Poison Hearts Read online

  Chapter One

  “Noooo, he can’t be dead,” Christina sobbed hysterically. “Wake up Tyler, wake up,” she screamed.

  "There's nothing you can do Christina. He's dead. I felt and there was no pulse. Please sit down and wait for the ambulance to get here." Maureen said sounding calmer than she felt. She had never seen anyone dead before and to see her brother in law lying on the floor like that was almost more than she could stand, but for her sisters sake, she had to remain calm.

  "God, he can't be dead," Christina screamed. “I love him so much." Christina buried her face in her hands thinking this had to be a nightmare and soon she'd wake up from this horrid dream. She heard the sirens getting closer until finally she heard the screeching of tires as the ambulance came to a stop. The paramedics came running into the house and over to where Tyler was laying, and bent down to begin CPR on him. After twenty minutes of working on him, they could feel no response.

  "I'm sorry ma'am. There's nothing more I can do for him.”

  Christina screamed. Maureen put her arms around Christina as the paramedics loaded Tyler onto a stretcher to take him to the hospital. They would need to do an autopsy before they could release the body to the funeral home.

  Christina watched the ambulance that now carried the lifeless body of her husband as it pulled out of the driveway. There would be no more trips for them, no more lovemaking, no more anything. How would she go on?

  She'd never forgive herself for leaving him alone. If only she'd been there perhaps he would have lived and she wouldn't have to feel guilty for going shopping and leaving him alone. Tyler had insisted she go and said that he felt fine. Now he was gone, and she was alone. Of course she had her sister Maureen, but it wasn't the same thing. Tyler was the only man she'd ever been with, and now he'd been taken away just like that.

  "Can I get you anything?" Maureen asked bringing Christina back to the present. She knew Christina was in shock right now, and it would be tougher later on during the funeral.

  “No. You can’t bring him back to me. What am I going to do? Tyler was my whole life.”

  “We’ll get through this together. I'll help you pick out the casket.” She saw the look on Christina’s face and wished she hadn’t mentioned the casket, but knew it had to be done. Tyler had no family to do those things for him. Soon friends would be arriving to express their sympathy and that was going to be hard enough to deal with.

  “I’m going upstairs and lay down for a while,” Christina said between sobs. “Then we can go to the funeral home. I’ll bring his blue suit.” She turned and almost ran up the stairs to their bedroom. She knew she wouldn't sleep, but she needed the comfort of the room where they had shown their love so many times in the past. A room where she felt so close to him, she could almost smell the cologne he wore.

  She sat down on the bed, her body still shaking hard. Tears were rolling down her face, smearing her make-up, but she didn’t care. Tyler wasn’t there to see her anymore so why should she care if the eyeliner was running down her face leaving black streaks all the way to her chin.

  “Why God? Why did you take him from me? How can I go on without Tyler, he was my friend, and my lover.” She fell back on the bed, and the sobs came harder now as she hid her face in the pillow. She felt as if her heart was going to burst and she still couldn’t believe this was happening. It still felt like a nightmare that wouldn’t end.

  Christina got up after what seemed to be an eternity and walked in the bathroom and looked into the mirror. Her eyes were almost swollen shut, and red, and her head pounded. She felt her pulse throbbing through her whole body as she washed her face with cold water, then slowly walked downstairs.

  Walking aimlessly from room to room everything reminded her of the love they shared. She'd loved the sitting room especially for it was there she and Tyler often sat in the evening in front of a roaring fire, sipping champagne, eating caviar and making love for hours on end.

  At forty-eight he'd been in fairly good health. Only recently had Tyler felt a little out of sorts and at one point even went to the emergency room thinking he had gotten some type of food poisoning, but they couldn’t find anything wrong. He had vomited and for a few days had night sweats. Other than that he was healthy as a horse.

  “Sis, are you ok?” Maureen asked, startling Christina. She hadn't heard her sister come in until she was right at her elbow. She had been lost in thoughts of Tyler. How she wished that Maureen would go home and leave her alone with her memories of Tyler. She loved her sister, but sometimes she got on her nerves.

  "I didn't mean to scare you," Maureen said as she looked at Christina. “Guess you were deep in thought. If you’re ready I’ll go with you to the funeral home and pick out the casket and get the paper work done.”

  Christina felt the tears begin again. She knew it would be hard to look at caskets and pick one for Tyler to be laid to rest in. Then it would be real. Then Tyler would really be dead to her. Trying to compose herself, Christina smiled at her sister. She needed her at this time, and was glad she wasn’t alone. Even though her and Maureen didn’t get along very well, she loved her sister and knew she was trying to help her get through this.

  Together they left the house and headed for the funeral parlor. It took most of the afternoon to get things finished; picking the casket, flowers and composing the obituary. Christina felt completely drained as they headed back home. The sun was setting as they parked the car and walked to the house.

  Once inside Maureen asked Christina if she wanted some coffee and a sandwich. Christina's heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. "I don't want anything but thanks anyway. You know you really don't have to stay with me. I'll be fine." She appreciated all Maureen had done to help her, but she really wanted to be alone now.

  "Why I wouldn't think of such a thing Christina. You look like hell and I know what you're going through. I lost a husband too, remember. Although Jerry and I were divorced I did love him when we married. Anyway I'm staying to help you through this," Maureen continued as she lit a cigarette and blew smoke rings into the air.

  Christina hated the smell of smoke and had told her sister many times in the past not to smoke in the house but she was too weary to argue.

  "This big house is going to get really lonely especially at night," Maureen continued as she sat down.

  They had never gotten along very well. There always seemed to be a wall between them. Sometimes Christina felt as if her younger sister hated her, but she could never figure out why. She remembered how as children they seemed to get along really good until they hit the teen years, then there was constant bickering and trying to outdo each other.

  “Maureen if you want to stay that's fine. You can stay in the blue room. I think I'll go up to my room and turn in for the night. I just feel so tired," Christina said as she walked up the spiral staircase. She fell across the king-size bed.

  The sun was just setting and its mellow glow cast its shadow across the room. Christina loved to lay on the bed and look out at the sky changing from bright red to orange during the fall. She watched as two robins perched on the ledge outside the window, chirping loudly. How could they be so happy when my world is ending she sobbed into the pillow.

  Memories of Tyler holding her and making love to her drifted through her mind. That was one thing that she and Tyler never had any complaints about. Their lovemaking was as special after twenty years of marriage as it had been on their honeymoon. Their love never wavered.

  A wave of despair fell over Christina as she thought about Tyler. She walked over and picked up the 8 x 10 color portrait of him that she kept on her nightstand and hugged it to her breast. Tears fell from her beautiful green eyes as she flopped down on the bed and be
gan sobbing hysterically.

  "What am I going to do without you Tyler? God, why did you have to take away the only happiness I'd ever known?" She pressed her hand over her face and let the tears fall. She had begun to think there couldn't be any more tears left. She had cried a river of tears that day. Exhausted, she fell asleep still clutching Tyler's picture.

  The next few days went by in a blur. Maureen tried to let Christina get some much needed rest. After the funeral, they came home and Christina went upstairs while Maureen curled up on the sofa and turned on the television.

  She envied Christina's gorgeous mansion, envied the love that Christina and Tyler had shared. All of their lives Christina was the one who got everything. She got A's in school making their parents' brag about how smart Christina was while she had to study day and night to get a C.

  Her father never bragged like that when Maureen made the cheerleading team and was homecoming queen. Oh, she knew her father loved her, but still it was always Christina this and Christina that.

  Maureen had even met Tyler long before Christina came into the picture and had hoped he would ask her to marry him. Even though she had been only eighteen at the time, the thought of marrying a rich man was the most important thing in the world. Not that she loved Tyler, but she knew he had plenty of money and she'd never have to work.

  Tyler would have married me, Maureen thought bitterly, until he met Christina at their father's funeral. Men seemed to always fall for Christina and Tyler was no exception.

  Christina looked like a model with her high cheekbones, her smooth skin glowing with pale gold undertones; her lips round and full just like their mother's and big full breasts. And she had beautiful long reddish blond hair and emerald green eyes.

  Maureen on the other hand, had a square chin and wide mouth like her dad with dark brown hair that hung down her back. However, Maureen did have a knock out figure that drove men wild. In addition, she almost had Tyler all to herself until...

  The ringing of the phone brought Maureen back to reality.

  "Willowbee resident," she answered crisply hoping the phone hadn't wakened Christina.

  "Hi. Is Christina there?" a deep sexy voice asked.

  "I'm afraid she's sleeping. Could I give her a message?" Maureen asked curiously.

  "Just tell her Andrew called. I just got back in town and heard about Tyler. Give her my condolences and tell her I'm staying at the Holiday Inn. Have her give me a call when she wakes."

  "I'll give her the message," Maureen said as she hung up the phone. Um, he sure sounded awfully young. Was Miss Goody two shoes playing around on Tyler, she wondered, and then dismissed the thought? Christina never did things like that.

  “Can I get you anything ma'am?" Lauren asked Maureen. She had been Christina and Tyler’s maid for the past three years. She had never liked Maureen and the feeling was mutual. Maureen didn't like any woman who looked better than she did.

  Lauren was very short, but beautiful. She had long silky black hair, which hung to her waist, and her eyes were black as coal and her skin was flawless.

  "Yes. I'd like a cup of hot tea. Maybe a Danish too. And make sure the tea is hot this time, not luke-warm. Oh and put a slice of lemon in it. I sometimes wonder why Christina keeps you.”

  Lauren glared at Maureen with a burning look, then said in a sarcastic voice, "Yes ma'am." Lauren headed to the spacious kitchen to fix the tea, her teeth clamped shut in anger afraid she might say something she would regret. Lauren suspected that Maureen was after her sister’s money and was jealous that Christina was so generous with her. Lauren had even seen Maureen steal some of the antique figurines. She hadn't said anything knowing that blood was thicker than water, and she had been afraid Christina would fire her if she said such a thing about her sister.

  Lauren had even seen Maureen with a little bag of what looked like cocaine. She had been tempted to tell Christina, but then decided against it. Nothing could interfere with her job. She had a lot invested in it. In addition, she really liked Christina.

  Lauren returned with a tray and set it down on the marble coffee table in front of Maureen. She wanted to dump the tea in her lap but she knew that would be a big mistake. Her time would come. Revenge would be sweet.

  "It really is sad about poor old Tyler," Maureen said as Lauren poured the tea and handed it to her.

  "Quite a shock," Lauren replied.

  "He was in such good condition. I wonder what really happened here that day."

  "I don't know. That was my day off. If you'll excuse me now, I think I'll go up and check on Christina and see if she needs anything."

  "Seems to me I called that day, after Christina had left for my apartment, and when I was talking to Tyler I heard you in the background. Sounded like you were yelling or something."

  "You are quite mistaken Maureen. I wasn't here that day. I was taking care of my mother all day long. It must have been someone else you heard. You know how Tyler was...he had quite a few mistresses that came over when Christina was gone for the day."

  "Well, perhaps, but it doesn't matter. I wouldn't blame you if you were having an affair with Tyler. He was still a good looking man, and with all that money, why you could buy a lot of pretty things for yourself. Oh well, anyway, I wouldn't go up to Christina's room, I don't think she wants to be disturbed," She's had a dreadful day, you know, with the funeral and all. Maybe you should just let her rest a while."

  "Very well ma'am, but I want to set you straight on one thing. Tyler and I were never together that way. I would never do that to Christina, he didn't interest me that way. Never," Lauren replied. She hated taking orders from Maureen, and she didn't like her accusations about her and Tyler. She could never in a thousand years be a mistress to Tyler. But then, Maureen didn't know that. Soon enough she would never have to take orders from anyone again. She could hardly wait. "If you need anything else I'll be in the kitchen fixing dinner."

  Maureen watched Lauren turn to leave. She wondered if old Tyler ever tried putting the make on her. He did everyone else. Maureen knew he had been unfaithful to Christina over the years but Christina refused to believe it. On the other hand, perhaps she knew and didn't admit to her that she knew.

  How naive her big sister was, Maureen thought as she sipped on the delicious tea sweetened with a touch of honey. She still hadn’t forgiven her sister for stealing her one big chance at happiness.

  Over the years Maureen had been married three times and had one son who now lived with his father. Her life had been a living hell and it was all Christina's fault. Of course Christina put on the big sister act and bought her all these wonderful gifts, but who wanted those things. Maureen wanted the house, maids, money; the good life Christina enjoyed.

  Digging into her purse, she grabbed a handful of pills and swallowed them without water. It had gotten so bad she couldn't get through a day without the pills or the cocaine she used daily. It was the only way she could get through life. How many times had she woke up in a dingy motel with some stranger, and she never knew how she had gotten there. Sometimes when she got so high with cocaine, she blacked out. Her first husband had gotten her started doing drugs. She had smoked marijuana, and then he had brought in the cocaine and crack and made her take it the first time.

  It was a dangerous drug and very addictive which she found out much later. Jerry had shown her how to snort it, by having her sharply inhale the powdered mixture. Maureen got to where she had to have the drug. It took about twenty minutes to peak, then it was gone within an hour. Her blood pressure would go up and she felt a sense of well being. She hated the way she felt so depressed after coming down, then she'd have to take anti depressants to deal with the depression.

  That's how she had lost her son. Her second husband, James had taken him away from her. He had tried to help her get clean and she admitted to herself that Charles was better off with his father than living with her. Still it was a blow that she couldn't be with her son, had to call and get permission to see h
im or take him out to a movie or to the park. Deep in her heart Maureen knew it was for the best. She couldn't be a good mother to Charles until she got off the drugs. Maureen knew she couldn't get off by herself and a part of her didn’t want to. She’d been in rehab more than once but just couldn’t completely quit.

  She didn't have the strength to give it up. Her life was a mess and she hated it. Sometimes she even thought of suicide. But like everything else, she had been a coward.

  Just then Christina walked into the living room and sat down, her eyes red and swollen. She fiddled with the pillow on the couch she had bought at the local flea market. Christina loved to go to flea markets.

  "Did you sleep any?" Maureen asked gently. Even though at times she hated her sister, today she felt a twinge of sympathy as she saw the hurt and pain written all over her face. She knew Christina loved Tyler, and she hadn't any idea that Maureen had wanted him for herself, but she still blamed her at times.

  "A little," she replied. "Did I hear the phone ring earlier?" she asked.

  "Yeah, some guy named Andrew said he was in town and that he would be at the Inn so you could call him, or he'd try calling again before he left. He sure had a sexy voice," Maureen replied her eyes searching Christina's face trying to read her reaction.

  "Oh he's just a friend of the family and calls us whenever he's in town," Christina replied as casually as she could manage. Andrew was in his late thirties, but he and Tyler had become friends many years earlier. At times she wondered at the look she saw in his eyes, but he never had said a word out of place. Sometimes she almost felt as if she wanted his arms around her, to feel his lips on hers. She hated herself for these feelings but she couldn't help it, especially when she thought Tyler was in the middle of an affair, and she felt jealousy rage inside her.

  Then she would look at Andrew a little different and wonder how it would be if she for once did the same thing Tyler was doing to her. However, she never followed through. She had been brought up to believe in marriage, and staying faithful.