A New Day (60 page)

    
Tasha lifted her chin and willed the tears to stay put.  “Yes.”  she answered tersely. 

     “
There is another version that says she asked him to take her under his wing.  Tasha, when I kissed you goodbye at the airport, that is exactly what I did.  I know that you were aware.  I covered you in that same way.  I gave you my promise, and you took it.” 

    
"I took you under my wing.  I took you to myself, to my very heart.  If you love me, Tasha, don’t tear yourself away from me.  I can’t do this without you, anymore.  Tasha, you once told me that you love me.”

     “
Please don’t, Tim.” she begged him softly. 

    
Tim sighed.  “Okay.  You won’t tell me to go away, and you won’t tell me you love me.  What am I supposed to do now, Tasha?” he asked pointedly.

     “
I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to make this harder for you.”  she said woodenly.

     “
It’s killing me, but that’s beside the point.”  he growled.  “All right, Tasha, listen.  I’m going to have a friend of mine named Rick Snyder handle this.  He will do what he can about the publicity, and I’ll have him come out and keep tabs on you.  You never know, you might be glad of him.”

     “
Whatever you think best.”  she answered slowly.

    
Tim didn’t know what to do.  She was very cold and withdrawn.  “Tasha, could you just ... just please not shut the door all the way?” he asked wearily. 

    
Tears were streaming again.  He tried very hard to put a hold on them, so that he could talk and not let her know he was weeping.  “Please, just wait until I can come home.”

     “
Of course.”  she agreed quickly.  The distance in her voice tore a bigger hole in his heart.  “But Tim, I feel like some kind of caged animal.  I have told you before that I’m not ready to make any commitments.  You need to finally hear me and accept it.  We aren't engaged or anything, Tim.  Just move on, and it will take a great deal of heat off both of us.  Please, be realistic about this.  You don’t have any responsibility for me.  Face it, Tim.  You can’t fight this woman long distance from Brazil, and I am not even going to try fighting.  Forget about me, and do your job there.”

    
Tim felt as if his heart was being ripped out of his breast.  He just couldn't take anymore in one sitting.  “Forget about you?” he laughed derisively.

     “
That’s right.  If it helps you to understand, I’ll put it this way, Tim.  Just don’t call me anymore.  Don’t think of me as your fiancee, or the woman you want to marry.  Just let go.  Cut your losses and get her off your back.  I’m truly sorry; I was very weak in New York.  I was swayed by the way that you handled things.  I was too ready to promise anything when you were so willing to go to bat for me, and take care of me, when I needed it so much.” 

    
"Tim, I was scared.  It was wrong of me to make promises I can’t keep.  So, although it doesn’t give me any pleasure to say things that will hurt you, it’s better right now that I do.  It’s just over.  I’m sorry.”

    
Tim had to close his eyes, to control the flood of tears. “Okay.  Fine, whatever.  Just don’t say anymore, Tasha.  I’ll get out of your face, for now.  I’ll be in touch when I can.  Call on Rick if you need anything, and I’ll see you when I get back.”

     “
All right.”  she said tightly.  “Thanks for calling, Tim. 

And I truly am sorry.”

     He was silent for a second.  “Yeah.  Bye.” he said, barely able to control his voice.  When Tasha hung up, he put the phone down, and walked away.  He went outside, and slowly walked to the river.  He found a seat on a log, and put his face in his hands.  He sat there and wept silently, well into the night.  He felt like screaming.  Finally, he was empty, and just sat staring at the muddy, swirling waters.

    
A hand settled on his shoulder.  “Timothy, son. Tell me.”  Paul Rain insisted quietly.

     “
Uncle Paul, I don’t know if I can.”  he said listlessly.

     “
Is this about that reporter’s story?”

    
Tim bowed his head.  “That, and much more.”  he confirmed.

     “
I told myself I would not ask, Tim, but I am too heartsick to sit by and watch.  I must talk with you.  Who is this woman?  Are you finally in love?  Is this woman the one?”

    
Tim laughed harshly.  “She was.  I just lost her.”

     “
Now, now.  Don’t speak such things.  You know better than that.” his uncle chided.

    
Tim sighed.  “Used to.  I don’t think it makes any difference anymore.  No matter how firmly I stand, she can’t.  Pattie just takes rip after rip at Tasha, and she can’t take it.”               

    
"She’d like me to think she’s tough, but she’s like a lamb being led to slaughter.  She’s too tender, too wounded to stand through this kind of attack.  Pattie has done an incredibly good job of tearing us apart.”

     “
Don’t jump to conclusions.  This woman journalist would make anyone skittish.”

     “
Uncle Paul, you don’t understand.  She is so wounded.  She’s so tender; and frightened.  Last time, I was able to hold her together by being with her.  But this time, Pattie was smart enough to launch the torpedo when I was out of range.  She fully intends to destroy Tasha.  I’m afraid she’s being very successful, and there’s nothing I can do.  There’s nothing I can do.” he lamented.

    
Paul sighed.  “So you spoke to your lady tonight, and things did not go so well?”

     “
They didn’t go at all.  She’s absolutely devastated.  She wants me to cut my losses, and forget about her.   I can’t do that, anymore than I can stop breathing.  Uncle Paul, what can I do?”

     “
Go home, Tim.  We would all understand.”  Paul urged.

     “
No.  I can’t do that.”  Tim denied.  “She'd hate it if I stopped the campaign because of her.  But after this tour, I’m staying put until I can get this all settled.  I can’t take any more, so I can only imagine how Tasha must feel.”

     “
Then, let’s hold her up in prayer.”  Paul suggested gently. 

The two men prayed together, until Tim had peace.  Then, he called Rick Snyder.

    
Helene interrupted Tasha in the whirlpool the following day.      “Miss Tasha, there is a man here to see you.  His name is Rick Snyder.  He says you will know the name through Mr. Rain.”

     “
Yes.  Send him out, I suppose.”  Tasha said tensely.

    
Helene led a tall, blond man with blue eyes and a boyish grin, out to the private courtyard.  Tasha was just coming out of the water.  She wrapped her thigh-length kimono around her, and let her hair fall into a soft cascade around her shoulders.  She smiled and extended her hand.  “Mr. Snyder.”  she greeted him coolly.

     “
Ms. Taylor.”  he acknowledged, with clear admiration shining in his eyes and voice.  “I think I’m beginning to understand what all the fuss is about.” 

    
He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the slim, tan, endless legs before him.  “Tim is pretty much beside himself, because he can’t be here.  May I call you Tasha?”

    
Tasha nodded her assent hesitantly.

     “
He’s asked me to stay here with you, and do what I can to cool Pattie’s jets; lessen the impact on you.  I understand that you haven’t been out of the house since the story broke?”

    
Tasha nodded tensely.

    
He shook his head.  “Well, that’s all right, but I think it would be best for you to go out, a little bit.  If Pattie smells blood, she’ll go for the kill.”

    
Tasha sighed.  “I can’t just go on as if nothing has happened.”  she objected. 

     “
No.  But do go on.”  he urged.  “I am available to be your escort, bodyguard and spokesman.  Let me help you through this time, Tasha.  It will set Tim’s mind a bit more at ease, and I’m sure it will be extremely pleasant duty.”

    
Tasha looked at him suspiciously.  “Oh, don’t tell me he’s sent a Casanova.”  she objected hotly.

     “
Nothing of the kind.  I just can’t help saying I’ll enjoy it.  Anything else would be a lie.”  He shrugged.  “I’ve never had an assignment that required me to be escort and bodyguard for a beautiful woman.  That’s all.”  He said gently.

    
Tasha grimaced and wrapped her arms around herself uneasily.  Something didn’t set well, but she couldn’t say for sure what it was.  ”All right, Mr. Snyder.  For Tim’s peace of mind, we’ll give your services a try.”

    
Rick proved to be a polite, friendly, reliable and enjoyable escort.  Tasha relaxed with him as much as she could, with a strange man in her house.  He kept his distance, and was a complete gentleman.  It wasn’t long before Tasha found that he would also be quite protective, when necessary.

    
They went to dinner at a local restaurant that evening.  Tasha wore a black velvet pant suit with a sequined shell.  Rick wore a very nice black suit and tie.  When they got up to leave after their meal, they found that a surprise awaited them in the foyer – a camera crew and an animated woman with frosted hair.

     “
Well!  A night on the town!  When the cat’s away, Ms. Taylor
will
  come out to play.  My name is Pattie Danniels, Ms. Taylor.  And your escort is Rick Snyder, a side kick of your leading man, Timothy Rain.  Tell me, Tasha dear, does Tim know what fun you’re having while he’s halfway around the world?”

    
Tasha looked at the microphone shoved against her mouth and then looked Pattie Danniels squarely in the eyes.  Her serene smile never changed.

     “
Ms. Taylor has no comment for you at this time.”  Rick provided forcefully.  “I am with Ms. Taylor at Mr. Rain’s request.  I am acting as her Public Relations Agent and her bodyguard, while Mr. Rain is out of the country.  What exactly is it that you’d like to know?”

     “
Oh, Rick.  Don’t you think the lady can speak for herself?”  Pattie chastised with a red-lipped pout.

     “
She can.”  Rick answered smoothly.  “But she will not deal with you.  I’m afraid that I am all you get.”

     “
Ms. Taylor, won’t you just tell us a very little bit about yourself?”  Pattie asked with wide, glimmering eyes.  “Maybe just a tidbit or two?  I know!  Tell us all about your relationship with Deming Smith.  Explain to us how the police came to find you in his mountain cabin, a tender little girl of fourteen, with no bra or blouse on, and the two of you
deeply immersed
in a sexual encounter.”

    
Tasha’s mouth fell open.  She stared at Pattie Danniels with shock and disbelief in her eyes.  Then her eyes rolled shut and she grabbed Rick’s arm for support. 

    
Feeling her crumbling, Rick put an arm around her and put his elbow out.  Like a steamroller, he got Tasha several steps forward before several men tackled him and sat on him.     

    
He struggled frantically, for he could tell that Pattie had dealt Tasha a heavy blow.  He just wasn’t sure what it was all about, but he could see that she was reeling with shock and horror.

     “
Isn’t it a fact that you took your first lover at the incredible, delicate age of fourteen, Tasha Charles Taylor?  Or, did it all start even before Deming Smith came on the scene?  Was he the first?  Just how many men
have
you been intimate with?”

    
Tasha was incredulous, sick with horror.  “You are despicable!  I can’t believe you, you are incredible!  Deming Smith was not my lover!  I was never intimate with any man until I married my husband.”

     “
Come on, Tasha, tell us the truth about it!  You ran off with Deming Smith to his mountain cabin for the weekend.  Was it your choice that you stopped seeing Deming, or was it your father’s?  It certainly appears that your charming lover paid your father off, to get himself out of trouble.  Tell me, was it the romance of your life, Tasha?  How long were you involved with Deming Smith?”

    
Rick managed to extricate himself from the pile of bodies on the ground, and punched a few lights out as hands reached to grab his ankles.  He shouldered his way to Tasha’s side. 

     “
Don’t you have anything to say?”  Pattie chided persistently.

     “
No.  Your accusations are preposterous, and vile.  They do not deserve a response.”  Tasha said coldly, pulling herself back together.

     “
Vile, you say?  Well, that’s quite a strong word, lady.”  Pattie chortled.  “And yet, here you are on the town tonight – with one of Timothy Rain’s closest, dearest friends, Rick Snyder.  So tell me, you two.  Does Tim know you’re dating?  Has Rick Snyder seen your lovely negligees up close, yet?”