by Judith Keim
Sukie couldn’t hide her surprise. “Why would you think that? And, Cam, I could never go back to Ted Skidmore, no matter how much he threatens to take the house away from me.”
Cam frowned. “He’s threatening you? Maybe he’s the one sending those nasty notes. Don’t count that out. I’ve seen the looks he’s given you, seen his anger.”
A niggling thought entered Sukie’s mind. With her out of the picture, Ted would have the house free and clear and no alimony to pay. A shudder danced across her shoulders. No new notes had shown up lately, but maybe they’d been wrong about it being Lynn’s ex. The man she’d married was someone she didn’t know anymore.
Cam tilted Sukie’s chin and placed his warm, soft lips on hers. All worrisome thoughts evaporated as he told her how much he cared. Locked in his embrace, she thought of only him.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
LYNN
Lynn sat in her dark apartment in a complete funk. Seeing and hearing what Tiffany was going through had brought back many unhappy memories. Like Tiffany, she’d started out thinking she’d found the man she could happily live with for the rest of her life.
Caught up in the past, Lynn paced the living room. Maybe if Buck hadn’t been a long-distance truck driver, things might have been different. But he’d come back after being away for several days and had quizzed her—asking her who she’d seen, what she’d done in his absence and why she hadn’t answered the phone every time he’d called. That was how it had started.
Then he became suspicious of anyone she knew, claiming she was out to hurt him. He even refused to believe Misty, sweet, precious Misty, wasn’t the child of their next door neighbor back in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She’d tried to tell him there was nothing going on between her and Jack Spofford. In fact, Lynn had always suspected Jack was gay, but Buck wouldn’t listen to her or anyone else.
Lynn went into the kitchen and washed her hands, remembering how bloody they’d been when Buck had exploded one day and chased after her with a knife, threatening to kill her. She’d fought him with every bit of strength she’d had. Thank God neighbors had called the police when they’d heard her screams.
She dried her hands and headed back to the living room. Even with the hope the women in Fat Fridays tried to give her, she’d lived with being hunted down for so long she couldn’t believe she’d survive. Time was against her. She was sure he’d eventually find her. Those were the odds, pure and simple.
She peered through the curtains in her bedroom to the darkness outside and wondered where that sick, brutal man was.
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
CAROL ANN
My life might as well be over.
Gasping for breath, Carol Ann hung up her office phone and gripped the edge of her desk, holding on as the room spun in sickening circles.
Staggering, she hurried to the ladies room and threw up. Washing up afterward, her stomach heaved in dry gulps at the thought of having to tell anyone what she’d just found out. She’d been such a stupid fool.
One of the girls in the office opened the door to the bathroom. “There you are, Carol Ann. Ed needs to see you in his office.”
Carol Ann patted wet cold paper towels against her face and braced herself for the meeting with her boss. She took another glance at herself in the mirror and tried to smile. She didn’t want anyone else to know about the disaster called her life. She needed time to sort things out. Telling herself to be brave, she took a deep breath and made her way to Ed’s office.
“Carol Ann! Come in!” Ed said, looking up from the papers on his desk. His smile became a frown. “Anything wrong?”
Carol Ann shook her head and burst into tears.
Ed rose from behind his desk and closed the door. “What’s going on? Anything you want to tell me?”
“No...yes...maybe...” Carol Ann dabbed at her eyes, willing them to stop flooding. It’s... I’ve been robbed,” she finally got out.
“What! Have you called security?” Ed sank down in his chair and gave her a worried look. “What happened? Can I do something for you?” Ed’s offer of help brought fresh tears to her eyes.
He handed Carol Ann a bunch of tissues. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.” His tone was gentle, threatening more tears.
Carol Ann drew a trembling breath. “I called the furniture company to verify delivery of my new furniture and found out my boyfriend had cancelled the order. I told the woman on the phone there must be some mistake. John had told me the arrangements were all set. He’d said we’d get a big discount for paying with cash.”
She took a shuddering breath. “The woman said, ‘Honey, that’s one of the oldest scams going. You’d better check out the story with your guy.’ I tried to call John but...but his cell number has been disconnected.” Carol Ann couldn’t stop tears from rolling down her cheeks. “Yesterday I gave him a check for $8,000.” Feeling sick all over again, she buried her face in her hands.
Ed’s voice broke through the haze that surrounded her. “Well, now, let’s see if we can stop payment on that check. Give me the name of the bank and the account number. Maybe we can catch the bastard.”
Carol Ann looked up, surprised at the anger in Ed’s voice, the way his nostrils flared. She gave him the information and sat back as he made the call, seeing him in a different light. She’d made fun of him with the ladies in the Fat Fridays group. Now, seeing him in action as he tried to help her, he seemed almost...well...nice looking. Nobody had ever fought for her like this.
Ed hung up the phone and shook his head. “Too late. The check has already been cashed. Anything else you need to worry about, Carol Ann?”
She let out a trembling sigh and the whole story came tumbling out. “I was so stupid. He didn’t want to date me exclusively. He wanted my money. Me and my big mouth. I told him on our first date that I had a lot of money saved up for a house. Then he went and stole it.” Her voice rose as it hit her all over again. “Do you know how long it took me to save up that much money?”
Ed’s expression grew grim. “Think now. What else might he have done? Where was the furniture to be delivered? Do you have any liability anywhere else?”
Carol Ann’s mind raced. “He wanted me to sign my name on the lease for the condo. Thank God I didn’t. He has no other information of mine that I know of.”
“You’d better call the bank to make sure you’re protected on all your credit cards and accounts. Do you have anything left in the condo? You should probably get it out of there.” He studied her a moment. “Give me a minute. I’ll cancel my meeting and we’ll go together.”
“I’ll meet you in the parking lot.” Carol Ann felt weak with relief she wouldn’t have to go to the condo alone. She left Ed, went to get her purse and quickly headed out the door before anyone could ask any questions.
Ed arrived in the parking lot a few moments later. “I’ll drive.” He led Carol Ann to a silver BMW.
As they drove into the condo complex, Carol Ann’s throat tightened. She’d had such high hopes of living there. Ed noticed her reaction and gave her an encouraging pat on the back.
They entered the condo, and Carol Ann steeled herself. Disappointment sank into her stomach heavy as a rock. She’d left a few items in the kitchen along with her CD player. Ed was right. She needed to remove any trace of her presence there. She suspected John had run off without paying the rent.
“Nice place,” Ed commented, walking into the living room. “Mind if I look around?”
Carol Ann shook her head and hurried into the kitchen and grabbed a box. Glasses, a few plates, dish towels, silverware and other items were still where she’d left them. She quickly gathered them up and looked for her CD player.
She climbed the stairs, hating the emptiness of the condo. It matched the emptiness inside her.
The master bedroom was cleared of any signs that a man named John had lived there. No air mattress, no television, no clothes in the closet. No CD player of hers!
Carol Ann sank
to the floor and let the tears flow. He’d taken it, along with her money, her pride, her dreams, her hopes.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
SUKIE
Sukie was immersed in budget details for the summer children’s program when she received a call from Tiffany. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Tiffany said, “but Carol Ann is in Ed Pritchard’s office, crying. But the real reason I called was to tell you I won’t be home for dinner. I’m going to get my hair cut. This long hair is too hot and hard to deal with now that I’m getting big with the baby. I don’t have to please Beau anymore, so I can do what I want with it.”
Sukie hung up, amused. She’d always thought at this stage of her life she’d be slowing down and living a simpler life, but she seemed to be going backwards—dating a younger man, mothering his three-year-old daughter and sharing a house with a woman her daughter’s age.
After work, Sukie went to see baby Jonathan. She tried to stop by every day or so to see him. Holding him in her arms, she reveled at how much he looked like his father. A deep love stirred inside her as she caressed his soft cheeks. Babies always reminded her of possibilities.
In her arms, the baby stared at her, his dark eyes studying her seriously. She smiled, certain he knew who she was. She kissed his soft, precious cheek.
After leaving Rob’s house, Sukie drove home. As she entered her driveway, Betsy pulled up behind her, got out of the car and came right over to her. “Can we talk?”
Noting the concern on Betsy’s face, Sukie said, “Sure. Come on in.”
They sat outside on the patio in the shade, sipping cold sweet tea. A light breeze danced playfully around them and cooled their bodies, but its playfulness couldn’t erase Sukie’s worry.
“What’s going on, Betsy?”
Betsy cleared her throat. “I wanted to tell you myself. Karen is going to move in with me as soon as she can get out of her lease. There’s no point in trying to deal with Sarah. She’s still refusing to let me come to their house. Richie has finally agreed to bring the children to the park on Sunday afternoon. That’s the only way I’m going to see them.” Her voice grew shaky with emotion. “It’s like having visitation rights, for God’s sake. To think of all the weekends Sarah and Richie dumped the kids off so they could go away for a couple of days!”
Sukie studied her friend. Dark shadows colored the skin under Betsy’s eyes. Lines of worry etched her face.
“Will it make things worse to have Karen move in with you?” Sukie wished life wasn’t so difficult.
Betsy shrugged. “Richie has inherited some of his father’s basic fairness, but I can’t predict what Sarah will do. I figure there’s no reason to wait until everyone is used to the idea. That might never happen.”
Knowing Sarah as she did, Sukie doubted the two of them would ever come to an agreement.
“Something else,” said Betsy. “Carol Ann was crying in Ed Pritchard’s office this morning and I haven’t seen her all day.”
“Tiffany mentioned it, too. Maybe we’d better call her to make sure she’s all right.” Sukie punched in Carol Ann’s cell number.
Carol Ann answered on the first ring. “Oh, Sukie!” she wailed. “It’s awful! John took the money I gave him for furniture and skipped town.”
“What? How did that happen?” Sukie couldn’t believe that after all the warnings the women in Fat Fridays had given her, Carol Ann would just hand John money.
“I know what you’re thinking, but John told me a friend of his was picking up the furniture to save shipping costs. He said we’d get a deep discount for paying with cash. It seemed like a good deal, so I gave him a check.” Carol Ann’s words grew shaky.
A sick feeling crawled through Sukie. “Is all your money gone?”
“Most of it.” Carol Ann sniffled loudly.
“Oh, no! Can you stop payment on the check?”
“Ed Pritchard made a call to the bank, but it was too late. The jerk had already cashed it.”
Sukie’s heart sank. She knew what that money represented to Carol Ann. “How much did you lose?”
“Eight thousand dollars!”
“Oh, honey, that’s awful! Just awful!” Sukie shook her head, giving Betsy a thumbs-down sign.
“Sukie, he didn’t want to date me exclusively,” Carol Ann whispered, as if she couldn’t bear to say the words aloud. “He just wanted my money.”
Sukie ached for her. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Ed is going to help me sort things out. We may be able to press charges, if we can find out where the...the... bastard went.” Carol Ann lowered her voice. “Sukie, you wouldn’t believe how wonderful Ed has been to me.”
“That’s really nice,” Sukie said, and realized Carol Ann had just grown up a lot.
Betsy’s eyes were riveted on Sukie as she and Carol Ann murmured goodbyes. “Let me guess. John took the money for the furniture and ran off.”
Sukie nodded. “Bingo. Carol Ann has learned a hard lesson, but some good has come of it. She’s seeing Ed Pritchard in a whole new way.”
“Good for her!” Betsy checked her watch. “I know how disappointed she must be. I’ll call her later. Now, I’d better be going.”
Sukie walked Betsy to the door. “Cam’s picking me up soon. We’re going to have dinner at Bea’s tonight. Mid-week break.”
“Karen and I haven’t gone there yet, but someday we will,” said Betsy with a determination Sukie admired.
###
Sukie held Chloe’s hand as they entered Bea’s. When Chloe saw the lollipop basket by the cash register, she pulled away from Sukie and ran over to it.
“No, Chloe. Not now. After dinner, maybe,” Sukie said quietly, taking Chloe’s hand and leading her away.
“No-o-o-o-! Now!” Chloe let out a rebellious cry and continued crying as the hostess showed them to a table by the window and seated them. Sukie buckled Chloe in her booster seat and turned to see Ted striding toward them.
Ted glared at Sukie. “What are you doing here? With him? And her?”
Sukie’s temper rose. “This isn’t your private club, Ted. If you need to talk to me, you can call me at home.”
Ted’s mouth worked as if he wanted to say something nasty, but he turned and walked away.
Sukie breathed a sigh of relief. Tension between her and Ted was at a breaking point. Unless he backed off, it wouldn’t be long before she’d have to take him to court.
“Be careful, Sukie,” Cam said quietly, after she was seated. “He’s really, really frustrated. No doubt he realizes what he’s lost.” Cam gave her a “but-look-what-I’ve-found” smile that warmed her insides.
As they sat looking at menus, whispers circled around them. Sukie ignored the sound of them, along with the cold stares Ted assailed them with like missiles of hate. Her back straightened. She and Cam had every right to be together, in that restaurant, eating a nice Southern meal. The hell with what others might think of their relationship.
Ted left as Cam was paying the bill. Sukie watched him get into his car alone and was unable to prevent herself from comparing Ted to Cam—a comparison that wasn’t in Ted’s favor.
As Cam dropped Sukie off at her house, a Sheriff’s car slowly drove by. Sukie’s thoughts turned to the anonymous notes. Maybe Ted had been the one behind them all along, no matter what he claimed. The looks he’d given her at the restaurant were murderous.
Cam leaned over and gave her a kiss.
“Me, too, Sukie. I want a kiss,” said Chloe from her car seat in the back.
Cam and Sukie broke apart, laughing. Sukie blew noisy kisses to Chloe and got out of the car, waving goodbye until they’d driven too far for her to see.
Tiffany greeted Sukie at the front door. Her newly cut hair swung at her shoulders, giving her a carefree look. “Good news!” Tiffany’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Karen’s moving in with Betsy and she said I could sublet her apartment. And it’s at a price I can afford.”
“Wonderful!” said Sukie. “When is this going to happen?”
“Sometime in the next couple of weeks. I have to take care of some legal issues with Beau first, but he’s not fighting me on this.” She clasped her hands together. “I’m so relieved.”
“Great.” Sukie gave Tiffany a quick hug, surprised by how fast everything was moving. It all sounded simple. Too simple.
###
Cam called as Sukie was getting ready to leave work Friday afternoon. “I’m at Glenn’s Gourmet. How does Beef Wellington sound? That, a salad and a bottle of good red wine?”
“Wonderful.” Sukie smiled happily. Cam liked good food and wasn’t shy about working in the kitchen. It was just one more thing to love about him.
Sukie drove directly to Cam’s house. As she pulled into the driveway, Cam was carrying a couple bags of groceries inside. His eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Chloe’s preschool teacher invited her to sleep over, so we have the whole night to ourselves.” He gave her that sexy look she loved.
She grinned, grabbed the last two bags from the SUV and followed him inside. Cam took the bags from her, set them down on the counter and took her in his arms. His blue eyes danced with pleasure. “I have something very special planned.”
“Oh? A special dessert?” Cam had a sweet tooth and Glenn’s Gourmet was known for its excellent pastries.
Cam grinned. “Not exactly.” He took Sukie’s hand and led her upstairs.
Her pulse raced with anticipation. It was so nice to be alone with him.
Cam opened the door to his bedroom with a flourish. “For you.”
Sukie’s breath caught. The bedcovers on his king-size bed were turned down. Red rose petals formed a trail from the door to the bed and lay scattered atop the sheets. Unlit candles were placed on the bureau and table tops. A bucket of ice containing a bottle of champagne sat on the floor near the bed. Two tulip-stemmed glasses rested nearby.