“You wouldn’t. No. Duncan, no!” She shrieked, leaping out of bed.
“Good. I’ll make breakfast. Get going!”
“I have to make your lunch. At lunchtime, I’m going with Sherrie to the South Branchville library. Anne has a half day, so Diana’s going to pick up their passports. I’m bringing Anne back with me.”
“I can fend for myself. Don’t worry.” He kissed her.
“I could bring one of Lynn’s sandwiches for you,” she tempted. “Or you could settle for a meatloaf sandwich.”
“Lady Meara, it would never be settling to eat your cooking. I’ll take the meatloaf,” he said.
“Gallant as always, Sir Duncan.” She hugged him.
“Now take a shower.” He slapped her on the butt. “We shouldn’t be late.”
It had been a good week. They had announced their engagement to Tom, Lucy and Sherrie on Monday. There was an impromptu celebration with pizza and cake. Duncan braced himself when Meara chatted with Yolanda. He stood back while the two women squealed with delight. Yoli was so happy she cried and then Meara cried. He had to console them in two languages. When they had calmed down, he left them giggling in happiness.
Andrew, Lisa and Sean all called separately during the week to check on them. They wanted to know if Meara was feeling better. He assured them she was fine. He appreciated the fact his family loved Meara and had stood up for her. She deserved to be happy. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have found her. She was everything he had ever wanted and more.
He arrived at the library, first as usual. He liked it because it gave him time for one last kiss from Meara. He had been putting off making an important phone call all week. The Board wanted Meara to have a year of service, but they agreed she should be promoted to Assistant Director, based on her own merit. She appreciated his support of her career. She was willing to wait for the promotion. Now he was going to tell the Board president he was marrying her.
He saw why the mixing of personal and professional could get thorny. How would the Board react? He hoped it wouldn’t be a conflict, considering it was such a small town. What would they do if the Board thought it was a problem? He hoped the Board president would congratulate them and change the subject.
Around noon, Meara walked down to Duncan’s office. Sherrie and Meara were leaving to meet Diana and Anne. She knocked on Duncan’s door. Oddly, the door was closed.
“Come in,” he said quietly.
“Hi! We’re leaving now,” she said, noticing how upset he looked. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. That’s not true,” he said. “I spoke to the Board president. I told him we’re engaged.”
“What did he say?” she asked, smiling. “Congrats and when’s the big day?”
“No, he wants to speak to the full Board. He wants their input on whether or not it constitutes a conflict of interest. He’s questioning your promotion to Assistant Director. He’s wondering if my personal interest in you has clouded my judgment.”
She was instantly annoyed. “And if it’s a conflict of interest? They can’t stop us from being together. I don’t care if they promote me or not. All that matters is you think I can do it. You’ve never acted unprofessionally. You wouldn’t jeopardize our careers or the library in your actions. You’ve done your job, I’ve done my job and the library’s thriving. What more do they want?”
He sat silently, looking miserable. He shrugged.
“Would they fire me?” she asked, shocked.
“No. They would need grounds for firing you. I hired you for your abilities and checked your references. Your job’s secure. They may suggest one of us resign.”
“It’s not going to be you. I won’t let you,” she said. “You’re the best damn director I’ve ever known. This library needs you. We’ll talk about this later. Maybe the full Board won’t have a problem with it. Let’s not get worried before we have to or let it ruin our happiness. I’ll be back soon.”
She kissed him goodbye. He smiled wanly, hugging her.
“I love you, Meara,” he said sadly.
“And I love you, Duncan. Nothing will ever change that,” she said softly, kissing him again. “I’ll get Anne to cheer you up.”
He smiled. “I’d like that.”
Meeting Sherrie at the Circulation Desk, Meara’s face darkened. She was visibly upset.
Sherrie raised her eyebrows. “What’s up?”
“Duncan spoke to the Board president. The Board’s going to decide if our engagement constitutes a conflict of interest. I don’t care what they think about our relationship, I want them to know Duncan is always professional in his decisions regarding the library.”
“The Board president’s a stickler for rules. The other Board members have known Duncan for years. They’ll talk about it and throw you an engagement party. Trust me.”
“The library needs Duncan more than it needs me. I’ll resign and volunteer as the director’s wife.”
“The library needs you both. You’re the best team I’ve ever seen. The Board wouldn’t mess with that. Tom, Lucy and I would raise holy Hell if they did.”
“Thanks, Sherrie. I hope you’re right.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Meara, Sherrie and Anne returned from South Branchville. Meara nodded to Tom and Lucy. Sherrie pulled Anne in the direction of the Youth Services Department. It was going to be a difficult afternoon for everyone. Duncan’s door was closed.
“Is he in there?” Meara asked Tom.
“He’s in there. There was a phone call from Russell,” said Tom. “I figured he called to congratulate Duncan on the engagement.”
“Shit. I don’t think so, Tom,” replied Meara, grimacing. “I’m in big trouble.”
She knocked. She opened and closed the door behind her. Duncan was sitting at his desk, looking extremely angry.
“Hi. I ran into Russell. I tried avoiding him, but he found me,” she said sheepishly.
“I heard. He called after you left there. I’m deciding what I should do,” he said through gritted teeth. “Is it true?”
“Yes, it’s true. I’m sorry, Duncan,” she said sadly, hanging her head.
“I can’t believe it. You’ve been LYING to me? I thought you LOVED me,” he yelled.
“What are you talking about? I haven’t lied to you. I do love you. I’m confused.” She threw up her hands.
“How can I trust you? You’ve been using me. You’re waiting for me to retire so you can be Director. You’re ambitious, cold, and calculating.” His voice was strained, his eyes tearing up.
She was horrified. “What the HELL are you talking about? What did Russell say to you?”
She collapsed into a chair by his desk. She was shaking. This was spiraling out of control. She didn’t know what to do.
“Why don’t you tell me what Russell said? I’m not sure I’d believe anything you say. Your mother was right. It was only a matter of time before you showed your true colors,” he sneered.
It was as if he had slapped her across the face. She was gulping for air, her eyes full of tears. Swaying as she sat in the chair, she gripped the edge of his desk. He had been upset about the Board president, but now he was raging at her. It broke her heart to know he was having doubts again.
“Asking you to marry me was a mistake. I should have realized you were too good to be true. You’ve played me for a fool. An old, doddering fool. You’ve hurt me, Meara,” he hissed.
She whispered, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If that’s how you feel, then I don’t have anything to say to you. I’m not going to defend myself because you won’t believe me anyway. I don’t know what Russell told you. I’m not sure it matters. You’ve made up your mind.”
She wanted to run. She didn’t want to believe he was saying what he was saying. She had to get out of there. Sniffling, she grabbed a pad of paper from his desk. With tears running down her cheeks, she scrawled a few sentences and signed it. She threw the pad in front of h
im. She slipped off her engagement ring and heart necklace. She took keys out of her pocket.
“I’m not wearing the earrings, but I’ll get them back to you. Here are the keys to the library and to your house.” She choked. “Goodbye, Duncan. This would be easier if I never saw you again.”
“Goodbye, Meara,” he said heartlessly. “I’ll give your resignation to the Board. It’s courtesy to give two weeks’ notice, but you’ve never played by the rules, have you?”
“I guess I don’t.” She walked out of the office with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Tom and Lucy had heard Duncan yelling, but they couldn’t tell what was going on. The sight of Meara crying bewildered them.
Meara weakly waved. “Goodbye, guys.”
She made it to the Youth Services office. When she saw Sherrie, she sobbed uncontrollably. Sherrie threw up her hands. Meara took great gulps of air, rocking back and forth in her office chair.
“What’s wrong?” asked Sherrie, throwing her arms around Meara. “You told him, right?”
“I tried to tell him. I don’t know what Russell told him. I’m leaving,” she whimpered.
“Good. Go home, and you’ll talk about it tonight. Give Duncan some space.” Sherrie nodded her head.
“No, I’m leaving. He won’t have to worry about our jobs. I gave back the ring. No matter what I do, he’ll always have doubts. It’s better this way. Goodbye, Sherrie.” She sniffed. “Anne? Let’s go.”
Anne saw Meara’s face. The last time she looked that way was when Hank died. Anne was instantly frightened.
She grabbed Meara’s hand. “Where are we going?”
“Home,” Meara said as they headed for the front door.
“MEARA!” Sherrie cried, following behind. “Don’t go. Tom, Lucy, talk some sense into her.”
Tom asked, “What’s going on?”
Lucy said, “This doesn’t look good. What did Russell do now?”
“She’s leaving. She quit. They broke up,” Sherrie rambled. “I can’t believe Duncan’s on Russell’s side. I thought Duncan might be disappointed, but not this.”
The three of them watched Meara leave. Anne trotted to keep up with her. Tom and Lucy were still in shock, but Sherrie was mad. She marched to Duncan’s door and banged on it several times.
“Duncan, I’m coming in and you better not stop me,” Sherrie said, swinging the door open.
“I would rather not be disturbed,” he said.
“Tough shit,” she said as she slammed the door shut. “What the hell is going on?”
“I’m not sure it’s any of your business,” he replied.
“You bet the hell it is. I was there when Russell spoke with Meara. I KNOW what happened. You’re mad at her for giving him a piece of her mind? For defending you against that jackass? I want to know what Russell told you.”
His rage cooled slightly. “What are you talking about? She defended me? That’s not what Russell said happened.”
“You, IDIOT. You believed Russell over Meara? We met Diana and Anne. Russell found Meara. He noticed the ring. She told him about the engagement. He asked her if she was looking for another job. He hasn’t hired a Youth Services person and now needs an Assistant Director too. He hinted he would combine the jobs for her. She told him he was stupid and would never work for him. He got mad. He asked if she was waiting for old Duncan to retire to take your job. She bit his head off. She said she would never work for anyone else. She said you’re twice the director Russell is or ever will be. Russell should quit because he’s useless. You could run this library and Russell’s without breaking a sweat. Russell was fuming. Meara ripped him a new one right on the floor of his own library and he deserved it. I heard clapping from his staff. She crossed the line. She knew you’d be disappointed with her for losing her temper. But I tell you, Russell had to be put in his place and she did a good job. What did Russell tell you what happened?”
Duncan’s anger turned to cold chills. “Russell called to congratulate me on the engagement. He said he ran into Meara. He asked her to consider working for him as Assistant Director and Head of Youth Services. She said she would. He asked her if she was waiting to take my job when I retired. He said she said that’s what the plan was. He warned me about trusting her, that she was ambitious.”
“And you believed him over the woman you’re supposed to love.”
“She admitted it was true.”
“What was she admitting? To the lies Russell told you? Or to what she had done and was afraid you’d be mad at her for doing? She loved and respected you enough to fight for you. Now you’ve lost her from your library and your life because you believed Russell’s lies. Meara’s right. You’ll never stop doubting. She’s better off without you. I’ll stay until you find someone to replace us, but then I’m gone too.”
Panicked, his mouth fell open. “What can I do?”
“Nothing. You’ve done more than enough. Leave her alone,” she snapped.
Sherrie’s cell phone rang. She frowned when she saw who was calling. She answered it.
“Meara? Anne. What’s wrong? Slow down. What happened? Oh no. Duncan’s right here. Speak to Anne. Meara’s hurt herself. Pretty badly. Anne’s hysterical.”
He grabbed the phone. “Anne? What’s wrong? There’s blood? Her head? Anne, calm down and listen to me. Get towels and cover anything that’s bleeding. We’ll be right there.”
He hung up, handing the phone back to Sherrie. He opened his office door, slamming it against the wall. At the Circulation Desk where they were waiting anxiously, Tom and Lucy jumped.
Duncan roared. “Tom, get Meara’s emergency contact information. Call Diana and Ben. Tell them to meet us at the hospital. Meara’s had an accident at her house. Lucy, call 911. Tell them she hurt herself and there’s blood. Sherrie, you’re with me to calm Anne down.”
“Tom, call the police department and tell them Duncan is about to break the land speed record and not to stop him,” Sherrie said grimly. “Right now, Duncan, I hate you. This is your fault.”
“I know. I hate myself. Let’s get to Meara,” Duncan said.
Duncan sped to Meara’s house while Sherrie held on for dear life. He barely slowed down on the driveway, slamming to a halt when he saw Anne standing in Meara’s doorway. She had blood smeared on the front of her t-shirt.
“No,” Duncan whispered. “Please, no. No.”
Remembering Meara’s father, Duncan wondered if she would have tried to hurt herself. He shook his head free from negative thoughts and jumped out of the car. Duncan and Sherrie ran to Anne. She was swaying back and forth. Sherrie grabbed her, pulling her close.
“She’s in the bathroom. In the tub,” Anne mumbled, in shock.
“You two stay here and make sure the paramedics find the house. With the snow, they might not see the house back here,” Duncan said.
He pushed past them, entering the house. The living room was a mess. Meara’s coat and purse were thrown on the floor. One shoe was against the back of the sofa. The Swear Jar from the mantel was now in a million pieces on the floor. There was glass and coins everywhere. He spotted her other shoe among the debris. She must have thrown it and hit the Swear Jar. He followed a bloody trail down the hallway. The trail went in the hall bathroom. He saw her hand sticking out of the tub. It was covered in blood.
He ran into the bathroom, recoiling in horror when he saw her. She was lying on her back in the bottom of the tub. Her head was at an odd angle against the side of the tub, a bloodied towel propped underneath it. There was a smear of blood across the wall of the shower. Her feet were wrapped in soaking red towels. He saw a wrench in the bottom of the tub. The shower head was damaged as were several tiles on the wall.
It looked like she had thrown a shoe and hit the Swear Jar. She had walked on the glass, cut her foot and went to the bathroom to clean it up. She saw Ben had not fixed the shower, so she had taken a whack at fixing it herself, literally. She must have dropped the wrench on her oth
er foot and bent over to retrieve it. Then she hit her forehead, fell backwards and hit the back of her head. She had passed out cold.
He didn’t want to move her until the paramedics came. Her neck and spine could be injured. The amount of blood on the towels made him nervous. He wanted her to open her eyes.
“Meara? Sweetheart? What have you done? Wake up. Speak to me. Please, Meara,” he cooed, stroking her cheek. “I’m so sorry. I love you.”
“Who are you?” Her eyes fluttered. “What happened? Why does my head hurt?”
“It’s me, Duncan,” he said anxiously. “You’ve had an accident.”
“Where am I? I’m sorry, I don’t know you,” she said, raising her head. “Why do my feet hurt?”
“Honey, you’ve had an accident. You hurt your feet and your head. You have a nasty gash on your forehead.”
“Are you a doctor or something? Why are you in my house? Why are you calling me honey?”
“Please tell me you’re joking. You’re mad, so you’re punishing me.” He held her hand.
“I don’t know who you are. Let go of my hand, please.”
Horrified, Duncan was saved by the arrival of the paramedics. They asked him to step away from Meara. He hovered nearby. Anne appeared, grasped his arm and buried her face in his shirt. Sherrie was in the hallway, pacing.
“What happened here?” asked the male paramedic.
Duncan explained his theory. He said Meara didn’t recognize him.
The female paramedic asked, “Is she on any medications?”
Blushing, he hoped Anne wouldn’t hear. “Birth control pill.”
Nodding, the female paramedic whispered, “Could she be pregnant?”
“I don’t think so, but it’s a possibility,” he replied quietly.
“Was this a suicide attempt?” asked the male paramedic.
Duncan raised Anne’s chin to look into her eyes. “Was she trying to hurt herself?”
“No, she was mad and upset. It was an accident,” Anne cried. “It’s my fault. She told me to be quiet, but I kept pushing. She hurt herself because of me.”
“No, I upset your aunt. It’s my fault.” He hung his head, hugging Anne.
The Swear Jar Page 40