Chapter 32

The next day was more of the same. We had stayed away from the casino for two nights, after our excitement, and then discovering Regina, spending that time on the yacht, settling her down and trying to make her feel ... wanted. The pain of being abandoned only got worse when the first of our investigators got back with the news that Regina's mother jetted off to L.A. to attend a rock and roll awards show, where she was photographed naked, taking on all comers, in a crowded hotel suite.

We chose to edit what we shared with Regina, but I could see that she knew what her mother would be doing under such circumstances, and the hurt was a living thing in her eyes.

The next report was far more painful for her. After snorting up far too much cocaine, Madeline Carpenter decided a midnight swim in the fountain at the Bel Aire Hotel, was just the thing to chase away a case of the blues, and was arrested after severely injuring a hotel security guard trying to get her out of the water. Mother Carpenter was looking at five years due to the exorbitant amount of drugs found in her pockets, and purse.

Her cohorts dropped her like a rotten tomato as soon as she got arrested.

Regina took the news stoically, turning silently away from us and walking to her bedroom, so we wouldn't see the tears streaming down her face. I couldn't let that go, and spent the next six hours alternately holding her as she cried, crooning comforting words into her ear, and going back and forth to the bathroom with warm, wet wash cloths to wipe her face.

Winnie brought lunch and dinner to us, and I hand fed Regina, insisting that she eat to avoid getting sick.

Eventually I felt she had mourned her worthless mother's behavior enough. "Get changed!" I announced firmly. "We are going shopping."

And we did.

We spent five-hundred thousand dollars on stupid stuff that pleased Regina beyond all expectation. A twenty-four thousand dollar go-kart was just the thing to take her mind off of troubles, so I bought three, and rented the entire track for the afternoon, so we could race until our arms were too tired to continue.

Somehow we got the idea that a jet ride up to Switzerland, for dinner in Geneva would cheer her up, and our 737 was the perfect taxi. We corralled our crew, took along a couple of guards and did all of our Christmas shopping in the shops along the lake. Our guards loved having me purchase expensive baubles for their wives, girlfriends, and their girlfriends' wives, if any.

I caught Regina eying a lovely pendant, broach set, and snapped it up immediately, and bullying the shop owner into getting the matching ring, and bracelet from his safe, and then buying them too. Her eyes sparkled like the jewels we bought, when I helped her with the necklace.

Winnie glowed when I presented a four carat diamond necklace, and matching bracelet, along with anklet, and ring, for her. Her joy was complete when she helped me purchase additional sets for Beth Ann, Colleen, Rebecca, and Millie, and added a gorgeous Rolex for Jim, and a pilot watch for Brian.

That triggered a long conversation, over spectacular Swiss chocolate, about our unusual relationship back home. Regina seemed scandalized at first, but warmed to the idea of a man having four, live in, lovers, and caring for them all with equal parts, love, respect, and admiration. As Winnie shared her experiences, Regina softened and began to see it from her viewpoint. Having a mother that screwed everything that moved, breathed, or stayed still long enough, it was a big leap to accept a man that loved and shared, four women.

When we finally got back to the yacht, after four A.M., we were shattered and headed straight to bed. I was awakened sometime later when Regina crawled in beside Winnie and cuddled her way back to sleep. Rather than risk embarrassing Regina for being afraid to sleep alone, I just rolled over and went with the flow.

It did cause a bit of embarrassment when I hopped out of bed and started across to the bathroom while quite naked. I realized my lack of appropriate clothing, and turned to make sure Regina was asleep, but found her terribly awake and enjoying my impromptu unveiling.

When I came out of the bathroom I was wrapped in a towel, and when Regina crawled out to do what I had just finished, I discovered she was as undressed as I was.

It was a bit awkward.

"I hate to tell you this, Carl, but you have another admirer, ' Winnie said as we relaxed on the deck, with a light lunch, while Regina showered. "Regina is definitely interested in everything Carl Fleming."

'Now what have I gotten myself into?' I thought.

What I said was, "Regina is sixteen years old, scared out of her mind, numb from losing her father, and having her mother throw her away. What she's interested in is where she will live until she can support herself." I was being obstinate, instead of intuitive. Winnie was speaking truth by way of the woman to woman telegraph line.

Winnie was not about to give up. "If you weren't such a combination of type "A" man, exhausted from all the excitement, and just plain insensitive to her, you would see how she hangs on your every word, tries to anticipate your opinion of things, and positively sparkles when you walk into the room, speak to her, or just make eye contact."

"She's sixteen!" Couldn't Winnie see that I needed another woman in my life like I needed hemorrhoids.