?Mrs. Sidle and two other ladies bought it originally,? Mrs. Green said, ?The other two ladies passed away before your mother did. They were all afflicted with cancer and wanted their remaining days to be in a peaceful place.? ?What about the family of the other ladies?? Catherine asked, ?Do they not have claim to the condo also??
?As I understand it,? Mrs. Green said, ?Each death passed ownership to the other ladies. Since your mother was last, sole ownership belonged to her and per her request, now it belongs to you.?
?What are you going to do with it?? Catherine asked. ?I guess Gil and I will have to talk about it when I get back home,? Sara said.
Sara and Catherine talked most of the way back to Sara's hotel. The gang had agreed to meet for dinner, as Sara walked into the restaurant the others noticed a concerned look on her face. ?What is wrong?? Nick asked. ?I have been trying to reach Gil and I can't,? Sara said.
?That?s because I am here,? Gil said walking up behind her. Sara turned and they immediately wrapped their arms around each other.
?It is so good to be home,? Sara said. Gil looked at her, ?Home?? Sara smiled, ?MY home is in your arms.?
