Vegas rich

by Michaels, Fern

  It was an awkward meeting. Fanny tensed the moment her older daughter walked into the room. "Sunny, it's nice to see you," she seiid, holding up her face for Sunny's light kiss. She pretended not to see the tears in her daughter's eyes.

  "Hi, Mom. I just... wanted to stop and .. . congratulate all of you. I saw those commercials early this morning. They were wonderful!"

  "Thank you. Sunny, I know you mean that. We've been working round the clock to get it all under way. How are you? How's Tyler?"

  Sunny shrugged. "Mom . . . I. . ."

  "If you're trying to apologize, it isn't necessary. You did what you felt you had to do, and I did what I felt I had to do. Why don't we just leave it at that."

  "I don't like that fence."

  "I know you don't. Sunny. It's ugly, even with the morning glories climbing over it."

  "It means keep out."

  "Yes, that's what it means, Sunny. Do you really want to have this conversation?"

  "Yes. You said you always wanted a family."

  "I had a family once. No matter what I did, I couldn't hold it together. A family doesn't choose up sides, they don't betray one another. You and Birch forced me to make a choice. Sunny. I'm S0177 if it wasn't what you wanted or expected."

  "Dad tried so hard, Mom, and you wouldn't listen ..."

  "Sunny, don't spoil this visit. I don't want to discuss your father, not now, not later, not ever. He's not my husband any longer. Would you like to join us for lunch. We're celebrating today."

  Sunny looked at her brother and sister, then at Bess. She looked away, not wanting to deal with the anger she saw in their faces. "I can't. I'm meeting Tyler. He has a few hours off today. I should be going. I'm probably going to be late as it is."

  Fanny's shoulders slumped when her daughter walked out of the office. Her voice was husky when she said, "Don't read anything into

  this other than what it was. Sunny was sincere, and it took a lot of guts to come here, but she did it. Sunny is still her own person, and right now she doesn't like the person she is. That's just my motherly opinion. One day that might change. Until that time comes, it's business as usual. I'm off now to the airport to pick up Simon, who is going to celebrate with us. We'll meet you at Peridot."

  Fanny waved frantically, her eyes misting at the sight of Simon. Dear God, how I love him. "Oh, it's so good to see you. Seeing you is like receiving a precious present, one you've wished for, longed for, all your life. Do you have baggage?"

  "Just this backpack. It's a present for you."

  "Really, Simon! Tell me. I don't like surprises. I mean I like surprises, I just don't. . . What is it, Simon? Can we stop right here so I can see it?"

  Simon stopped and pretended to think. "It might cause a stir. Airports don't like it when funny things happen. People might stop to stare. This is one of those one-of-a-kind gifts, the kind you can't return, no matter what. Do you want to think about it, or do you really want me to open this bag here and now?"

  Fanny smiled. "After that litde speech, I want to see it more than ever. Hurry, Simon, there's no one around."

  Simon dropped to his haunches and unzipped the canvas bag with the mesh sides. Fanny peered inside, squealed her pleasure, kissed Simon so hard his eyeballs crossed before she picked up the tiny fur ball inside the bag.

  "Her name is Daisy. She's third generation, Fanny. Today is her first day away from her mother, so she's going to need lots of tender loving care. You're going to go into shock when you see how much gear you have to buy for this one litde dog. We'll stop at a pet store before we go up the mountain. Now, tell me, how did you like the commercials?"

  But Fanny wasn't thinking about business—about anything except the litde dog cuddled under her chin.

  "Do you want to know what's really happening, Fanny?"

  "I don't know if I really want to know. It's more like I should know, because of the kids."

  "Ash is down to the wire. Fanny, the money is going out so fast it makes me dizzy. A month from now he's going to be hard-pressed to make his payroll. He sold your old house in town and Mom's town

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  house. That money is gone. He wants to sell Thornton Chickens. I refused to commit until I talked to you. I'd like to keep it because Dad started that up and built it to the company it is today. I'm not discounting Ash's help, but it was already thriving when he jumped on board. He's mortgaged the R & R Ranch with Red Ruby's approval. He promised her something when Babylon is finished. Why Red would do something like that is beyond me. People do strange things at times. So, you really like Daisy, huh?"

  "I love her, Simon. I always wanted a dog. Ash never wanted one. Did you lend Ash money, Simon?"

  "He hasn't asked. The last time I talked to him he told me he applied for several loans at different banks. The interest is going to kill him. Dad had an account with Ash's name on it. I didn't even know about it until he told me. It's all gone too. The balance of the money you turned over will last another six weeks. That's it."

  "What will he do, Simon?"

  "I have no idea."

  '*What about Birch and Sunny? Do they know how serious this is?"

  "Birch should, he's the financial man. I'm sure he's told Sunny. If you turn over the trust fimd to them, Ash might make it."

  "It isn't going to happen, Simon. Do I put Daisy in her bag and take her in the restaurant?"

  "She's family now. I say bring her."

  "Okay, sweet baby, in you go," Fanny crooned as she placed the litde dog inside the canvas bag.

  The greetings inside the restaurant were sweet. Simon basked in his niece and nephew's adoration. He embraced Bess and kissed her on the cheek before he held Fanny's chair and then Bess's. "This is my treat for a job well-done," Simon said. "Ask Fanny to give you a peek at her congratulatory present." He grinned fi-om ear to ear at the oohs and aahs. Daisy slept on, curled against a fiizzy teddy bear that was bigger than she was.

  Fanny was about to dip her spoon into her Pecan Tulle when she noticed Birch 2md Sunny standing by the front door, their eyes raking the room. Sunny's face was ashen, as was her brother's. Fanny laid her spoon down and said, "Something's wrong."

  Sunny weaved her way between the tables. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out Birch said in a voice Fanny didn't recognize, "Dad fell fi"om one of the girders. They rushed him to the medical center. He's unconscious."

  Fanny reached down for die canvas bag and put it in her lap. "Go," she said to her children. "You too, Simon."

  Sunny found her voice. "Aren't you coming. Mom?"

  Fanny reached under the table for Simon's hand, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Birch, She glanced at Sunny and read the open speculation in her eyes. "I'll come if you want me to, but I don't think your father will want me there. If he sees all of us there, he might think. . . He could never abide any kind of ailment, even head colds."

  "We need to show support, solidarity," Birch said in a strangled voice. "Did you hear what I said, Dad fell nine floors. He could die. He could really die."

  "What the hell was he doing up on the girders?" Simon demanded.

  "Keeping his eye on things," Birch said. His voice was so defensive-sounding, Fanny blinked.

  "Things have been going wrong. Dad was trying to put his finger on what it was that was delaying things," Sunny said. "He was more than agile." Her voice sounded as defensive as her brother's.

  Simon laid some bills on the table. "Let's go, we'll follow you."

  Bess embraced Fanny. "I'll stop by the medical center later on. Don't do anything . . . don't let those kids put pressure on you, Fanny. And for God's sake, don't start feeling guilty. Are you listening to me, Fanny?"

  "Yes, Bess, I'm listening. What if. . ."

  "There are no what ifs, Fanny. Whatever will be will be. The kids are going to need you to be strong."

  Fanny felt light-headed when she took her seat in the waiting room. She remembered another time, years ago, when she sat
in this same room, in this same chair, waiting for news of Philip.

  They waited throughout the day, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, and pacing.

  "It's almost midnight," Sunny said. "Somebody should have come out here and told us something by now. Where's Dr. Noble?"

  "I don't know," Fanny said wearily.

  "You sound like you don't care either," Sunny snapped. Fanny ignored her.

  "Simon, I'm'going outside to walk around. Do you want to come along?"

  "Sure. Come and get us if you hear anything," he said to the children. Sage nodded.

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  "I thought it would be cool out here. It's hotter now than it was at noon when we arrived. It doesn't look good, does it, Simon?"

  "We don't know that, Fanny. Dad made a recovery and we all thought..."

  "For some reason, Simon, I don't think that's going to happen this time around. I have a terrible feeling about all of this. I heard Birch say Ash let his health insurance lapse. He tried to reinstate it, but he doesn't know if it's been accepted. I thought he was under a master poUcy for Thornton Chickens. Do you see what I mean, Simon? Something so very important. Ash . . . can't be bothered to keep up. He scrimps on pennies and squanders thousands. He was always like that. I want to get married now, Simon. Tomorrow . . . today really."

  "No," Simon said. His voice was so gende, so sad, Fanny started to cry.

  "I don't understand. You said you wanted to marry me, you asked me hundreds of times. I'm saying yes, and now you're saying no." Her shoulders shaking, Fanny lifted the puppy from the canvas bag and set her on the ground. She piddled immediately. "If that's the way you feel about it, maybe you should leave. I guess I should apologize."

  "Fanny. . ."

  "I don't want to hear an excuse. Since you aren't going to leave, I'll leave. I don't even know why I'm here. Ash and I are no longer married. Do you want your dog back?"

  "Of course not. This isn't the time or the place to be talking about getting married. You know I want to many you more than anything in the world. You're reacting to Ash's accident. I think you should go home. There's nothing you can do here."

  Fanny's back stiffened. "You had your chance, Simon." She gathered up the puppy, slipped her into the canvas bag. Her head high, her eyes smarting, Fanny entered the medical center. In the waiting room she announced her decision to leave as she gathered up her purse and jacket. Daisy whimpered inside the canvas bag.

  Sunny's face registered outrage. "You're leaxdng not knowing how Dad is?"

  "I believe that's what I said. I don't owe any of you an explanation, but out of courtesy, I'm going to give you one anyway. I'm tired. Actually, Vm extremely tired. I've been working around the clock for the past three months. I'll say a prayer that your father comes out of this whole. Good night."

  "Fanny, wait!" John Noble called, Bess at his side.

  "Is there news?" Fanny asked.

  "Yes and no. I'm going to give you all an update and then I want every person in this room to go home. The good news," he said, addressing the twins, "is that your father's fall was partially broken by some rolls of insulation. The bad news is Ash has a fractured skull, internal injuries, and both legs are broken, as is his right shoulder. He's done some serious damage to several discs in his back. He's conscious, but in excruciating pain. His condition is critical. I don't have to tell any of you that everything humanly possible is being done. Now, go home. That's an order!"

  Fanny started to walk away, Bess at her side. Out of the comer of her eye she saw Simon walk toward John Noble. Even a five-minute conversation would give her time to get to her car to head for the mountain. Once she was inside her fortress, Simon wouldn't be able to get in. She said so to Bess, as she ran to her car. "He told me no, Bess. He damn well told me no. Once a fool, always a fool. I'll call you. If you run into Simon, stall him so I can . . . get away."

  "Fanny . . . I'm sure there's a reason . . ." Whatever else she was about to say was drowned out by the sound of the car's engine. She watched as Fanny floored the gas pedal to roar out of the parking lot.

  The moment she drove around the comer, Fanny stopped the car to pick up Daisy to snuggle her inside the jacket. The litde dog's whimpers stopped immediately. In a choked voice she said, "You're supposed to be man's best friend. Being a modern woman, I expect the same friendship. It's just you and me, Daisy. No one knows this about me . . . well, maybe Simon knew, I have so much love in me, and I'm going to give it all to you. Hang on, little girl, we're going to bum some rubber."

  Forty minutes later, Fanny roared past Chue's house, past the bend in the road, and up to the gate that was standing open, thanks to the remote control on her visor that she pressed the moment she approached the curve in the road. The low-slung sports car sailed through the open gates at the same speed Fanny used driving up the mountain. Fanny brought the car to a screeching halt at the back of the house. She ran, the puppy jostling inside her jacket. Inside, she removed her jacket, cradling the puppy in both hands. She talked to her then, crooning as she scrambled an egg and filled a water bowl. She soaked some cornflakes in warm milk, waited for them to soften before she mixed them with the egg. She set the puppy

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  down on the floor and watched, mesmerized, as the little dog did her best to eat as both front paws vied with her tongue.

  The phone shrilled. Fanny almost jumped out of her skin. From off in the distance, she could hear the loud sound of a horn. Simon. Soft-hearted Bess had probably lent him her car. The phone continued to shrill. Daisy skidded around as she tried to eat the strange food in front of her. In a frenzy, Fanny yanked at the phone wires. The two holes in the wall glared at her. The silence was reward enough. Daisy squatted and peed.

  "Obviously, we need a system here. We'll work on that tomorrow. Right now, Fm going to make some coffee, and then we're going to snuggle together in one of those red chairs." The horn was still blowing as though someone was leaning on it. "Wear out your damn battery, see if I care."

  At some point during the long night, it occurred to Fanny that if something happened to Ash, no one would be able to reach her. She squinted at the clock. Three-fifty-five. An hour and a half till the sun came up.

  In her robe and slippers, Fanny scooped up Daisy and headed for the main house. She set her down by the back door and watched as she peed a puddle as large as a dinner plate. "Good girl. We're going to get along just fine if you keep doing that. Ah, you want to explore, is that it? Okay, but I have to tell you, it's been years since I walked around in the middle of the night. We have moonlight for your first stroll. That's a plus."

  Fanny found herself smiling as the puppy leapfi-ogged ahead of her, turning ever' other second to see if she was following. "You're growling. A little thing like you knows how to growl! Remarkable." She saw the huge black shadow in the moonhght. A car by the gate. Simon of course, sleeping in his car. Or was he walking the perimeter, trying to get over the fence? He'd laughed the first time he saw it. She wondered if he was laughing now. She bent down to pick up the dog and entered the house by the back door. She looked to see if the red light was bhnking on the answering machine. No message-She made fresh coffee while Daisy walked around, sniffmg her new surroundings. Fanny looked at the clock again. Four-fifteen.

  Everyone she knew was an early riser. Bess and John got up at five in the morning. Chue was up and doing things by five-ten, which probably meant he got up at four-thirty. Mazie was up at five

  also. In forty-five minutes she could start making phone calls. The first one to Bess, the second to Chue for dog food and to tell him to ask Simon to leave.

  Once again she found herself a prisoner of her own making. A prisoner of her own love. It sounded like a prelude to some kind of torch song. She snorted at the idea.

  Her life was changing in fi-ont of her eyes, changing even as she sipped at her cup of coffee. Her life had been so wonderful up until yesterday. After years of unhappiness, she had finally
been happy. Now, that happiness was gone. She'd been rejected by both Thornton men. She cringed in shame. What was wrong with her?

  Fanny bolted upright in the kitchen chair when she remembered that she had been the one to propose marriage to Ash. He'd accepted the proposal. Simon was just the reverse. Rejection felt the same, no matter how many times it happened. "As soon as you stick your neck out, Daisy, someone chops it off'." The littie dog tilted her head, her ears at attention. She pawed at Fanny's leg to be picked up. Fanny obUged her, cuddling her to her chest as she hummed a childhood lullaby. Daisy snuggled in the crook of her arm and was instantiy asleep.

  Animals love unconditionally. Wk)f can't people do the same thing? No. Simon had said no in such an explosive voice there was no mistaking what he meant. Today could have been her wedding day. Could have. She continued to torment herself. She thought about the last fifteen years of Sallie's life that were filled with such bitterness, about Philip's bittersweet revenge on his wife. Somehow, someway. Ash would do the same thing to her. She knew it just as she knew her name was Fanny Logan Thornton. She'd been so sure it wouldn't h^pen to her, that's why she'd given in to Ash and gotten the divorce, so she would be fi^e. "Oh, Sallie, I wish you were here. I need to talk about this. How did you do it all those years? How did you live without Devin?" A tear dropped on Daisy's head.

  Fanny looked at the clock. Five minutes past five. She dialed Bess's number. Her fiiend picked up the phone on the first ring. "It's Fanny. Is there any news on Ash? I wish you hadn't given Simon your car."

  "I didn't give Simon my car. He borrowed Sage's. John got home at three o'clock. He's showering. Are you all right, Fanny?"

  "Of course not. I feel like someone shced a chunk out of my heart. I'm up at the house. I ripped the phones out of the studio walls.

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  Simon blew the horn for hours. Bess, the same thing that happened to Sallie is going to happen to me, I feel it.. ."

  "Fanny, here's John. Don't hang up when you finish speaking with him."