Loretta glanced at him quickly, then looked away. “I got mad at him toward the end—right before he died—because he hadn’t filed for divorce. I had a fling—out of revenge—to hurt Paul and bring him around. Instead, Paul died and I ended up pregnant. And now my daughter desperately needs a kidney transplant. A donation from a close relative would be the best solution. It could mean the difference between life and death.” With this, Loretta began to cry. “I’ve made a mess of my life, and now my child has to pay for it.”
Frank Haynes leaned forward and took both of her hands into his.
“I knew about your relationship with Paul and wondered if he was Nicole’s father,” he said softly.
Loretta raised her eyes to meet his. “How did you know about us?”
“I had a background check done when I hired you.”
“So you’re not shocked? You’re not disappointed in me?”
Frank Haynes shook his head.
Loretta hung her head. Frank Haynes held her hands and let her cry. When her sobs began to subside, he handed her his handkerchief. “What can I do to help?” he asked.
“I have to talk to Susan and Mike. Except I’m not sure how I’m going to do it. I feel it would be best if I talked to Maggie first. She should be the first to know. This news will be devastating to their family. I feel terrible about it. That’s why I kept the secret for so long. I didn’t see any point in creating so much pain, especially since I wasn’t sure.” She began to cry again.
“So go tell Maggie,” he said gently.
“She hates me,” Loretta replied.
“She doesn’t even know you.”
“I was her late husband’s mistress.” Loretta wouldn’t tell him about the night when she’d gone to Rosemont to give Maggie the copy of the jump drive.
Haynes lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. “I have my differences with Maggie Martin. Everyone knows that. There’s not much we see eye to eye on. But she’s a kind and fair person. She’s not going to penalize Nicole for any grudge she may hold against you.”
“I was hoping you might talk to her for me,” Loretta pleaded. “Broach the subject?”
He shook his head. “You should be the one to ask her, Loretta. If she says no, I may have a trick or two up my sleeve.” Would he really be willing to abandon his claim to Rosemont if it were necessary to help Loretta and Nicole? The thought set his stomach acids churning. He didn’t even want to consider the idea. “Let me know how it goes. We’ll take it from there.”
Chapter 37
Susan Martin shoved her cell phone into her purse and made one final pass through her kitchen, making sure she’d turned off the oven and put all the food into the refrigerator. She’d taken the afternoon off to prepare a celebratory meal to congratulate Aaron on passing his medical boards. When he’d called two hours ago to tell her he couldn’t make it, she’d been up to her elbows in preparations. This would be their first opportunity to spend a long evening together since she’d returned from her trip to Westbury—the trip that he had planned to take with her.
Aaron had met her return flight with flowers and a heartfelt apology. She knew he was terribly sorry for missing his brother’s surprise party, but now this? She had to wonder if he really wanted to be with her. He was breaking another promise. All for his blasted career. She’d been longing to have him all to herself.
She’d bitten her tongue and agreed to meet him for a quick cup of coffee instead. It was time for a serious talk. She didn’t want to spoil his special day, but she needed to find out where she stood and where they were headed. She couldn’t allow things to continue as they were. She’d been second fiddle before, and she didn’t want another relationship like that. If she had to break it off with him and start over in her search for Mr. Right, so be it. Susan checked her reflection in the mirror that hung by her back door before setting the alarm and heading out. She hoped she wouldn’t lose her nerve.
They made plans to meet at a little dive around the corner from the hospital. He’d told her he could take a break and meet her there to celebrate.
Susan drove past the diner twice, looking for a parking spot. A stretch limousine idled in front, taking up the space of at least three parking meters. Annoyed, she finally pulled to the curb two blocks down the street. As she hurried to the diner, the chauffer got out and called her by name. She turned as he opened the rear passenger door. Aaron was waiting for her inside the limousine.
“What in the world?” she asked.
“I wanted to celebrate tonight, too. But I didn’t want you to have to cook. I’ve been looking forward to taking you out.”
“Wow,” she said as she got in beside him. The chauffer pulled away from the curb, and Aaron opened a bottle of champagne and poured them each a glass. “To us.”
Susan smiled. “To you, Dr. Scanlon.”
As they sipped their champagne, all of her earlier arguments dissolved. She relaxed into Aaron’s outstretched arm. “I’ve never been in a limo before. Pretty fancy. Look at all these cool lights. What do these buttons do?” she asked, pointing.
“Open the moonroof, I think. Want to try it?”
Susan nodded and Aaron opened the roof.
“So where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see in about ten minutes,” Aaron said. “I’m told it’s one of the best restaurants in California. It sits on a cliff, overlooking the Pacific. The sunset should be spectacular.”
“Did you rob a bank?” Susan asked.
“This is a special night, and I’m splurging on the most beautiful woman I know.”
***
The restaurant was housed in a Spanish-style bungalow, retrofitted with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Pacific. The interior was done in quiet taupe Venetian plaster and the tables were dressed in thickly starched linen. Low arrangements of burgundy roses graced every table. The maître d’ whisked them to a secluded table in the corner by the windows.
They watched the clouds over the ocean turn from crimson to magenta as the sun sank below the horizon. They made their way through appetizers and entrees, relying on suggestions from their waiter and sampling everything brought to their table. They both remembered that the food was fabulous, but neither of them could later recall what they ate.
“I hope you’ve saved room for dessert,” Aaron said.
“Honestly? I’m stuffed,” Susan said.
“They have your favorite—bananas Foster.”
“That takes forever to prepare. You won’t want to wait.”
“Actually, I ordered it when I made the reservation.”
“Really? Aren’t you wonderful? You’ve thought of everything.”
Aaron signaled their waiter. The man brought the cart to their table and prepared the dessert with great showmanship. As he finished, the sommelier arrived and uncorked a bottle of champagne. Both men left the table together and Susan swore one of them nodded at Aaron in encouragement. She felt herself flush and raised her eyes to his. Could this be the moment she’d longed for since she was a teenager?
He smiled fleetingly and made a show of pouring them each a glass of champagne. Susan steadied her hand as she picked up her fork and quickly put it back down as Aaron pushed back his chair and dropped to one knee. He took her hands in his and spoke from his heart. “I adore you, Susan Martin. You’re the woman I want to share all of life’s joys and traverse all of life’s hardships with. You are the kindest, most loving person I’ve ever known. Will you do me the great honor of marrying me?”
Susan cupped his face with her hands and kissed him. “Of course I will. You’ve been the one for me since the day we met. I love you completely.” She broke off, crying.
Aaron handed her his handkerchief. He glanced into the restaurant and noted that all eyes were on their table. He smiled and made a thumbs up gesture, and the restaurant burst into applause.
“When I called you earlier to tell you I couldn’t make it for dinner, I was afraid that you’d b
e really mad at me for interrupting your plans at the last minute. You hadn’t started dinner yet or anything, had you?”
Susan snorted. “I most certainly had started dinner. I made your favorite cheesecake after work last night, and I’d taken the afternoon off to cook. Everything was well underway.”
“I had no idea. I’m so sorry.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ve got a lot to learn about domestic life. No wonder you paused for so long before responding. You were probably getting ready to let me have it.”
“You have no idea,” Susan replied. “If we’d met for a cup of coffee, like you led me to believe, we’d be having a much different conversation.”
Aaron raised his eyebrows at her quizzically. “Tell me.”
Susan leaned over and kissed him. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s just concentrate on our future.”
***
Maggie’s phone rang as she was about to step into the shower. She glanced at the screen to see who was calling at this early hour and was alarmed to see that it was Susan. It would be three in the morning in California. Maggie answered the call on the second ring.
“What’s wrong, honey?” she said, pulling her robe around her.
“Nothing’s wrong, Mom. Everything’s right.” Susan paused and continued excitedly. “Aaron proposed!”
“That’s wonderful! When?”
“Last night. I’m too excited to fall asleep. I’ve been waiting for it to be late enough to call you.”
Maggie smiled. “You could have woken us up for this news.” She was about to tell her daughter to give her all the details, but Susan launched into her tale without further invitation.
“Ohhhh … so romantic. Did you suspect this was coming?”
“No. Not even during dinner. But my hopes got really high when our sommelier opened the champagne. He knew what Aaron was planning, and both he and Aaron looked like kids who got their hands caught in the candy jar. We were at a table in the corner and when the sommelier left us alone, Aaron dropped to one knee and proposed.”
“Did you cry?”
“Of course I did. You know I did. I also got bananas Foster all over my dress.”
Maggie laughed. “Congratulations to both of you. John’s already left for morning surgery. I can’t wait to tell him. He’ll be so pleased. Do you have a ring?”
“Not yet. He decided to take a leaf out of John’s book and let me pick it out. But he warned me that I shouldn’t expect a four-carat diamond like yours. He can’t afford that yet.”
“Do you have any idea what you’d like?”
“An oval solitaire in platinum. Simple and elegant.”
“That’ll suit you to a tee,” Maggie agreed. “Did you set the date?”
“Next summer. At Rosemont, of course,” Susan said. “But way smaller than your wedding. I want to walk down those stairs and get married in front of the fireplace in the living room.”
“That’ll be the perfect setting. We can garland the banister and bank the mantel with flowers.”
“And have a DJ on the terrace. I want to dance until the wee hours.”
“Have you told your brother?”
“Not yet. It’s too early to call him. I wanted to tell you first, anyway.”
“I haven’t talked to Mike since the miscarriage,” Maggie said. “Is everything okay with them? Every time I call, I get their voice mail.”
“Amy’s doing better now; she’s just gone back to work. And they’ve been busy with the beginning of the school year. I can’t wait to tell the twins. They’ll be so excited to be in another wedding. They had the time of their lives in yours.” Susan yawned. “I’ve got to go to work today, so I suppose I should try to get some sleep. We’ll talk more this weekend.”
Chapter 38
Maggie forced herself through her morning routine to get ready for work. The email from Susan that she’d read while eating breakfast had shaken her. Nicole Nash needed a kidney transplant. She was now on the national donor list. Her granddaughters and their friend in Westbury—Nicole’s older sister, Marissa—were scared and upset. Maggie felt certain that Marissa Nash and her brother weren’t Nicole’s only siblings; Mike and Susan were her half-brother and half-sister. Maggie didn’t know much about transplants, but she knew that relatives were preferred donors. The decision she had been dreading was now upon her. She needed time to think things through, but right now she had work to do at Town Hall.
She got into her SUV and turned left out of her driveway. The blaring horn of a car in the oncoming lane jolted Maggie out of her reverie. She looked in the direction of the sound and headlights blinded her. Panicked, she stepped on the gas and the oncoming driver swerved, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Where did he come from? Still shaking, she turned onto a side street and pulled to the curb. Maggie lifted her tablet out of her briefcase and opened the picture she’d looked at dozens of times in the last few months. She turned the tablet first right, then left—examining the photo from every angle. There could be no mistake. Nicole Nash might not bear every feature of her late father, but the likeness was undeniable. She didn’t need a DNA test to confirm that Nicole was Paul’s daughter.
Maggie replaced the tablet and leaned back against her seat. If Nicole was really in need of a kidney transplant, she had to tell Susan and Mike. If they could save their half-sister’s life, she wouldn’t interfere with that.
Maggie breathed deeply. Revealing the truth about Nicole would open the whole can of worms about their father, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Susan was so excited about her engagement to Aaron Scanlon. Would this news throw a pall on her happiness?
Maggie rested her head on the steering wheel. Donating a kidney—like all surgery—was risky. What if one of her kids were a donor and ended up damaging their remaining kidney in an accident later in life, leaving them on dialysis or in need of a transplant? Maggie didn’t want to think about that possibility.
She turned her face upward. The warm morning sunshine streamed through her windshield. Her kids were grown, and in the end, it was their choice, not hers. If the little girl was really in need of a transplant, she would fly to California and tell her children.
Maggie started her car and headed toward Town Hall. She would verify Nicole’s situation and book round-trip tickets to California for her and John.
***
“Frank,” Maggie said, stepping into his office at Town Hall. “I’m wondering if you can confirm something.”
“I’ll try,” he said.
“Loretta Nash works for you, right?”
“Yes. She’s my financial analyst. Why?”
“Do you know if her daughter Nicole is on the transplant list for a kidney?”
Haynes let out a deep breath. News traveled fast in Westbury. “Nicole just got back from a transplant hospital in Indianapolis. She’s on the list.”
Maggie hesitated. “Will you do me a favor, Frank? Keep me posted on her condition?”
“I will,” he replied. “They don’t know how long it will take to find a donor.”
“I don’t think it’ll be long.”
Haynes thought he detected sadness behind her eyes.
“I’m counting on you, Frank. We’ve had our differences in the past, and now there’s the question of the ownership of Rosemont.” She held up her hand to silence him. “I know we agreed to keep that issue out of Town Hall, to let the lawyers handle it. I want to make sure that we set all of our other issues aside where this is concerned.”
He nodded slowly. “Of course, Maggie. Why is this so important to you?” he probed.
“It just is. And I’d like you to keep our conversation private. Will you do that, Frank?”
Part of Frank Haynes wanted to run to Loretta with this information, but he instinctively knew better. “I will, Maggie. I’ll let you know as soon as Loretta tells me anything.”
“Will she confide in you?”
“She’ll have to. I’m giving her the time off,” he replied
without adding that he was paying the bulk of the expenses for the transplant.
“Thank you, Frank. We can fight over the running of this town, but we shouldn’t fight over this child.”
***
Alex Scanlon reached for his cell phone and was about to tap the button that would send the incoming call to his voice mail when he noticed that the call was from Maggie. He hesitated, then swiped the screen and answered.
“Maggie, I’m in the middle of drafting a very difficult motion. Can I call you back in a bit?”
“Sorry to interrupt you, Alex, but I’ll be on a plane shortly. John and I are about to board.”
“I didn’t know you were going anywhere.”
“That’s why I’m calling. This trip just came up, and I wanted you to know.”
“Where are you headed?”
“California.”
“To see your family?” Alex asked. “That’s wonderful. Give my best to that brother of mine when you see him.”
“I most certainly will,” Maggie said.
“Have a good time. Call me when you get home. I must get back—” Alex began.
“That’s not all,” Maggie interrupted. “This isn’t just a social visit.” She drew a deep breath. “I’m telling you this in strict confidence, Alex, because your brother is engaged to Susan. I’m making the trip to tell Susan and Mike that their father had a long-standing affair with Loretta Nash before he died and that I believe Loretta’s youngest child is Paul’s daughter, their half-sister.” She waited while he assimilated this information.
“That’ll be a shock,” he replied.
“There’s more. The little girl—her name is Nicole—is extremely ill and needs a kidney transplant. The ideal donor would be a sibling—Susan or Mike—if either of them is a match.”
“If I know Susan, she won’t hesitate to agree to be a donor.”
“That’s what I think,” Maggie said. “I’m sure she’ll discuss it with Aaron. You’re the only person I’ve told, other than John. I wanted you to know because you are both Aaron’s brother and my dear friend. But I’d like you to keep this to yourself until after I’ve told my kids. I want them to hear it from me.”
Drawing Close: The Fourth Novel in the Rosemont Series Page 17