“What the heck…” she heard Officer Donnelly yell over the din of trucks flying by.
“I guess he wasn’t expecting company,” an ecstatic Shelby cheered. She quickly opened her door and ran over. “Excuse me, Officer,” she said. “Would it be possible for me to go talk to the other driver? I think he might be an old friend of mine.”
Officer Donnelly removed his sunglasses, making sure he had solid eye contact with Shelby. “Ma’am, you are in serious trouble, and I suggest that you start to worry less about your social life and more about the number of moving violations you’re about to be cited for. Now return to your vehicle and stay there until you receive further instructions.”
“Yes, sir.” Shelby looked over and spotted the driver in the Range Rover getting out of the car to speak to the other cop. It was her first close-up glimpse and now she wanted to cry. Clearly she had made an enormous mistake. Ed Lieberman was a nice-looking man, but no way could this hotty be his son. He was positively magazine-ad dashing, with a towering, muscular body, and the best backside she’d seen in years. Maybe she should be locked up for the stupid thing she’d done.
“It goes to state of mind.” She could hear her attorney’s opening statement at the hearing. “My client had just learned she was pregnant with twins and that the father had fled the country.”
Oh God. The officer and the gentleman were walking over. Now she didn’t care if she got cuffed and booked. No way was she budging.
“Stay right there,” Officer Donnelly ordered as he met up with his fellow law enforcer.
Meanwhile, the other driver walked over to Shelby and her heart started to pound.
“Hello,” Shelby said the instant he was in earshot. “You’re probably wondering what the heck is going on.”
“You could say that.” He folded his arms.
“Okay. Well. First of all let me say how sorry I am,” she began. “I swear I’ve never done anything like this before in my life. It was all a huge mistake. I thought you were someone I knew. An old friend.”
“Uh-huh.” He removed his sunglasses to get a better look at the perpetrator. “He must have been pretty special to risk life and limb like that. Especially that fancy move when you cut me off.”
“You have every right to be angry…”
“It’s okay.” He started to smile. “The important thing is no one got hurt.”
“Right. Of course.” Shelby smiled back. How incredible was this guy that he could actually be nice to a woman who nearly killed him in a high-speed chase? “Look, we’re probably going to get hit with some serious fines, and I just want you to know that since this was all my fault, I’m willing to take care of the whole thing.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He kicked a pebble. “That won’t be necessary.”
“It won’t?”
“No.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s just say I have a fairly good connection in Albany.”
“Oh. Do you work in government?”
“Not exactly. My wife is Bill Armonk’s daughter.”
And that’s supposed to mean something to me? Shelby thought. “Wait a minute. Bill Armonk…Where do I know that name from?”
“I take it you’re not from New York.”
“Used to be…it’s been a while…oh hold it…oh my God…are you talking about Bill Armonk, as in William Lloyd Armonk?”
“Yes, but these days most people refer to him as Lieutenant Governor Armonk.”
“Lieutenant governor?” she started to palpitate. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“I can see that. Anyway, I just wanted you to know your secret is safe with me.”
“My secret?”
“You know. That you…tried to pick up his son-in-law on the Hutch.”
“No, no. I wasn’t doing that at all. I swear,” Shelby stammered. “I thought you were this friend I grew up with…when I passed you…I don’t know…your face looked so familiar.”
“Gotcha.” He nodded, staring as if he was trying to place her, too. “Sorry. I guess I wasn’t who you thought.”
Oh believe me. I’m sorry, too. “Actually it just dawned on me that you are sort of.”
“Excuse me?”
“Who I’m looking for.” Shelby took a deep breath. “I mean no, you’re not who I thought at the beginning…I’m not sure how to ask this…If you’re Mr. Armonk’s son-in-law, does that make you M.J. McCreigh?”
“You lost me. You didn’t know he was the lieutenant governor, but you know my name? Who are you?”
“A reporter for the New York Informer.”
“Oh, you’re kidding. The one doing that story about our anniversary?”
Shelby nodded.
“That’s really funny. So we were both on the way to my house?”
“I guess so.” Shelby laughed. “Small world.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know your name. The only thing my wife said to me before I left was to be back at one to do an interview with some lady.”
“I’m the lady,” she extended her hand. “Shelby Lazarus. Pleased to meet you.”
Mr. McCreigh’s face turned ashen. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear you.” He pointed to the trucks. “Could you repeat that?”
She cupped her hands and shouted. “Shelby Lazarus.”
His expression went from amused to shocked to elated. He grabbed Shelby and hugged her so hard she could barely breathe, just as Officer Donnelly returned. Shelby prayed it was not to apprehend her.
“Careful there, Mr. McCreigh.” A softer, sweeter cop tried moving them away from the passing cars. “We don’t generally recommend state roads for reunions. Looks like this is your lucky day, ma’am.” He returned her license and registration. “Seems as if all charges against you are being dropped…”
M.J. McCreigh didn’t hear a word being said. “After you said that you thought I was an old friend, I looked at your face and said to myself, wait a minute. Could it be her?”
“Okay, now I’m the one who’s a little confused. Do you know me?”
“Did you grow up on Long Island?”
“Yes.”
“In Manhasset?”
“Yes?”
“At 68 Majestic Court?”
Shelby swallowed hard.
“And did this friend of yours used to call you Shebby?” He pushed the bangs from her eyes. “And write you poems, and build you snowmen, and make you eat Campbell’s chicken noodle soup in July…”
“So I’d be warm enough to jump into a freezing pool.”
“Oh my God!” his jaw dropped.
“Matty?” she whispered.
He nodded yes, and the world on the edge of State Road 120 suddenly came to a standstill. She’d been right? Incredibly, miraculously right? She stared deep into Matty’s great green eyes, located the tiny birthmark on his left earlobe, then let out a primal scream that startled the previously unflappable Officer Donnelly.
“Long time no see.” Matty kissed her, doing his manly best to hold back tears.
“I don’t understand.” Shelby started to cry. “How can you be…You just said your name was M.J. McCreigh.”
“Yeah, which is it?” Officer Donnelly eyed him suspiciously.
“Both, actually.”
“I got a minute I can spare,” he said. “Give me the short version.”
“Okay.” Matty took a deep breath. “The short version is I was born Matthew Jay Lieberman, we moved to California, my dad split, my mother remarried, and her new husband adopted my sister and me. After that I was Matthew Jay McCreigh. M.J. for short.”
“Ah-hah,” Officer Donnelly said. “And you didn’t recognize the lady, she recognized you?”
“It’s been almost thirty years.” Matty held Shelby’s hand.
“Well that’s a hell of a good story to tell the grandkids.” He chuckled. “Aw, don’t cry, ma’am.”
“You don’t understand,” Shelby’s whole body convulsed. “I was afraid I would never see him again. And for it to happe
n today of all days…”
“It’s not your birthday,” Matty said.
“No,” she replied, wiping her eyes with the tail of her shirt. “It’s just that my life is such a mess right now. A couple of months ago my dad and stepmother, you remember Aunt Roz, were out jogging and were hit by a truck a few blocks from the house. Right on Royal Lane. Anyway, they nearly died. Then after I flew home, I found out I lost my job, Lauren told me she’d discovered she was a DES daughter, and she needed me to be her surrogate mother, which I agreed to do, and then today on the way here, she called me in the car, hysterical crying, to say the test showed I was pregnant with twins, and that when her husband found out, he packed his bags and took off for Israel because the situation was too crazy for him…”
Matthew’s eyes opened as wide as bagels. “Your father and Aunt Roz jog?”
“That’s what I said!” Shelby burst into laughter.
“All right.” Officer Donnelly looked at his watch. “Looks like you two have some catching up to do. Meanwhile, ma’am, I suggest you hightail it back to the Illinois DMV as soon as possible to apply for a new license. The one you’re carrying expired in June. Of last year.”
“I will,” Shelby was still shaking. “I promise.”
“And please give my regards to the lieutenant governor.” Officer Donnelly winked to Matty. “Tell him the boys support his aggressive plans for vehicle confiscation.”
“Will do, Officer…?”
“Donnelly,” Shelby finished his sentence, just like old times.
“Without a doubt, I’d have to say this is the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me.” Matty touched his heart. “Look at you. You’re gorgeous.”
“No, I’m not.” She blushed. “I’ve probably got mascara running down my face.”
“Yeah, but it’s definitely your color.”
“Forgive me.” Shelby tried to catch her breath. “I’m in shock. You have no idea how long I’ve been looking for you. And the last place I ever expected to run into you was on a highway.”
“Almost literally.” Matty chucked her shoulder. “Come. We’ll go back to my car. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Shelby couldn’t move. Please God, not his kids. As thrilled as she was to see him, she wasn’t ready to face reality. He was married, to the lieutenant governor’s daughter no less, they probably had beautiful children, a magnificent home, health and happiness…
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I’m not ready to meet your children. I need a minute to collect myself.”
“Okay, but how long do you need to meet my dog?”
“Your dog?” Shelby laughed. “Oh, right. I saw him in the back of your car.”
“He’s a she actually, and I think you’ll appreciate her name. At least I hope you will.”
“Is it Lassie? After your goldfish?”
“You remembered that?” Matty sighed. “Pretty incredible, but no, it isn’t her name. Her name…this is kind of embarrassing…is Laz.”
“Are you serious? You named your dog after me? Why?”
“It’s a very long story.” He shrugged. “And the truth is, I’ve thought about you, too, Shelby. A lot.”
Shelby looked down, barely able to see her own feet as her eyes were filling with tears again. What an incredibly, loving admission he’d just made. He’d thought of her. A lot. It could only mean one thing. She didn’t care if Matty was married to the goddamn emperor’s daughter. She was going to win back his heart if it was the last thing she did. What did they used to say when they were kids? Finders keepers, losers weepers?
Score one for Mom. No, not for the extraordinary circumstances that have just unfolded that finally brought Shelby and Matty back together. I’d like to take credit for that, and so would her Spirit Guides and the angels who watch over her. But we’ve all seen her karmic map and know the crazy circumstances of her life are unfolding exactly as they were predestined.
All I’m saying is, the little car trouble she’s about to have? That’s my doing. And if you’re wondering what good that’s going to do, let’s just say it will be like chicken soup. It couldn’t hurt.
From this plane it’s referred to as divine intervention, or as I like to call it, a little help from above. Where Shelby is right now, she’d call it a pushy, Jewish mother butting in.
You gotta do what you gotta do.
Chapter Twenty-three
Matty naturally suggested that Shelby follow him home so she didn’t get lost. Little did he know it had been her intention from the start, but what an incredible dream come true that rather than having to tail him the whole way, he was serving as her private escort. Good thing, too, for with the tidal wave of extraordinary events that had unfolded since this morning, she was feeling too light-headed and unhinged to be able to read a map.
Besides, the only navigational matters she wanted to think about were more personal. Whether to stick with the pregnancy or terminate it now that the father had gone AWOL, how she would handle meeting Matty’s lucky bride and beautiful children, how she would feel seeing his presumably grand house, how to finagle seeing him again, and uh-oh, what to do now that a stupid red light on the dashboard was blinking, service engine, service engine, service engine…
“Nooooo.” She smacked the steering wheel. “Not car trouble now. Haven’t I had enough to deal with today?” What the hell did it mean anyway? She knew as much about what was lurking inside the hood of her car as she did about what was lurking inside her uterus.
Shelby thought about trying to signal Matty to pull over, but when she saw the sign, WELCOME TO CHAPPAQUA, she decided to chance it and deal with the problem when she got to the house. He had told her he had a wonderful surprise waiting for her, and although she had no idea how that was possible given that their meeting was totally accidental, she was busting to find out what he meant. If he’d named his dog after her, who knows what other ways he could prove he’d thought about her? A lot.
Shelby was practically giddy with excitement as she followed the Range Rover down a long, winding road set in a great, green forest against a backdrop of palatial, gated estates. One could only wonder the property tax rate these homeowners paid for the privilege, but it was probably like being handed a menu without prices at a fine restaurant. If you had to ask, you couldn’t afford to eat there. And from the looks of the imposing homes that dotted Chappaqua’s landscape, clearly these people weren’t quibbling with the maître d’.
And yet in spite of the fact she was quickly growing accustomed to the grandeur, she could not believe her eyes when Matty signaled he was turning, then waited momentarily for a massive, iron gate to open electronically. For God’s sake, he was pulling into what looked like the New York version of the Ewing Ranch. J.R. and Bobby eat your hearts out.
The house, if you pardoned the expression, was an exquisite redbrick Tudor with stone pillars that stood high atop a hill overlooking acres of lush, rolling lawns. The better to put the stables, tennis court, pool, and assorted guest cottages, my dear, Shelby thought. But how could you send out for pizza, then answer the door with a straight face?
Clearly this had to be the surprise Matty was talking about. Poor, Jewish boy from a broken home marries into prominent gentile, Republican family and lives happily ever after in the magic kingdom. No wonder he’d been so excited about bringing her back here. It was the best show-and-tell he ever had.
Unlike where they’d grown up, in the Formica capital of the world, Shelby imagined this place would be teeming with Georgian silver, Canton china, brass candlesticks, Chippendale secretaries, Mother’s needlepoint pillows, and enough nautical tchachkes to make Daddy feel as though he was back on the Vineyard.
The living room, she assumed, would be a veritable tartan plaid convention boasting furniture that gleamed and ancestral portraits that hung gallery-perfect. The throw pillows, dried flowers, and coffee table books would all be flawlessly arranged, and not a single toy would
be left lying around. In fact, the only thing missing would be the velvet ropes.
So no way was she getting out of the car until she’d had time to put herself back together. How could she possibly walk in looking like the hired help when she was about to meet the “other woman”? Damn. Any chance Aunt Roz kept a strand of pearls in the glove compartment?
“Well?” A beaming Matty opened Shelby’s car door. “What do you think?”
“It’s not bad if you like small and charming.” She sniffed. “Jesus, Matty. You could have told me you were the Crown Prince of Chappaqua.”
“Oh, come on. It’s not that big.”
“True. I think Hearst Castle is slightly larger.”
“Sorry. Hate to brag, but we recently measured, and we beat it by a few thousand square feet.” He cupped her chin. “What do you say we go in? There’s someone who will absolutely go crazy when she sees you.”
“Are we talking royalty, celebrity, or high-ranking official?”
“All of the above. It’s my mother.”
“Oh, God, you’re kidding? That’s wonderful. Does she live with you?”
“God no,” he cringed. “She and Gwenny don’t see eye to eye on much. In fact, the only reason she came in is, remember her brother? My uncle Irving?”
“Of course,” Shelby smiled. “The best part of summer was visiting him at the Jersey Shore.”
“I know.” Matty nodded. “Anyway, he just died of cancer, and she flew in for the funeral.”
“Uncle Irving died?” Shelby clutched her heart. “I am so sorry. I loved him.”
“Thank you, but he’d been sick for a long time. In the meantime, I have to take her back to La Guardia soon, and I want us all to have as much time as possible.”
“Aw, can’t James drive her?” Shelby pleaded.
“No, sorry. He has to clean the stables on Saturdays.”
Shelby laughed so hard she snorted.
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