(And that makes me think – why not let the truth come out? What the hell difference does it make now? Sure, someone’s nose might get a little out of joint, once she realizes who caused the whole thing, but who the hell cares? I sure don’t.)
Of course, Daddy said nothing. He merely stiffened his jaw and glared at her.
She glared back.
“Go back to your piano and leave us the fuck alone, while I try to dig her out of the hole she’s buried herself in.”
“Lucia—”
“Shut up!” she yelled. Then she shoved him out of the room and slammed the door in his face. I swear, Lucy is the only person I know, other than Richard, who ever got in Daddy’s face and lived to tell the tale.
After a few seconds, he beat a hasty retreat downstairs.
Then it was my turn again, to feel The Wrath of Lucy Abbott. “Get up,” she barked at me. “Get dressed. Be ready to go in ten minutes.”
“Go where?” But I did just as she said and got out of bed. Which I hadn’t done in days, ever since I got served with the custody papers.
“You need a lawyer. No, not me, he’ll probably call me as a witness.” She looked at me critically. “Twenty minutes. Honestly, Di, you need a shower. And wash your hair. You smell like a brewery.”
And off she went, probably to scream at Daddy some more. I did what she said. Truth be told, I was a little afraid not to.
~•~
So in nothing flat, I had a lawyer. A decent lawyer, at that. And Lucy called Richard and made him give me half of the money in our joint checking account. “Actually,” Lucy said as she was driving me back to Daddy’s, “he wants you to have it. He doesn’t want you to starve, Di.”
No, he just wanted me to disappear off the face of the earth. At least, disappear out of his life. But, it turned out, he did think I should go get a job.
(Right, because when I’d wanted to get one after we moved back to Williamsburg, I was a terrible mother. Now that he’d officially accused me of being a terrible mother, he wanted me to get off my lazy butt and get to work. Gotcha, Mr. Perfect. Consistent as always.)
But I could at least put gas in my car. And pay a lawyer. And—
What now? It’s Monday night, for God’s sake. The place is dead. Why in the hell is someone pounding on the door?
~•~
Picked up by the recorder:
“I’m on the phone.”
[Knocking.]
“Go away, damn it.”
[Knocking.]
“I said, go away! I’m busy!”
[Knocking.]
“All right, all right already. Just a second.”
[Sound of drawer closing.]
[Sound of footsteps disappearing into en suite bathroom.]
[Sound of water running.]
[Sound of pills rattling in a bottle.]
[Sound of liquid being gulped down.]
[Sound of footsteps approaching door.]
[Sound of door opening.]
“Diana Ashmore?”
“Yes.”
[Sound of papers rustling.]
“What do you want? I’m busy.”
“Sign here, please.”
“Really, you couldn’t get the bartender to sign – what is this?”
“You’re being served.”
[Sound of pen dropping.]
[Sound of papers dropping.]
“What?”
“If you have any questions, please contact your attorney.”
“What?”
[Sound of footsteps receding into distance.]
[Sound of papers being picked up off the floor.]
“What the –?”
[Silence.]
[Gasp.]
[Sound of door slamming.]
[Scream.]
“WHAT THE FUCK, RICHARD?”
Chapter 4: What He Doesn’t Know
To: Laura St. Bride
From: Mark St. Bride
Subject: What is going on?
Dear Laura:
You’re not answering your cell phone. I hope you aren’t deleting emails as well. I am disturbed by our earlier IMs, the hysterical email I received from Emma, and the letter that your sister sent me earlier.
As I piece this together, you are upset because Emma wants to give away the grand piano. I didn’t realize that the piano meant so much to you, and of course, you have every right to keep it. As executor of the estate, I am well aware that you are entitled to anything you want in the house. If you want to take every stick of furniture, that’s fine; I only ask that you leave the desk in my study, since it was my father’s at the bank before it was Cam’s. It was NOT NECESSARY to involve lawyers in this. While your sister naturally desires to protect your rights, I don’t require the threat of a restraining order to do the right thing.
To put your mind at rest, I have sent Emma an email instructing her to comply with your wishes. I understand from your sister’s follow-up email that a moving company will arrive Wednesday to remove the piano to Virginia. I am concerned that you are transporting the piano to another state when you will be returning to Texas in January to live. However, after reading Emma’s email, I can sympathize with your desire to get the piano as far away from her as possible before she chops it up for kindling (joking).
I am VERY CONCERNED about the email you sent to SBFA. I see no good reason for you to disconnect your accounts from the company. As you know, Cam set up the group to consolidate the family accounts and make it easier to track essential documents and prepare the tax returns every year. The side benefits of bill-paying and appointment reminders, I believe, obscure the necessary work that the group does for us. With the traveling that you do, I believe that SBFA is invaluable, and I hope that you will reconsider your decision. If you are worried about privacy – don’t be. Everyone in the group signs confidentiality agreements, and in the years since Cam set the group up, we haven’t had any security breaches. The only one outside the group who ever sees the accounts is me.
I have to tell you that I feel uneasy about the discord that has sprung up between us. I was surprised that you came so vehemently to the defense of your sister’s husband the other night. From the history of that man, Ashmore is the last person you should want to defend. However, I know that you grew up together, and it is often difficult to put aside childhood loyalties. Your disappearance over the weekend and your refusal to answer my calls lead me to think that your trip to see your family is not helping you reconcile with the past as I had hoped. I fear that your family may be trying to turn you against us.
About the other matter – Emma was shooting in the dark. I only know because Cam told me in the letter he left for me. The papers in question are locked in my safe at the office, and I am the only one with the combination. In the event something happens to me, I’ve left a sealed letter with my lawyers so that they can open the safe and return the papers to you.
I hope that there is nothing wrong between the two of us. I have tried to give you space while you continue to come to grips with Cam’s death. We both have healing to do. But I still want to pursue the relationship between us that we discussed in New York. I think we’ll make a good team – our marriage might be the making of a very fine family.
Love, Mark
~•~
To: Mark St. Bride
From: Laura St. Bride
Subject: Re: What is going on?
Dear Mark:
1. Why did you tell Emma we were getting married?
2. Why did Cam send my father $5,000 a month starting about the time of the IPO? I have the check stubs in my possession.
Laura
PS: Please return the adoption papers and anything else related to my daughter to me.
PPS: Of course I would never take your father’s desk. It’s yours.
~•~
To: Laura St. Bride
From: Mark St. Bride
Subject: RE: What is going on?
Dear Laura:
All right,
I spoke out of turn with Emma. She was pestering me to tear the kitchen apart for remodeling, and I told her I wanted to get your opinion, and before I knew it, she started screaming at me, and I decided to shut her up by telling her we were getting married. I take it Meg overheard us. I apologize for jumping the gun.
I’m not going to apologize for hoping that it happens. A Christmas wedding is probably too soon. Late spring is more realistic. I know you had a civil ceremony at City Hall with Cam. If you’d like a big church wedding this time, with a gown and veil and the whole show, I’m more than willing. I will tell you I do not wish to be married in the Catholic Church – I know you are Catholic, but I just can’t do that. I prefer to be married in my church by my pastor. It is important to start off our marriage on the right foot, and I sincerely hope that you will join me in my faith and that we will attend church as a couple.
As for the checks, I thought you knew about those. After the IPO, Cam told me that you had expressed concern about your father’s welfare and wanted to make sure that he was secure. Starting back in 1995, we sent a check for $5,000 on the first of every month to your father, and he always cashed the checks. I don’t know what Cam told him to explain why he was getting this money. The checks were always charged against Cam’s personal account. He didn’t want you bothered.
I didn’t know your father had died until the check sent on 9/1/2001 came back because he hadn’t signed for it. In fact – and I didn’t tell you about this before because I didn’t want you to get upset – I got to the office early on 9/11 because I’d been out Monday with a root canal, and when I went through my mail, I found the check with “Deceased” on the envelope. I called Cam to find out what was going on, and while we were talking, the plane hit.
I don’t want you to feel guilty. It’s not your fault that I called Cam about your father any more than it’s mine for calling him and keeping him off that elevator. You have no idea how many times I’ve wished I hadn’t gotten to the office early that day or I’d gotten a cup of coffee before I made that call. A couple of minutes would have made all the difference.
I understand that Emma said some unforgivable things to you concerning this. Disregard that. Between you and me, I wonder if she’s starting to go through the change.
Of course, you can have Meg’s adoption papers. You’re her mother. Do you have somewhere safe to put them? They may be important soon.
Love, Mark
PS: Answer your phone.
~•~
To: Mark St. Bride
From: Laura St. Bride
Subject: Re: What is going on?
Dear Mark:
Thank you for telling me about the checks. I have no idea why Cam took it upon himself to do that. It certainly wasn’t at my request. I also appreciate your telling me about the phone call. Among the many things Emma said, one thing really upset me – that my family and I were the cause of Cam’s death. I cannot express how I feel now that I know why he didn’t take that elevator. My father wasn’t worth it.
I can’t even think about that right now. Someday, when we can, we have to talk about that day. If I’m not to feel guilty, then I really don’t want you feeling guilty either, and I think you do.
Mark, I do appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for Meg and me. I really don’t want to hurt your feelings, believe me, I don’t. But please stop making assumptions. I haven’t said I would marry you.
Why are Meg’s adoption papers important to anyone except me?
Laura
~•~
To: Laura St. Bride
From: Mark St. Bride
Subject: RE: What is going on?
Dear Laura:
I didn’t want to tell you this, because I have been trying to talk her out of it. Emma wants to file suit against the airline and the New York Port Authority and the WTC architects and everyone back to the prophet Mohammed and the colonists who originally settled Manhattan. Obviously, we are not going to participate in the survivors’ fund – it’s ludicrous with our resources. As Cam’s widow and the mother of his child, you are certainly welcome to do so, but I urge you not to waste your time.
We met a few days ago with lawyers and architects to explore the feasibility of a lawsuit. While we may have a case, we will be competing with all of the other WTC families who choose to sue. Since most of the casualties occurred in the north tower, any award will be insignificant compared to our resources, and I said as much to Emma. But she is interested in accountability, not money. The lawyers told her that, since she is not the closest surviving relative, her standing to sue is very weak. They told her that you, as his widow, are the logical plaintiff, and that you can also sue as Meg’s legal guardian. To be honest, that seemed to unhinge her.
The only way Emma can sue is to prove that Meg has no standing because she is not a blood child. But she is legally adopted, and adopted children have all the standing of natural children. She might be able to remove you, since Cam filed for divorce and the petition was rescinded the morning of his death, but there’s no getting around Meg.
That’s why the adoption papers are important, so you need to keep them safe. I’ve looked through the papers, and you and Cam did the adoption right. It’s all legal and airtight. No need to worry.
If you have any questions, just call me.
Love, Mark
~•~
To: Mark St. Bride
From: Laura St. Bride
Subject: NO!
Dear Mark:
I am not interested in suing, on my own behalf or on Meg’s. What good does it do? The airline was a victim. The tower itself was a victim. The only people to sue died at the moment of impact.
We have enough money. And suing won’t bring Cam back.
Question: If the adoption papers stay in your safe, are they considered to be in your “possession, custody, or control”? Or are they in mine since they belong to me?
Laura
~•~
To: Laura St. Bride
From: Mark St. Bride
Subject: RE: NO!
Dear Laura:
We can do this by phone, you know. Have you checked your phone? Is it on?
Yes to your first question. Right now, the papers are in my control because they are in my safe. You might want to consider leaving the papers where no one except me can get to them. “Possession, custody, or control” sounds like lawyer talk. If your sister is going to send me another letter, tell her not to bother. As I said, of course, you can have the papers if you want them.
Onto a happier subject (I hope). I was surfing a couple of cruise sites while I listened to marketing plans. We are still over the Pacific, and I think we are all ready to get on the ground, and frankly I find market studies to be the epitome of boring. But flying so close to Alaska, I thought about something I’ve wanted to do since I was a boy – go to Antarctica. There’s a month-long cruise from January 15 to February 15 that circumnavigates the continent. Would you like to go? Not to pressure you or anything, but it would make an unforgettable honeymoon. It would mean we would have to get married at Christmas instead of spring. I’d like to take the cruise before we start a family – pregnant women are strongly discouraged from the trip because it’s so far from medical facilities.
Here’s the link so you can look at the cruise for yourself. Should I see about reserving the Penthouse Suite?
Love, Mark
~•~
To: Mark St. Bride
From: Laura St. Bride
Subject: Read this carefully
Mark:
1. My next wedding will be at a high Mass at St. Peter’s, with the Pope presiding.
2. I spent the weekend in bed with Richard Ashmore.
Laura
~•~
To: Laura St. Bride
From: System Administrator
Subject: Attempt to recall message - failure
The system could not recall your email message because the recipient had already open
ed it for reading.
~•~
To: Laura St. Bride
From: Mark St. Bride
Subject: RE: Read this carefully
Dear Laura:
Not funny.
I get the message. I’m coming on too strong. We’ll talk tomorrow, if you’ll turn your damn phone on.
Love, Mark
PS: I take it that crack about Ashmore was your way of telling me not to take you for granted.
~•~
To: Mark St. Bride
From: Laura St. Bride
Subject: Re: Read this carefully
Mark:
That crack was my way of telling you that I spent the weekend in bed with Richard Ashmore.
I get a vote in this. I vote NO. I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY YOU.
Laura
PS: Don’t bother to call. I am too angry to talk to you right now.
PPS: BTW, I am not “dumb as rocks.” I am not “in outer space.” I have a summa cum laude degree in music, and I do NOT appreciate being treated like a simpleton, by you or Cam or your sister or ANYONE ELSE.
Chapter 5: Iceberg, Dead Ahead
“LAURA?”
She heard his voice calling her from the front of the house, but she did not answer. She sat on the back steps, staring off into the night, her left hand petting Max the length of his body as he lay beside her. Max was possibly the only male on earth that she didn’t hate with a passion right now.
Cam, Mark, Richard – all of them protecting her, shielding her, treating her as if she was fragile as glass, dumb as rocks. At the moment, she wished them all to perdition. One was permanently out of reach, another had prudently removed himself to the other side of the world, but the third—
Richard called her name again, louder this time, and she heard him open the side gate door.
“Laura? Are you back there?”
She didn’t trust herself to say anything. She’d waited for him since she’d opened the door to the process server, torn between fury and fear. She felt sick at heart – she was at risk, Meg was at risk, and her fledgling bond with Richard was at risk.
And he had deceived her. That made her sickest of all.
How could he have kept this from her? He’d known, he must have, before he ever came back to her Friday night. He’d taken her away for the weekend, introduced her to his world, made the most tender love to her she’d ever known in her life, opened his heart to her. We stand together, but not, apparently, when it came to telling her that her sister had subpoenaed her to testify against him.
All That Lies Broken (Ashmore's Folly Book 2) Page 6