Sybil at Sixteen (15 page)

“I said I'd known Nick Sebastian as long as anyone else here,” Clark said. “But of course, I never really knew him. Meg did, and perhaps his daughters, but no one else was really allowed to know him. I confronted him once, when we were both young men, and he declared that he had created himself, and in many ways that was true. He was endlessly contradictory. I've never known a more handsome, self-assured man, yet I cannot remember ever seeing him look in a mirror. In his years with Meg, he was happy, but his smiles were so rare, they seemed like precious gifts. He dazzled people, but in many ways, he was more substantial, more down-to-earth, than most other men.”

I will not cry, Sybil thought. I will not believe this is happening.

“I suppose my favorite image of Nick will always be the time I found him diapering Thea,” Clark said. “Evvie was three, and Meg was pregnant with Claire. I don't recall what city they were living in then, or what the occasion was for my visit. But Nick was standing at the changing table, with Evvie clamoring for his attention, and Meg complaining about the lack of really fine evening gowns for pregnant women, and Nick was smiling that rare beautiful smile of his, cleaning and wiping Thea and changing her diaper, and all that time he was wearing his tuxedo. I envied him that day, and I was right to. Nick Sebastian led an enviable life. Thank you.”

Then Kip got up and walked to the front. “My name is Paul Dozier,” he said. “I'm a friend of Thea's. I wanted to come here when I heard about Nick because of something he did for me.”

Sybil noticed Thea tilting her head. Even Evvie looked interested.

“My mother died a year ago,” Kip said. “I told Thea. It was a bad time for me. Well, I suppose it always is when your mother dies. But I had a complicated relationship with mine, and I hadn't seen her in a while. Thea told her parents. They were living in Oregon then. Nick called me, and asked what he could do to help. I didn't know him real well. We'd met back in Briarton. I'd had dinner with them a couple of times, and I'd liked him. He said we had a lot in common, and that made me feel better about myself, because times were pretty awful then, and I could see he was happy. It made me feel that things might work out for me, too. But he didn't have to make that call, and he didn't say anything polite and meaningless like, ‘Let me know if I can be of any assistance.' He asked me what he could do, and I told him I was having trouble tracking down my sister, who was living in California. Nick found her for me. I still don't know how. He paid for her airfare, and mine, so we could have some kind of funeral. I don't know how he managed that, either, since money was tight for them then. But what I'll always remember is he sent flowers. I know that may sound like nothing to you, and there are lots of flowers here, but the flowers Nick sent were the only ones my mother got. And there was a note with them about how brave my mother had been and how much he'd admired her during my sister Gina's illness. I still have that note. I keep it in my wallet.”

Kip took a deep breath. “That's all,” he said. “I just wanted to be here because people might not have known what a kind man Nick Sebastian was, and I knew, and I thought I should tell you.” He walked back to his chair and sat down.

The minister recited a psalm or two then, and led them through a prayer. Sybil was glad for the meaningless words. She couldn't bear to concentrate on all Clark and Kip had said. The only way to get through it was not to think about the real Nick. Ritual prayer that had nothing to do with him was a help.

There was to be no burial, since Meg had decided on cremation, so the crowd lingered in the funeral parlor after the service ended. Sybil shook hands with lots of people she didn't know. She even kissed a few of them. She stood next to Claire, and felt unsure which one of them was protecting the other. Claire had cried, after all, and she hadn't. As far as Sybil could see, that was her biggest accomplishment in years, not crying at her father's funeral.

Sebastian Prescott walked up to Meg, with Scotty by his side. “We've never met,” he said. “I'm Sebastian Prescott.”

Meg smiled at him. “I assumed that,” she said. “You look so much like Schyler.”

“I only met your husband once,” Mr. Prescott said. “Many years ago. And now I find I regret not knowing him. I wish I had … I wish for so many different things. I feel the loss.”

“Thank you,” Meg said. “That would have meant a lot to Nicky.”

“Please let me know if I can do anything,” Mr. Prescott said. “Can I be of any financial assistance?”

“That isn't necessary,” Meg said. “Nicky was a great believer in life insurance. We're well provided for.”

“Then in some other way,” Mr. Prescott said. “Could I see your family sometime? The only one of your daughters I really know is Claire.”

“That's up to them,” Meg said. “We'll talk about it together.”

“Thank you,” the old man said. “Come, Prescott. Drive me back to your home.”

“What was he talking about?” Thea asked. “Why should he care about us?”

Evvie laughed, and for the first time in weeks, she sounded like herself. “That's a long story,” she said. “But I guess you'll hear it soon enough.”

Other people came by, including Kip, murmuring kind words and offering to do things. Meg smiled at all of them. Sybil wished the ordeal would end. Her legs were aching, and she knew she'd have to sit down soon.

“I'm taking Sybil home,” Claire said, sensing Sybil's need. “We'll meet you there.”

“I'll go with you,” Evvie said. “Clark, can you take care of Megs and Thea?”

“Of course,” Clark said. “We'll be back shortly.”

“Thank you,” Evvie said. “And thank you for a beautiful eulogy. It was better than he deserved.”

“Evvie!” Thea said.

“Sorry,” Evvie said. “Let's get out of here.”

The girls drove back to Aunt Grace's house in Evvie's car. Sybil sat in the back. It hadn't been easy, but she'd hardly limped walking out of the funeral home. Maybe she was getting stronger. Maybe Nick had willed that strength to her when he died.

Evvie parked the car, and the girls walked into the house. It seemed terribly quiet there, especially after the last few days of phone calls and planning. Sybil went immediately to the medicine cabinet and took some painkiller. Claire busied herself in the kitchen. Evvie stood there, looking at both of them, but before she said anything, the phone rang.

Evvie took the call, then excused herself, and went to Nick's office to talk there. It was a few minutes before she came back to the kitchen.

“That was Sam,” she said. “Calling from San Diego.”

“How are things?” Claire asked.

“His mother died this morning,” Evvie said. “Sam and his grandmother were there with her. They're hoping the government doesn't give them a lot of grief about bringing her back East for a funeral. If there's too much red tape, they'll stay on in San Diego and bury her there.”

“I'm sorry,” Sybil said.

Evvie shrugged. “Now that Linda's dead, they'll have to start grieving for Sam's grandfather,” she declared. “That's when the real pain will set in.”

“Do you intend to grieve for Nicky?” Claire asked.

“How can I?” Evvie asked. “After what he did.”

“He loved you,” Sybil said. “He told me so that morning. He told me how much he admired your strength.”

“Sure he did,” Evvie said. “He was the weakest man I know.”

“That's not fair,” Sybil said. “Nicky was very strong.”

“Give me a break,” Evvie said. “Nicky always looked for the easy way. He wouldn't even take a simple job. He preferred to wait for the big kill, even if there wasn't one. That's how he lived, and that's exactly how he died. Just another big kill.”

“What are you saying?” Claire asked. “That it was suicide?”

“No,” Sybil said. “It wasn't. It couldn't have been. It was an accident.”

Evvie shook her head. “You don't really believe that,” she said. “I'm not saying we should tell the insurance company. I think it's great he had all that insurance. It was the one decent thing he ever did for Megs, for all of us. At least now we won't have to worry about where the money's coming from for Thea's and Sybil's educations.”

“I would have paid for it, if I'd had to,” Claire said.

Evvie shot Claire a look of pure loathing. “Of course,” she said. “How could I have doubted that. Nicky's soul lives on all right, inside of you.”

“I wish you'd say what's on your mind,” Claire said. “You've hardly spoken to me since Nicky died.”

“It disgusts me to be in the same room with you,” Evvie said. “I came here for Megs and Thea and Sybil. Not for Nicky, and certainly not for you.”

“Claire didn't do anything,” Sybil said.

Evvie laughed. “You're the only one who still has illusions,” Evvie said. “About precious Nicky and precious Claire. Even Thea sees through Claire.”

“What have I done this time?” Claire asked.

“You're the one who told Nicky where Linda was,” Evvie said. “You think I didn't know? I went back to my apartment that Monday, and I could tell someone had been there. At first I thought it was the FBI, and I didn't say anything about it because I didn't want to get Megs even more worried. But then I remembered there was a reward involved, and wherever there was easy money, Nicky was bound to show up. And you know, I might almost have forgiven him. I forgave him a lot of things over the years, and frankly, I wanted Linda caught and out of Sam's life. But I knew he wouldn't have gone looking himself. That wasn't his style. Sneaking around is your specialty, Claire. You're the one who's always digging out little secrets. You're the eavesdropper, the spy. It had to be you who broke into my apartment, who found some little private shred and turned it into twenty-five thousand. I told Nicky off that night, and I don't regret a word I said. And now I'm telling you off. You're not my sister anymore. After today, I don't ever want to see you again, or speak to you. If you show up at my wedding, I will physically throw you out. Do you hear me, Claire?”

“I hear you,” Claire said.

“Evvie!” Sybil said.

Claire raised her hand to silence Sybil. “It's fine with me,” she said. “I never liked the way Evvie stands in judgment of me. If she doesn't want to have anything more to do with me, well, frankly, I can live without her.”

“Fine,” Evvie said. “Just as long as we're both clear on the issue.”

“Clear on what?” Meg asked, walking in the back door. Thea followed her.

“Where's Clark?” Claire asked. “It's a shame for him to miss this little scene.”

“He'll be here in a few minutes,” Meg said. “He thought we might need some time alone. What little scene?”

“It's nothing,” Evvie said. “I just wanted to make it clear to Claire that she's the same kind of scum her father was. That's all. I made my point. Everything's taken care of.”

“I don't know what's gotten into you, Evvie,” Meg said. “I would think on the day of your father's funeral at least, you would pretend to still love your family.”

“I love what remains of it,” Evvie said. “I love you, and Thea and Sybil. And I always will love you. But not Nicky and not Claire. If you can't deal with that, I'm sorry. But I'm not about to change just to make things easier for you.”

“Sam's mother died,” Claire said. “That may have brought this on.”

“You go to hell,” Evvie said. “You don't deserve to even say Sam's name.”

“Evvie, please,” Sybil said.

“I'm getting out of here,” Evvie said. “Megs, I'm sorry, but I just can't be hypocritical anymore about this. Nicky killed Sam's grandfather for twenty-five thousand, and Claire was right there to give him a hand. I sat there through that funeral for you, and I'll be here again when you need me, but right now I have to leave.” She grabbed her pocketbook, and rushed out of the house.

Sybil stared in horror, and then she chased after Evvie. She ran as best she could through the front hallway, and opened the door, to see Evvie rushing down the stairs.

“Evvie, wait!” she cried, and reached out to grab her, but Evvie moved too fast.

Sybil lost her balance then, and felt herself falling down the stairs. She supposed she must have screamed, but she couldn't be sure because within seconds everything was dark and agonizing and she was filled with terror.

C
HAPTER
E
LEVEN

“Oh, well,” Claire said, after the doctor had left. “Never a dull moment in this family.”

“Thank you again, Clark,” Meg said. “You must be the only man in Boston who could arrange for a house call.”

“I simply explained the situation,” Clark replied. “How are you feeling, Sybil?”

“I feel fine,” Sybil said, and sat up in bed to show them. The doctor had given her a shot of something that made the pain seem distant and terribly unimportant. She closed her eyes for a moment, and tried to remember what it was that did matter. Evvie. That was it. “I need to see Evvie.”

“Evvie needs to see us,” Meg said. “Clark, may I impose on you again?”

“Always,” he said.

“Drive to Cambridge, and bring Evvie back here,” Meg said. “Tie her up if you have to, but make her come back.”

“Don't bother on my account,” Claire said.

“This isn't for you, Claire,” Meg said. “It's for Evvie.”

“I'll get her here,” Clark said. “Are you sure you'll be all right without me?”

Meg smiled at him. “It won't be easy,” she said. “But we'll get through.”

Clark smiled back. He gave Meg a quick kiss on her cheek and left the room.