A Dizzying Balance

  “Aaron, your organizational skills are impressive. I owe you an apology for not recognizing your creative talents sooner. I could have been relying on you right from the start.”

  “No. For the first two years you needed me, as Tony said, to do what I do best which was bring in the financial backing and keep a sharp eye on the bottom line. It´s only been in the last year or so that I started to get frustrated.”

  “And angry. I’m sorry that I let that happen, but I hope that I’ve made up for it a little by giving you the foundation project.”

  “I’ll do a good job for you, Jennette.”

  “Do it for SailingStar, then everyone will benefit. Now we’d better get changed. Colleen will be here any minute and Tony soon.”

  They met Danni at the top of the stairs. “You’d better get dressed, Jennette, the photographer is on his way. Ellen and I will see that Anna and my brats are ready.”

  “Did they take the nap you insisted on?”

  “Even Trey went down like a lamb when I told them I’d put them to bed at eight-thirty if they didn’t sleep now. They’re planning to stay up until midnight just so they can say they did.”

  “No pranks planned?”

  Danni laughed. “Roger put his foot down with them, then made the point with me, also!”

  “He should have known you wouldn’t.”

  “Well, I will admit, rather guiltily, that I did have a little something in mind for him, but it will do just as well for another time.”

  Dressed and ready, Jen was standing on the bridge when Adelia walked down the hall from her wing. “Good evening, Jennette, is everything prepared?”

  “Yes. The guests will be arriving soon.”

  “I have walked down these stairs for every wedding at Kenting beginning with my own and I will not break tradition. If you will give me your arm?” They walked slowly around and down the curved stairway. “While we are alone, let me take this opportunity to thank you for solving my problem with the family land.”

  “Your problem, Adelia?”

  She nodded. “I couldn’t vote against my son, but it was not my wish to see the forest destroyed. Danielle was of the same mind, and we are both very relieved that the issue has been resolved happily.”

  “I am, as well.”

  As they reached the foot of the stairs, the children came in the back door, carrying the puppies and carefully skirting around the band.

  “Hello, Grandmother.”

  “Hi, Aunt Jennette.”

  “We’ve taken the dogs for one last walk like Dad said.”

  “How long do we have to wait before the cake?”

  “I’ve brought you a rose, Mommy.” Anna held it out with a smile. “Daddy showed me the picture of you with white roses in your hair. I thought you’d like one for tonight.”

  Jen knelt to give her a hug. “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll tuck it into my corsage, shall I? Now all of you, don’t let the dogs out of the library and be on your best behavior during the ceremony.”

  They went down the hall laughing and talking about the other kids who would be there soon.

  As Jen stood, Adelia smiled. “I am so pleased that she is coming out of her shell. I have been worried about her for a long time.”

  “I know you have. I was blind not to see it happening and I’m sorry.”

  “You’ve changed, Jennette.”

  “Not as much as I will, Adelia. Things will be better, soon I hope.” Through the open front door, she saw Bill being dropped off by the golf cart from the parking area below the house. “Judge Leveritt has arrived. Let’s go and welcome him.”

  As Bill and Adelia were walking into the living room, David came down the stairs. “The house looks lovely, and you are beautiful.” He kissed her cheek and walked with her to the door to welcome their guests. He had put his arm around her shoulders and the warmth of his hand on her arm reminded her of that day weeks before when they had stood together in the same way. But his smile tonight was genuine, reaching up to his eyes, and his face was relaxed and happy. “Our first wedding as hosts. I hope we will have many more.”

  “Do you, David?”

  “I do,” he said with a chuckle, “but it’s Tony’s turn to say that tonight.”

  Jen was standing with Bill as they watched Tony and Colleen take the floor for their first dance. The rain had threatened but the gods had been kind and hadn’t spoiled the ceremony. Jen and Aaron had walked side by side down the stairs past Tony waiting on the steps. When Colleen came down, the band had played the traditional Wedding March but as she joined Tony to take his arm, the music changed to Daisy, Daisy and they’d walked between the grinning guests to the trellis. Bill had speechified a little, the simple words were spoken, and everyone had crowded around to shake Tony’s hand and kiss the bride.

  Mrs. Brown had outdone herself, Danni said, for the food was delicious. Well up to Brad’s exacting standards, she’d joked.

  “It has been a delightful evening, Jennette,” said Bill as they watched. “Tony is a good dancer.”

  “He insisted on music and dancing although Colleen was concerned about the cost of everything.”

  “She has had a difficult life. Tony tells me that she is an orphan like you and although she struggled to make it in Hollywood, she never succeeded as an actress. I’m glad that she has found a place with you at SailingStar.”

  “I rely on her.”

  “Yes. She is, as you said, competent. I do hope that the two of them will be happy together.”

  “Tony loves her very much.”

  “And she is determined to take care of him.” Other couples had taken the floor. “My terpsichorean skills cannot compete with those of Tony, but may I have this dance?”

  “It would be a pleasure.”

  For the rest of the evening, she danced with everyone who asked her, moving from friends to employees to employees’ husbands with real enjoyment. Finally, taking a much-needed break, she sat at one of the tables on the back terrace, smiling.

  Their duties for the evening over, Luke was dancing with Ellen, and Betsy looked shy but pleased with Miguel’s arm around her. Rick joined Jen at the table. “I finally got the story out of Brad,” he grinned. “Bill told him years ago.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It happened when Uncle Dan brought Aunt Adelia here for the first time. One evening, he and his friends serenaded her.” He was watching intently through the door as Bill walked up to Adelia and held out his hand. Rick whispered, “Look and listen.”

  With a smile, Adelia set aside her cane and took Bill’s hand. As they moved out onto the floor, the band began playing a soft melodious rendition of Sweet Adeline and in spite of her rheumatism and her sharp look at Rick that spoke volumes, she and Bill danced together as the guests stepped back to let them have the floor alone.

  “You won’t be eating your meals in the kitchen,” Jen laughed. “She’ll banish you to the treehouse.”

  He was still grinning. “It’s worth it.” The music changed to a slow song and Rick stood up. “You haven’t danced with me all evening.”

  They joined the other couples on the terrace and as Rick put his arm around her, she smiled up at him. The breeze was still warm under the grey-black sky and the fairy lights twinkled in the garden below. Following his lead easily she relaxed, moving slowly with him across the paving along the stone balustrade. “You’re a very good dancer.”

  “With the right woman in his arms, any man can dance, and you are enchanting.”

  “Your compliments will go to my head.”

  “The night is beautiful, the air sweet, and if there were a moon, its light would shine like stars in your eyes.” His voice was a soft caress, then looking quickly over her head, he laughed quietly. “I am not usually so poetic. It must be the champagne talking.”

  David had come up behind them. “May I cut in?”

  “Of course, I’ll dance again with Nikki.”

  It didn’t see
m that David cared who Nikki was dancing with. He gathered Jen into his arms, gently pulling her close to lean his chin against her hair. Silently, they swayed to the music and when it ended, they were standing alone beyond the curve of the library. He looked down at her, his face serious. “I’ve burnt the letters, Jennette. I shouldn’t have kept them, and if any more arrive, I’ll burn them unopened.”

  “Thank you.” She reached up to lay her hand softly on his cheek. “They were dreadful lies.” Through the window, she heard a dog bark. “Our guests will be leaving soon. I’ll go check on the children before we say good night to everyone.”

  Danni was dancing with Tony, and Aaron was trying to talk with him when Jen and David came back in.

  “Tony,” Aaron pulled his arm, “you haven’t given me the location report yet. I need it for Monday.”

  “Well it’s done, but it’s still chicken scratches in my desk somewhere.”

  “Not now, Aaron,” Danni waved him away. “Everyone is leaving, and we haven’t done the bouquet or the garter yet.”

  Jen smiled. “You’re still single, Aaron, so you have to stay for the garter. I’ll take care of it.” Reaching inside the door to the breakfast room, she took the key to her office and walked down through the garden and around the garage.

  Searching through the stacks on his desk didn’t bring the report to hand, and she sighed as she imagined being there all night looking through every piece of paper in every drawer. By the time she had looked carefully through the papers on the desktop again, headlights had begun winding down the drive, and as she started on the drawers, the weaving line of cars pulling up the hill from the parking area was almost gone.

  She shouldn’t have bothered with it, and David would be furious that she hadn’t been there to wish everyone good night. The big deep drawer stuck, she pulled angrily on it, and it flew open, spilling folders and reports out onto the floor. An old worn orange folder had landed, open, and her own handwriting caught her eye. It was the note she had written, torn from the envelope of the large wedding card and clipped to a sheaf of yellowed pages.

  --- Here’s the surprise I promised you – a Thank You for all that you’ve done for me through the years. Love, Jennette. ---

  She picked up the folder to read through its contents.

  It was the insurance policy that she’d taken out years ago - $50,000 - beneficiary, Anthony Joseph Manelli - and stapled to the back was a clean sheet of white paper with her signature at the bottom. It was dated three months before and raised the value of the benefit, upon her death, to five million dollars. She couldn’t believe it.

  Tony – who was her friend, who had been like a father to her, who had worked hard for her success.

  Tony – carefree Tony who seemed to live paycheck to paycheck in spite of his generous salary, who had the technical skill, who was almost thirty years older than she and might not live to earn his agent commissions from future movies.

  Tony – who wasn’t well and might not live much longer at all. But he had ensured that the rest of his life would be financially secure by planning to end hers.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Tony! She couldn’t think straight, couldn’t believe it. She was standing there holding the orange folder, her mind whirling, when Colleen came in. “Colleen, this insurance policy –” Jen looked up, but Colleen was rushing across the room to shake her by the arm.

  “Jennette, thank heaven, I found you,” she cried. “The puppy has gotten out and run off and Anna went after him.”

  “Anna?” Jen’s heart leapt into her throat. “Good God, it’s pitch- dark out there!”

  “I heard her calling his name in the trees above the house, but I couldn’t see her and I knew I wouldn’t be able to find her without help.”

  “We’ve got to tell David.”

  “I’ll get him.” She turned and ran.

  Jen hesitated, then threw down the folder. Colleen was already halfway out the door. “Wait, don’t go yet,” she called, kicking off her heels and throwing the bathroom door open to get the sneakers from her closet. She hurried back into the office. “Where’s Tony?”

  Colleen turned. “Tony? He’s in the house.”

  “Are you sure?” She was struggling into her shoes.

  “Yes, of course, I’m sure.” Colleen looked at her in surprise. “Why?”

  Jen bent down to tie the laces. “Never mind,” she said grimly. “Just get David and Rick. Get everyone. Tell David to organize a search of the whole hillside.” She stood up and started for the door. “Hurry, Colleen, please.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll be right behind you!”

  Jen ran around the end of the building and up through the woods calling Anna’s name. She might be able to catch her before she got as far as the creek. It wasn’t deep but Anna could fall, hit her head on the rocks. It wouldn’t take much water for a little girl to drown if she were injured. The woods were dark; she stumbled, kept on going, strained to listen for Anna’s voice but the storm that had been slowly moving in all evening was beginning and she couldn’t hear beyond the wind blowing through the branches.

  When she got to the creek, she ran along its length to the spring but couldn’t find Anna anywhere. Stopping to call and listen, she heard a faint voice above the opposite bank. “Anna?” She hurried around the little pool and up the hill, out of the trees and onto the cliff. Pausing to catch her breath, she tried to decide. Up the path or down?

  Then she heard Anna calling her. “Mommy, where are you?”

  Down. She turned to her right and ran. “Anna?” She yelled above the wind. “Stay where you are, honey, I’m coming!” It was brighter on the hillside away from the woods but still dark under the storm clouds looming in the sky. She raced down the path and as she rounded the bend, Anna called again faintly.

  “Mommy?” Jen heard Mugsy barking.

  At least they can’t be inside the studio, because it’s locked. But as she rounded the curve, she saw the door hanging open. She knew it could be a trap. It felt like a trap. Tony must have put the dog inside and encouraged the little girl to look for him there. He must have set the whole thing up. But if Jen died, it had to look like an accident with him at the house establishing an alibi. She heard Anna’s voice, small and shaky.

  “Mommy, it’s dark. I’m scared.”

  Jen had no choice. She had to get the child out of there. The house had stood this long. If they were careful, it would stand a little longer. “Anna,” she called quietly as she walked to the doorway. “Don’t move, sweetheart, and keep Mugsy very still.” Stepping cautiously in, she moved slowly forward trying to see where they were in the shadows. “Anna,” she whispered. “Anna?” Just as it dawned on her that the studio was empty, the door slammed shut behind her. She turned and yanked at the handle. but it had been locked from the outside. Then she heard Tony’s four-note whistle. No, oh no. Please God, not Tony.

  She yanked at the handle again. “Tony, let me out,” she yelled. “Where’s Anna?”

  His voice was just a harsh whisper beneath the wind. “She’s home safe in bed, of course. Safer than you are.” The floor suddenly rocked and Jen grabbed at the doorframe to keep from falling as the cruel hiss continued. “Just a few more things to do … a few well-placed charges and boom, crash … tragic accident. Had it planned for after my honeymoon, but you found the policy. Saw you through the window. Can’t wait, now.” Jen heard him walking around outside and the floor rocked again. “I’ve had it all prepared for days. Pretty good sound effects, don’t you think, Jennette? Mommy, I’m scared! I thought the dog barking was a nice touch.” He knocked on the door. “Gotta get my equipment. It’s hidden nearby so I won’t be long. Don’t go away.” She heard a horrible chuckle as the sound of his footsteps moved off down the path.

  Frantically, she pushed and pulled on the door again, but it wouldn’t budge. Turning around, she leaned carefully against it. She couldn’t wait for the others to get there. Even if she yelled and scream
ed, they would be too late. But if she could somehow get back to the cliff and hide, he’d think she was still inside when the studio fell. Then, she’d have the proof she needed.

  The earth had eroded from the right side of the building and to the front was nothing but a frightening drop into the deep ravine. Stepping cautiously to the window on the left, she leaned out. The cliff was much closer here. Craning her neck, she looked up. The wall above her was sheer and the eaves of the roof too high. There was no way to climb. But the window section was set in from the outside wall and eight feet below her, the frame of the house’s metal underpinning formed a narrow shelf. Her pulse was racing as her hopes rose. It was only as long as the window was wide, she wouldn’t be able to move along the outside wall back to the path, but if she could get out onto that shelf …

  She heard him coming back and felt her fear turn to panic. Scanning the face of the cliff, she looked for a place to jump to and saw a ledge out and down on the left. It was less than four feet wide but its near end was open to the sky. The rest of its length, what there was of it, was under an overhang of rock. It was her only chance. Taking a deep breath, she sat up onto the windowsill, swung her legs out, then turned around to grasp the sill as tightly as she could. She heard him moving around outside and muttering.

  “Gotta make sure everything’s dry … don’t want any mistakes.”

  Shifting her hips, she eased the weight of her body off the sill and silently lowered herself down the siding under the window. She was hanging at arms’ length, reaching for the shelf with her toes, when her dress caught against a nail in the rough wood and tore. Her right hand slipped and for one wild moment she was swinging with only her left hand and injured shoulder for support. She fought for control as a searing pain shot through her arm, then she was down and crouched on the narrow frame, her back pressed against the building. Almost without breathing, she slowly edged up the side of the building until she was standing.