The Year Everything Changed (33 page)

Chapter Fifty-two
Elizabeth

“We need to talk,” Stephanie said.

Elizabeth’s hand froze, the angel she was holding suspended beneath an already overloaded branch on the Christmas tree. She’d sensed a change in Stephanie since Thanksgiving, nothing tangible, just a confidence in her day-to-day decisions and an interest about things that didn’t affect her directly. She was insatiably curious about her new aunts and fixated on her cousins, Cassidy and John, even including the two of them in her Christmas shopping. As casually as possible considering her heart was blocking her throat, Elizabeth asked, “About what?”

“Me—the baby. I’ve done some things I need to tell you about.”

Elizabeth hooked the angel over a branch and watched it swing backward. “You want some tea?”

“Yeah, I guess. Just not that new herb stuff you got at the health food store last week.” She followed Elizabeth into the kitchen.

“How about the old herb stuff?”

“The peach isn’t bad.” Stephanie filled the teakettle with water and put it on the stove while Elizabeth got the tea bags and mugs.

Elizabeth leaned against the counter as she waited for the water to boil; Stephanie sat at the table. “I didn’t tell you the truth about my baby’s father,” she said.

Not even close to what Elizabeth had expected. “Oh?”

Stephanie flushed, her neck and cheeks turning a spotted pink. “His name is David Christopher, by the way. And I wasn’t high, he was. He wasn’t interested in me even though I’d been making a play for him on and off since our freshman year. I guess you could say I took advantage of him.” She nervously twisted her hair into a knot on top of her head and then let it fall free. “He found me the day after the party and apologized. God, Mom—can you imagine a guy apologizing for something like that? In case you haven’t figured it out by now, he’s kind of a nerd. I was so embarrassed when I found out I was pregnant that I couldn’t stay in school and chance him finding out. I knew if my friends knew it would get back to him eventually.”

“Why?” Elizabeth asked, managing with effort to keep the question nonjudgmental.

“Why what?”

“Why put yourself through this now?”

“When we were at Rachel and Jeff’s for Thanksgiving I tried to imagine that I was Cassidy’s mother and wondered what I would tell her when she asked about her father.”

The sentence was like a complex word game filled with intriguing clues. Why Cassidy and not John? Why speculate about a child you would never see grow to that age? Again, Elizabeth held her questions.

“Oh—I guess I forgot to tell you. The ultrasound I had when you were at Rachel’s was pretty conclusive. I’m going to have a girl.” She thought a minute. “No, I didn’t forget,” she admitted. “I just didn’t want you bonding with this baby any more than you already have.”

“I haven’t bonded,” Elizabeth protested. She thought she’d been so careful not to let it show, to the point of purposely not asking about the ultrasound.

“Oh, Mom, I see the way you look at the babies in the doctor’s office. You’re like some deranged stalker.”

“I’m sorry. That’s my problem, not yours.”

“Why are you and Dad so damn good to me?” The teakettle punctuated the question with a loud whistle. She got up to turn off the flame and pour the water into their mugs.

“You’re our daughter. We love you.”

“That’s what it’s like to be a parent? Your kid comes home and turns your life upside down and you just roll with it?”

“We’re keeping a diary of all this so we can blackmail you when we’re old and we need someone to take care of us.”

“I’m serious, Mom. Is this really what it’s like?”

“You’re focusing on one difficult time and missing all the good things that come with being a parent. Your father and I love being your parents. There isn’t anyone I’d rather share things with. There isn’t anyone I have more fun with when we spend a day together.”

“You had the whole summer planned.” She turned from Elizabeth and concentrated on dunking her tea bag, avoiding the look in her mother’s eyes. “Dad told me how disappointed you were that I didn’t want to come home.”

“He shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, but you should have.”

“Would it have made a difference?” Elizabeth asked, knowing the answer.

“No. But I didn’t know then what I do now.”

“It’s a lesson I wish you could have learned another way.”

“See? There you go again, putting me first. What about all the shit you’ve had happen to you this year? You even dropped out of school because of me. After you become a mother does it mean your kids always come first no matter what?”

Elizabeth added a spoonful of sugar to her tea and joined Stephanie at the table. “Why are you asking me that? Really?”

“I’ve decided to keep the baby.”

An emotional dam burst in Elizabeth. “I’m so . . . glad.”

“Don’t cry,” Stephanie said, reaching for the box of tissues Elizabeth kept on the counter. She took one and handed it to her mother and then another to wipe her own tears.

Elizabeth wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “What made you change your mind?”

“Lots of things. Whenever I called my friends at school it was obvious I didn’t fit in anymore. At first I was scared and then I was mad. Then I didn’t care.” She grinned sheepishly. “You think I might be growing up a little?”

“What about this David Christopher?”

“I told him I wasn’t coming after him for money or anything, and that I’d understand if he wanted to do the DNA thing when she was born. I just needed to know more about him so I could tell our daughter when she asked.”

“And what did he say?”

“Not a lot at first. He hadn’t heard that I was pregnant. He must have thought about it a lot, though, because he called me back a couple of days later and said he wanted to see the baby when she was born. He’s going to bring pictures of his family that I can give her when she’s older.”

“He sounds like a nice young man.” Elizabeth could feel herself moving down a road she had no business traveling.

“I went after him because he was the only guy who played hard to get. The more he resisted, the more I convinced myself I wanted him.”

“So what’s he like? Other than being a nerd.”

“He’s really smart—tall, dark hair, on the skinny side. Incredible eyes. Oh, Mom, his eyes. . . . There is one thing. He has these huge Dumbo ears. If my baby looks like him I’m going to have to start saving to have her ears fixed when she gets older.”

“What are you going to do about school?”

“That’s what I need to talk to you and Dad about. I’ve looked into transferring to Fresno State and finishing up here, but I’d need help. I could work part-time, but I’ll need someone to take care of the baby. I don’t want to put her in day care until she’s older and can tell me what’s going on with the people taking care of her.”

It was everything Elizabeth could do to keep from jumping in with suggestions. This was Stephanie’s show. “What other kind of help did you have in mind?”

“If I could live here until I was through school and only work weekends, then you and I could arrange our schedules so that one of us would be available to watch the baby while the other one was in class.” She peered at Elizabeth over the top of her steaming mug. “I don’t want you to wait to go back to school because of me, I just want you to help me so I can go back, too.”

“And Dad?”

She grinned. “He gets to pay for it. I’ll earn enough working weekends to pay for clothes and stuff for me and the baby, and maybe a little gas money, but that’s about it. I don’t see how people live on this minimum wage crap. I have to work four hours just to pay for a movie and popcorn and a Coke.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Welcome to the real world.”

But it wasn’t the real world that existed for any of them anymore. In less than a month she would deposit a check for ten million dollars into an account she’d had Sam set up at the bank, their first hint at the ways their lives would change. She’d had no idea interest rates were negotiable until local banks began bidding for their account. As Sam had said, them that has money, makes money.

If she could, she would leave the money untouched until Stephanie was through school, giving her the sense of accomplishment that would come from doing what she could on her own. But it was bound to come out. Christina or Ginger or Rachel would let something slip and—

The thought stopped her cold. When had she made the transition from wondering if the four of them would ever be sisters in the true sense to automatically assuming they would be a part of her life?

“What do you think of Christina and—of your aunts?”

“What brought that up?”

“Family.”

“They’re okay.” Stephanie shrugged. “When I first saw Ginger I didn’t think I would like her, but I do. It shouldn’t be legal to be that old and look that good. I really like Rachel and Jeff. I can’t imagine going through what they did and not feeling sorry for myself, but they don’t. And the kids are cool. I hope my little girl is like Cassidy.”

“And Christina?”

“I don’t know about her. She’s like . . . I can’t describe it. It’s like she’s always pissed off about something.”

“It’s a show. She’s actually a pushover.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Elizabeth sipped her tea, thoughtful again. “You’re not keeping the baby because you think it’s what I want, are you?”

“Isn’t it? What you want, I mean.”

“Yes—but it has to be your decision.”

“I can’t go back, and I can’t go forward always looking back wondering if I made the right decision. This isn’t anywhere on the radar for what I’d planned to do with my life. Sharon and I were going to share a loft in New York and live ‘Sex and the City’ until we were bored, and then we were going to find the perfect men and get married.”

“And now?”

“The only thing I know for sure is that I’m going to be a mother and I’m going to graduate. I’m going to let the rest surprise me.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Elizabeth said.

“I’m kinda proud of me, too. At least I feel good about what I’m doing.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Want to go shopping?”

“What about the tree?”

“We can do it later when Dad’s home to help.”

“Christmas or baby?”

“Christmas today. I want to get something for my sisters.”

They’d gathered their coats and purses and were on their way out when Elizabeth stopped to touch her fingers to her lips and then to the heart-shaped medal she’d framed and hung by the front door. It was as much acknowledgment of Jessie as Frank.

Family.

Chapter Fifty-three
Rachel

Her battery on her new phone dead, Rachel used Ginger’s phone to call home midway on the trip to Sacramento and told Jeff she would call again when she arrived. It was the first time she’d been away since he’d come home from the hospital, and despite having a nurse for him and a sitter for the kids, she was nervous about leaving. But he’d insisted she go. He wanted to get back to a normal life, or one as normal as possible. Christina and Elizabeth and Ginger had called individually and suggested their last official meeting be held at her house, but Jeff insisted that they finish where they started, in Sacramento. Finally, not convinced, but unwilling to argue, she’d agreed.

“Would you look at that,” Rachel said as they neared Jessie’s house. The place was festooned with Christmas lights, wreaths, and garland. “I didn’t figure Christina for the decorating type.”

“Every time I think I have Christina figured out,” Ginger said, “she does something that surprises me.”

“Did you get her a present?”

“I thought we agreed we weren’t going to do that.”

“Uh huh.” Rachel sent her a knowing look. “You did, didn’t you?”

“I wasn’t, but I saw something that was so perfect I couldn’t resist.”

“Me, too,” Rachel admitted.

“
And you didn’t tell me?
What if I hadn’t found something myself?”

She pulled into the driveway and parked next to Elizabeth’s car. “I knew you would. But just in case, I signed the card from both of us.”

“What about Elizabeth?”

Rachel smiled. “Same thing.”

“Me, too. Do you think they got something for us?”

“Elizabeth, yes. Christina, no.”

Christina met them at the door wearing a sweater with a grinning black cat sitting in the middle of a box of broken ornaments. “Merry Christmas.”

“The house looks beautiful,” Ginger said.

“Wait till you see the tree. It’s incredible. I found this amazing Christmas shop and went nuts buying ornaments. Rhona helped, of course. There’s no way I could have done it without her. I’ve never had a tree over two feet tall that took me more than five minutes to decorate. And all I ever used were those glass balls you get at the drugstore for a couple of bucks. I threw them out with the tree every year, but there’s no way I could throw any of this stuff out.” Christina moved toward the living room. “Rhona did the outside while I was at work, and it looked so cool I said we just had to have a tree—so we did.”

“How many cups of coffee have you had today?” Rachel asked.

“Why?”

“You seem a little . . . wired,” Ginger answered.

Christina laughed. “I know. I’ve been this way for days.”

Elizabeth came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with coffee and mugs. “Did you tell them?”

“Not yet,” Christina said, leading the way into the living room.

Rachel stopped in the doorway to look at the tree. It was indeed spectacular, covered in lights and ornaments and filling the room with a dense, fragrant pine scent. There were three elegantly wrapped presents sitting on the red velvet cloth circling the base. “Wow.”

“You wouldn’t believe how long it took us to put it up,” Christina said.

“Well, it’s spectacular,” Ginger said. “But I want to know what Elizabeth’s talking about. What haven’t you told us?”

Christina couldn’t contain the grin that split her face. “I’m back in the moviemaking business.”

“Here?” Rachel asked. “I thought you said you had to move to L.A. for that to happen.”

Christina told them about her partnership with Dexter. “We start principal photography in Vancouver on February tenth.”

“I
love
Ian Grayson,” Ginger said. “I have never been as turned on by a guy in a movie as I was by him in
Another
Harvest
.”

Elizabeth laughed. “You and a hundred million other women.”

“Have you met him yet?” Ginger asked.

“Once.”

“
And?
 ”

“He’s nice.”

“That’s it? That’s the best you can do?”

Christina’s grin broadened. “All right—he’s a hunk. Spoiled but not obnoxiously so—he ate the whole bowl of M&Ms and didn’t discriminate. He’s really funny and self-deprecating but serious about the business. The reason he took this role and agreed to work for scale is he’s terrified of being typecast and having his career end at thirty.” She paused. “Before I forget—on a completely different subject—I have something I want to talk to all of you about. Since I’m going to be based in Sacramento for the foreseeable future, I was wondering if anyone would object if I bought this house.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Elizabeth said after taking a couple of seconds to absorb the news.

“I do, too,” Ginger added enthusiastically. “I love knowing this house is staying in the family.”

Rachel nodded and mentally stepped away from the discussion that followed. She surreptitiously looked at the women who had gone from adversaries to reluctant friends to sisters. They were all like blocks on a quilt, Jessie’s slowly unfolding story the thread that bound them together. In ways that were both painful and comforting she’d grown to love the flawed, caring man who was their father and to envy Elizabeth and Christina the time they’d had with him.

“Let’s not wait until after lunch to start the tapes,” Rachel said impulsively.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Elizabeth said.

Ginger took her usual seat, and Christina picked up the manila envelope Lucy had dropped by earlier. She opened it and reached inside. “There’s only one,” she said with obvious disappointment.

Rachel warmed her hands on the coffee mug while Christina dropped the tape into the player and hit play.

Jessie’s Story

That’s it, Lucy. You know the rest of the story because you were there for it. As usual, you outsmarted me. I couldn’t see the sense to telling you my life story when I made that deal with you over lunch, but I think I understand what you were after now that I’ve reached the end. I was afraid of what I’d find if I let myself look back, but it wasn’t near as bad as I’d thought. I made a lot of mistakes, none of them intentional, but that didn’t stop them hurting people I never meant to hurt. If saying I’m sorry would change anything I’d put it on a billboard. My girls had a right to expect more than they got. I just didn’t know how to give it to them.

They’re fine women. I’d tell them how proud I was of the way they turned out, but I have a feeling it’s not something they’d welcome coming from me. It’s too soon. Maybe one day when you think they’re ready, you could tell them for me.

Take care of yourself, Lucy . . . and, if it’s not asking too much, take care of my girls.

The tape ended. A stunned silence followed. Rachel couldn’t believe what she’d heard and considered asking Christina to play it again. “These tapes weren’t meant for us,” she murmured, not realizing she said it aloud until Elizabeth looked at her.

“You think Lucy did this on her own?” Ginger said. “That it wasn’t in the will?”

Elizabeth shook her head, disbelieving. “Do you know what the consequences are for something like that?”

“What?” Christina asked.

“Disbarment for sure,” Rachel said. “Possibly jail.” She recoiled at the idea. “This can’t be what it seems. Why would Lucy take that kind of risk just to get us to listen to these tapes?”

“That’s obvious,” Christina was the first to answer. “She was in love with Jessie.”

That was the key, one Rachel would have recognized in the beginning if she hadn’t been so blinded by hatred and anger. “Lucy could manipulate us, but she couldn’t lie to us. That’s why she gave us this final tape. Now the question is, what are we going to do about it?”

Christina looked at each of them in turn. “My vote is that we send her flowers—the biggest bouquet we can find.”

“No,” Elizabeth said softly. “It should be four roses, one from each of us.”

“Yellow ones,” said Ginger. “I have a feeling it’s what Jessie would have chosen.”

“Roses it is,” Rachel said.