“Well, thank you much for the congratulations.” Deirdre finally turned to him. His eyes caught hers, but she looked away. “Really, Spencer, you should go. I’ve things to do.” She made to leave, but Spencer took her gently by the arm.
“Do you really love Sam?” He knew she did, this wasn’t the reason he’d come. But somehow, he needed to lead into the words that might save them all.
Deirdre drew her arm from his touch, but smiled. “Of course I do. Why would you even ask such a thing?”
“He told me you’re blackmailing him.”
Her complexion turned ashen as her eyes narrowed. “I hardly call being in love blackmail.”
Sweat marred his brow as he forged ahead. “If you really loved him, you’d just give him the loan. He doesn’t love you.” There, he said it.
“Get out.” Her expression turned to stone. “Don’t you dare think you can speak for Sam.”
Spencer winced. It wasn’t Sam he spoke for. “You should marry someone who loves you.”
Deirdre’s hands curled into tiny fists. “I said, get out. If you don’t think Sam loves me, you are the one mistaken. No one marries me just for money.”
He hated to hurt her, but saw no other option but to guide her away from this mismatched matrimony. “Sam needs to save Polly’s name and he loves Julia. He told me so the other night.”
Deirdre’s entire body tensed, but her face remained stoic. “Sam is marrying me, not her. Julia can’t hold a candle to me.”
“Sam plans to divorce you and return to Julia as soon as Polly’s debts are paid.” God, how he hated telling her this, but he needed to save her from a marriage that would only hurt them all.
Spencer noticed Deirdre flinch, if only for an instant. Her composure regained, she spoke acidly. “He’ll never leave me, I promise you that. I told you on the tennis court that he’d return to me and he did. I’m never wrong when it comes to Sam.”
Spencer ran his hand through his hair. “This is unbelievable. I’m telling you he’s using you, Deirdre. Jesus, just give him the money and save yourself bitter disappointment. That’s all I came to say.”
“Thank you for your concern, Spencer.” She led him to the hall door. “I’m sure Sam would be quite honored to know how you tried to save him. He should be flattered you care so much.”
He turned back to face her. Had she heard nothing he said? “I care about you.”
For a brief moment, a flicker of understanding seemed to light in her eyes, but it was gone as quick as it came. Her voice fell soft. “Then leave me alone and let me get married.”
Spencer stared at her for a moment longer before he turned and stormed out the door.
He had done all he could to save her from the biggest mistake of her life.
Twenty minutes later, Penny Lamont walked out to the patio where her daughter stood alone, staring at a potted plant.
“Oh, I don’t think that ivy will do for the church, dear,” Penny said. “What happened to the florist?”
Her daughter turned, her face a mixture of concern and determination. “Never mind about the florist, Mother. Can you get Daddy’s lawyer on the phone right away?”
“But of course.” Penny said. “Why?”
Deirdre smiled. “Oh just a small financial matter I’d like to clear up.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Julia turned the key in the front door lock. She wiped a band of sweat from her forehead and wondered if the relentless summer heat would ever let up. July brought endless humidity and now August showed no sign of relief. Feeling slightly nauseated from the heat, she hoped a cool shower might soothe her and wash away the pervasive smells of the nursing home.
Once inside, she glanced at the answering machine in the hall and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her heart. Today, like every day for the past three weeks, no message from Sam awaited.
Julia entered the tiled foyer and scooped up the mail. No letter from Sam either. Nothing. The phone rang, startling her, and she hurried to answer it.
“Be Sam,” she begged the receiver. “Hello?”
“Well?” Kim asked. “Anything yet?”
“No.” Julia sighed and sat down on the bottom step of the carpeted stairwell. “Not a word. I’m going out of my mind, Kim. My dad keeps asking why I’m not packing for college, and I’m having trouble coming up with believable excuses. I mean, should I really start school in Chicago if I’m going to London in a few months?”
“Tough call.”
“I’ve sent for brochures to London colleges.” Julia took a deep breath and continued. “Then again, maybe I should start college here in case things don’t work out, but I can’t stand thinking about that. Needless to say, not I’m very happy and I can’t tell my dad why.”
“Well, there’s something you should know.” The warning tone in Kim’s voice caused Julia to tense. “I just got an invitation to your going away party.”
“What going away party?”
“The surprise party your dad is planning for you this coming Sunday. If Sam doesn’t call, you’ll have to go the party and act happy about going to college here.”
“Oh no.” Julia leaned against the banister. Things were going from bad to worse. “I’d hate for my dad to throw me a party if I’m not going away.”
“Well, look at it this way,” Kim said, her voice brightening. “Either way you are going away…either to college in Wisconsin or London.”
“True.” But she didn’t feel consoled. She felt like a heel. “Why won’t Sam call?”
“There’s got to be a good reason. Did you try calling him again?”
“Yes. And his phone is still disconnected.”
“Maybe he couldn’t pay his phone bill? Have you tried calling Mrs. McTeel’s house?”
“I don’t have the number, and I also don’t want to seem desperate.”
“You are desperate.”
Julia sighed. “I know, believe me, I know. But Sam could call me from wherever he is or use a pay phone. This doesn’t make sense.”
“Well, Jules. Like you told me, he’s got a lot going on with Polly’s death and the movie.”
Julia forced a smile, grateful to Kim for remaining optimistic for her. “Keep going. I need more assurance. I’m starting to have my doubts about Sam and it’s driving me crazy. I’m in tears every half hour or so.”
“Well, he did call you right after he got back from Chicago and then again after Polly passed.”
“That’s right.” Sam had called her twice after their time in Chicago. The first time, the Monday after his visit, he told her how wonderful their time together had been, and the second call, the following Monday, relayed the sad news of Polly’s death. Julia cried during and after that phone call. Sam sounded so hurt and sad and she could do nothing to help him.
Kim continued on. “And he did say that he had a lot to do, to get her affairs in order and settle her estate, right?”
“That’s true.”
“He’ll call, Jules. He will.”
“Okay.”
“In the meantime, you want to come over tonight and have pizza?”
Julia sighed. Exhausted as she felt, pizza and gossip sounded much better than sitting home waiting for the phone to ring. “Sure. Let me shower and I’ll be over in an hour.”
Two hours later, Bert Steele entered his home from the back porch, happy to be home, out of the hot sun and away from the dirt and grime of the road crew. He placed his hard-hat and boots on the gray, indoor-outdoor carpeting and made his way into the kitchen, his stomach rumbling from a hard day’s work.
The house seemed unusually quiet. He glanced into the kitchen, but found it empty and without dinner waiting.
“Jules?” Bert walked through the kitchen to the hallway. As he proceeded to the stairwell, he spied a note on the telephone stand.
Went to Kim’s for dinner. Left over pot-roast in fridge. Love, Julia.
“Ah ha,” he said to the air, the mystery over his
missing daughter and dinner solved. He was about to turn away when the flashing light of the answering machine caught his eye. He hit the playback button.
“Mr. Steele,” a woman’s voice began. “This is Mary from the catering service. I’m just confirming the food order for Sunday afternoon. Please call me back.”
Bert made a mental note to call the caterer and to erase that message so Julia didn’t hear it. He smiled, excited by his plan to throw the going away party for her. Lately she’d been rather out of sorts. It was times like these he felt most inadequate as a single father. He didn’t know whether to pry into her business or let her come to him. If only her mother had lived…
Another message began.
“Love.” A deep voiced, English accented man spoke. “Just calling to tell you that things aren’t going so well here right now financially. I don’t know how long it will take to straighten things out and there’s more to tell, but would rather talk to you in person than over a machine. I’ll try again soon. Go on with your plans as usual for now. We’ll be together soon, I promise. I’ll tell you more when we talk. I miss you. Bye for now, love.”
“What the hell?” Bert stared down at the machine. “Poor guy obviously got the wrong number.” He hit the “erase messages” button and headed for the kitchen, thoughts of party plans and pot roast on his mind.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Try to look surprised and happy.”
Kim’s advice barely registered in Julia’s troubled mind as they drove into the Riverside Lanes Bowling parking lot. In less than five minutes, Julia needed to walk into the building aglow with surprise and happiness.
“With all that’s been happening lately, Kim, the last thing I am is happy.”
“I know, Jules. But your dad is so thrilled about this party.”
Julia sighed and blinked back tears. She didn’t want to go to college next week. She wanted to go London, and she wanted Sam to call and tell her he still loved her.
Kim chattered on about the party. “John and his dad will be in there. Your dad invited them.”
Julia rested her head against the door window. Could this day get any worse? “I thought John hated me.”
“Quite the contrary, my dear. He still carries a torch for you. He asks about you all the time. Wants to know what’s going on with the ‘foreign guy’.”
“And what do you tell him?”
“I just say you’re still in touch.”
Julia looked down at her hands. “I appreciate the lie.”
“No prob.” Kim glanced at the car clock. “We should go in, Jules.”
“Okay.”
They exited the car and entered the front door of the bowling alley. Kim guided her into a room on the right. Darkness enveloped Julia as she entered, but lights quickly flew on and many voices shouted “surprise” from all directions. She feigned a startled look, her eyes settling on her father’s beaming face.
“Oh my.” She mustered all the enthusiasm she could. “You shouldn’t have, really.”
“We couldn’t have my girl going off to college without a proper send off, now, could we?” Her father walked towards her, his arms open wide. She met him half way and accepted his embrace.
“Thank you, Dad. This is so nice.” Tears welled again. She felt like a complete fraud.
People gathered around wishing her well and talking about her exciting new life at college. All Julia could think about was the exciting new life she wanted in England.
“Plenty of food and soda to be had!” Her father’s voice boomed above the crowd as he motioned for everyone to belly up to the buffet tables.
Julia excused herself from a crowd of well-wishers, a ravenous hunger suddenly enveloping her. She headed to a table and reached for a plate, accidentally knocking into the person beside her. She turned to apologize and found herself face to face with John.
She had no idea what to say. She half expected him to lay into her again like the last time they saw each other.
To her surprise, John smiled and motioned to the table. “Go ahead, Julia. You are the guest of honor, after all.” No sarcasm laced his words and she was grateful.
“Okay.” She grabbed a roll. She looked back up at him and found him watching her. “Thanks for coming.” What else could she say?
He handed her some plastic silverware and a napkin and reached for a plate. “I wouldn’t have missed it. I’ll miss having you around. I already do.”
Guilt washed over Julia like a tidal wave. She didn’t answer.
John put some salad on his plate. “Are you still with the foreign guy?”
Julia froze, her hand poised over the macaroni salad. She glanced over John’s shoulder. A long line formed in back of them, with Jeanne O’Brien, always ripe for gossip, at the head. “I can’t talk about that now.” She moved to the end of the table with John at her heels. She spoke in a whisper “My father doesn’t know anything about Sam.”
“Oh.” John smiled as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “Why haven’t you told him? Can I hope that maybe things aren’t going all that well?”
“They’re fine!” Julia’s eyes flashed anger, but her stomach lurched at the sight of John’s green beans mixing with his turkey gravy. She covered her mouth, placed her plate on the table, and hurried away in search of a bathroom.
The door closest to the buffet table opened into the bar, and Julia located the door to the restrooms behind the pool tables. Holding her heaving stomach, she raced into a stall, and vomited several times. A few moments later, fatigue overwhelmed her and she slid to a sitting position on the floor, her back against a wall, tears streaming down her face.
Someone entered the washroom. “Julia? You in here? It’s Kim.”
She wiped her tears, rose from the floor and opened the door.
“You look like hell.” Kim handed her a paper towel.
“I feel like hell.” She made her way to the sink to rinse her mouth. “I must have eaten something this morning that didn’t agree with me, or caught a bug. The heat’s been bothering me too.”
Kim leaned against the bathroom wall. “How long have you been feeling this way?”
“For about a week on and off. Kind of nauseated, but no throwing up until now. Stomach flu is going around the nursing home, so that’s probably it.”
“Or, you could be-”
The restroom door opened again as Jeanne entered. She glanced from red-eyed Julia to Kim and back to Julia. “Are you okay?”
“Allergies,” Julia said, thinking fast.
“Oh.” She bypassed the girls and headed into a stall.
Julia dried her hands, glad for the intrusion. She couldn’t look at Kim. “I better get back to the party. My dad’s gonna wonder where I went.” She headed for the door, but Kim grabbed her by the arm.
“Julia, we need to talk.”
“Not now, Kim.” Julia pleaded and motioned towards Jeanne’s stall. “Not now.”
She removed Kim’s hand from her arm and headed into the bar, but soon stopped short. Her attention became riveted to a television up on a shelf in a corner behind the bar. Sam’s face filled the screen. He appeared to be at some fancy party and dressed in a tuxedo.
“What program is this?” Julia asked the bartender as her heart raced.
“Just some entertainment portion of the news break in between games.” He didn’t even glance up as he finished drying a glass.
“Can you turn up the volume?” Julia asked.
“Sure.”
“And yes, folks,” crooned a reporter. “The rumors are true. Renowned British heiress and socialite, Deirdre Lamont, married up and coming British actor, Sam Lyons, earlier today. Their wedding is being hailed by London press as one of the most glamorous weddings outside British royalty.”
Julia watched in shock as the program rolled pictures of Sam and Deirdre leaving a church, dancing at a reception and standing beside a limousine. Deirdre looked radiant and beautiful, her smile happiness personifie
d. Sam, her Sam, looked handsome and debonair, his smile tight, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.
How could this be happening? Sam loved her, not Deirdre, he told her so himself.
“The destination for the Lamont-Lyons honeymoon is unknown,” the reporter added.
Julia’s knees grew weak and she became only vaguely aware of someone walking up beside her.
“Oh no, Jules.” Kim stared at the screen.
She couldn’t respond. Her tongue felt thick. Her knees buckled as the walls closed in. Objects became fuzzy. Within seconds she could no longer see beyond the bar.
Julia crumbled unconscious to the floor.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Julia?” A soft voice broke through the dark void. Trying to remain in the warm cocoon of sleep, Julia turned her face from the voice and into the softness of her pillow.
“Julia.” She recognized the voice as Kim’s. Why was Kim trying to wake her? Was she late for work? She didn’t care. She felt too tired to go.
“Please Jules, you need to wake up.” A hand gently shook her shoulder. “I have to tell you something.”
Julia forced her eyes half open, the world a blur. “What?” she mumbled through semi-consciousness.
“Can you sit up at least?” Kim’s voice pleaded, and Julia tried her best to accommodate the request. She slowly pushed herself into a sitting position while Kim propped up pillows behind her. Regaining her focus, she glanced around the stark, white room.
“Am I in the hospital?” Her throat hurt, as did her head.
“You fainted at the bowling alley. Remember?”
Julia fought to remember a bowling alley. Images of a party, a bar and Sam marrying Deirdre rushed back. Now her heart ached as well. “Where’s my dad?”
“He’s out in the hall talking with the doctors. John insisted on coming, too. An ambulance brought you here. John and I followed in his car.”
A Lonely Sky Page 16