Drawing Close: The Fourth Novel in the Rosemont Series

by Barbara Hinske

  “You have my word on it, Maggie. Let me know when you’ve told them. And good luck. I know this won’t be easy.”

  “Thank you, Alex. I’m going to need all the luck I can get.”

  Chapter 39

  John lifted the arm rest and drew Maggie against him, his arm around her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for coming with me,” she murmured. “This is a long trip for just a weekend.”

  “No problem. I wasn’t going to let you do this alone.”

  Maggie nodded. “It’ll be good to see Sophie and Sarah, too. They’re so excited to show me their new bedrooms. Mike painted them over the summer, and Amy bought new bedspreads that the girls picked out. And they remodeled the kitchen, too.”

  “Keeping busy after Amy miscarried. Probably a good idea.”

  “I feel bad that I didn’t give Mike or Susan any hint of why we’re coming. They think we miss them and are squeezing in a visit.”

  “We do miss them,” John reminded her.

  “I know. I just hope they won’t feel too blindsided when I tell them about their father and their half-sister.”

  “You’re still going to tell them everything?”

  “I am. Once I start, I’m not holding back. Where does one deceit stop and another begin? I’ve been exhausted trying to figure that out. Keeping it from them was a mistake. I should have told them when I found out.”

  “You did what you thought was right at the time. Don’t second-guess yourself now.”

  “I’m anxious to get this over with. By the time we go to bed tonight, everything will have been revealed.”

  ***

  “You could have stayed with one of us, you know.” Mike gestured to his sister. “We both have room. You didn’t need to book a hotel room,” he said as they left the restaurant.

  “We thought it would be better this way,” Maggie replied. “We can’t wait to see the girls and Amy and Aaron, but tonight we have something very serious to discuss and I wanted to have the two of you to myself. I’d like you to come up to our room. John is going to park himself downstairs in the bar.”

  “For heaven’s sake, Mom,” Susan said, “John can stay. We don’t mind him hearing anything you have to say, do we, Mike?”

  Mike nodded his agreement. They rode the elevator to the eleventh floor and walked down the long hallway in anxious silence. Maggie switched on the harsh halogen lamps that cast a cold pallor over the room. Maggie turned the air conditioner off, and Mike took the desk chair while Susan perched on the end of the bed. They turned expectant eyes to Maggie. John leaned against the wall behind her.

  “I’ve got some distressing things to tell you about your father. I discovered them shortly after he died and wrestled with the idea of telling you then. I thought I was doing the right thing—protecting you—but something’s come up that requires me to tell you now.”

  “Come on, Mom,” Susan began, but Maggie held up a hand to silence her.

  “All I ask is that you hear me out, without interruption. There will be plenty of time for questions when I’m done. This will be hard on all of us, and if you’re mad at me, I won’t blame you. I’ve been mad at myself for a long time.” She looked between the serious faces of her children. Their world is about to be blown apart, she thought, and I hate being the one to light the fuse.

  “Paul was a wonderful father to both of you. He loved you unconditionally and none of what I’m about to tell you changes any of that.” She took a deep breath and continued. “But he had a darker side as well. A secret life.” She launched into the long, sordid tale.

  Both children sat motionless, frozen by Maggie’s account of their father’s misdeeds and hidden world.

  “Why in the hell didn’t you tell us this at the time, Mom? You should have explained when you inherited Rosemont. We’re not children, you know,” Mike said, shoving himself to his feet.

  Maggie tried to catch his eye, but he turned away. “I’m sorry. I should have. I see that now.”

  “Mike’s right,” Susan said, choking back tears. “It would have explained a lot. We would have understood your desire to move away and start over. As it was, we thought you were being impulsive, and we worried about you constantly.”

  “I’m not convinced of any of this,” Mike said. “I don’t know what to think. I’ve got to get some air.” He strode to the door, and Maggie rose to go after him.

  John reached out and grabbed her elbow. “Let him go, sweetheart. He’ll be back.”

  “I’ve made a mess of this,” Maggie said quietly.

  “This is all so hard to understand, Mom. I wouldn’t believe any of it, except for my gut feelings about Nicole. There’s always been a powerful bond between us. I felt it when I first met her in the hospital last year, and it was even stronger when we spent the afternoon together at the pottery place. We have a special connection. And now I know why. She’s my half-sister.”

  Maggie sat on the bed and put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. Susan swiveled to look into her mother’s eyes. “This has been hell for you, hasn’t it? I’m sorry that you had to bear all of this alone. You should have told us.”

  Maggie gestured to John. “I haven’t borne it alone. And based upon Mike’s reaction, I’m not sure I should have told you now.”

  “I’m going to get some ice,” John said, picking up the ice bucket. “Give you two some time.” He slipped quietly into the hallway.

  “Did you have any clue before he died that Dad had another family?”

  “No. I’ve gone over and over those last few years with your father. As my consultancy business as a forensic accountant took off, we grew more and more apart. We both traveled a lot and sometimes didn’t see each other for a week or ten days. I always knew your dad resented the time I spent away from home. I grew weary of his criticism and was relieved that I didn’t see much of him. I just wasn’t paying attention. Thinking back, there were warning signs.”

  “Mike and I both knew that you and Dad weren’t getting along at the end,” she said. “We chalked it up to empty nest syndrome and thought you would work it out. To be truthful, though, neither of us liked how Dad spoke to you. He was so impatient and condescending. It didn’t seem to bother you, so we let it go. And then Dad died.” She stifled a sob.

  The two women turned as John re-entered the room with a bucket of ice. Mike was on his heels.

  Maggie began to rise, but he motioned her to remain seated.

  “I’m sorry about that,” Mike said. “I had to clear my head.” He swung the desk chair to face his mother and sister and sat. “I hate to believe any of it, but in my gut, I know it’s true. Dad kept up his calm, controlled exterior in front of us, but I overheard him on the phone once when I was in college. I’d come home unannounced. He thought he was alone in the house. He was arguing with someone about money. He was livid—almost in a rage. I’d never seen him like that. It scared me, so I went back to my dorm. I asked him about it later and caught him completely off guard. He was embarrassed and unnerved. Made up some crazy story about the bank messing up his account. I knew it was a lie, but I didn’t want to challenge him.” He turned to Maggie. “I should have told you, Mom. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

  “It wouldn’t have made any difference,” Maggie said.

  “If he embezzled two million from the college, why didn’t they come after dad’s estate?” Mike asked.

  “I settled with the college for the proceeds of his employee life insurance. The trustees weren’t anxious for this scandal to be made public. I think they were afraid they’d be criticized for their poor oversight.”

  “Rightly so,” Mike said, cupping his head in his hands. “This is so hard to get my mind around.”

  “I know,” Maggie nodded. “That’s why I hired a private investigator. I wanted to find out what he’d done with the money he’d taken from the college. That’s also why I flew out to Westbury when I learned about Rosemont. I was searching for answers. I needed to unders
tand who your father really was.”

  “Did you get any answers at Rosemont?” Susan asked.

  Maggie shook her head.

  “How did you find out about the other woman?” Mike asked.

  “The private investigator,” Maggie replied. “He found Loretta Nash in Scottsdale.”

  “And now she works for Frank Haynes?” Susan asked. “That’s weird, isn’t it?”

  “I’m suspicious of Frank’s motives in hiring her,” Maggie agreed. “He was probably trying to dig up dirt on your father and use it against me. He hasn’t, so far.”

  “So what prompted you to tell us now?” Mike asked.

  Maggie cleared her throat, but Susan jumped in. “It’s because Nicole is so sick, isn’t it?” Susan raked her fingers through her thick blond hair. She turned to her brother. “Nicole is the daughter of dad’s mistress. She’s our half-sister, Mike.” He stared back at her. “And our little sister needs a new kidney.”

  Susan stood up suddenly. “One of us could be the perfect donor.” She spun on her heel to look at her mother. “That’s why you two flew out here to tell us all this, isn’t it? That little girl is desperately ill and needs a transplant. You thought one of us might want to be a donor. That’s why you suddenly broke your silence.” Susan turned away, letting the realization wash over her.

  “It’s a huge decision,” Maggie said. “It’s generally very safe to be a donor, but no medical procedure is risk-free. And it leaves you with only one kidney for the rest of your life.”

  “You only need one kidney,” Mike supplied.

  “I know, but if you donate one, you won’t have a spare,” Maggie said.

  Susan walked to the window, pulling the drapery aside to stare at the busy California street below.

  “I’m going to have to think about this, Mom,” Mike said. “I’m not convinced that Nicole is our sister. I’ll have to see the test results and talk to Amy about it. She needs to be part of this decision,” He turned to John. “What do you think?”

  “You need to sleep on this. It’s a lot to take in. While there’s some urgency to Nicole’s situation, nothing needs to be decided overnight.”

  Susan let the drape fall back into place. “I know what I have to do. I have to get tested to see if I’m a match. That child is my sister.” She drew a deep breath. “I’m going to be a perfect match. I know it in my bones. And I’m going to donate a kidney to Nicole.”

  Chapter 40

  “Thanks for meeting me,” Susan said as Dr. Aaron Scanlon slid into the booth next to her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned in to kiss him.

  “What’s up?” he asked. “You sounded very mysterious on the phone. What could you be giving away that could change our lives?”

  “A kidney,” she replied and watched his face carefully.

  He immediately grew serious.

  “That could change our lives,” he finally replied. “Are you on a donor list? Did you get contacted?”

  Susan shook her head. “I need to tell you the rest of the story. The real reason my mom and John are here.”

  The waitress stopped by their table. Aaron ordered them each the daily special without bothering to look at the menu and sent her on her way. He turned back to Susan. She took a deep breath and told him about her father’s secret life, ending with the revelation that Nicole Nash was a very sick little girl. She leaned back into the booth. “She’s my little sister, Aaron.”

  “I’m sure you think that, but you can’t be sure. You just got this news and you’re emotional—”

  “I know it, Aaron. I look at her photo, and I know it’s true. So does my mom.”

  “And if she is your sister?”

  “Then I need to get tested to see if I can be a donor. I’ve done the research, but I don’t have to tell you. You’re a doctor. Kidney transplants are done all the time, and they save lives. You can live a long life with only one kidney.”

  Aaron nodded. “That’s true, if nothing goes wrong. But if you ever injure your kidney, you’d be in trouble.”

  “Seems like an unlikely ‘what if,’” Susan retorted. “And very wrong to hang onto an extra kidney that could save Nicole’s life, just so I have a ‘spare’ on hand.”

  “That’s if you’re even a match,” Aaron said. “And there’s always the possibility of infection after the surgery. You’re allergic to penicillin and other antibiotics. As a doctor, I’d advise you to be very hesitant to undergo unnecessary surgery.”

  “It isn’t like this is cosmetic surgery. This is lifesaving for Nicole.” She touched his cheek. “I think you’re scared.”

  He looked long into her eyes, then nodded.

  “I’m scared, too,” Susan said. “I’m the biggest wimp there is when it comes to medical things. I don’t even get a flu shot,” she said and immediately regretted it. “I know I told you I’d gotten one, but I chickened out at the last minute.”

  “This will be a whole lot harder than a flu shot,” he pointed out.

  “I know that. But if I’m a match—if I could donate a kidney and save my sister’s life—I have to do it. I’d like your blessing and to have you by my side.”

  The waitress placed plates of steaming chicken and biscuits in front of them. Susan ate silently, watching Aaron in profile as he picked at his food.

  “I understand,” he finally said. “If the situation were reversed, I would do the same thing.”

  “Then you’ll support my decision to get tested and move forward as a kidney donor if I’m a match?”

  Aaron nodded.

  “Can you take off work to be with me during the transplant?” she asked. “Nicole will be having it done at Indiana University’s transplant center.”

  “I wouldn’t let you undergo anything like this unless I were right there with you. I’ll see if I can get privileges to observe during surgery.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll be a lot less nervous with you there. I’m sure Mom will be, too.”

  “Do you have any idea when this might take place?” he asked.

  “I’m getting tested this week,” she said. “That’s why I had to see you today. I didn’t want to start down this road if you didn’t know about it.”

  “I appreciate that,” he said. “I don’t think I could have talked you out of it.”

  “No. You couldn’t have.” She cleared her throat and picked up her fork. “If I donate a kidney, what happens to her?”

  “This isn’t my field, but I think they’ll keep her in the hospital until they’re confident the new kidney is working and the surgical site hasn’t gotten infected. They’ll send her home on immunosuppressants, with instructions to avoid anyone that might be ill.”

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” Susan said. “Can she live the rest of her life with my kidney?”

  “She can,” he said. “Her childhood should be largely unaffected.”

  “What about my recovery?”

  “Yours should be easy. A day or two in the hospital, at most. They’ll do some testing to make sure the remaining kidney is doing its job. If you don’t contract an infection, you’ll be fine.”

  “You hear a lot about hospital infections these days, and it’s scary,” Susan said.

  “It’s a factor, for sure. I’ll give you special soap to use when you shower and shampoo during the last few days before the surgery. We’ve had good luck with it in our practice.”

  Susan looked into his eyes. “Thank you for supporting me in this. It means the world to me. Nothing is going to go wrong. We’re going to have a big splashy wedding at Rosemont, and I’m going to be your wife. We’ll have a passel of kids and live happily ever after.”

  Chapter 41

  Loretta Nash waited along the side of the road across from Rosemont and watched as Dr. Allen’s Suburban exited the driveway and turned in the direction of Westbury Animal Hospital. She looked at the clock on the dashboard of her car. It was shortly before seven in the morning. She’d dropped her kids
off with the babysitter in the hope of catching Maggie Martin at home before she headed to the office. Loretta didn’t want to ring the doorbell before seven. In fact, she didn’t want to ring the doorbell at all. But she knew she had to do this, for Nicole.

  Loretta waited for the traffic to clear, then pulled her car onto the driveway and slowly proceeded through the trees to come to a stop in the large clearing in front of the house. She gripped the steering wheel as she scanned Rosemont’s stone facade, looking for movement at any window and seeing none.

  Loretta opened her car door and forced herself to climb the stone steps to Rosemont’s massive mahogany door. She took a deep breath and said a silent prayer. Please, Lord, guide my words and open Maggie’s heart. Loretta lifted her hand and grasped the iron door knocker, letting it fall loudly into place.

  Loretta stood, rooted to the spot, shifting her weight from foot to foot. After what seemed like an eternity, Maggie opened the door. The two women stood, staring at each other. “Mayor Martin,” Loretta began, “I’m sorry to disturb you so early.”

  “You’d better come in,” Maggie said. “I’ve been expecting you.” She motioned Loretta to follow her through the house to the large farmhouse table in the breakfast room and pulled a chair out for Loretta. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

  Loretta shook her head. Maggie sat opposite her and waited.

  Loretta twisted a lock of her hair. “I know you hate me, Mayor Martin,” she began.

  Maggie shifted in her chair. “I don’t—”

  “Please. Let me get through this,” Loretta interrupted and placed her palms solidly on the table. “Before I lose my nerve.”

  Maggie nodded.

  “I wouldn’t blame you. I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I’d like to undo. My relationship with Paul is one of them,” she looked down at her hands. “I’m very sorry that I hurt you. And now I have something even harder to tell you.” Loretta’s voice cracked. “I believe that Paul is my daughter Nicole’s father.” She paused and cast a quick glance at Maggie, who remained motionless. “Nicole is very sick. She has a congenital birth defect that has caused her kidneys to fail and she needs a transplant.” Her voice was barely audible as she said, “Your children are the best possible donors for Nicole. They might be the only ones who could save her life.” Loretta choked back a sob. “I’m going to contact them, and I wanted to tell you myself.”