They hadn’t steered her wrong. Her father had taken on a second job as an extra hand on a moving crew to earn extra money to help her pay for what her scholarship didn’t cover. Her mother had registered to do some weekend housecleaning. Pat had always been a good student, but she wasn’t as smart as Grace, who’d been awarded a full scholarship. Pat remembered protesting when Cleotha insisted that she learn to type back in high school. “I don’t want to be a secretary, Mama,” she’d said. “I want to go to college. I’m gonna be a lawyer.”
“And you will go to college, Pat. But it’s going to take a long time to get your law degree. It won’t hurt for you to have a back-up skill.”
Cleotha had been right. Not only did Pat, who typed ninety words a minute, make a nice amount of money typing up term papers for her fellow students, but she did temporary office work during school vacations.
Pat knew her parents loved her and wanted the best for her, but Grace was right. It was time to let them know they weren’t the engineers of her life.
Chapter 53
Late November
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Susan looked up when Bruce returned. “Anything wrong?”
“Yes. There’s a problem at the office. I’m afraid I’ve got to get up there.”
“But it’s a holiday,” Frances McMillan protested.
“I know, Miss Frances. But people are always using their credit cards. Money never sleeps. I’ll try to get back. Y’all just go ahead and watch the movie without me.”
Susan’s father, sister, and brother-in-law expressed regrets that he had to leave, but Susan said nothing. She didn’t believe it.
It certainly hadn’t taken Bruce long to find another sweetie to cuddle up with. Susan deduced that the time Bruce spent at home last summer happened only because he and his flame of the moment had broken up. The one he’d replaced her with must be plenty demanding, for he spent more time than ever away from home. She didn’t think he’d have the nerve to leave on Thanksgiving when they were hosting her entire family, but here he was, leaving again. Work, my ass.
Bruce still hadn’t returned by the time the family had their dessert and went home, all except for Frances, who was staying with them so she and Susan could hit the stores before daylight the next morning. Frances went to bed early, and Quentin and Alyssa stayed up watching TV. Susan retired to her bedroom and tried to read, but her thoughts kept going to Charles. How had he spent the holiday? Did he and Douglas call a truce long enough for them to sit down to dinner with their mother and Douglas’s wife and daughter? Most important, had he been thinking of her?
No, that’s not right. He shouldn’t be thinking of me. He’s supposed to move on, find himself a nice girl, and settle down. Their romance simply wasn’t meant to be. The first time she’d walked out on Charles, and now he’d walked out on her after she said something that he no doubt interpreted as an attack on his ability to provide. At least, she thought sadly, they were even.
Susan’s plan called for her to start looking for full-time work in March. She wanted six months of recent experience on her resume to convince prospective employers that she knew how accounting was handled in today’s market. At that time she’d tell Bruce that she wanted a divorce.
The timing would work out perfectly. She was due for her next six-month cancer screening in March. If she received another clean bill of health, she’d move on. If she didn’t, well, she wasn’t exactly stuck, but there seemed little point in starting a new life if not much time remained.
Chapter 54
Late November
Chicago
Pat went into Andy’s kitchen to get matches for the candles. She and Andy were hosting their first joint get-together: a postdinner Thanksgiving cocktail party at his town house. She’d eaten with her parents, and he with his, but their situations differed in that Kurt and Renate Keindl had come to their party, while only Cleotha represented the Maxwells.
Pat had brought her mother herself after Moses flatly refused to attend. He seemed shocked by Cleotha’s insistence; she had deferred to his wishes throughout most of their long marriage.
“Your father is just being stubborn, Pat,” she said on the ride over. “He’ll come around. Don’t worry.”
Pat was glad to have her mother present. She’d been a little worried about meeting the senior Keindls for the first time. In addition, Andy’s ex-wife and her husband had driven down from Buffalo Grove to drop off his daughters, who would spend the rest of the weekend with him, and stopped in to have a drink.
The swinging door opened as Pat rummaged through the drawer. “Hey, you all right in here?”
“Oh, yeah. I just want to light the candles.” She held up a grill lighter. “Voilà!”
“I just wanted to make sure nothing’s wrong.”
She knew he was referring to her father’s absence, plus unexpectedly having to meet his ex-wife face-to-face. “You are so thoughtful. No wonder I love you so much.”
He bent to kiss her, then spontaneously pulled her into his arms for a quick embrace. “I’ll go with you when you bring your mother home. Then I’m expecting you to spend the night with me.”
“But Lauren and Kaitlyn are here. I figured I’d just go home.”
“I’m tired of doing that. My daughters aren’t babies, Pat. They know the facts of life. I don’t think we have to tiptoe around protocol.”
She shrugged. “If you’re sure it’s all right . . . okay.” She really didn’t think it was a big deal, but she wasn’t a parent and was prepared to defer to his judgment where his children were concerned. She’d once mishandled a similar situation, disagreeing with a date’s rules for his kids in front of the youngsters, which put the relationship on a downward slide from which it never recovered. She didn’t want to repeat that error with Andy.
It amazed her how happy she was, now that she’d gotten rid of her baggage and given her full emotions free rein to love Andy. She still remembered what he’d said the night he brought her home after their disastrous dinner at Nirvana: “I’m in love with you, Pat. It really hurt me to see you reduced to a quivering mass of Jell-O because you saw an old boyfriend, especially one from such a long time ago. Maybe you don’t feel the same way about me. I could try to win you over, but experience has taught me that if a woman is hung up on another man there’s no point in going on. I know you’re denying it, but the way you reacted shows you’re still hung up on him.” Then he’d kissed her cheek. “When you get over him, give me a call. Maybe I’ll still be around.”
He’d been so honest with her, and yet she was unable to admit that she still had feelings for Ricky. Her instinct told her that Andy was telling her the truth when he said he was in love with her, and as happy as that made her, she’d nonetheless held back on committing her heart to him, and she didn’t understand why.
When Grace confessed to her that she’d had an affair with Ricky, Pat had her answer. In the deepest recesses of her heart she’d still hoped for the happy ending with Ricky. His acquiring of two wives wasn’t even enough to get her to drop a notion that anyone with half a brain would recognize as ridiculous, but learning that he’d slept with Grace did the trick.
Pat then shared the details with Elyse, who’d been the one to tell her years ago that she’d seen Grace at the movies with Douglas Valentine. This happened after Susan broke up with him, but Elyse didn’t know whether she should tell Susan or not. She’d called Pat to seek advice. Neither of them felt it was right for Grace to date Susan’s ex. In the end they decided to tell Susan about it, and they were surprised when Susan didn’t seem fazed.
Like Grace, Elyse had also urged Pat to make up with Andy. “He cares about you very much, and no man wants to feel that the object of his affection is pining for someone else.”
She was awfully wise, that Elyse. Pat hoped she would make it down to the party. Franklin’s condition had deteriorated, and Elyse had said that he might not even live out the year. Thank God Elyse is get
ting moral support from her children, Susan, and me. Even Grace tried to spend more time with her, heading off to Lake Forest after work.
Pat hoped Elyse would heed Susan’s advice and stay away from Kevin Nash. She had nothing against Kevin, but he’d done so little with his life, and Elyse had accumulated so much. It just seemed like an ill-fated match, whether Franklin was alive or not.
Susan had told Pat she wouldn’t be able to make it to the get-together, but Grace was coming. Pat couldn’t wait. She had a surprise for her.
In the living room, Pat stopped to chat with a few of their guests. She noticed her mother talking with the Keindls and Glenn Arterbridge, and Andy’s ex and her husband talking with some of his friends, and Andy with one of her fellow prosecutors. They’d assembled an eclectic mix of people, and it seemed to be working. Lauren and Kaitlyn passed hors d’oeuvres to the guests. A mixture of jazz and standards played in the background on CDs that had been specially downloaded through a paid service. Pat smiled as Glenn and her mother began to dance to Nnenna Freelon’s cover of “If I Had You.” The party was on. Grace, as usual, was late.
Cleotha cornered Pat a half hour later. “Congratulations, dear. It’s a lovely party. And your boyfriend is a delight. He’s paid special attention to me and really makes me feel special.”
“You are special, Mama.”
“And his parents seem like nice people. Of course, I don’t know what they’ll say to each other privately—”
“Oh, Mama, look. Grace is finally here.” Pat said a silent prayer of thanks for Grace’s well-timed arrival.
Grace handed her coat to Kaitlyn and nodded to people she passed as she made her way to Pat. As usual, she looked lovely, today in an angora sweater dress belted at the waist and suede boots. “Hi! Sorry I’m late.”
“I know you wouldn’t have it any other way,” Pat said affectionately as Grace embraced Cleotha.
“Where’s Mr. Maxwell?” she asked, glancing about.
“He’s at home. But there are some other people I’d like you to meet,” Pat said quickly before Grace could ask any more questions.
“Oh. Sure!”
“Will you excuse us, Mama?”
“Go ahead. I’m going to flag down the girls for another one of those celery sticks. I love the filling.”
Pat introduced Grace to the friends of hers and Andy’s whom she hadn’t met. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Glenn approaching.
“Hello, Grace.”
Pat was supposed to be following the conversation, but she couldn’t resist sneaking a look at Grace’s expression when she saw Glenn. The judge had increasingly lost weight over the past year and had reduced considerably. He was still a large man and probably would never be lighter than two-fifty, but he had lost the rotund center that Grace had found so unappealing.
Grace, as Pat expected, didn’t hide her shock. Her eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped. “Glenn! I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve lost quite a bit of weight, haven’t you?”
“Well, I was having difficulty getting a date, and I had a feeling it had to do with my physique.” He held out his hand. “Dance with me, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
She took his hand and he led her to a cleared area of the room.
Andy appeared at Pat’s side and poked her waist with his elbow. “They look good together.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“Do I sense a little matchmaking in play here?”
“Glenn had been asking me about Grace. I thought it might do her good to get a look at his ‘after’ self, since she wasn’t interested when he was so heavy.” She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. “Can you blame me for wanting everyone to be as happy as I am?”
“Hi, Pat. I made it.”
She looked up to see Elyse, but her face froze when she recognized Elyse’s companion.
Kevin Nash.
Chapter 55
Elyse thanked Kevin as she reached for the drink he’d prepared for her. She spoke with Cleotha Maxwell, accepting her good wishes for Franklin’s health and explaining that his daughter Rebecca was sitting with him. Cleotha seemed sincere, but her eyes kept going over to Kevin, who was charming another group. Elyse knew Pat’s mother wondered who this man was who’d escorted her. “I don’t know if you remember Kevin Nash. He went to school with all of us.”
Cleotha frowned. “I can’t say that I do. Did his family live in Dreiser?”
“No. They had a house a block from where I moved when we left the projects. Anyway, he’s been very helpful to me since Franklin has been ill. He’s helped me understand illness from a man’s perspective.”
“I see. Elyse, would you mind terribly if I went to sit down? I’m getting a little woozy. It must be the wine.” She chuckled.
“Not at all. You go right ahead.” Elyse caught Pat’s eye and saw her cock her head toward the hallway. She’d been waiting for this. Pat wanted to know what was going on.
As Elyse entered Andy’s home office at the front of the town house, she saw that Grace also wanted to know, for both of her friends sat in wait.
Elyse had barely closed the door behind her for privacy when Pat began. “Elyse, is everything all right?”
“Of course.”
“You didn’t leave Franklin by himself, did you?”
“Of course not. Rebecca is with him. My kids went to the movies with some friends. I had to get out of there. He was brutal to me.” Her face contorted as she tried to hold back the tears. “I was starting to put it behind me until you brought it up. Thanks a lot, Pat.”
“I’m sorry, Elyse. I’m just so shocked to see you here.”
“Me, too,” Grace echoed.
“I felt safer if Kevin was with me, so I called. He and his son were at his parents’ house, but getting ready to leave.”
“He has a son?” Grace asked.
“Yeah, with Lucy Key. He’s grown now, in his late twenties.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Lucy, yeah. I think she’s a great-grandmother by now.”
“Grace, we all know that Lucy had her first baby at thirteen, but that’s not what we’re here to discuss,” Pat said sternly. “The important thing is Elyse.” She turned to their friend. “Is there anything we can do?”
“Nothing. I appreciate your asking, but if you’ll excuse me, Kevin is probably starting to wonder where I’ve gone.” She left the room.
Pat and Grace looked at each other. “My God, what do you suppose Franklin said to her?” Grace asked.
“I don’t know, but it must have been pretty damn awful for her to run to Kevin.”
“He’s good-looking and charming, but there’s something about him that bothers me, Pat.”
“I feel the same way. But we’ve done all we could. It’s up to Elyse now.”
The party broke up around eleven. Andy and Pat walked out with the remainder of their guests—his parents and ex-wife had left quite some time earlier, and Cleotha was clearly ready to go home. Andy and Pat were driving her.
Elyse said good night to her friends. She tossed her car keys to Kevin. “You know how to get back to your apartment better than I do.”
“So Pat’s got herself a white boy, huh?” he remarked during the drive.
“Yes. They seem very happy.”
“The brothers not good enough for her?”
“I don’t think it’s that, Kevin.” She hoped he wouldn’t say anything else; she really didn’t feel like talking. Now that they’d left the party, melancholy had started to set in.
She couldn’t remember a worse holiday. First of all, Frankie had asked if his mother, Carolyn, could join them for dinner. Elyse agreed, although less than thrilled with the idea. Normally Frankie, his family, and Rebecca dined with Carolyn, but because of Franklin’s illness both of his older children wished to spend Thanksgiving with him.
He’d come to the table in elastic-waist drawstring pants and a long-sleeved polo shirt and ate next to nothing. Elyse sat seeth
ing on the opposite end of the table as Carolyn, who managed to seat herself on Franklin’s left, fussed over him and fed him small bites of food.
After dinner Franklin sat up briefly, but eventually had to take a pill for his bone pain and went to bed. Shortly afterward, Brontë came to Elyse in tears. She and Todd wanted to go to the movies along with a group of their friends, and Rebecca had commented that their doing so suggested they didn’t care about their father.
That bitch, Elyse thought. To Brontë she said, “You two run along. Don’t you worry about Rebecca. I’ll set her straight.”
She waited until after the kids left before confronting her stepdaughter, who was sitting in the living room with Carolyn and had been jumping up every fifteen minutes to go check on Franklin. Rebecca had been annoying Elyse all afternoon with that dutiful-daughter routine, at one point even saying to Elyse, “I just checked on him, he’s fine,” when Elyse headed for the bedroom. She’d simply ignored her stepdaughter and the dramatic sharp intake of breath she knew had come from Carolyn.
Frankie and his family had already gone, headed to spend some time with his in-laws, by the time Todd and Brontë left. Elyse decided to speak in front of Carolyn. “Rebecca, Brontë told me what you said to her. I think it’s despicable for you to say such a thing.”
“Now, wait a minute, Elyse—”
“No, you wait a minute. How dare you suggest to Brontë that she and Todd don’t care about their father because they wanted to see a movie. How many times have you been to a show on the days you don’t get up here? Todd and Brontë have been here every single weekend for months now, all the way from Champaign; while you aren’t able to make it all the time just from Evanston because you’ve got plans. So do you want to tell me again who’s showing the most concern?”
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