The caption’s single sentence encapsulated the contents of the article in one succinct blurb: “Emily Nash of Chestnut Hill is accused of defrauding Liberty National Insurance by falsely claiming illness.”
Kate read out loud:
Emily Nash, 56, of Chestnut Hill, was arraigned before Judge William E. Vander on Thursday. Nash allegedly defrauded Liberty National Insurance Company by falsely claiming that she suffered heart attacks. The charges were later dropped when Nash agreed to reimburse Liberty National in full for claims remitted by the company to Albert Einstein Medical Center. Penalties were assessed on the reimbursements, and Nash was dropped from the company’s insurance program.
Emmaline—Emily—began to sob.
Kate hated to be cynical, but given what she had learned about the woman’s ability to manipulate people, she couldn’t help but wonder how much of her distress was real and how much was put on for Paul and Kate’s benefit. Kate felt anger rising, and she counseled herself to stay calm, to give Emmaline a chance to explain. She took her cue from Paul, and the Hanlons waited in silence until Emmaline began to wind down, finally sitting in defeated silence with a pile of soggy tissues crumpled in her hand.
“Will you tell us about it?” Kate prompted.
Emmaline nodded without looking at them. “I have never had a heart attack or a heart condition. Or any other serious illness.”
“Why would you fake an illness?” Kate asked, not surprised by Emmaline’s confession. She suspected she knew the answer, but she wanted Emmaline to admit it herself. “People in this community have assisted and befriended you. They extended hands of kindness while you were crying wolf. I don’t understand why. It couldn’t have been for profit. As far as I can see, the only ones to profit would have been the hospitals where you were treated.”
Emmaline looked ashamed. “I am so sorry,” she whispered. She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. “It wasn’t for money.” She took a deep breath but remained silent.
Finally, Kate said, “What then, if not money? Help us to understand.”
Emmaline still was silent.
“You lost your husband,” Kate prompted gently.
Emmaline nodded. “Almost two years ago. He died after a long and ugly fight with prostate cancer. I nursed him at home. We had hospice care and support during the final weeks, but it was...an ordeal for him.”
And for you, thought Kate sympathetically. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said.
“Thank you.” Emmaline’s voice caught, but after a moment, she continued. “After he passed away, I couldn’t afford to keep our home. Everything had to be sold to pay for his medical care. I went to live with Francie...my sister,” she said to Paul, who nodded. “She and her husband were kind enough to offer me a home. They were sweet and thoughtful, but it was difficult. I felt as if I was intruding. I was grieving and so very lonely, and Francie had her own life to lead. She has three teenagers, and she’s very busy with them. One day, I was alone in a store, and I had a panic attack. I went into a dressing room to try to calm down, but I honestly thought I was having a heart attack.”
“Why didn’t you ask for help?” Kate asked.
Emmaline shrugged. “I didn’t want to be a bother or create a scene. And I really didn’t care if I died.”
“God would have cared,” Paul said quietly.
Emmaline gave him a doubtful look. “Faith never has been a part of my life. I guess I can’t imagine why, if there is a God, he would bother with me.” She waved a hand. “But that’s beside the point.”
Kate nearly interrupted to tell her that God’s care for his children was exactly the point, but she knew Emmaline had more to say, and Kate suspected that the other woman wasn’t ready to accept God’s presence in her life.
Instead, Kate asked, “So why, if it really was a panic attack, did you fake a heart attack?”
“I didn’t...at first. That first time it happened, eventually someone came to the dressing room and found me. I was taken to the emergency room and checked over. When they didn’t find anything, I went to my family physician the following week. Eventually, he diagnosed panic attacks. I had two more, but I got medication, and they stopped.”
“Medication other than the allergy medication I found the day Anna tossed things into the toilet?”
Emmaline gave her a startled look. “Yes. I think it was some generic form of Xanax. The allergy medication really is for allergies. In fact, I need to refill that.” She heaved a sigh. “Anyway...I got a lot of attention when the one episode happened in the store and people thought it was a heart attack. I got a gift certificate from the store, and they sent me flowers. I stayed in touch with people who helped care for me, and some of them became good friends of mine, much like you. Or at least, like you were before I treated you so badly.” Her gaze dropped. “It was so nice to have someone paying attention to me,” she said wistfully. “So I faked two more heart attacks, even though I wasn’t even having panic attacks anymore by then. I knew it was wrong to deceive people like that, but I couldn’t seem to make myself stop. The attention was...seductive.”
“How did you get caught?” Kate asked, also realizing that Emmaline’s explanation confirmed that the hospital admission bracelets belonged to her, not her sister.
“My doctor ordered tests to be sure I really wasn’t having some kind of heart trouble. He didn’t find anything, of course, and he confronted me. He was very nice about it, told me he thought I might be faking, and he asked why.
“I denied it initially, of course, but when he started talking about ordering a psychiatric evaluation, I confessed. My doctor helped me understand that I couldn’t continue doing it.”
“But...?” Kate prompted when Emmaline fell silent.
“But the insurance company got suspicious. I still don’t know what made them investigate. Perhaps it’s routine. I hadn’t even considered that it was fraudulent or that I might face legal consequences.” Her face crumpled. “Investigators from the police detective division came to my sister’s house. They made me feel like a thief. The only way I avoided being prosecuted was because my doctor talked to them and explained about my recent bereavement. I agreed to repay all the money plus penalties, and that was because the insurance company was also understanding about it after they heard about Geoffrey’s death. Imagine, the insurance company was understanding!”
“You were very lucky,” Kate said.
“It didn’t turn out that way,” Emmaline said. “Apparently, reporters routinely look at the public police records, and my name was in there. They started asking questions, and when they found out what happened, that article was in the newspaper. Francie and her husband already were furious with me, even when I explained I hadn’t intended to cost anyone money and that I was paying it back. So then when their friends started calling and asking what on earth was going on, they were terribly embarrassed. Francie suggested I find another place to live.” Her voice tightened again, and she had to pause to fight for control.
“I was so angry. I can’t even tell you how hurt and alone I felt. I felt certain Jonathan was the one telling Francie I had to leave. And one day it all just boiled over, and I accused Jonathan—my own brother-in-law—of improper legal dealings. Of course it wasn’t true, and nothing ever came of it, but some of his clients heard about it, and eventually the law firm suggested that he might be better off making a fresh start somewhere else.”
She looked up, a devastated expression on her face. “I never meant for Jonathan to lose his job.”
“And yet last night, you threatened to circulate lies about Paul that could have resulted in a very similar outcome,” Kate said. “Do you understand how hard that is to forgive, Emmaline?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I know. I’m a horrible person,” Emmaline said, rubbing her temples. “Francie gave me two choices after Jonathan was forced to resign from his law firm: move away, or she would talk to a psychiatrist about getting me put into a psych
iatric ward. But I’m not crazy!” she flared.
“Grief leads people to do things they would never do under normal circumstances,” Paul said. “So you chose to move?”
“Yes. We had the house down here, so she agreed that me moving here for a while would be a good thing. I’d love to return home, but I’m bound by her rules at this point.”
“So you begin faking heart trouble again because you wanted the attention,” Kate theorized.
“Yes. It...I was so lonely,” Emmaline said. “And unhappy. But I didn’t plan it, I swear.”
“You could have come to church or joined a social club to meet people,” Kate said. “It probably would have been easier.”
“I’ve never been much of a joiner,” Emmaline said. “I’m very shy, and people don’t really notice me. I’ve never been good at making friends.”
There was an awkward silence.
Finally, Kate said, “If you didn’t plan it, then what happened? That day in the restaurant, you did a similar thing to what you had done in Philadelphia, didn’t you?”
“Not exactly,” she said hesitantly, “I was sitting alone at my table, and you came along, smiling at everyone, asking how people were doing. And then I heard the two of you talking about art! And before I knew it, I was pretending to have a heart attack again.”
“Dr. McLaughlin knew almost right away, didn’t he?” Kate said, recalling her initial encounter with the ER doctor the day she first met Emmaline.
“Yes. He was quite angry. I told him I really did feel some kind of chest pain, and he asked me if I’d ever had panic attacks before. When I told him yes, he gave me the name of a psychiatrist, which didn’t make me very happy. And then he even came to my house to urge me to get help.”
Kate recalled another puzzling issue. “Why do you have a wig? I saw it on your dresser that day I vacuumed for you.” Kate decided there was no need to mention the sneakers. Emmaline was obviously capable of engaging in vigorous exercise. “I thought you might have had cancer, Emmaline.”
“It was a disguise I wore,” Emmaline said sorrowfully, “after I was arrested. I used it not only to fool the media but to keep my former friends from recognizing me. I was afraid of what they might say.”
Kate tried to put herself in Emmaline’s shoes, but it was difficult. She couldn’t imagine losing Paul. The very thought softened the edges of her hurt and anger.
She took a deep breath and spoke as gently as possible. “Why did you threaten Paul last night?”
Emmaline began to cry again. “I hated myself the moment I did it,” she said. “I just wanted you to be my friend.”
“People can’t be exclusive,” Kate said.
“I know.” Emmaline hesitated. “I think...maybe Dr. McLaughlin is right. I need to talk to some kind of counselor.” She took a deep breath. “It’s hard to admit, but I need help.”
Emmaline excused herself to visit the restroom. When she returned, it was clear she had splashed her face with water and worked to calm herself.
“Emmaline,” Paul said when she sat down on the couch, “you seem to be carrying a heavy burden all alone. But there’s good news. Even when we feel terribly lost and alone, God is there. All we have to do is ask him. He loves you so much and wants to give you the peace, hope, and comfort you’re longing for through a personal relationship with him.”
“I don’t know,” Emmaline said. “It’s hard to believe that God cares about me after everything I’ve done.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to believe,” Paul said. “We’ve all done things that seem unforgivable. But God is eager to forgive.”
“I want to be forgiven,” Emmaline said, swallowing. “Is there any chance you two can forgive me?”
“Of course we can,” Kate said. “You might feel better, too, if you write your sister and brother-in-law a letter asking the same thing of them.”
“Maybe.” Hope gleamed for a moment in Emmaline’s eyes, but in a mere moment, her expression returned to regret.
“Why don’t we pray?” Paul suggested.
Emmaline nodded hesitantly. “I think that might be good,” she said quietly.
Kate reached over and grasped her husband’s and Emmaline’s hands. At last, she felt that there was hope for her friend. Hope and healing.
LATER THAT EVENING, Kate and Paul were relaxing in their living room. It had gotten chilly enough for a fire, and the two were sitting on the love seat, drowsily enjoying the flames as they talked.
Paul said, “That was a stroke of genius, today, Katie. How did you think of using the children to call Emmaline’s bluff? And what would have happened if she hadn’t been shamed by little Adam’s distress?”
Kate began to chuckle. “I had a hunch that when she saw you unexpectedly, it would be easy to make her believe that you were disappointed in her. And I suspected she would react in the way she almost always has when she’s felt threatened or intimidated—she’d fake an episode.” Kate was glad the scene was over but saddened that her suspicions turned out to be true. “And since I knew about her past, it would give me an opportunity to confront her point-blank.”
“You’ve outdone yourself yet again, Katie girl.” Paul beamed. “You knew that Emmaline cared more about soothing little Adam than she did about maintaining her deception. And that indicates a good heart. Which,” he added, “is a necessary ingredient for change.”
“Exactly right. I must remember to tell her that.”
KATE FELL ASLEEP THAT NIGHT with a warm sense of accomplishment. She had solved the riddle of Emmaline’s odd behavior.
As she drifted off, she decided that the next morning she would tell Livvy what had occurred. After all, her friend had also been fretting over the problem of Emmaline’s health. At that, Kate shot a prayer of thanks for Livvy heavenward, then let sleep take over.
IT WAS ANOTHER gorgeous autumn Sunday in the Tennessee mountains.
Kate had loved San Antonio, but the ancient beauty of the forests that blanketed Copper Mill’s rolling ridges and rounded peaks was more than compelling.
Paul took Kate’s hand as they walked through the fallen leaves to Faith Briar Church, so unlike the massive urban congregation they had served before their move. Kate was glad to see that he was no longer limping. In a few more days, he should be able to begin running again.
“It feels great not to run today,” Paul confessed. “I’ll be glad when the race is over.”
“So you’ll go back to your couple-of-times-a-week jogging then?” The thought made Kate smile. She’d noticed Paul’s new physique as he toned up during his training regimen, but she wouldn’t mind at all getting back her former Paul—in good shape but not bulging with muscle.
“Yes, yes, yes!” He laughed at himself. Then he stopped in midchuckle. “Katie.” His steps slowed, and his grip on her hand tightened. “Is that—”
“Emmaline.” Kate couldn’t believe her eyes. The woman was standing in front of Faith Briar Church. She wore a pretty green dress with a matching jacket, but she was shifting a bit awkwardly from foot to foot.
Emmaline caught sight of the Hanlons just then. A beaming smile lit up her face, though as Kate and Paul drew near, Kate saw nerves in her friend’s eyes.
“Good morning,” Kate said warmly.
“Good morning.” Emmaline searched both their faces. “Would it be all right with you if I attended church this morning?”
Paul grinned, reaching out to gently squeeze Emmaline’s elbow. “Of course, but more important, it’s all right with God.”
“Hello!” Another voice interrupted their exchange.
Kate took the time to whisper, “I’m so glad you’re here,” before they turned to see who was speaking.
It was another pleasant surprise. The Miller family was coming toward them. The entire Miller family. Stephanie’s mother carried the baby, and Adam clung to her free hand. Frank had toddler Anna perched on one arm, and Kate was thrilled to see Stephanie holding on to Frank’s other arm, movin
g slowly but steadily with a big smile on her face.
“Good morning,” Kate called.
Adam shouted, “Yay!” and broke away from his grandmother, rushing up the sidewalk. To everyone’s surprise, he threw his little arms around Emmaline’s legs. “Can we go to the store again sometime? Going to the store with you is fun!”
Everyone laughed, and Emmaline knelt down to Adam’s level. “I think that would be great fun too. We’ll talk about it after church, all right?”
She rose then, and Kate introduced her to Stephanie.
“How are you feeling?” Kate asked the young woman, taking Anna from Frank when the little girl reached for her. “You look wonderful.”
“I feel wonderful,” Stephanie said. “Just getting out of the house and seeing fresh new faces is terrific. No insult intended,” she said hastily to her husband and mother-in-law, both of whom chuckled. “As long as I move slowly and don’t lift anything, I’ll do just fine. And in another week or two, the doctor thinks I’ll be able to resume all my normal activities.” She beamed at Kate and Emmaline. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the child-care assistance.” She turned her attention toward Emmaline. “You must be really special to Adam. He doesn’t warm up to just anyone.”
Emmaline blushed a rosy shade of pink. Kate could see how tickled she was by the comment. “I’m Emma...Emily Nash. Adam is a doll. All your children are. I only spent time with them when Kate was keeping them, but I enjoyed every moment of it.” She took a deep breath. “I’d be happy to come by and visit occasionally if you’re in need of a break.”
Stephanie put a hand to her chest as if overwhelmed. “Thank you so much, Emily. I may just take you up on that.”
Paul went on into the church a moment later to prepare for the service, while Kate lingered outside, introducing “Emily” to everyone she saw. It was fortunate, she reflected, that her friend had chosen an alias that was so similar to her real name. It wasn’t as difficult as she had anticipated it would be to call her by the less-familiar name.
How the Heart Runs Page 20