Fanny emptied the thermos. She panicked until she remembered she had another thermos in her knitting bag. She closed her eyes, wishing for the miracle of sleep, but it eluded her. Maybe she would never sleep again. Maybe she’d stay in this uncomfortable chair for the rest of her life. She looked around at the empty waiting room. For days now, she’d been the only occupant. She wondered if it was because of the worn, ugly furnishings. Was it possible Marcus was the only ill person in the whole center?
So alone. Was it supposed to be like this? First Ash, then Simon, and now Marcus. Was she meant to live out her days alone? God must think so since He took two husbands from her and was currently working on her third. What kind of God did things like that? Maybe she was only supposed to have one husband. Maybe God thought she was a loose woman. Maybe God didn’t want her to have three husbands. Maybe a lot of things. Please, God, let me sleep. Let me wake to find this is all a bad dream. Please.
Fanny heard whispering behind her hair. God talking to her? She drank the last of the coffee. She didn’t think she had the strength to fumble for the second thermos or to open it. “Stop whispering. If You have something to say to me, say it.”
“Fanny, it’s Billie. Bess and John are here with me. Fanny, why didn’t you call us? How long have you been here?”
“I don’t know. Six towels. It seems like a long time. I wish you hadn’t come. How did you find out?”
“Thad’s staff reads all the newspapers. He saw the article on Marcus. I called Bess on the ship to shore phone. Come on, we’re taking you home. John’s here now. He’s going to meet us back at the house. My God, Fanny, you must have lost twenty pounds. When was the last time you ate or slept? Where are the kids?”
Fanny shrugged. “They deserted me.”
“I don’t believe that,” Bess said.
“I wouldn’t do what they wanted, so they deserted me. It’s no big deal. They’ve done it before. They sent flowers. Do you believe that? Even an idiot knows you can’t have flowers in ICU. They smelled sickening, like death. I told the nurses to throw them out. Chue came. Good old Chue. I can always count on Chue. You can never count on your children. All they do is break your heart. Sallie was right. Sallie was always right.”
Billie stopped in mid-stride. “No, Fanny, Sallie was not always right. More often than not she was wrong. Bess, take her other arm. She can barely stand up.”
“How have you been getting back and forth, Fanny?” Bess asked.
“I drove. Sometimes off the road. I got here, didn’t I? It doesn’t matter. Don’t you understand, nothing matters? I give up and want everyone to know I give up. Tell everyone for me. Tell my shitty kids, tell Ash’s son and his sister. Tell the whole damn world. Fanny Logan Thornton Thornton Reed finally gives up!”
“Oh, no, that’s too easy,” Billie said.
“Billie’s right, that’s too easy,” Bess said. “Easy, Billie, I have a good grip on her.”
“Where are you taking me? I don’t want to go. I want to die in that ugly chair. Don’t you get it? I—don’t—care.”
“Get in the car, Fanny,” Bess said.
Too weak to argue, Fanny fell across the backseat. Billie started the engine.
“Are you going to talk about me now the way the nurses do?”
“Yes,” Bess snarled. “How did you let yourself get like this?”
“It was easy. When you don’t care anymore, everything gets easy. They think it’s easy to pull a plug. You have to be tough to do that. You have to have guts to do that. I’m not tough, and I don’t have any guts because I don’t care. What time is it? What day is it?”
“If you don’t care about anything, why do you want to know?” Bess asked from the front seat.
“Just for the record. I don’t want you here. Go back on your cruise ship and send Billie back to Washington. Go home.”
“We don’t care what you want,” Billie called over her shoulder. “We’re here, and we’re staying. Get that through your head.”
“I want to be by myself. I have to think about everything and don’t want you here pep-talking me. I told you, I give up. When you give up there is nothing to talk about.”
“So think. No one is stopping you from thinking,” Bess said. “Only quitters give up. You’re no quitter, Fanny. You worked damn hard to get to this point in time, and Billie and I aren’t about to let you give up. Think as much as you want as long as you come up with the right answers.”
Fanny struggled to sit up. “I can’t do anything right. How do you expect me to come up with right answers to anything?”
“We’re here to help you. We’re friends, Fanny. Did you forget that? The answers are there. You simply have to explore all of your options. It’s a weeding-out process. You’ve done it all your life, so you can do it again.”
“That’s a laugh,” Fanny snorted. “I don’t want to go in there, I hate this house. I sit in the garage with the door open. When I called for the ambulance, I told them my name was Fanny Thornton. Why did I do that? It means something. Stop looking at me like that. I know I look terrible, and I don’t care.”
“Why do you hate your new house? You and Marcus built it together. Saying you were Fanny Thornton doesn’t mean diddly-squat. You’ve been a Thornton most of your life. It was a slip of the tongue. Somewhere in your mind you probably thought the ambulance would get here sooner if you used the family name. You were in shock, Fanny. You’re still in shock,” Bess said.
“Those are just words. You’re trying to humor me. Go away.”
“Why?” Bess asked again.
“Because something will happen to you if you stay. Something happens to everyone who . . . everyone dies. You have husbands who love you. I’m not supposed to have a husband.”
Billie shook Fanny’s shoulders. “Who told you something like that?”
“Me. Nobody has to tell me anything. Something’s wrong with me. Just go away and leave me alone. I didn’t invite you here.”
“Listen to me, Fanny. I want you to sit on this kitchen chair and not move. I’m going to make you something to eat, and you’re going to eat every bite of it. Bess and I are here, and we’re staying as long as you need us. After you eat you’re going to bed to sleep the clock around. Bess and I won’t let anything happen while you’re sleeping. When you wake up, we’ll talk.”
An hour later, Billie looked at Bess across the kitchen table. “This isn’t good, Bess. In all the years I’ve known Fanny, I’ve never known her to be anything but strong and positive. The first thing we need to do is call the kids to find out what went wrong. I think we’ll have a better handle on the situation once we talk to them. You call, Bess, and I’ll make some fresh coffee.”
“That’s it, Billie,” Bess said hanging up the phone. “Sunny has retired for the night and no calls are put through after nine o’clock. Birch is out for the evening. Iris said Sage stayed in town. Billie’s answering machine comes on, so that must mean she’s out for the evening, too. All Iris knows is there is a problem with Jeff Lassiter and the casino. Now what?”
“Now you open the door since someone is knocking.”
“Ruby!”
“Am I intruding? I stopped by the medical center, but they said Fanny left with two women. I was hoping it was you two. How is she?”
“She’s feeling down. She hasn’t slept or eaten. What’s been going on, do you know?”
“I only know what Iris told me. It doesn’t concern Fanny, so I don’t think I should betray her confidences. It’s a personal thing between her and Sage. They’re having twins, you know. Everyone gets emotional over something like that.”
“Twins!” Billie and Bess exclaimed as one.
“Yes, twins. Is there anything I can do?”
“No. There’s nothing for us to do either. We’re waiting for John to come back from the center.”
“Try calling the casino to have Sage paged or ask for Neal and have him locate Sage. Iris said he might take a room or stay with Bil
lie this evening. I’m going to stop at the casino on my way home. If I see Sage, I’ll tell him to call. I called the center every day for an update on Marcus’s condition. I asked to speak to Fanny, but the nurses said she wouldn’t take the calls. The children should be here. I wish I understood this family a little better. Call me if you need me.”
“We will. Thanks for stopping by, Ruby. I’ll tell Fanny you were here when she wakes up.”
“Now what?” Bess asked.
“We wait. Gin rummy?”
“Sure.”
Jeff Lassiter opened the door to his office. He reached out and yanked Celia Thornton into the room.
“Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on here? Those housekeepers made me move out of the room. I’m lucky I got my stuff out. Now what am I supposed to do?”
“That’s only part of it. You’re off the payroll, thanks to your brother-in-law Sage.”
“I don’t understand. What does Sage have to do with this? You told me you were in total control.”
“He knew about Room 719. The others knew about it, too. It seems they’ve banded together to get me out of here. They offered to buy out my contract, but I stood firm. At the moment, I’m a figurehead. It’s ugly, and it’s going to get uglier because they’ve consulted an attorney. I’m not worried about that, though. I heard just a little while ago that all those fancy things you bought are now public knowledge. Sage has the receipts. I would imagine he’s going to present them to your husband. He knows you moved into 719. I don’t know how he found out, Celia. I suppose he has spies the way I have spies, the way Neal Tortolow has spies. No one trusts anyone in this business. I think he thinks something is going on between the two of us.”
“He can think whatever he wants. I know how to take care of Sage Thornton. You disappointed me, Jeff. I believed you when you said you were going to own this place someday. Now you tell me you’re a mere figurehead. This is not going according to plan.”
“You can’t blame me for this. It’s a temporary setback, nothing more. Fanny didn’t tell me her children held the controlling interest in this casino. It’s fine. I have three years to take over this place. It’s a wise man who bides his time and strikes when the time is right. It simply means I switch to Plan B.”
“Where does that leave me?”
“Exactly where you were before. You work at your jobs and stay in your apartment. You can win enough at the tables with my system to keep you in the style you wish to accustom yourself to. Just don’t get greedy. Your brother-in-law is in the casino. I think it’s safe to say he’s spying. Let’s give him something to spy on. Hit the twenty-one tables. You know what to do. My advice would be to pay off those bills. I have this feeling your brother-in-law isn’t buying into that sweet, innocent act you put on when you first got here. At some point he’s going to share that knowledge with his brother and sisters. He may already have done that for all we know. Everyone knows what a close-knit little group they are. Sage sees you as the opportunist that you are.”
“Tell me again why I put my eggs in your basket instead of my husband’s, Jeff,” Celia snarled.
“You aligned yourself with me because you know I have the capability to take this casino for every dime in its coffers. I also have the capability of making all the other casino owners sit up and beg. It might take me every bit of the three years on my contract, but it will happen. Your take is 10 percent as we agreed. If things change, that percentage can go up or down. Your future will be secure, and you’ll never have to worry about money. Did I miss anything? Oh, yes, Celia, what are you going to do about your husband? Your part of the deal was you’d be on the inside and able to feed me information. You got greedy, and now we’re in this fix.”
“I don’t agree. I can wrap Birch around my fingers, and there are ways to get information without being on the inside. Being a Thornton has its advantages. I’m not sure I want to give that up.”
“What will you do if Birch wants to give you up?”
“It won’t happen. If it does, then I get down and ugly. He’s the one who slapped me around. It was pure dumb luck that I remembered the Polaroid camera Birch brought back in his duffel bag. All I had to do was stand in front of the mirror and snap. The bruises showed up magnificently. Spouse abuse works wonders in divorce cases. Especially when there is proof. Tap into that fancy-dancy computer of yours and tell me which room Sage booked for the night.” Jeff’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. He tapped at the keys.
“He’s in Room 1611. You are a little devil, aren’t you?”
“A key would be nice, Jeff. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. I found out the hard way if you don’t look out for number one, no one else will.” Celia pocketed the master key Jeff handed her. “I’ll probably be calling you later, so be available. We discussed this a few days ago. You know what you have to do. I’ll see you later.”
Sage was dodging a group of tourists exiting the hanging gardens when he heard the high-pitched babble of excited voices coming from the twenty-one tables. He worked his way across the floor in time to see Celia rake in a pile of chips. She scooped them up into a large cardboard bucket. She tossed one of the chips to the dealer before she turned to leave the table, her winnings clasped tightly against her chest.
“Lucky night?” Sage said. His voice was cool, matter-of-fact, his eyes openly suspicious as he eyed the bucket of hundred- and thousand-dollar chips.
“You wouldn’t believe how lucky. Here, these are for you to pay off the things I charged. We’re square now. I suppose you plan to tell Birch.”
“What makes you say that?”
“My womanly intuition. How about buying me a drink? There are some extra chips in the bucket that will cover the bar tab. It’s almost time to head home. Gambling is very stressful. A drink will help me unwind. I have a subbing job tomorrow. You just wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve had. I bought this answering machine and hooked it up wrong. I’m not the least bit mechanically minded. I guess I lost more messages than I got. Jeff was good enough to put me up here at the hotel when my apartment got overrun with roaches. They used some kind of killer spray that wasn’t good for humans to breathe. You know, the fumes. Anyway, I’m back in the apartment, my machine is working, and I’m working. My job here fell through. You’d think being a Thornton would help my resume. Did you have anything to do with that, Sage?” Celia asked playfully as she wagged a finger under Sage’s nose.
Sage laughed as he headed for the Harem Lourge, the bucket of chips clasped securely in his hands.
“Gin and tonic,” Celia said to the bartender.
“Beer,” Sage said. He set the container of chips on the bar.
Celia crossed her legs as she swiveled the barstool till it was facing Sage. “What are you doing in town tonight? Birch said you hated this place.”
“Business.”
“At this time of night! Oh, I get it, monkey business, right?”
“Wrong. It’s late now, so there’s no point in heading up the mountain. It’s one of the nicer perks about this place. Birch asked me to take you to lunch or dinner.”
“Are you asking me to go to lunch or dinner or are you telling me that’s what Birch wants you to do?”
“Would you like to have lunch, Celia?” His voice was so prim and polite, Celia smiled.
“I would, Sage, if I thought you genuinely wanted to have lunch with me. Taking me to lunch because someone asked you to doesn’t make for an enjoyable luncheon. Besides, I work the lunch hour at the Golden Nugget. I was never big on lunch to begin with. I suppose I should thank you for asking, though. What is it about me that you don’t like, Sage?”
“Where did you get the idea that I don’t like you?”
Celia smiled. “From you. It’s okay. I have a whole list of people I don’t like. You aren’t on my list, Sage. Thanks for the drink.” Celia slipped off the barstool. Before Sage knew what was happening, she kissed him soundly on the mouth. “No hard feelings, Sa
ge,” she cooed as she playfully tweaked his nose. “I’ll see you later.” She raised her voice to make sure the bartender heard her and also noticed her little byplay.
Ruby stood in the doorway to the bar. Her jaw dropped. She turned around just as Celia exited the bar. What did, I’ll see you later mean?
“Celia! What a surprise! It’s so nice to see you. How’s Birch? I was just going to treat myself to a nightcap before heading back to the ranch. Would you care to join me?”
“I don’t think so, Ruby, but thanks for asking. I have a teaching job tomorrow, so I have to get up early. Perhaps another time.”
“We could make it a cola. When I was your age, I could stay up till the wee hours and still go to work. Stamina is such a wonderful thing. I insist, Celia,” Ruby said leading Celia to a sofa in the hotel area across from the registration desk. “Maybe we should have coffee. How was your night?”
“Actually, Ruby, it was quite wonderful. I won a lot of money at twenty-one, but I had to give it to Sage to pay off some things I charged. I pretty much went berserk when I went shopping. Birch frowns on things like that. I’m just lucky I won. Birch is such a . . . tightwad.”
“I would have thought he was generous. The others are. How is he? Does he like Atlantic City? I’m still hoping he’ll give the ranch serious consideration.”
“He said he’s into it. He likes building things. He took some great pictures of the village he built in Costa Rica. We could have dinner one night this week, and I’ll show them to you. They’re Polaroids, though.” Celia’s voice turned wistful when she said, “I miss him. I wouldn’t count on him as far as the ranch is concerned. Personally, I thought it was a very generous offer.”
Vegas Sunrise Page 16
