“Holl . . .” Anna stood up too. She took a step closer to Holly, reached out and put her hand on her shoulder. But Holly shrugged it off. “OK. Fine. You’re right. I’ve been a bitch and—”
“Oh, please. Spare me. You always do that. You admit to being a bitch as if that makes it all right to be a bitch. Like, ‘Oh, look at how honest Anna is being. Isn’t she great?’ And everyone forgets the fact that you’ve been a bitch in the first place.”
“Is that what I do?”
“All the time.”
“And you hate me for it?”
“I hate you for trying to ruin my happiness.”
“Which is what you really believe I’m trying to do?”
“Yes.”
“Right. I’ll leave.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
Anna turned and went back up the stairs to her room, threw her clothes in her bag. Years of friendship had flown out the window—fine. She had other friends. She had a whole other life in Boston that Holly Barrett wasn’t part of.
When she walked back down with her bag, Holly was standing at the front door, holding it open.
At the threshold, Anna turned. “Don’t worry. I’m going. I won’t spoil your precious happiness. But it’s wrong, and you know it. Taking Katy out in the middle of the night, having her sit on his lap to drive. It’s wrong. Hating me doesn’t change that.”
As she walked to her car, she heard the door slam with a bang behind her.
Fine, OK. Fine. I’m out of here. Forever. Leave her to stew in her idyllic little piece of heaven with her heavenly husband whom she knows nothing about and who takes her daughter out for drives and can’t stop smiling. It’s not my responsibility any more. If she doesn’t want my help, fine.
Anna started the car, drove out the driveway, heading back to Boston and sanity. But halfway down the road, she stopped, reversed and took a left-hand turn at the sign on the tree that said Madison.
Chapter 21
When Jack came back, Holly was curled up on the living room sofa, crying. She would never have imagined she’d tell anyone she hated them, much less throw them out of her house. And the fact that the person she’d said that to and the person she’d thrown out was Anna was awful. Yelling like that didn’t make her feel any better. Bringing up all that stuff from the past didn’t either. She’d been totally out of control; she’d said things she didn’t really mean, just as she’d done before with Henry. But she’d been pushed into it—both times. They were both so wrong about Jack, she didn’t have a choice.
As soon as he came in and saw her sitting there, hugging herself, Jack came over, pulled her up and put his arms around her.
“What’s happened? What’s the matter?”
“I had a fight with Anna. I said terrible things to her and I kicked her out. She’s left.”
“Is that such a bad result?” He was stroking her hair, calming her down. “I know she’s a friend of yours, but honestly—she’s so up herself it’s not funny. In fact, I’m surprised she and Billy didn’t stay together and get married. They’re twins, those two. They belong together.”
“I was so mean, though. I told her I hated her.”
“Holly . . .” Jack took a step back, cupped her face in his hands. “Friends have fights sometimes. It happens. And I bet you had a fight with her because of me. Because she didn’t think I should be taking Katy out so late at night. I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes.”
“You were defending me. Which was very sweet of you. Where’s the princess?”
“She’s taking a nap.”
“Ah ha. I’ll put this dishwasher powder in the kitchen and then what do you say to going to our room for a while? Taking a little nap of our own? I can cheer you up, I bet.”
“I bet you can.” She smiled.
“Go.” He slapped her on her bottom. “Go get ready. I’ll be there in a second.”
A minute ago she had been miserable and crying. Now she was taking the stairs up to her room two at a time. Jack could do that. He could change things in an instant, make her laugh, make her happy, make Katy jump up and down for joy with some silly game or joke. Since their honeymoon, they’d been completely in sync. Maybe some day Anna would understand what that meant. Maybe.
Holly stopped at the top of the stairs and caught her breath. Could she have ever imagined six weeks ago that she’d be feeling sorry for Anna? That she’d be about to race into her room at eleven o’clock in the morning for some seriously amazing sex with her husband? A husband Katy loved too?
Good things happen. For a long time, I didn’t think they did. But they do—and they’ve happened to me.
She was taking off her blue jeans when Jack came in.
“Started already?”
“I don’t know how long Katy will sleep.”
“Good point.” He stripped off his T-shirt, took his watch off and put it on the bureau. “Hang on a second.” He picked up his cellphone from the tabletop. “I have a message. Did you hear the phone ring when I was out?”
“No, but the door was closed and I was downstairs so I wouldn’t have. Who is it?” She walked over and stood beside him as he dialed his message service.
“Shit.”
“What, Jack? Who is it?”
He didn’t reply. He was listening, biting his lip, his face scrunched up in what looked like pain.
“Jack?”
“Fuck. I need to hear this again.” He looked at the receiver, pushed a button and put it back to his ear.
“Fuck.” He threw the phone on the bed, went over and sat down on the end, shaking his head. “I don’t fucking believe it. I don’t fucking believe it.”
“What?” She sat down beside him, put her hand on his knee. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“This is a nightmare.” He pounded his fist against his mouth. “What the hell. I didn’t think Henry would—Billy, OK, but Henry . . .”
“Henry what? Jack, tell me. Please.”
“You know how Billy found the number and called to check up on me before?”
She nodded.
“Well, now Henry has been checking up on me. And he called the number too. The woman I told you about. Which means . . . which has to mean that Billy gave Henry the number. That Henry and Billy are together, trying to find out about me. Henry called the school I was supposed to have gone to.”
“But he didn’t find out anything, did he? I mean he couldn’t, right?”
“Right. But that’s not the point any more. I can’t stay here. Billy’s not going to stop. And if he has roped Henry in with him, well—”
“Jack, I can talk to Henry. I’ll tell him—”
“No. No way. Then Henry would think he had to tell Billy to shut him up and then Billy, well, Billy could tell anyone.”
“Not if I—”
“Holly. Listen.” He turned to her, took both her hands in his. “You have to understand how this works. People don’t keep secrets. They say they will, they say they’ll never tell another soul, but then they can’t stop themselves. It’s human nature.”
“But I would never tell—”
“You say that and I believe you but we’re married. We’re in love. Billy Madison isn’t in love with me, is he?” Jack snorted. “You have no idea how fast news travels when it travels fast. I can’t stay here. I have to go.”
“You mean we have to go.”
“I know you said in Vermont that if this ever happened, you’d come with me, but now that it is happening, Holly, are you sure? Because it’s not going to be easy, starting a new life. And you’re not going to be able to tell anyone, not even Henry, where we’ve gone.”
“I know. But I want to go with you. I have to go with you, Jack. I love you with all my heart. And you know Katy loves you too. Of course we’ll go with you—wherever.”
He kissed her, a kiss so similar to the first one he’d given her that night on the beach that she could almost imagine the sand beneath
her feet. When he broke it off, she opened her eyes and willed herself not to cry.
“I’m going into town. I’ll make up some excuse to get my pay check early from Figs and you can start packing.”
“We don’t have to leave today, do we?”
“We have to leave as soon as we possibly can. Today would be good.” He stood up. “And you can’t tell anyone, Holly. Remember that. You can’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. But how can I say goodbye to Henry?”
“You can’t say goodbye to him. I’m sorry.” He kissed her on the side of her head. “You know that’s why I walked away from you that first night. I thought this could happen someday. And it wouldn’t be just your life I’d be messing around with, it would be Katy’s too.”
“We’ll be fine. I promise. There’s no way I’m not going with you.”
“OK. Start packing. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
After Jack walked out, Holly sank down on the bed, struggling to take in all the ramifications of what had happened. She knew she should start packing but she couldn’t bring herself to. Her life had been wrapped up in this house for so long, leaving it would be another kind of death. And how would Katy cope in a brand new place? With no Henry? No Bones?
Why did this have to happen? How could Billy have convinced Henry to make those calls? Henry didn’t do things like that. He wasn’t a snoop, he had huge respect for other people’s privacy. Yet somehow Billy had made Henry change his mind.
Billy Madison had once again come into her life and turned it upside down without even a thought for the consequences.
She wished she’d never seen him pushing that sailboat out into the water his first summer in Shoreham. His parents weren’t Shoreham types; they belonged in New York, in the Hamptons, with their white tennis outfits and their flashy Lexus. How could Henry have fallen into Billy’s trap? They could have gotten away with it if Billy had made that one call and dropped it, but not now, she could see. Jack was right. If they told Henry the truth, he’d insist on telling Billy to shut him up and then Billy might tell Anna and Anna would tell anyone within ten yards of her because it made such a good story she wouldn’t have the willpower to resist.
Holly straightened her back, stood up. She’d have to start packing as much as she could before Katy woke up. There’d be another whole pile of problems when Katy woke up and began asking questions.
She’d deal with it, though. She’d make whatever sacrifices she had to for Jack. They belonged together. She would give up Henry, her house, everything for him and it would all be worth it.
Inside a small jewelry box she kept on the bedside table was a photograph of her parents. Holly took it out, sat with it on her lap for a moment. They were standing on the steps of the porch of Henry’s house, their arms around each other. Her mother was smiling at the camera, her father was looking at her mother protectively. They’d been a perfect team; yes, they’d argue occasionally, but they were each other’s best friend, she knew. They would have sacrificed anything for each other.
Holly had always suspected that her mother had driven off the road that day because tears had blinded her. The grief of losing her husband had been too much; seeing his body in the funeral home had killed her.
Until she finally laid down beside him and stayed there with him and they died together.
You couldn’t bear to lose Dad. And I can’t bear to lose Jack. We both mated for life.
Chapter 22
“I don’t believe it.” Anna and Billy were at her front door, standing in the pouring rain. “What could you two possibly think you’re doing here? Go away. Now.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Holly. Anna told me about Jack taking Katy out last night. I can’t let this happen.”
“Nothing’s happening,” Holly shouted, feeling like that figure in the Munch painting The Scream. “Nothing except you two trying to ruin my life and Katy’s life and coming pretty close to succeeding. Go away. I mean it. Leave.”
“Holly—it’s not just me any more. Henry doesn’t trust Jack either. I’m not going to go away. Jack can’t do something like that with Katy. How could you let him? Have you lost your mind? Has he brainwashed you?”
I promised him. I promised Jack I wouldn’t tell.
“He’s covering something up,” Billy continued. “Let us in, Holly. We have to get to the bottom of all this. He’s covering up his past. He has some woman he talks to in England who pretends not to know him. Everything about him is fishy.”
“You have to admit, Holl,” Anna joined in, “the fact that Henry doesn’t trust him either says something. Besides, I know you kicked me out and everything, but we’re getting soaked out here.”
Holly didn’t move or speak.
“Look, you’re not seeing straight, Holly.” Billy sounded as if he were a prosecutor in a courtroom. “I understand you’ve fallen for the guy and love can make you crazy, but you have to think about Katy.”
Fury was rising in her, expanding, until her entire body was shaking with rage. They thought Jack was some kind of fraud and child molester. If she kept her promise, they’d continue to think that. If she and Jack and Katy left without saying anything, Billy and Anna and, most importantly, Henry would believe they were right about him.
And they’d also believe that she, Holly, would sacrifice Katy, lead her into a life of abuse—because she had fallen so much in love she couldn’t see straight.
I’m sorry, Jack.
“Come in—both of you.” She turned, walked over to where the telephone was, aware that they were following behind her, picked it up and dialed.
“Henry? I need you to come over here right away. . . . Yes, now. It’s important. It’s crucial. . . . Good.” She hung up. “Sit down,” she said to Billy and Anna as they stood in the middle of the room. “Go sit down.”
“We’re all wet . . .”
“Don’t worry about the sofa, Anna. You know it’s damp anyway.” Holly waved them toward it.
They both sat, facing the television, like naughty school-children, neither one saying a word.
“I’m going upstairs to check that Katy’s still sleeping. By the time I come back, Henry will be here. I’ll talk to you all then.”
Relieved to see Katy was out for the count, sleeping peacefully, Holly sat down at the foot of her bed, watching her breathe in and out. She was so innocent, so sweet. How could anyone think Jack would hurt her?
I have to tell them. You have to understand, Jack. I can’t let them think what they’re thinking. I have to go tell them now.
“What’s going on?” Henry had just entered the living room when Holly reached the foot of the stairs. His cap and shirt were drenched with rain; he had rushed over without putting a coat on. “What are you two doing here?” he asked Billy and Anna.
“I’ll tell you what they’re doing here,” Holly said, and he swung around to look at her. “Sit down, Henry. Sit down and I’ll tell you all what you’re doing and how wrong you are to be doing it.”
Henry went to the chair across from the sofa, beside the television, and sat with a puzzled look.
“This is like some Agatha Christie movie or Columbo or something. Everyone gathered in one room—”
“It’s not funny, Anna.” Holly remained standing, between the chair and the sofa. “Before you knocked on the door, I was upstairs packing my things. We’re leaving Shoreham. Because of you.” She fixed her eyes on Billy. “Because you came and you couldn’t let me be happy and you started making phone calls and I don’t know how—” she turned to Henry “—he got you involved in such a shabby enterprise, but he obviously did. You had to butt in. You had to ruin my life.” She was looking at all three of them in turn. “Why?” Her voice had tears in it. “Why did you have to ruin everything? Henry?” She turned to him again. “Why did you make those calls? Why?”
He looked so stung, so pained, she felt a twinge of guilt, but it passed quickly.
“I did it out of concern f
or you, sweetie. I—”
“Concern for me?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. You did it because you don’t trust me, you don’t have any faith in my judgment. You all think I’m some little naive, pathetic girl who would fall for any man who paid the slightest attention to me, don’t you? Tell me—when exactly did I become so gullible, so incapable of looking after myself, not to mention Katy? You think I’d put Katy at risk because of a man? How could you think that about me?”
“I don’t think that, sweetie. Of course I don’t. I was concerned about Jack’s behavior, not yours, I—”
“Stop it. I can’t take this any more.” She held up her hand. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. You all distrust Jack. You all think there’s something wrong with him. What’s wrong with him is you. You’re interfering in things you have no idea about.”
“Which are what things exactly, Holly?” Billy leaned forward.
“Jack got into trouble after his parents died, OK?” She said this directly to Billy. “He got involved with the wrong people. He got involved with the gangland scene in London. They did bad things, but Jack knew they were wrong and he ended up testifying against them in court. And because of that, he had to be given a new identity. He came over here and he started a whole new life. But if anyone discovers who he is, the people who he used to be with, they’ll find him. And they’ll kill him, Billy. OK? They’ll kill him for testifying against them.”
“Shut up! Like the Mafia?”
“No, not like the Mafia, Anna. Actually the Mafia, OK? Do you understand? So that’s why he has no friends from the past, that’s why he isn’t some lawyer or corporate banker or whatever you’d think was acceptable.” She was aiming her words at Billy again. “You should know what it’s like to make a mistake and want to move on from it, to start again. But you won’t let him do that, will you, Billy? You had to check up on him and be devious. And now we have to leave. We can’t stay here. Which means you’re not going to see Katy, Billy. And it’s all your own fault.”
Tainted Page 21