"Anytime you want, Fanny."
"You're sweet to do this with me, Marcus."
"That's because I'm a sweet guy."
"That you are. I wish I had met you thirty 7 years ago."
"Everything happens for a reason."
"I know. Sometimes I just want to know the why of it all."
"Let's finish taking care of business here so I can get you back home. I know you're worried about Ash."
"How do you know that?"
"I know. Fanny."
"And you don't mind? My concern for Ash doesn't bother you?"
"If you weren't concerned, it would bother me. He is the father of your children. Whatever came before. Fanny, isn't my business. Where your family is concerned. I will never interfere. I'll consider it an honor if you allow me to be pan of it."
"Someone else said that to me once and it was a lie."
"I'm not Simon, Fanny." "Thank God for that."
Clementine Fox and Fanny Thornton stepped from the elevator into the foyer of the law offices of St. Clare, Raddison, and Raddison. Subdued lighting, rich paneling, and marble floors greeted them.
The receptionist looked up as Clementine Fox sailed past her circular mahogany desk, Fanny in her wake. She looked like she was about to say something, then changed her mind as the Silver Fox, resplendent in floor-length sable, strode past her. She did manage to press Jason St. Clare's call button with the tip of her long manicured nail.
Both Simon and his attorney were standing when Clementine and Fanny walked into the office. Fanny inclined her head at the introduction. She did her best to avoid looking at Simon, who was smiling affably. Fanny felt her stomach muscles start to flutter. Simon looked like he was holding a straight flush. She wished she knew what kind of hand Clementine held.
This was an unexpected meeting she hadn't planned on. Clementine had called her at five minutes past nine and said the meeting was scheduled for ten-fifteen. "Consider it a belated Christmas present." Fanny took that to mean the Silver Fox held a hand of winning cards.
Fanny accepted a cup of coffee and lit a cigarette as the two attorneys exchanged pleasantries. They moved off to the far end of the table, their voices hushed.
"How are you, Fanny?"
"Does it matter, Simon? I don't understand why you're doing this. I was such a fool to think you were someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. You're worse than Ash ever was. If your mother is watching over you, she must be beside herself at what you're doing. When this divorce is final, Simon, I'm getting married."
Simon uncrossed his legs. He stared at Fanny for a long moment. "I always knew you'd go back to Ash. That's just
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like you, Fanny, to marry a dying man."' He was agitated now, hunching and unhunching his shoulders.
Let him think what he wants to think. He's nervous now. He didn't expect me to say what I just said.
Clementine and Jason St. Clare sat down. Simon focused his gaze on his attorney's face. Fanny lit another cigarette as both lawyers opened their briefcases.
"'I called this meeting, Mr. Thornton, so that we could have some face-to-face dialogue. Before things go any further, either you or Mrs. Thornton might wish to rethink your positions. I would like to say at this time, and Mr. St. Clare agrees with me, that it's very hard to hide things today with all the high-tech equipment at one's disposal. There's always a paper trail to be found. Subpoenas for Internal Revenue tax documents are standard fare these days. I've found, haven't you. Jason, that when a person is willing to pay out large sums of money to buy information that the term 'money talks and losers walk' is more than appropriate, especially in a situation like we have here in front of us. Does anyone have anything to say?"
Simon sat stone-faced. Fanny sipped at her cool coffee. She shrugged.
"Let's see what you got, Fox." St. Clare said.
"Everything I told you I had. My client does not owe your client one red cent. This is the proof. Mr. Thornton's friend and confidant ... I believe his name was Malcolm something or other . . . found himself in need of a cabin cruiser which, by the way, sleeps six. He said he would give serious thought to naming his boat the Silver Fox. I found him to be a very nice man. Very chatty. Your buddy sold you out, Mr. Thornton, for sixty-five grand."
"Simon . . . why don't we go into one of the other offices and . . . talk.''
When Fanny was alone with her attorney, Clementine said, "How badly do you want this divorce?"
"I don't want to be married to Simon one minute longer than I have to be. Does that answer your question?"
"Your husband wants one half of all your assets and Baby-
Ion. Those are his conditions to the divorce if we take away the debts he says you owe. That means half of your clothing business, half of everything you have in brokerage houses, and the bank."
"Fine. Not Babylon. Let him build his own damn casino. He has the money. I will not allow him to take Ash's casino."
"Then there's no divorce."
"Okay, no divorce. Draw up whatever papers are necessary and I'll sign them. I'm out of here, Clementine. I can't stand to be in the same room with Simon."
"Fanny, you don't understand. If there's no divorce, you don't pay him anything. Your husband doesn't care if there's a divorce or not. All he wants is the casino."
"I told him I was getting married when the divorce was final. He assumes I'm planning on marrying Ash. I didn't bother correcting him."
"I see," Clementine said. Her voice was thoughtful as she stared at Fanny. "Would you have any objection to my . . . planting a few seeds ... of discomfort?''
"You can plant a whole garden for all I care. You know where to reach me."
Clementine finished packing her briefcase just as Simon and his attorney walked into the conference room. "No dice, gentlemen. Mrs. Thornton said she doesn't much care one way or the other if the divorce goes through. She's just so happy that her first husband's health has improved to the extent he's prepared to take over his duties at the casino. They're planning on living together in the penthouse. Can you imagine, Jason, being at death's door, staring at the great beyond, and then you get a cold and are hospitalized and boom, you get a clean bill of health? I guess The Emperor is going to reign again. That must make you very happy, Mr. Thornton, Ash being your brother and all."
"Don't answer that, Simon. She's baiting you. Enough, counselor."
"Ah, Jason, did I rain on your parade today? Look at it
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this way. Today it was just a little-bitty drizzle. Wait for the downpour. It's coming."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Clementine?"
"Jason, Jason, Jason, you don't really expect me to answer that now, do you? Wide-eyed wonder does not become you."
Clementine extended her hand in Simon's direction. "No hard feelings, Mr. Thornton, but you are one sorry son of a bitch." Palms flat on the conference table, Clementine leaned over, Jason St. Clare ogling her cleavage. "I'm gonna get you, Mr. Thornton. When I do, it will all be legal. That's a promise. Tell him, Jason, that I've never broken a promise in my life. And tell him what I hate more than anything in this world."
Jason St. Clare's voice was a low monotone when he said, "Miss Fox never broke a promise in her life. The one thing she hates in this life more than anything else is a man who tries to screw over a woman in a divorce case."
"And the bottom line, Jason."
St. Clare's voice dropped to an even more boring tone when he said, "Miss Fox has no scruples and no conscience."
"There you go. I knew you'd get it right. Good day, gentlemen."
The Silver Fox laughed all the way down in the elevator. She made one call on her car phone as she drove away. The message was short, concise: "He refuses to cooperate."
Fanny returned to the penthouse, her thoughts in a turmoil. What was Clementine Fox going to do or say? "You know what, Daisy, I don't even care."
Daisy leaped from h
er arms and raced to the front door. A second later the bell rang. "Come in," Fanny called.
"Hi, Mom. Long time no see." Billie wrapped her mother in her arms and gave her a great smacking kiss.
"And whose fault is that? You're in Hong Kong, Japan, New York, England. When are you ever here?"
"I call, though."
"Yes, you do. Would you like some coffee?"
"I would love some. How's Sunny doing? Sunday is visitors' day, so I'll be here to visit. Are you going?"
"Of course. She's doing wonderfully. She's made some friends, one in particular. Harry seems like a very nice man. The doctors told me they're good for each other. Why am I telling you this, you met him?"
"I liked him. He doesn't take any crap from Sunny. Dad told me she's really mellow these days. I'm so glad, Mom. I'm going with Iris when she takes the kids to the park in a little while. I brought some presents for the kids. Dad's looking a lot better, too."
"And what about you, Billie. Is there anyone special in your life?"
"Not right now. You know how fickle I am. As soon as some guy starts to get serious I get scared. I like my life just the way it is. That's just another way of saying the right man hasn't come along. How's your life, Mom?"
"Parts of it are good. Other parts aren't so good. That's life."
"When will your divorce be final?"
"Probably never." Fanny told her daughter about the morning events in the lawyer's offices.
"It's just so hard to believe that Uncle Simon could turn like that. Back when we were kids and he'd come to Sunrise, I used to see him stare at Dad when he thought no one was looking. His eyes were so strange. I was a kid, what did I know?"
"Have you heard from Birch?"
"Not since early October. He asked me to send some kid clothes to Costa Rica. I must have sent a ton of stuff. He sent a card saying it all arrived safely. That was the last I heard. We all write, long, wonderful letters. Maybe they make him feel bad and that's why he doesn't write. Sage writes pages and pages and sends pictures of Lexie. He misses Birch the most. He'll be back, Mom."
"I know that. I miss him."
"Well, that's my news. Gotta run or Jake will take a fit.
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Some fool bought him a kite and he wants to fly it. I was elected. I really love that kid."
"He's a precious little boy. Ash adores him."
"Is that strange or what? He's like Dad's shadow. Polly's a little priss. Lexie is a delight. Sage is so good with all three of them. Don't be surprised, Mom, if Sunny agrees to Iris and Sage adopting Polly and Jake."
"Honey, nothing surprises me these days. Tyler will have something to say. He is their father."
"Nope. He already gave his approval. He's another one that failed the test where I'm concerned. Simon and him. Guess nobody gets it all. I like your new fella, Mom," Billie teased.
"He is kind of nice."
"He's a lot nice. Dad said he was aces. Now, that has to mean something."
Fanny laughed. "They get along well."
"I think it's hilarious that Uncle Simon thinks you want to marry Dad again. This is one weird family."
"Weird but nice. Kiss the children for me."
"I will, Mom. I'll call."
"More than once every month, okay?"
"At least once a week. By the way, the business is going great guns."
"Thanks to you."
"Whatever."
The apartment was so quiet after Billie left that Fanny turned on the stereo. Daisy danced on her hind legs, barking vociferously.
"Okay, you deserve a nice walk in the park. I do too. Get your leash."
An hour later, Fanny unhooked Daisy's leash and sat down on a bench to smoke a cigarette. She watched, a smile on her face as Daisy chased a fat poodle who had no interest in running away. They tussled, barking at each other. Fanny felt like an indulgent mother as she watched the two dogs under the trees.
"Is this seat taken?" a voice behind her said.
Fanny shivered. "As a matter of fact it is, Simon. I'm calling
the police. You're in direct violation of the restraining order. Get away from me."
"Fanny, it was so good once. Why can't we get that back? I'd like to try."
"Talk to my lawyer. It wasn't good. It was only good when you got what you wanted, when you wanted it. It took me a while to get my eyes open, but they're open now. I don't want you, and I don't want anything from you. I mean it, get away from me."
Fanny ran toward Daisy, scooped the little dog up in her arms, and ran from the park, her heart pumping faster than her legs.
The owner of the fat little poodle walked toward Simon. ' T saw you bothering the lady."
"What's it to you?" Simon snarled.
"This is what it is to me. See this. It's my fist. Now, feel this." The man's fist shot forward into the middle of Simon's stomach. He looked around. Satisfied that no one seemed to be paying any attention, the man's fist shot upward. "Bother the lady or any other lady again and I'll blow out your kneecaps.
"Come to daddy, Cupcake." The fat poodle waddled over to her owner and waited patiently to have her leash hooked onto her collar.
Owner and dog walked away without a backward glance.
Simon rolled over on the ground as he massaged his jaw. He sat down on the bench trying to get his breath. He stared after the man, hatred spewing from his eyes, obscenities rolling off his lips.
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26
"Well, Mrs. Thornton, what do you think?" the building contractor asked.
All Fanny could do was stare at her beloved Sunrise. "From this distance I can't tell the difference. It's hard to believe there was ever a fire."
"That man of yours, Chue. he was under our feet every single minute with his grass seed and plants. He worked from a map!
"I know. That's how he was able to make things look the same. I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Wyler. You finished four months to the day."
"We had some unexpected help." Fanny shot him a questioning look, but the contractor didn't expand on his statement. "Are you having a dedication or family party?"
"No. Ash will be moving in tomorrow. The furniture is coming today, and my friends are coming up to help hang the curtains and things like that. I don't know what to say, Mr. Wyler."
"This has to be one of the prettiest spots in the world. My father used to tell me stories about Sallie Coleman and this mountain. I'm happy to have been a part of the restoration. Tell Ash I said hello. We miss him in town."
'Til be sure to tell him, Mr. Wyler."
Fanny watched the contractor drive off in his pickup. She was alone now with her thoughts, even though Chue stood off in the distance, not wishing to intrude. She walked around the house, marveling at the neatly trimmed shrubbery, the flowers that looked as if they'd just bloomed. The patio furniture was new, the umbrella candy-striped. Clay pots full of geraniums added the final touch. Ash loved flowers. She hadn't known
that until last year. There were so many things she hadn't known about Ash until last year. Her eyelids started to burn.
A sudden burst of anger raged through her. She kicked off her heels and ran around the house to the cemetery, where she banged on Sallie's tombstone with clenched fists. "Do you know what you did? Do you have any idea, Sallie?" she screamed. "You backed the wrong horse! Do you hear me, Sallie? Your son, the one you loved above all else burned down this house, and he's trying to steal Babylon! I believed you when you said he was wonderful. I believed all those lies because I couldn't imagine you would ever lie to me. You lied, Sallie! You damn well lied to me! Ash is dying, and you better have some answers when he gets there because he's got a list as long as that mountain road out there. Why did you do that to me, Sallie? You knew what Simon was all about. He wanted me because of Ash, and you set me up for that ... evil, ugly person."
Fanny dropped to her knees, her hands still pounding the stone. "I'm turning out just like you. I can
't marry Marcus because of Simon. It's you and Devin all over again. That's your legacy to me. If you loved me, Sallie, how could you have done that to me? How dare you do that to me!"
Chue's gentle hand on her shoulder caused Fanny to sob harder. "How . .. why, Chue? You lived here. You saw everything."
"Yes. I tried not to be involved in Miss Sallie's family. Come, let me clean your hands. We can talk in the kitchen. There is a first-aid kit the contractor left behind in the pantry. We will talk."
"You knew, Chue. Why didn't you say something?"
"It was not my place, Miss Fanny."
"Did Ash tell me the truth, Chue?"
"Ash was never a saint, Miss Fanny. He was a boy whose heart couldn't accept what was being done. He retaliated in the only way he knew how. As I said, he was no saint, nor was he a devil the way his brother was. I watched over Ash, as did
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Mr. Philip. Miss Sallie was blind to many things. You must let it go."
"Let it go! I would like nothing more, but I can't. We all know Simon burned this house down, but we can't accuse him because we didn't see him do it. He will not give me a divorce unless I turn the casino over to him. Ash is dying, Chue, he's coming home to the mountain to die. There's nothing I can do for him except to be here. How does one handle the fact that one knows one's only brother, one's flesh and blood, is waiting for him to die? How, Chue?"
"You and your God will give him the strength, Miss Fanny."
"Which one did you like the best?"
Chue grinned. "I did not much care for either one of the boys. I understood Ash's pain, so the things he did were understandable. He did not like his brother. I saw many things that wounded my heart. I could not interfere, Miss Fanny."
"I think I hate her, Chue. I really do. I think I hate her as much as I hate Simon."
"Perhaps for now. Later the pain will fade."
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