Fanny reached for Daisy's leash. The little dog danced and yipped as she tried to snare the leash to hurry Fanny along.
As she was locking the door behind her, Fanny heard the phone ring. She fumbled inside her pocket for the key. No one called her during the day. Maybe it was Simon or Sunny. The moment she opened the door, the phone stopped ringing. In dismay she listened to Marcus Reed's voice on her answering machine. A chill raced up both her arms. Her eyes wide, Fanny listened to the mesmerizing voice.
"Mrs. Thornton, this is Marcus Reed. Again, I hope I've dialed the right number. I checked with information and was told there were three listings for Thornton. I've left messages on the other two numbers since I wasn't sure which number was yours. I do hope that won't cause a problem. I've been on the other side of the world these past few months. I'll be coming to Las Vegas in the next few days. I'd like to take you to breakfast, lunch, or dinner if you're free. Since it is a holiday
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weekend, I'll understand if you aren't available. Family comes first. I'm sorry I missed you."
Fanny pressed the save message and didn't know why.
"Something wonderful must have happened while you were up there. I see a very noticeable sparkle in your eye. Did Simon call? Did you call him, or did the kids call about Thanksgiving?" Bess asked.
"No to everything. Mr. Reed left a message. He said he's been leaving messages at two other numbers. I would imagine those numbers are Sage's line and Billie's. Plus Ash. I wish he wouldn't do that. He never leaves a number so I can't return his call to tell him to stop. He has to know I'm married," Fanny said, wiggling her wedding ring finger.
"Maybe he checked you out. Men do that, you know. Who knows what was said. People here in the casino probably wonder where your husband is. You're working seven days a week and there's no sign of Simon. Ash is gone. You've never offered up any kind of explanation, so that means people can put their own spin on whatever story they feel like telling. Maybe he doesn't even know about Simon. Maybe he thinks you're divorced from Ash, which is true. You have to admit marrying your ex-husband's brother isn't really the norm. So, what did he want?"
"To have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. He's rather persistent, don't you think?"
"I'm not exactly the right person to ask. I'd say the man is interested in you."
"Well, that's just too bad. I'm married. At least I think I am. You know, Bess, it only takes a few seconds to make a phone call. I need to do something where Simon is concerned. The anger I'm starting to feel scares me."
' 'Fanny, why don't you take the rest of the day off and drive up to Sunrise. Sunny is the one you need to talk to. Ash, too, for that matter."
"Not today. If I'm going to do that, I have to work myself into it. I might call Ash later to ... to talk. I probably shouldn't
even bother since he brushes me right off, just the way Sunny does. Let's just enjoy our walk and talk about something else." "You're the boss," Bess said as she fell into step alongside Fanny and Daisy.
Fanny kicked off her shoes as she flopped down in one of the big red chairs. Would she ever get accustomed to ending her day at three-thirty in the morning? She was too wired to go to bed, there wasn't anyone to call because no one else kept the kind of hours she did. She wasn't hungry, and she wasn't thirsty. There was nothing to watch on television, and her ears were too sensitive at this time of night to listen to music after listening to the sounds of the slots on the floor all evening long. She stared at her feet and then at the shoes she'd worn all evening. Shoes from Marcus Reed.
Who was Marcus Reed? Where did he live? What did he do for a living? She had to admit the man had managed to pique her curiosity. The big question was, what should she do, if anything, when he came to town? Her conscience took over. What do you want to do, Fanny? I'll tell you what I want. I want my husband, and if I can't have my husband, I want . . . / need . . . What's wrong with breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Nothing. Nothing at all. So what if the man sends me flowers and shoes. So what! My husband should be sending me flowers and shoes. My husband should be calling me. My family should pretend they care if I'm alive or dead. No one is interested in me. This man is.
Fanny howled her unhappiness into Daisy's soft fur. The little dog whimpered as she snuggled deeper into the crook of Fanny's arm.
Fanny reached for the phone. Ash would be awake. Ash never slept. She dialed the number in Sunrise and wasn't surprised when he picked up after the first ring. There was no greeting. "Fanny, what the hell are you doing calling here at this time of night? You're going to wake the kids. It's a good
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thing I was awake. What's wrong? Not that I care. I was going to call you later, after breakfast."
"Now that sounds like the Ash I know. I want to know two things. Have you heard from Birch since he went away? The second thing I want to know is why wasn't I invited to Sunrise for Thanksgiving?"
"No, I haven't heard from Birch. I got a postcard from somewhere in England. I had nothing to do with the guest list for Thanksgiving. I don't blame you for being upset. I imagine you'll be more upset when Christmas rolls around. I want you to know I tried to talk some sense into Sunny. She turned a deaf ear. She said she didn't need you taking over her kitchen and her dinner. She said she could mess it up all by herself."
"Whose kitchen?" Fanny's voice was sharper than she intended.
"Look, I know how you feel. Kids can be ungrateful little snots sometimes just the way ex-husbands can be. She's not doing real good, Fanny. I'd ask you to come up, but that would just throw her into a tizzy. She gets these spells when she gets excited and then she's drained for a few days. It's a damn good thing I'm here, I can tell you that."
"I'm grateful that you are there, Ash. I want you to believe that."
"Fanny, she doesn't even want me to bring up your name. She smacked Jake the other day because he wanted to know where Grandma Fanny was. I was telling him about the family earlier and I kind of made a story out of it and the little guy remembered. Don't you have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving?"
"Of course I have somewhere to go. I've had many invitations. I think it's pretty terrible of my own daughter not to invite me for dinner."
"Iris was upset. Everyone's upset. Where's Simon?"
"Everyone's upset but not so upset that they won't attend. You know what, Ash, I'm starting to get that hard-edged shell you used to have. I don't care anymore. All of you have stuck the knife in me so many times my heart is full of holes. As to
Simon, I don't know where he is. He doesn't write, and he doesn't call. You ruined my marriage, Ash."
' 'If I could do that, then it must not have been worth very much. I'm sorry you feel that way. Is there anything I can do?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Sell this damn casino and let me get my life back."
"Anything but that, Fanny. Look, when I'm dead you can do what you want. Until that happens, it's business as usual. I'll call Simon and talk to him."
"I don't want you to do that, Ash. Don't interfere. I'll handle it. How are you feeling?"
"I have good days and I have bad days. I'm outside so much of the time I can actually sleep a few hours at a time. I have to tell you, Sunny can't cook worth a damn. I'm doing the turkey for ... sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up."
"Ash, if I tell you something will you keep it to yourself?"
"Sure."
"Some guy sent me fifty pairs of shoes. It's that man who put me in the pool that first night. He sends a dozen roses every night. I don't know what to do about it."
"No shit! You mean you don't know what to do about Simon or the guy?'' Not bothering to wait for a response, Ash babbled on. "Simon is as much of a bastard in his own way as I am in mine. You just never wanted to see it. Simon is not the knight in shining armor you thought he was. If he was all things to you as you believed, then where is he? He won't bend, Fanny. You need to know that. I hope you aren't the type to buckle under. If you do, I think I'd lo
se all respect for you. Play hardball with Simon. One way or another Simon always got his way. In everything, Fanny."
"That's what Simon always said about you."
"There you go. It's up to you who you choose to believe. What else can I do for you?"
"Do you know if Sage heard from Birch?"
"He got the same card we all did. Fanny, do you know Iris is pregnant?"
"Oh, Ash, no, I didn't know." Fanny started to cry.
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' 'We just found out yesterday. I'm sure they'll tell you today. Iris adores you. Sage is walking on a cloud, or so Iris said. I think it's kind of wonderful. Call her up, Fanny, and invite her to lunch. I think she'd like that."
Fanny dabbed at her eyes. "I can't do that, Ash."
"No, I guess you can't. So, what's that guy's name?"
"Marcus Reed."
"Never heard of him. Dangle him under Simon's nose and see if he reacts."
"Ash, I'm not interested in the man."
"Sure you are. If you weren't interested, you wouldn't have brought up his name in the first place. He's intriguing you. Women love that. I am an authority on that subject as you well know. I bet the roses are yellow or pink. Not red, right?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He's setting the scene for a seduction. Same thing as the spider and the web. Don't say I didn't warn you. I played that game hundreds of times."
"You really had to tell me that, didn't you?"
"I care about you, Fanny. I don't want to see some guy sucker my ex-wife. How's that make me look?"
"Like the ass you are," Fanny said. "Why were you going to call me?"
"I want you to go to Atlantic City and buy some property. I have a map and the lots are marked. Pay whatever you have to. You need to do it right away. Atlantic City is going to turn into a mini Vegas. We'll get your brothers to build Babylon n. Swear you won't drag your feet on this. I want it for the grandchildren. I want your promise, Fanny. One for Mom and Dad and one for the kids. It makes sense, Fanny. Before you know it they'll be all grown-up. Will you tell them I did it for them?"
Fanny's head buzzed. She knew there was no point in arguing. "What does pay whatever it takes mean, Ash?"
"Just buy it, Fanny. We'll worry about building it later. Right now boardwalk land is all that's important. Can you leave in a few days?"
"Do you want me to stop at the moon along the way? What is it about you that you can get me to do these things?"
"My irresistible charm. You'll do it then?"
"I'll do it. There's no money to build a casino though."
"There will be at the right time. I feel it in my gut, Fanny. When we're dead and gone, Jake will take over. That's a hell of a legacy, don't you think?"
"You know what, Ash, you're nuts. I'm nuts, too, because I'll be doing it. I'm hanging up now because you're getting on my nerves."
"I love you, Fanny."
In spite of herself, Fanny smiled as she hung up the phone. One more cockamamie scheme to deal with. And she would deal with it. She'd given her promise.
Fanny's clenched fists pummeled the arms of the red chair the moment she hung up the phone.
Alone and weary, Fanny finally slept, Daisy nestled at her side.
14
Fanny eyed the plump turkey sitting on her kitchen counter. It was years since she'd prepared a holiday dinner. She'd spent hours in the supermarket picking just the right yams, just the right cranberries, just the right turnip. And, for what? For whom was more like it. "Me and you, Daisy," Fanny muttered.
All day the phone on the kitchen wall beckoned. She'd lost count of the times she'd almost picked up the phone to call Simon. Instead she went back to unpacking her groceries and cleaning the oven in preparation for roasting the turkey. Daisy sat on one of the kitchen chairs, her eyes following Fanny. She yipped softly. "Okay, I'm going to call him. This is the last time, though," Fanny said as she dialed the number at the
240 Fern Michaels
ranch, Ash's assessment of Simon ringing in her ears. It's up to you who you choose to believe. When Simon's voice came over the wire, Fanny's heart started to flutter. "It's Fanny, Simon. How are you? Simon, why haven't you answered any of my calls?"
"Fanny, there's nothing to say. You stated your position, and I stated mine."
Fanny bit down on her lower lip. Her back stiffened as she eyed the turkey. "This is my last phone call to you, Simon. I want to be clear about this. It's almost Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for. Especially you and me. Can we meet at some halfway point and share dinner? I was going to make a dinner for Daisy and me, but I'll forgo it if you can see your way clear to meet me. I won't beg you, Simon."
Simon's voice was so cold and bitter when he responded that Fanny flinched. He might just as well have slapped her in the face.' 'Are you saying you turned your back on our marriage for your wonderful family who now won't be joining you or inviting you for dinner?"
/ will not cry. I absolutely will not cry. "Where do we go from here. Simon?" Fanny asked, her voice chilly.
"You tell me, Fanny."
"No, Simon, it doesn't work that way for me. Both of us need to agree on a decision. We might as well do it now, so we can get on with it." It's up to you who you choose to believe. Simon's a bastard in his own way just the way I am. Simon always gets what he wants one way or the other. "Are we just going to let it all fade away, Simon?"
Fanny heard his indrawn breath. "Unless you come back to the ranch, I don't see any other way for us to go."
"Even though the last two years weren't happy for me? You're giving me an ultimatum, Simon. I would never do that to you. Why are you taking such a stiff-necked position? Ultimatums mean one person will be happy and the other person will be miserable. Why can't we work this out? I'm willing to try. I'm willing to bend. Why are you refusing to understand what my family means to me? I never saw this stubbornness
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in you, Simon. How could I have been so blind? I know marriage is never easy unless both parties agree together on issues. You work it out, you learn from each other and you go on. You won't even meet me halfway. Ash was right, you're just as big a bastard in your own way as he is in his. My last words to you, Simon, are, you know where I am, you know my phone number. I won't be calling you again. Have a nice Thanksgiving."
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