Vegas Sunrise

by Fern Michaels

  “Listen, Fanny, this is shit for the birds. Pull up your socks and get moving. You’re giving everyone the edge here. You know I taught you better than that. What the hell is a handful of pills going to do for you? Losers take the easy way out. I never thought you were a loser, Fanny. Me, yeah. Never you. It’s not time for you to come here. You were never a sniveler. Are you listening to me, Fanny?”

  “Ash, is that you? Are you saying you don’t want me there, Ash? Did Simon tell you to say that to me? Or Sallie? I can’t do this anymore. So what if I am a loser. Why should you care? You’re there. I’m here. So what if I don’t want to be here anymore. Are you listening to me, Ash? So what, Ash?”

  “Because I care. You gotta be ready for something like this. You still have things to do and places to go. I know all about your future. This isn’t your time, Fanny. Put those damn pills back in the bottle or flush them. What gives you the right to be so damn selfish? You have to think about the kids and Marcus. I shouldn’t tell you this, but I’m going to tell you anyway. I never could keep a secret from you. They’re getting ready for him. Don’t worry about the plug. He’s coming on his own. I’ll take him under my wing. No pun intended. It’ll be okay, Fanny. Don’t you trust me?”

  “Why should I trust you? Look what you did to me all those years. I remember all those things. I remember everything. I think you need to spell out what you mean. I want to be sure I understand. Who’s getting ready? I wasn’t planning on pulling any plugs. Why did you even say that to me? How do I know it will be okay? Just because you sprouted wings doesn’t mean you know everything. I want some proof? How are you going to do that, Ash?”

  “I thought we made our peace at the end. You know what, Fanny, you love Marcus, but you aren’t IN love with him. Both of us know I’m the only one you were ever IN love with. It’s his time, Fanny. When it’s your time nothing in your world can stop it. Marcus is going to like it up here. You can rest easy knowing I’m the one who will take care of him. Stop with that martyr shit and get on with your life. I hate it when you drag your feet. You need to wash those towels or they’ll mildew.”

  “What else do you hate about me, Ash? I dream about you all the time. Why is that? Another thing, let me worry about my laundry.”

  “Fanny, Fanny, Fanny. I’m the father of your children and you were and still are IN love with me even if you won’t admit it. I’ve been watching over you. I’m with you in spirit every hour of the day. I’ve watched you gradually lose your edge. You break my heart. You’re starting to make mistakes that are going to do you and the kids in. You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes, Fanny, you are dumb as dirt. I told you not to get involved with Jeff. Why in the hell didn’t you listen to me? Ruby is one thing. Jeff is something else. You can trust Ruby. I was wrong about her, but I wasn’t wrong about Jeff. What’s so damn hard about admitting you’re wrong? The earth doesn’t tilt on its axis, the oceans don’t overflow. Life goes on.”

  “I didn’t listen because I’m stupid just the way you said I was. What was I supposed to do, Ash? You up and died on me. You shot Simon. I have to live with that. That left a mark on me. Did you think about that before you pulled the trigger? I know you said you did it for me. Knowing that doesn’t make it any easier. I didn’t want to deal with problems. Hiring Jeff seemed like the logical thing to do. You always said the business stays in the family. I followed your rule. Jeff carries Thornton blood, so that makes him family. Why is Ruby okay and not Jeff? If I take these pills, I won’t have to worry about him or anyone else.”

  “That’s a dumb-ass attitude and not even worthy of discussion. Get rid of those pills NOW. Our kids need you, Fanny. You’re screwing up. I hate it when you screw up. I want to believe you’re perfect. Life is just too damn short to sweat the small stuff. You need to get on the ball and take charge. I want your word that you’re going to get rid of those pills. I mean it, Fanny.”

  “Ash, wait, don’t go.”

  “You don’t need me, Fanny. You just needed to hear me tell you what you already know. When you need me the most, I’ll be there for you. Listen. You made it bearable for me there at the end. I’m never going to forget that. I want your promise, Fanny, that you’re going to do what I expect you to do. I want to hear the words. Say them. Out loud.”

  “I hate your guts, Ash.”

  “Ah, now that’s the Fanny I know. Come on, flush those pills. All nine of them. I’m counting.”

  “I really do hate your guts.”

  “You wish. I miss you. It was good there at the end with us. It will be again when the time is right. It’s just not your time right now. It is Marcus’s time, though. Is there anything special you’d like me to do for him when he gets here?”

  “Get out of my dream, Ash. I know this is a dream, and you aren’t fooling me for one minute. If this isn’t a dream, you better give me a sign right now. Besides, I always forget my dreams when I wake up. Just out of curiosity, Ash, exactly where are you? Are you, you know, up there or are you . . . ah . . . somewhere else?”

  “It’s not a dream. I’m right here. Open your eyes. You look like shit, Fanny.”

  Fanny opened her eyes. Ash Thornton was standing in the doorway, surrounded by a bright silver light. “Ash, you’re walking.”

  “When I’m not flying. There is a lot to be said for this place.”

  “Do I really look like shit?”

  “Yeah, but we both know it’s a temporary thing. You were always good at fixing yourself up. How’s Jake and Sunny, Fanny?”

  “Don’t you know? I thought . . .”

  “There’s a protocol up here that you have to go through. I don’t have enough seniority yet. I got one shot, Fanny. I knew you needed me, so I chose you. You can thank me by doing the right thing.”

  “Jake’s fine, Ash. He talks about you all the time. He’s never going to forget you. We won’t allow it. Sunny’s doing great. Okay, look, Ash, I’m flushing the pills, all nine of them. Ash?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thanks. You’re right about me loving you. If you ever . . . appear and tell anyone, I’ll deny it. Swear on Jake that you’ll take care of Marcus. If I know that, I can let him go.”

  “You have my word, Fanny.”

  “Ash, are you happy up there. You know, really happy?”

  “I miss all of you. I wish things had turned out differently. Yeah, I’m happy. When it’s your time to come here, I’ll be waiting, so don’t be afraid.”

  “Okay, Ash. What should I say? Have a good life? Enjoy your time up there? What?”

  “Good-bye is just fine.”

  Fanny woke. It took her a minute to realize where she was. She looked around, her eyes frantic. How long was it going to take before she stopped dreaming of Ash? Would the dreams ever stop? This one had seemed so real. She struggled to her feet remembering what she’d been about to do. She looked around for the sleeping pills. Where were they? She dropped to her knees to scour the white tile floor. There was no sign of the nine red capsules. Her eyes wide, Fanny lowered the seat of the toilet and sat down. Did she wake in her dream and flush the pills? Or did someone else flush them for her? Was that someone Ash? She looked at the vanity, at the empty pill bottle. She reached for the bottle and tossed it into the wastepaper basket under the vanity. She hadn’t really lied to Ash. Normally she never remembered her dreams. For some reason, though, she always remembered, in detail, every dream Ash was in.

  An hour later, her thoughts in turmoil, Fanny called the medical center for an update on Marcus’s condition. Satisfied that it was the same, Fanny showered, dressed, and had the table set in the kitchen. Bacon sizzled on the stove. Coffee bubbled in the pot. A bowl of golden scrambled eggs waited on the counter for Billie and Bess.

  Fanny Thornton Reed was back among the living.

  Ruby Thornton sat in her cluttered office, her mind whirling. The telephone glared at her. Iris was waiting for her call. What to say and how to say it so Iris didn’t go into some kind of marit
al shock or whatever it was wives did when they thought their husbands were cheating on them. She’d stake her life, Thornton Chickens, and everything else she held dear, that Sage Thornton was a victim of some first-class chicanery. Did they still use the word chicanery today? Any minute now she was going to get a killer headache.

  Family. Fanny was right about family when she said it wasn’t all sit-down Sunday dinners, holiday get-togethers, smiles, and laughter. The phone was in her hand a moment later. She dialed Iris’s number and wasn’t surprised when Iris picked up the phone on the first ring. “Iris, honey, Sage stayed in the hotel last night. I saw him go up in the elevator. I followed Celia and she won tons of money last night. It was late when she left. I asked her to have a drink but she said she had to sub this morning. I called the school a little while ago, and she’s teaching fifth-grade history. She didn’t lie about that. Your husband looked incredibly tired and weary. That’s it, sweetie. I’m going over to the offices because I need to talk to Billie about the costumes for the restaurants. I’ll see Sage, and if I find out anything, I’ll call you. Make some of those peanut butter cookies in case I decide to drive up the mountain this afternoon. Did you sleep at all? Then take a nap. I’ll talk to you later.”

  She hadn’t lied. What she’d failed to do was tell Iris all the facts because . . . seeing something didn’t necessarily mean . . . what? Sage and Celia were not having an affair, of that she was certain. She’d simply evaded and avoided telling Iris everything she’d seen and suspected.

  Ruby packed her briefcase. She looked around the office that had once been her father’s. She hadn’t changed anything. The furnishings were old, comfortable, and downright ugly. Why in the world did she ever think she was going to be able to leave here and do what she wanted to do? Because hope springs eternal, she thought. She’d worked nonstop for two days, putting the wheels in motion for Birch’s free-range chickens, and it looked like the birds were going to fly. More money in the Thornton coffers.

  Two years ago Fanny Thornton had walked into these very offices and said, “Ruby, I have a fabulous idea for you: fast-food chicken restaurants. Fast-food chicken! Think about it! You know, like those burger places, but chicken instead. People are becoming very health conscious these days. A couple of ‘secret’ recipes and it’s off and running. Sunny’s Togs and Rainbow Babies are always doing marketing studies to see what the latest trends are. Baby boomers, Ruby. They don’t have time to cook. We’re lucky they have time to shop for kids’ clothes. That’s one of the reasons we branched out into the catalog business. We have the names, Ruby. Millions of names. A restaurant in every city. Food priced right. A whole meal or a nutritious sandwich. I know just the right advertising firm for you too, Bernstein and Bernstein. They kicked us over the top. Think about it, Ruby. No matter what, those chickens aren’t going to go away. All you need is a really clever name, some terrific costumes—and Billie can do those for you with her eyes closed—the secret recipe, and you’re set. Write this down as I read it off to you. Ash always said when you take the time to write something on paper, it stays with you opposed to simply hearing it. Burger chains grew an average of 6.9% last year. The chicken chains saw revenues rise 10.9%. The reason for this is their dinners. Burgers have fat in them. Give your customers home-style food and you’ll be a viable contender in the $7.5-billion-a-year quick-service chicken market.”

  “Billion? Did you say billion?”

  “Yes, I did. Ash would have been on this in a heartbeat. Start with the big cities. Put up small colorful buildings. Use plastic buckets or baskets that are every color of the rainbow. Women like things they can reuse. Different sizes of course. Special stuff for the kids. You can have special promotions and use our dolls the way the burger places do when they have giveaways. Remember one thing, Ruby. Mothers want something for their kids. Ash knew how to promote. I was the idea person. You’re family now, Ruby.”

  “Fanny, I wouldn’t know where to start. It sounds . . . exciting. Billions, huh?”

  “Yes, billions. It’s pretty awesome when you stop to think about it. Colleges and universities have job fairs the early part of the year, so you’ll be able to get in on it. Recruit the best of the best. That means you’ll be paying for the best. Then you sit back and watch the money roll in. Unless you want to be a hands-on employer, which I heartily recommend. It will add a whole new dimension to your life and the business. What do you think?”

  “I think, Fanny Thornton, oops, Reed, that you should allow your likeness to be cast in bronze. I think it’s a great idea.”

  Ruby sighed. Opening day across the country was thirty-eight days away. Just in time for the holiday season, when everyone was too busy to cook. She rifled through her briefcase one more time to make sure she hadn’t misplaced Billie’s or Sage’s monthly reports. The last one she’d received was June. Her stomach flip-flopping, Ruby slipped into her coat. She needed to be aggressive. Business was business. Family was family. Was it a mistake to try to combine the two? A chill ran down her spine. Ruby shivered all the way out to the driveway. Inside the car, she turned the heater on full blast. If anything, she felt colder.

  It was nine minutes past nine when Ruby opened the door to the offices of Sunny’s Togs. She called a greeting.

  “Ruby! What brings you to town so early?” Sage asked giving her a quick hug. “I just put the coffee on. Billie seems to be running late this morning. Our receptionist called in sick yesterday, so we’re kind of winging things. I guess you’re getting nervous now that the countdown is on.”

  “Very nervous. So much hinges on the uniforms and the giveaways. Billie promised me she’d have something to show me three months ago but she . . . I guess she’s busy with her own work. I feel terrible coming here like this, but you did cash my check.”

  Sage’s jaw dropped. “Did you say three months ago?” He pointed to a chart on the wall opposite his desk.

  “You’re making me nervous, Sage. Is something wrong? We don’t have a lot of time.”

  “I don’t know, Ruby. That’s the truth. You’re right about the time element. Let me get you some coffee, and I’ll bring you up to speed.”

  Ruby was spooning sugar into her coffee when the door opened. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “Not half as sorry as I am, Billie. Ruby’s here. She wants an update, and she’s entitled to one. What’s going on?” To make his point Sage allowed his gaze to swivel to the chart on the wall. “We only have thirty-eight days left, Billie. Actually, we don’t even have thirty-eight days, it’s more like thirty-three since we have to depend on the postal system to deliver. Where are the samples?”

  “What are you trying to say, Sage? Are you implying I’m not doing my job?”

  “We cashed the check, Billie. Ruby’s a client. You said you were on top of it all. So, show us what you have.”

  “It’s not ready. I’m just one person. You approved the Thornton Chicken Basket with the parade of baby chicks on the handle. They’re in production and will ship in ten days.”

  “What about the uniforms, caps, and the chicks that cheep and fit in the pockets?”

  “They’re being worked on. Do you want me to hold a gun to their heads? I know they’re behind, but there’s nothing I can do.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me that, Billie? I could have recruited some women to help sew. I’m sure Fanny and Iris would have agreed to help. It’s too close to our deadline to have to worry about this. That’s just another way of saying I like things done on time. If you had just called me, Billie, we wouldn’t be going through this now.”

  Billie’s voice was a low-voiced scream, “What do you want from me?”

  “A production report,” Ruby said, holding her ground.

  “Do we have one, Billie?” Sage asked.

  “No. Give me an hour, and I’ll get one for you.”

  “Shipping dates, too,” Ruby said. Billie paled at Ruby’s businesslike tone.

  “I’ll be back in an hour.” Irritated,
Ruby slammed the door behind her.

  “Let’s hear it, Billie. Everything’s going to hell around here. I’d like to hear from you personally, using your own voice, what you think is the problem.”

  “If there was a problem, then I might be able to tell you. So what if I don’t keep up with every little nit-picking detail. It gets done, doesn’t it?”

  “Ruby has every right to be anxious. Mom talked her into letting you handle those nit-picking details as you call them. Let’s not forget that sizable six-figure check she paid us with, another to come when she’s satisfied. It doesn’t look to me like she’s satisfied. On top of that, how many of the mini Bernie and Blossom dolls do you have ready to ship? Or is that another one of those nit-picking details?”

  “Shut up, Sage. I have a headache.”

  “You’re going to have more than a headache if you screw this up. Mom will yank your ass out of here so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

  “That sounds like a threat to me, Sage. You’re eating into my hour. Surely you have something to do. Oh, I forgot, I’m the only one who’s responsible for what goes on here.” The snarl in his sister’s voice forced Sage to take a backward step.

  “That’s because you want your fingers in everything. Now when things are down to the wire, you want to delegate. Stuff it, Billie, and put your personal life on hold until The Chicken Palace gets off the ground.”

  Perspiration beaded on Billie’s forehead. “Am I supposed to understand the meaning behind what you just said?”

  “Billie, I would never ever think of interfering in your personal life. I think you know that. However, when your personal life starts to affect the family business, I have to start to wonder what’s wrong. You’ve lost weight, your skin is . . . a funny color, you’re nervous and twitchy. You’re always going out to breakfast, lunch, or dinner, yet you’ve lost about twenty pounds. It doesn’t compute in my book. You’ve been late every morning for the past month. You say you work late, but I came by the other night and you weren’t here. Where were you, Billie?”