Serenity

by Dixie Land

  Lil tried to sound upbeat. “Maggie, can you come by the house on your way home, honey?”

  “Sure, Lil. Shall I pick up some sandwiches for us on the way?”

  “Not unless you want one. I’m not very hungry, but I have some left over pork roast and gravy. I can fix you a hot sandwich, if that suits you.”

  “Sounds great! I’ll see you as soon as I can get away.” Maggie put the receiver down feeling intensely eager to hear what Lil had to tell her.

  The last patient left the office by ten past five, and Doc told Maggie that he and Kathryn would handle the clean up. Maggie decided to stop by her apartment briefly to pick up the coconut cake she had bought recently. It was too much of a temptation for her. She’d leave the half that was left at Lil’s.

  She unlocked the door, went into the kitchen and removed the cake from the refrigerator. She noticed on her answering machine that she had two messages. She had decided against having her number changed. She was through running away. She had found her home in Serenity, and she wasn’t going to let Michael be the cause of her living in fear for the rest of her life. Ross had an extra answering machine that he had given her. He thought it would be a wise way for her to monitor her calls.

  She stepped over to the machine and pressed the play button. “Maggie, its Aunt Em. An attorney from Alexandria called here for you. He said he was from…” There was a brief silence and Maggie could hear paper rustling. “Oh, here it is, dear. His firm is Whitton, White, and Weston. He said it was imperative that his firm contacts you. I gave them your number. I hope that was all right. Call me. Love you, dear. Bye, Maggie.”

  Maggie’s stomach began to churn. “I don’t need this,” she said aloud as the second message began. “Miss Thornton, this is Calvin Whitton with the firm of Whitton, White, and Weston in Alexandria, Virginia. There is a matter of utmost importance that I need to discuss with you.” He gave her his phone number and asked her to call him at once and set up an appointment to come to his office. She jotted the number down on a post-it note then dialed Ross.

  His phone rang five times before his machine came on. “Ross, I need to talk to you,” Maggie said. “I’m going over to Lil’s for dinner, but I’ll call when I ‘m ready to leave, and I hope you can meet me here.”

  She picked up the cake, reached for her purse and headed for Lil’s. As she drove she pondered the attorney’s message. Perhaps Michael had hired them, but why? What could he possibly need a lawyer for? Well, if he had hired them—and she would call them in the morning to see what this was all about, perhaps she could hire Kevin to represent her. She parked in front of Lil’s and got out of her car.

  When Lil answered the door, Maggie was stunned. “Lil, what’s wrong? You look awful.”

  “Oh, Maggie, come on in. I didn’t want to tell you on the phone, but it didn’t go well with Kevin. In fact, it was a disaster.” Lil began to sob.

  Maggie put her arms around Lil and remained silent until the older woman composed herself enough to talk.

  “I went there to help you, and I only made matters worse,” Lil said dejectedly. She relayed her conversation with Kevin to Maggie including some of the questions that had run through her mind during her drive back.

  Maggie listened without comment until Lil was finished. “Well, that makes me even more curious about the message I had from an Alexandria legal firm. I know you were trying to help me. Don’t blame yourself; I certainly don’t. I’m beginning to think Michael is unbalanced; none of this makes sense to me.”

  “It doesn’t to me, either, Maggie. No sense at all.”

  “Would you be too upset if I don’t stay for dinner? I need to talk to Ross. He doesn’t know any of this, I mean about the detective or anything. He doesn’t know, does he?”

  “Not from me. I did enough damage with Kevin.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll call him from here. It’ll save time. If he’s in, he can meet me at my place.”

  “Sure, honey. And I’m so relieved that you aren’t angry with me.”

  “Why would I be? You went there with the best of intentions at my request. You certainly had no way of knowing that Kevin had any connection with Michael.”

  She dialed Ross’s number. He picked up on the second ring.

  “I’ve been waiting for your call,” he told her. “I’m on my way now. See you in about ten minutes.”

  “Be careful! And don’t get a ticket. I have so much to tell you!” I wonder how you’re going to react when you hear this latest bit of information.

  ChapterSeventeen

  oss pulled into Maggie’s driveway as she got out of her car. “I’ll bet that’s a new record.”

  He leaned down to kiss her. “Could be.”

  He followed her up the stairs. “What’s on your mind?

  Your message sounded pretty urgent.”

  Maggie quickly relayed everything that had happened, from Robyn’s call and Lil’s meeting with Kevin, to the message from the attorney, which she replayed for Ross.

  “That explains why Lil looked the way she did this afternoon. That son-of-a-bitch! I haven’t liked, or trusted, him from the first time I met him.”

  “I know you haven’t. I couldn’t seem to either. I wanted to like him, for Lil’s sake, but he’s really let her down, too. She’s terribly hurt and upset with him.”

  “I told her I’d call later to check on her, but I haven’t yet. How did she seem when you left her?”

  “I think she was relieved to get it off her chest. She felt just awful about telling Kevin about the baby. I reminded her that it would be an impossible secret to keep. She seemed a little better when I left than she was when I arrived.”

  “Maggie, do you want me to be here with you when you call that attorney tomorrow?”

  “Yes, that would make it easier. I plan to try to reach him first thing. That reminds me, I need to call Doc and see if I can be a few minutes late in the morning.”

  As she expected, Doc was agreeable. Ross stayed for another hour. Before he left, he offered to spend the night if Maggie wanted him to.

  “I promise to stay on the sofa,” he said with a wink.

  “Thanks, Ross. I’ll be fine, really.”

  He looked a little disappointed, but he kissed her and left. Though she felt exhausted by the time she got into bed, she tossed and turned for more than two hours before falling asleep.

  She was awake before seven the next morning. She rose and fixed breakfast then dressed for work. At eight forty-five, Ross arrived.

  Maggie waited until five after nine to try to reach the attorney. A receptionist answered, “Whitton, White, and Weston. How may I direct your call?”

  “My name is Margaret Thornton. I had a message from Calvin Whitton asking me to call him. Is he available?”

  “One moment, please.” Musak played in Maggie’s ear. She waited a little nervously, unsure of what to expect.

  “Miss Thornton?” The slightly, gravely voice of Calvin Whitton came on the line. “Thank you for returning my call. I’ve been trying for some time to locate you.”

  “Why?” Maggie asked.

  “Haven’t you spoken with your attorney?”

  “My attorney?”

  “Yes; Kevin Williams. He called several days ago on your behalf. Frankly, I had expected you to get in touch with me as soon as you spoke with him.”

  “Well…he hasn’t contacted me. What did you tell him?” Maggie asked calmly trying to hide the shock and anger rising within her.

  “That I really need to meet with you personally to take care of the legal paperwork and view the necessary documentation.”

  “For what?” Maggie felt bewildered. This conversation was like being on a runaway merry-go-round.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Thornton. I thought you and your fiancé had discussed this.”

  “My fiancé?”

  “Michael Kerns. Dr. Kerns is the one who finally gave me your aunt Emily’s phone number. Perhaps I should start at th
e beginning.”

  “Please do, thank you.”

  “I’m sure you’ve been following the class-action law suit against Capital Airlines in the newspaper. The suit involves negligence on their part in the crash that killed your father and sister.”

  “No. I wasn’t aware of that.”

  “Well, It’s been in the papers around here for weeks now. A settlement was reached a short while ago. My firm is handling the disbursement of the funds. After I learned that your mother was deceased, I began trying to contact you. I called the hospital where you were formerly employed, and Dr. Kerns happened to be in the administrator’s office at the time. I spoke with him, and he took my number. He called back with your aunt’s phone number, said you were visiting there for a while. Your aunt seemed puzzled as to why he would say that, but she was kind enough to give me a number for you. Now, when can you meet with me here at my office?”

  Maggie was silent.

  “I’ll need death certificates for your father, sister and mother.” He hesitated. “Miss Thornton, did you hear me?”

  “Uh, yes. Yes, I heard you. I’ll have to make arrangements; you’ve taken me by surprise.”

  “You do have the death certificates, don’t you?” “I have my mother’s, and I have a metal box of papers she kept. I would imagine my father and sister’s certificates are in there, but I’ll have to check. May I call you back?” “That will be fine. I’ll be in the office until around one this afternoon. Miss Thornton, aren’t you even curious about the sum of money you’ll be receiving?”

  “Oh, I…I guess so,” Maggie answered haltingly. “I must say your fiancé was more curious than you seem to be.”

  “Did you tell him?” Maggie asked.

  “No. I didn’t, but there has been a good deal about it in the news, and the figures of the settlement are a matter of public record now. Miss Thornton, between the flight insurance your father had on himself and your sister and the settlement of the suit, you’ll be receiving roughly two million dollars.” Maggie’s breath caught in her throat.

  “Miss Thornton, are you all right?”

  “Yes. I’m just totally shocked! Thank you, Mr. Whitton. I’ll go through my papers and call you back.”

  Maggie hung up and looked at Ross. “You aren’t going to believe this!”

  Ross raised his eyebrows. “What now, Maggie? Good news or bad?”

  “I guess it’s mixed. Mr. Whitton said there has been a class action lawsuit against the airline, for negligence, in the crash that killed my father and sister. It’s just been settled. He’s holding a large amount of money for me. He’s talked to Michael; that’s how he got my aunt’s number. He said Michael was very curious, and evidently led Mr. Whitton to believe that he’s still my fiancé. Then Kevin Williams called him, representing himself as my attorney, to find out the details.” “Huh!” Ross shook his head. “Things are beginning to make a little more sense. The web of mystery starts to unravel. That little piece of information Mr. Whitton gave you may be just what we need to take care of Kevin Williams. His actions are totally unethical.”

  “Do you think we could ask Mr. Whitton to document his statement that Kevin represented himself as my attorney?”

  “I don’t see why not. Kevin’s way out of line.”

  “Ross, do you think it really was Kevin, or do you think Michael might have called and represented himself as Kevin?”

  “I don’t know. But, I intend to find out.”

  “I’ll see what Mr. Whitton says when I call him back. I just don’t understand why Michael is so interested in my money. I know he makes a hefty salary at the hospital. But, it certainly sounds as if he’s trying to get me back for the money.”

  “Remember, it’s not what you make but, how you handle it.”

  “You’re right about that.” Maggie went into her bedroom and removed her mother’s metal box from its storage place in her closet. She carried it to her bed and sat down.

  As she opened it, melancholy swept through her. Her eyes moistened. She had carried it with her but had been unable to open it before today. The time hadn’t been right. She’d been too close to losing them. It was as if not inspecting the contents of the box had somehow allowed her to avoid the finality of it all. This little container that held the important records of their lives was all that was tangible of the family she loved so dearly.

  Carefully, she sorted through the papers. There were birth certificates, her parent’s marriage license, a copy of the deed for the house that had been sold to help pay her mother’s medical expenses, some old bank registers and the death certificates for her father and sister. She removed her mother’s death certificate from an envelope in her dresser drawer. She walked back to her bed and sat in silence, pressing the forms to her breast for a few moments, inhaling deeply as if she could catch the scent of them, breathe their essence into her. She felt close to them and overwhelmingly sad for the loss of them. Minutes later, she wiped her eyes and went back into the living room.

  “I’ve found them, Ross,” she said softly. She lifted the receiver and dialed Mr. Whitton’s office. She waited only a moment before he answered. Maggie told him she had found what he needed, then listened.

  When he finished speaking, she asked, “Will you please hold for a minute?” She covered the speaker portion of the phone. “Ross, he wants to know if I can meet with him this Friday at two o’clock. Will you go with me?”

  “You know I will. Let’s talk to him in person about Kevin though. What do you think?”

  “I agree.”

  She returned to Mr. Whitton. “That sounds fine. I’ll plan to see you then.”

  “Will your lawyer accompany you, Miss Thornton?”

  “No, I’ll be with my fiancé.” She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, that Ross was smiling.

  The arrangements having been completed, Mr. Whitton put his secretary on the line to give Maggie directions.

  Friday 1:30 P.M.

  Ross parked on the third level of the high rise parking deck across the street from the law firm of Whitton, White and Weston in one of their allotted spaces.

  Since he and Maggie had arrived a little early, as planned, they sat in the car and talked for a few minutes before going over to the appointment.

  Once inside, they looked at the building directory then waited for the elevator. Ross leaned down and whispered, “Impressive. They have the entire top three floors of this four story building.”

  Maggie nodded in agreement. She had butterflies in her stomach, and she wasn’t sure why. She and Ross were the only ones on the elevator. When it stopped on the fourth floor, they got out and checked the directory.

  Once in Mr. Whitton’s waiting room, it took only a few minutes before the secretary told them the attorney was ready to see them. They stepped over to the door; the secretary opened it and motioned for them to go in.

  Maggie looked about the impressive décor. The office was large, octagonal and quite elegantly furnished. Mr. Whitton was seated, at his mahogany desk, in a muted burgundy and navy striped velveteen chair that had gold upholstery studs decorating each arm. She noticed that the client chairs were done in solid burgundy and navy. The colors were arranged intermittently in a semi-circle facing the front of Mr. Whitton’s desk. At the far end of the room was an octagonal mahogany conference table surrounded by eight chairs that matched the client chairs in front of his desk. Mahogany bookcases, with beautifully bound leather books, lined the entire room and only broke for the double doors that admitted Maggie and Ross into his inner-sanctum.

  Mr. Whitton rose from his chair as they stepped into the room. He was a big man, over six feet tall and, though his frame was large, he looked fit. He wore a three-piece, gray, pinstripe suite and a stiffly starched white shirt. His hair must have been prematurely silver, as Maggie judged by his skin tone that he was no more than fifty, if that. To her, he looked the epitome of a big city corporate lawyer.

  “Miss Thornton, a pleasure to meet
you,” he said, as he motioned toward the chairs in front of him. “Please, have a seat.”

  Maggie walked across the thick plush navy carpet until she stood directly in front of his desk. Before she could introduce Ross, Mr. Whitton spoke again.

  “Well, Dr. Kerns. At last we meet in person.” He extended his right hand across his desk to Ross.

  Ross took his hand. “I’m Ross Harrington, Mr. Whitton. I’m Maggie’s fiancé.”

  Mr. Whitton gave Maggie a puzzled look. “But I thought you said Michael Kerns was your fiancé.” He quickly glanced at the folder that lay open before him.

  Maggie looked at Ross. “No, that’s what Michael told you. Michael and I haven’t been engaged for several months.”

  “Hmmm, then at the time I spoke with the hospital administrator, you and Dr. Kerns were no longer planning to be married. Is that correct?”

  “That’s correct.”

  Calvin Whitton glanced down at the open folder again. “And this attorney Kevin Williams. Is he, in fact, your legal counselor?”

  “No, he isn’t. And, I want to talk to you about his call,” Maggie said.

  Ross had taken a chair to her right, but he remained silent. He wouldn’t involve himself in the discussion unless Maggie needed him to.

  “I see, Miss Thornton. Go ahead, please.”

  “I’d like to have a statement in writing from you that a man representing himself as my attorney and calling himself Kevin Williams contacted you on my behalf about this settlement.” Maggie sounded very controlled.

  “Might I ask why, Miss Thornton?”

  Maggie looked at Ross. He gave her hand a little squeeze.

  “Mr. Whitton, I’d rather not go into detail. This in no way involves you. But I would like your verification, if you’ll give it to me.” She spoke quietly and looked him in the eye.

  “Well, I would hope you don’t blame me for speaking to Mr. Williams. I speak with clients’ attorneys quite regularly. It’s very common, you know”

  “I understand that. And in no way do I wish to involve you in my situation with Mr. Williams, except that I need your statement.”