The Widow's Walk (30 page)

“I do.” Liz said it while staring Bill down.

“All right, please make your statement.” The judge sat back.

Liz recited the script she’d rehearsed. “Your honor, Mr. Jeffers stole my money, my security, ruined me financially, drove a wedge between my son and me. I wanted him to know how angry I was and went to tell him so. He agreed to see me and met me in the hall, drunk. He appeared so menacing, I didn’t dare enter his apartment while holding my infant son. I taped and transcribed the conversation in case something happened.”

“All right, Mrs. Keeny. Please be seated.”

Liz focused on Mike’s big smile. Tears clogged her throat, but she wouldn’t be branded an emotional wreck.

Marianne patted her leg. “Good job, Liz.” The judge rifled through papers. “Any further statements, Ms. Hartley?

“Your honor, I subpoenaed the surveillance videos from Mr. Jeffers’ apartment building’s management. They will show Mrs. Keeny stopping at the front desk to speak to the doorman, what happened in the hall, as well as her leaving. I have not received those tapes and ask that any decision you make be reserved until such time as they are delivered.”

The judge squinted in Bill’s direction. “Mr. Pearson, are you aware of any reason for the delay in those tapes being delivered?”

“No, your honor.” Beads of sweat glistened on his pate.

“Please see to it I have that material on my desk by close of business Monday or I will automatically dismiss this case for insufficient evidence. Assuming receipt of those tapes, I will issue my judgment on whether this case will proceed within one week. Dismissed.”

He banged his gavel and stepped down.

“All rise,” the officer directed.

Liz dragged herself to her feet. As soon as the judge left, Mike and Marianne hugged her.

Marti hurried over. “What goes around comes around, Liz. I’d planned to take you all to lunch, but it’s Eddie’s birthday, and your family needs time alone. Call me. Bye, Mike, Marianne.” She blew kisses and clacked out.

Liz only wanted to see her son.

Jeffers and Pearson had him cornered, but Jay wasn’t intimidated. “You’re going down, Bill. Hard. If not this time, the next. I’m doing this for my father as well as my mother.”

Jeffers and Pearson grabbed their things and left.

“Mom.” He pulled her into an embrace. “Now maybe you’ll believe I’m sincere.”

Liz cried on his shoulder, finally able to release the tension, the emotion, feel some relief.

He patted her back. “You can’t believe how bad I feel, Mom.”

Marianne came up behind them. “Jay, please, give my office a call on Monday. I need to enlist your cooperation in other ongoing actions.”

Jay stepped back. “I’ll do that, Ms. Hartley and there is something else I’ll need your help with as well.” He took the card she offered.

Mike put his arm around Liz. “What do you think will happen, Marianne?”

“I think this case will be dismissed. Liz has far more character witnesses than Jeffers.” Marianne rubbed her hands together, positively delighted. “Have a great weekend, everyone. I will be in touch this time next week.” She left the three of them standing there.

“I have a birthday present for Eddie, Mom.” Jay handed her a plastic bag containing a gaudy pink and purple gift box.

Emotion overruled Liz’s common sense. “We’re having a little party for him tonight. Why don’t you come up to the Cape?”

“I’d love to, but I don’t have a car. I’m camped out at a friend’s house.”

Mike lost his resolve as well. “We’ll go get your things, and you can ride up with us.”

Jay’s happy grin reminded Liz of when he was a little boy. “How could I not want to see my brother? He’s probably running all over the place.”

“Yeah, he is.” She might be losing everything, but maybe she had her son back.

“Let’s get going before the rush.” Mike took one of her arms.

“Not before I find a bathroom,” said Liz.

Jay took the other arm and they escorted her out like two bodyguards.

Chapter 41

“I’ll drive.” Liz needed to keep her mind, and her hands, occupied. Negotiating through the caverns of her past would certainly do that.

“Probably best since you know the streets.” Mike handed her the car keys.

Jay settled into the back seat. “You remember Jason, Mom. He’s at BU. I’ll text him to meet me at the dorm so I can just run up and get my things. I’ll figure out a way to get back to New York from the Cape on Sunday.”

Liz headed toward Storrow Drive, the Back Bay. More memories of Gerry. Was this whole mess with Jay really over? Was she going to be indicted, stand trial? What a miserable way to celebrate Eddie’s birthday.

The autopilot clicked on, and before she knew it, Jay was getting out of the car.

“Be right back. If you have to drive down Commonwealth to avoid the ticket police, I’ll walk to meet you. Text me.”

“No, I’ll call you,” she yelled after him. “I don’t want to waste time texting.”

Only Mike heard. “How do you text anyway?”

Liz laughed in spite of her mood. “It’s a pain until you get used to it. I’d rather just talk.”

“So what do you think about Jay’s Penance?”

Liz watched in the rearview mirror for the police. “He’s Jewish, never heard of that sacrament. But he got up there and spit it out. It won’t get my money back, but it might get me out of the pot before it boils.”

“The best you can hope for is to come to some peace, like I’ve been able to do with Allison.” His grip on her hand was firm, meant to be reassuring, but it seemed oppressive, controlling. This was one battle victory but she was still losing the war.

She slipped away, gripped the wheel. “I don’t have much hope about anything right now.”

“Liz, I know how miserable you are about selling the house . . .”

“Not now, Mike. Here comes Jay. Please, he can’t know about our personal business.”

Jay tossed in his bag and hopped in. “I can’t wait to see Eddie. And I haven’t seen the house for a long time. Have you done anything new?”

“Not since the summer.” Wait until he got a glimpse of the mess.

The last time he’d been there was their wedding, sullen, grudging, tagging after Allison and Dana like an annoying little brother. He got along better with the baby–what could anyone not love about Eddie?

Liz put her mind on the road. Mike put on light music. Jay put on his ear buds.

This weekend was either going to be a grand reconciliation or a disaster.

Liz looked at Mike, puzzled, as they drove up to the Barrett Inn and saw a strange car in the driveway.

“That’s Allison’s.” What was his daughter doing here? Neither of the kids knew they’d moved out, and this wasn’t the time to bring it up.

Liz cut the ignition and didn’t move.

“Are you coming, honey?” Mike waited by his door.

Jay was already out. “C’mon, Mom.”

She took Mike’s hand, took a deep breath, and took mincing steps over the muddy grass.

“Remember all the snow last year at this time?” Maybe reminding her about Eddie’s birthday would soothe her anguish and anxiety. That kid was the light of her life.

Even that didn’t garner a smile. Allison’s surprise visit was going to be hell for her, on top of everything else. Mike wished he could make them all go away.

Mae met them at the door. “I forgot I told Allison about Eddie’s party before she left last month. She drove down special. I’m sorry, Liz. I know you aren’t in the mood.”

“That’s okay, Mae. Look who else came.” Liz stepped inside, and Jay followed.

“Mary, Mother of God! Jay. How nice to see ya.” Mae grabbed his hand and shook.

“Where’s Eddie?” Jay dropped his bag and looked around.

“Havin’ a nap, and don’t ya wake him up. Go into the parlor and visit with Allison and Dana while I make some snacks.”

Jay disappeared.

“I want to know what happened, but now isn’t the right time. Must be good, though. Let me get back to cookin’. Ran out to the store to get what we needed. It’s goin’ to be a big party after all.” Mae couldn’t contain her grin, and her delight.

Mike turned to Liz. “Try to focus on Eddie.”

“Nothing else matters right now.” She pushed past him and went upstairs.

Mike hesitated. Should he say hello to Allison first, or go where he’d sworn never to go again and be with his wife?

Laugher drifted down the hall. The kids were having a great time. He went upstairs.

Liz stood by the window looking out over the bay. Sleeves of blouses, legs of pants, a tangle of baby pajamas draped over the sides of cardboard boxes–her life was in total disarray.

It didn’t feel the same in the room, no foreboding, no comfort, nothing.

“Are you okay?” He stood behind Liz and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m not sure. How are we going to explain this mess?”

“Just close the bedroom door. They don’t have to know anything.” Why didn’t he just tell her to forget about selling the inn, that he’d made a terrible mistake? Why was he being so stubborn?

“I shouldn’t have let Jay come, not now. Allison, well, she’ll think selling this place makes a lot of sense.”

“Liz?” Mae’s voice echoed in the hall.

“Here,” she called.

Mae poked her head in. “I don’t want to upset ya, but did everythin’ go okay? Since Jay’s here, I imagine somethin’ good took place.”

Mike answered for her. “Let’s just say Jay came to his mother’s defense. We’re hoping the case will be dropped.”

“I didn’t say anythin’ to either of them about . . . Mae’s voice clutched, “us leavin’. This is goin’ to be a celebration. I made up two rooms and loaded up on food.” She bustled out.

“The last celebration.” Liz sank into her vanity chair. Despair painted her face.

Mike stood behind her and massaged her neck. “I wish we could figure some way to avoid selling the Barrett Inn.” There, it was out. No capitulation, just acknowledging that he’d welcome a miracle as much as she.

“I don’t know how I’m going to get through the rest of this day.” The tears flowed.

Mike knelt next to her. “Liz, I know this is killing you.”

“It’s like Elisabeth dying all over again, like a piece of me is missing.”

Someone rapped at the door. Liz pulled a tissue out of the vanity box and dried her eyes. Mike went to see who it was.

Jay had a knack for intruding at the worst possible times.

“Wow, it’s a mess in here. Mom, I know you’re not feeling very much like celebrating today, but I wondered if you knew where that Red Sox outfit that I bought for Eddie is. I’m dying to go out and throw a ball to him, and it would be great if he was dressed in that. Dana and Allison are going to take pictures.”

Liz got up like she was eighty years old. “As a matter of fact, I do. I’ve been packing . . . getting together things that don’t fit, stuff to get rid off, and that suit is right . . .” she rummaged in a box of stretchie pajamas and tiny jeans “. . . here. Should fit him very well. His jacket is by the back door.” She gave the clothing, still on a hanger with tags attached, to Jay.

“This is probably a good time to talk. We won’t have much time alone later.”

Mike tried to protect his wife. “What is there to talk about, Jay?”

“I’ve been trying to figure out what to do for weeks. Mom, remember I told you I was having these weird dreams? Well, I woke up one day and remembered Dad telling me exactly what I should do. I know it sounds weird, but he told me show up in court and let Bill have it.”

Liz managed a half-hearted smile. “It doesn’t’ sound weird at all, Jay. Your father guides me all the time.”

Mike was tempted to join the love fest and confess about Mary, then thought better of it. None of this was about him–directly, anyway.

“That’s not all. In two months I turn twenty-one, and the trust Dad set up for me reverts to my control. I’ll direct Marianne to split the proceeds between you and Eddie. If it’s managed well, Eddie will have a college fund as big as mine. You’ll have plenty to keep the inn up to date and running.”

“Jay, that’s your money!” Liz’s eyes were the wide in shock.

Mike choked back his surprise, but mother and son weren’t paying a whit of attention to him.

“Yeah, but I have what I need to finish college.”

“By the time you graduate you’ll have nothing left.”

“Most kids don’t have anything at all, plus big loans. I’ll be free and clear and intend to make money the way you and Dad did–working for it.”

She stood and took his arms. “But you want to got to law school–I can’t let you do this.”

“Dad wanted me to go to law school, but he wanted you to have your Cape house. He hand picked Brian Saltzman as a partner, and the agreement was, when I graduated, I could go work for the firm.

“Brian is devastated by what Bill did, and trying his best to keep everything solvent. He’s agreed to take me as an intern and law clerk, and then as a partner when I pass the bar.”

Liz exhaled. “Jay, that is a nice dream but there are so many things that might get in the way of it happening.”

“It’s going to happen, Mom, I know it is. I’ve made my peace with Dad. Now I have to make it with the two of you.”

Mike didn’t dare say anything. It really wasn’t his business, but that kind of money was an incredible gift. Could this kid have an ulterior motive, or was he truly penitent?

“I don’t know what to say.” Liz hugged herself like she was cold.

Jay embraced her. “Nothing. Just relax about money. You and Dad worked too hard for you to be losing your home now.”

Liz pulled away. “How did you know that?

“I overheard Mae talking to Kevin.”

Allison called upstairs. “Jay, what happened to baseball with the baby–and pictures?”

“I’ll be right down.” He grabbed the baby’s Red Sox outfit and closed the door behind him on the way out.

Liz looked at Mike, eyes narrowed, head wagging. “Should I believe any of this?”

Joy flooded Mike for the first time in months. “If it’s true, we won’t have to sell the Barrett Inn.” There was no reason not to come clean now.

“But the ghosts, Mike.”

“Now there is nothing to stop us from living in my house and renting all the rooms in the Inn. There are ghosts or reincarnates everywhere it seems and they flock to us like mosquitoes to a swamp no matter where we go.”

Liz put her face in her hands. “I still don’t know if I can face everyone.” Things were happening too fast.

She couldn’t allow herself to hope only to be wrecked on the rocks of reality later on.

Jay and Allison were down there likely wondering what the hell was wrong that the hostess was missing? Did Allison even know about the court appearance, or the incident, or the financial morass? Probably not.

Happy voices drifted in from outside.

“Let’s go down to the party.” Mike took her hand. “For Eddie. You want to be in his first birthday pictures, don’t you?”

Liz waited for Elisabeth to react, but there wasn’t a whisper of discontent. The presence of Elisabeth’s absence was as unsettling as her intrusions.

Mike put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to tell Mae and Kevin the good news. Come down when you’re ready.”

She watched out the window as Eddie toddled around, dragging a plastic bat. Jay tried to get him to stand still and swing. Allison guffawed as Jay dogged the baby’s batting efforts. Dana leaped around to get the best camera angle.

Liz opened the window to get a better look. Moist, salty air kissed her face. Her despair vanished as Edward’s misty kisses evaporated on her cheeks.

She went downstairs. The aroma of something Italian drifted out as the kitchen door swung open and Mike came out.

“Mae and Kevin are happy, I assume.”

“Ecstatic.” Mike said. “By the way, how much is the trust worth?”

“A million dollars. My husband had built a very valuable law firm.”

Mike gulped. “That much?”

“Yeah. Plenty to fix up your–our–house, pay Kevin and Mae back, and send them on a vacation to Ireland.”

Mike crinkled the left side of his face. “Do you think Sandra had any hand in this? I mean, I told her to conjure a million bucks and she said she’d see what she could do.”

“I’ve learned to be open to anything, Mike.”

“If it’s all right, I’d like to invite her over for birthday cake.”

Liz nodded. “Bethea was Elisabeth’s best friend. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to feel that way about Sandra, but yes, she has a good heart and is very lonely. Call her.”

Mike put on a birthday hat and took a blower along for practice. Liz went into the kitchen, put two candles on the cake, and set the table with the ‘Baby’s First Birthday’ party goods. Elisabeth was buried deep, or gone, nowhere to be felt. Being accountable to her one true self was something Liz had to get used to.