“Fanny, do you really think Sage is all right?”
“I know he’s all right. Ash told me himself. Don’t ask me to explain that statement.”
Iris smiled. “I won’t. All night and all morning I’ve had this strange feeling like someone is . . . hovering nearby. I went out to the cemetery twice and can’t explain why. I had this overwhelming sense of peace while I was there. I wanted to stay, but I had to come in to get the kids off to school. After Chue picked them up, I went back out and had the same feeling all over again. I felt like there was a cocoon all around me. Listen, let’s talk about something else. Let’s talk about you and Marcus.”
“Let’s not. I have a lot of thinking to do. I won’t abandon him. Do you mind if I take Daisy back with me? I miss her terribly.”
“Can we keep Fosdick and Growl Tiger? The kids are very attached to them.”
“Sure. By the way, where are they?”
“They’re the first ones in the van when Chue blows the horn. They love going to school. Chue keeps cookies in the van for them.”
“What would this family do without Chue and his family?”
“I don’t ever want to find out, Fanny.”
“You know what, I don’t want to find out either.”
“Iris, I don’t know if you want to know this or not, but Room 719 is no longer closed and locked. It’s just another room that’s rented out on a daily basis. Sage made sure of that. I think it’s important for you to know. Rushing to judgment can be and is a dangerous thing to do. You are and your family are blessed, Iris. Please, don’t ever forget that. I guess it’s time for me to go back to town. Thanks for the coffee. I hope I helped a little. Don’t worry about Sage. I have it on good authority that he’s fine. I hear the van!”
Iris opened the door. Daisy leaped into Fanny’s arms as her pups circled her feet barking ferociously, their tails wagging miles to the minute.
“Oh, Daisy, I missed you.” Fanny dropped to her knees to tussle with Daisy’s pups. “Isn’t it wonderful the way animals love unconditionally? I wish people could do that.”
“I do, too. Thanks for coming up, Fanny. I’ve missed our talks. When Sage gets back, and I know he will make it home safely, I’ll talk to him. I don’t want to live with mistrust. I don’t want you worrying about us. We’ll make it work.”
Fanny’s voice was sad when she said, “Sometimes life just gets in the way of things. If you’re honest and up front and things are in the open, it’s easier to work things out. At least that’s the way I perceive it. If you need me, call.”
“That works two ways, Fanny. The kids miss you.”
“We’ll get together soon. I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
“I’m going to stop at the cemetery for a few minutes. Do you have an old wooden spoon or a trowel handy?”
Iris reached under the sink and withdrew a small pail of gardening tools she used for her indoor plants. “Just leave it on the wall. I’ll pick it up later.”
Fanny withdrew the silver box from her oversize purse and set it on the ground. Fifteen minutes later, Simon Thornton’s grave looked the same as it had when she first entered the cemetery. She left the pail on the wall and walked around the property to the edge of the mountain. Once again she fished in her purse. Jeffrey’s key ring, minus Ash’s aviator wings, sailed through the air. Fanny dusted her hands together in a gesture of defiance.
Now it was time to get on with the new life that had been foisted upon her.
Fanny’s first stop when she returned to town was the bank. In an hour she’d reversed what remained of Billie’s trust fund. She then asked to have Billie’s signature removed from the corporate business accounts. “This bank will be held liable if you honor any checks bearing the signature of Billie Thornton. Is that understood ?”
“Absolutely, Mrs. Reed. Is there anything else we can do for you today?”
“No. Thank you for your help.”
Fanny’s next stop was the corporate offices of Sunny’s Togs and Rainbow Babies.
“Mom! Imagine meeting up twice in one day,” Billie quipped. After telling Billie about the change in Marcus’s condition, Fanny said, “I reversed the trust fund, Billie. I also removed your name from the corporate accounts. You can no longer sign checks. I really hated to do it, Billie.”
“I understand, Mom. I screwed up. I expected you to boot my butt out of here.”
“That’s the next step if you don’t hold the line. I mean it, Billie. I was sick to my soul when I reviewed your trust account.”
Billie nodded, her face miserable.
“What time is your first meeting?”
“In an hour. I’m actually looking forward to it. It didn’t go so well with the shrink. I was belligerent and testy. He was cool and professional. Once he almost threw me out. Then he switched up and said I could leave anytime I wanted. To use a quote from Sunny, this dude won’t put up with my shit. End of quote. I guess it’s what I need. I’m to go three times a week. A hundred bucks a pop. That’s going to seriously eat into my salary.”
“Speaking of your salary, it’s been cut in half. When you’ve proved yourself to my satisfaction, I’ll reinstate it. I consider trust to be one of the most precious things life gives us. You violated that trust. Until you earn it back it has to be my way or no way. I hope you can live with that, Billie.”
“Half! That’s pretty steep, Mom.”
“Yes, it is. You’ll take home enough to pay the rent, the utilities, food, gas, and have a small allowance to fritter away. There won’t be enough left to save. I want your word that you will not borrow from your sister or brothers. That goes for Ruby and Iris, too. I’m willing to take your word. Please don’t make me regret my decisions.”
“Mom!”
“It’s the way it is, Billie. Do you realize thousands and thousands of homeless people could have been fed and housed with the money you gambled away? I want you to think about that every time you have the urge to hit those gaming tables. It’s going to work out, honey. It may take a while, but you can do it.” Fanny sat down and folded her hands. “It seems at times that our family’s lot in life is to endure. I’m not sure why that is. Sunny has had more than her share. She’s handling it even though she has more bad days than good days. You can’t do less, Billie. You’re tough. You’re young and resilient. You, like Sunny, are my daughter. I’m here to offer support, but I expect you to cut the mustard as your father would say. Do you want me to go to the meeting with you?”
“It’s not allowed. I can handle it, Mom. Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive me?”
“I think so.”
“I was hoping for a qualified yes.” Tears filled Billie’s eyes as she stared at her mother.
Fanny held out a tissue. “You have to earn my forgiveness. That doesn’t mean I love you any less.”
“Mom?”
“Yes, Billie.”
“I worked like a tired old dog for years. I helped build these companies. You said without me there wouldn’t be a Sunny’s Togs or Rainbow Babies.”
“That’s true. And then you took all that and threw it away. You cheated people. You lied and you stole from those people who loved you the most. You worked like a dog because it was your choice. You loved what you did. You made the choice to gamble. If Sage hadn’t caught on to what you were doing, you would have destroyed the business. I want to leave you with one thought. Some people in this world never get a second chance, even when they deserve it. You’re one of the lucky ones. If you hold on to that thought, things might be a little easier. Right now you’re in a very scary place. It’s dark and ugly. All you have to do is find the tunnel that leads to the light. If you falter, call me, any time of the day or night. I have to go now. I went to Sunrise to get Daisy. She’s in the car. Lord, I missed that little dog. I’m going home to cuddle with her.”
“Marcus?”
“I’m going to think about Marcus. I have to find a way to help h
im.”
“You’re like a mother bird, Mom, with all her wounded chicks. I don’t know what any of us would do without you. Give Daisy a hug for me.”
“Let me know how the first meeting goes.”
“I will, Mom. I love you.”
Fanny smiled. “And I love you. Bushels and bushels.”
“Well that was some pretty sappy dialogue if you want my opinion. Do you think it worked?”
“Go away, Ash. It’s how I felt. The rest is up to Billie. She has this quiet determination and dedication unlike Sunny, who has guts out the kazoo. She’ll make it. I know she will. You want her to fail, don’t you? That’s unconscionable, Ash.”
“Jesus H. Christ, Fanny, where did that come from? How can you say such a thing?”
“Because you could never remember her name, that’s why. I’m getting pretty fed up with you and your sudden appearances. I have things to do and places to go, and they don’t include you. When I get up there, it will be time enough to have all these discussions.”
“I’ll be old and gray by then.”
“You were old and gray when you died, Ash. I’m getting older by the day, and under this Clairol stuff on my hair I’m as gray as you were.”
“You dye your hair! That’s sinful!”
“You sound so virtuous. I find that remarkable. Just leave.”
“I thought you wanted to talk about Marcus and those pictures. That was pretty neat of you to throw Jeff’s keys down the mountain. You have a regular junk pile down there.”
“Putting the keys in Lost and Found minus the wings would have been a dead giveaway. I’m sure he has an extra set someplace.”
“You’re going to abandon Marcus, aren’t you?”
“You have no right to say something like that to me. Especially you, Ash. I took you in, and I took care of you. We were divorced, and I didn’t abandon you.”
“I was there, Fanny. I saw you. I heard you. That’s exactly what you were planning on doing.”
“For ten seconds. I won’t deny it. I panicked. I’ve accepted it. I know what my duty is, and I don’t need you to remind me.”
“Those are words, Fanny. I’m looking for a special word here. Commitment. That’s the biggie right now.”
“I have a marriage license that says I’m committed. I’ll handle my life the way I see fit. Why don’t you go sit on a cloud or something.”
“Later. Business first. All I’m trying to do is point out the error of your ways. You do make errors, Fanny. I want to know that I wasn’t wrong about you. I want to know that you’ll step in and do what needs to be done. Not grudgingly but willingly.”
“Go to hell, Ash.”
“You toed the line with Billie a while ago. You handled that just right.”
Fanny’s voice was sarcastic when she said, “Thanks.”
“So what are you going to do with those pictures?”
“None of your business, Ash Thornton.”
“I think you need to go to Room 719 and check it out. The decor in that room was different from the other rooms. More fitting, if you know what I mean.”
“You son of a bitch! That was the room where you used to take your women. I don’t need to go there. I saw the bedspread and the drapes.”
“Did you see that sparkly dress on the floor? Maybe some of those little sparklers fell on the floor. They get mashed in the carpet, and you have to pick them out. It was a long time ago, Fanny, and it didn’t mean anything. It was wrong. It wasn’t a good time in my life. For whatever it’s worth, I apologize.”
“Go to hell.”
“You said that already. Are you going to check it out?”
“Why? I’m certainly never going to show those pictures to anyone, so what is the point?”
“You’ll always wonder if you don’t. It looks to me like Sage was dead to the world and Miss Hot Pants Celia was just POSING him for the camera. He doesn’t have his eyes open in any of the pictures. I think Jeff took the pictures. What do you think of that, Fanny?”
“I think you’re a little late. I already figured that out myself.”
“Attagirl, Fanny. So, what are you going to do?”
“I think I’ll show the pictures to Celia. It’s possible she was hoping to drive a wedge into this family. Maybe it was her intention to pit Birch against Sage. Blackmail. I don’t know, Ash. Maybe I’ll hide the pictures and wait to see what happens. I like to think about things before I rush into something, unlike you.”
“You’re gettin’ feisty again, Fanny. I’m liking what I’m seeing and hearing. See you around, old girl. So those golden hairs aren’t yours after all. Tsk, tsk.”
Daisy jumped into Fanny’s lap as she burst out laughing.
“We’ll deal with Celia when the time is right, Daisy. We have other things to do right now.” Fanny hugged the little dog, a feeling of peace settling over her as she drove out to the desert to the small house she called home.
Celia Thornton threw her canvas bag into the backseat of her newly leased BMW. She uncapped a bottle of mineral water and drank deeply. The hot lights she’d worked under all day had taken their toll on her skin and her mouth. She drank greedily from the bottle. She couldn’t wait to take a shower and moisturize her skin, especially her face. She’d done well, and the end was in sight, as was a very generous paycheck.
The engine turned over. Foot on the gas pedal, lights switched on, she was about to pull into traffic when she felt hands on her throat. She slammed on the brakes as she tried vainly to see who was behind her.
“Thought you’d pull a fast one, huh? That kind of behavior doesn’t work with me, Mrs. Thornton. What did you do with my keys, and where are those pictures?”
Celia went limp so that Jeff’s hands would relax their hold on her throat. “What are you talking about?” she managed to gasp. “You saw me when I left. I didn’t take your damn keys, and I didn’t take the pictures. What the hell are you saying, Jeff?”
“I’m saying someone entered the penthouse and took them. You were the only one there. I don’t give a hoot in hell about the pictures, but I do care about my keys and my father’s aviator wings.”
Celia wiggled in her seat till she was turned and facing Jeff. “Look somewhere else, Jeff. I didn’t have time to do what you’re accusing me of. Go through my bag. Why would I want your stupid keys? I would like the pictures though. If they fall into the wrong hands, there could be a lot of trouble. When did you notice they were missing?”
“This morning. Fanny Logan called and wanted to meet with me downstairs, and when I got there she was in the ladies’ room. She wanted to have breakfast and talk, but she got a call and had to run off to the medical center. I was kind of suspicious, so I went to the center, and, when she wasn’t looking, I went through her bag. I also went through her car. She seems to be a very trusting person because the car wasn’t locked. Needless to say, I didn’t find either the keys or the pictures. So that brings me back to you. Besides, Fanny is the one who gave me my father’s wings. What would she want with my keys?”
“Well, I didn’t do it. Maybe she took them as an afterthought once she saw the pictures. She wouldn’t want you to have the wings if you’re the kind of person who has pictures like that. Think about it before you go off half-cocked. I thought there was only one key to the penthouse.”
“I thought so too. Obviously I was wrong the way I was wrong about Room 719. I have to give the Thorntons credit, they know how to cover their asses. There is a pair and a spare to everything that has a lock. I want those keys. They’re mine. Those wings belong to me. They’re my good-luck charm.”
Celia’s trilling laughter sent chills up and down Jeff’s arms.
“Don’t tell me someone as educated as you are believes in good-luck charms. That’s too funny for words. I don’t give a damn about your stupid keys. I knew I never should have let you keep those pictures. I was right. You’re sloppy. When you’re sloppy things go wrong. I had you down as a tight-assed perfe
ctionist. Man, was I wrong.”
“Shut up, Celia. I need to think. Why would Fanny Thornton set me up?”
“It’s Fanny Reed, Jeffrey,” Celia said sweetly. “She’s probably onto you. The whole damn family is probably onto you. You don’t belong. It’s that simple. Fanny’s children overrode her decision. Everyone is laughing at you behind your back. I hear the talk. Get it through your head. You aren’t good enough for them just the way I’m not good enough for them. At least I landed on my feet and have a job that pays some decent money. I’m earning it, too. All you do is collect a paycheck. It’s charity they’re handing out to you.”
“I don’t give a good rat’s ass about that crap. Money is money. If they’re laughing, they’ll be laughing out of the other side of their faces in a few more weeks. You, on the other hand, Celia, have everything to lose and nothing to gain. That was an incredibly dumb thing you did with Sage. I’m embarrassed to have had a part in it.”
“That’s pretty funny coming from you. You were the one with the pictures in your possession. That makes you as guilty as me if we’re placing guilt. If you’re right and Birch’s mother has the photos, she isn’t going to let anyone see them. There are no negatives because they’re Polaroids. She’ll never show them to Birch because Birch will not believe Sage wasn’t fooling around with me. He’ll take the view that pictures don’t lie. Fanny won’t confront Sage. I think I’m in the clear here. At least for the time being. You, on the other hand, have a problem. If I were you, and this is just my opinion, I would hit those tables and get as much money as I could. I’d take that little operation of yours and head out to the desert, where no one knows you. I’m glad you stopped by, Jeff. I feel a lot better. Don’t ever do it again. If you do, I’ll shoot first and ask questions later. I bought a gun, and I have a permit to carry it. I’m Mrs. Birch Thornton, and I work for the family. You’re from the other side of town, and all you’re doing is taking up space and collecting a check. Who do you think the police will believe? Trust me when I tell you Fanny is not going to buck her kids again. You need to ask yourself something, Jeff. If Fanny did take the pictures and the keys, what did she do with them? Where would she put them to keep them safe? Work on that. Now get the hell out of my car. You’re stinking it up.”
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