"I need to get something to Miranda," he said simply, and Emily thought she saw the coldness in his eyes melt a bit when he said her name.
"I haven’t spoken to Miranda since...since she married Michael." It was still so hard to say.
"I know."
"I bet you do. And I know that you haven’t spoken to her since before that blessed occasion."
"Actually, that’s not true. I did get to speak to her for a few minutes. Unfortunately, Michael cut our conversation short with a right jab to my jaw."
"Pity. Although I guess that gets you back for the concussion Zainab told me you gave him."
"I thought you’d applaud me for that."
"I might have if you had done that years ago, before he had a chance to get to Miranda."
Alex narrowed his eyes. "Anything else you need to say to me before I go on?"
"Sure. You’re a really cold bastard, but you already know that. Michael’s a pig, but what you did was without any doubt worse. If she’s with Michael, if you can’t talk to her, if her friends can’t talk to her, then it’s all on you."
"I know that. I am trying to fix it."
Emily shook her head, completely unconvinced. "Some things...you can’t fix."
"I have to fix this. And I can, very quickly, if you help me."
"Why me again?"
"Jessie is still...incapacitated."
Emily raised one eyebrow. "And Zainab? Zainab who still talks to Miranda?"
"Zainab, from everything I’ve seen, doesn’t share my disapproval of their marriage."
"When you say it like that, Alex, you almost make me want to give Michael a chance."
"Almost, but not quite?"
"We’ll see. And tell me again, how long exactly have you and Professor Hazlett been friends?"
"Joanna and I go way back." He sighed. "You really don’t know, do you? The grant she’s been paying you with is overseen by my foundation."
Emily sat straighter. She blinked, just for a second. Of course. "I quit. And before you start making strange insinuations about back pay, I don’t owe you one thing. Whatever you thought you had on me, you don’t."
"Tell me, my dear, how is your husband doing in school?"
Emily relaxed. He was everything she’d always expected him to be. "My husband is doing very well. If he should suddenly start failing classes, it’s going to look arbitrary. One might even say capricious. Go ahead and threaten his job prospects, but that’s the long game, and I’m not sure you’re actually that patient."
"You’d be surprised."
She smiled. "There’s so little you could do that would surprise me. Oh, and before you start making inquiries about my mother, she’s actually been trying to leave for quite some time. Would you like to arrange for her to be laid off? Now that I’ve got my degree, I think she’d almost be relieved." Emily nodded as if she remembered something. "Oh, right. My degree. Are you going to retroactively take that away from me? Because we can just drive to my mother’s house and I’ll give it to you."
"Are you done yet?"
"I think that’s all. But know this: if you do any of those things to me or my husband or my mother or anyone else I know, I will tell anyone who asks me. And I’m afraid I can’t be responsible for who among those people might talk. And who knows whom they might talk to?"
"You’ve made your point."
"And yet, you’re still here."
"I need you to give something to Miranda."
"And why would I want to do that?"
"Because it will get her away from Michael, and I think if you have to choose, you hate Michael more than you hate me."
"Don’t be so sure."
Alex leaned forward. Emily didn’t move. He smiled. "And I think you love Miranda more than you hate either of us, and you want what’s best for her."
"Yes," Emily said slowly, "but perhaps you’ll understand if I don’t believe you’re a good judge of that."
Alex searched through Emily’s eyes. She didn’t budge. "Fine," he said, not taking his eyes off of her. "I’ll show you."
He put the two envelopes on the table and slid them over to her. "I’m trusting you, Emily. I’m trusting you to do the right thing, and I’m trusting you to keep this quiet."
Emily waited a moment before opening the first, large envelope. It looked like a bank statement, with dates, numbers and dollar values. She flipped through the pages until she got to the final value and a named beneficiary. Her eyes popped out. "Jesus!" she said despite herself.
Alex closed his eyes. "That’s not the important one."
"The other one is worth more?" Emily said incredulously.
"The other one is worth everything."
Emily couldn’t help it. She opened the smaller envelope. It was a small piece of paper that took her less than ten seconds to read but she didn’t look up for a minute. She needed to read it again and again to make sure that she got it right.
"You son of a bitch!" she shouted so loudly that everyone in the faculty center turned to look at her. She knew and she didn’t care. "Bastard! I hope there’s a Hell so you can burn for this!"
"I know you’ve had a difficult pregnancy this far. I don’t think it’s good for you or your child to get so upset right now."
"Your concern for children is well-documented," she said, shaking the paper. "You...how do you live with yourself?!?"
"Not well at all," he said, and for the first time that day, Emily believed he was telling the truth. "Not well for the last seventeen years, and really badly for the last four months."
"Why not just mail it?" Emily said, tears coming to her eyes.
"What if Michael saw it first?"
"Why not call her, email—why not tell her to her face, you sniveling coward?"
"Think whatever you want about me. But now do you understand why I need to get this to her as soon as possible?"
She knew she was being played, but it didn’t matter anymore. "Yes," she said, shaking. "I’ll do it."
"You have until tomorrow night."
"What happens tomorrow night?"
"Michael is coming back from his business trip." She was about to ask how he knew, but she answered herself before she needed to.
"You bastard," she said, then walked out of the faculty center.
CHAPTER 50
Emily called Miranda as soon as she got to her little study room in library.
"Oh my God!" Miranda exclaimed. Emily did her best not to cry. "Emily, Emily. I never thought I’d hear from you again!"
Emily sniffled. She had missed her friend so much. She wished she had called before now. "Miranda, I really need to see you."
"Oh God, Emily, is everything okay? Is it Mitch? Is it the baby?"
"It’s...just me. It’s just me and you. I really need to see you. When can I see you, please?"
"How about lunch tomorrow? My treat—anywhere you want."
Emily swallowed her tears. "No, it’ll be my treat. You name the place."
~~~
Later on Monday afternoon, Miranda received a clean bill of health from her doctor. He didn’t want her to run or jog until she’d gone through physical therapy, but she was fine to walk without her cane or bandages. Finally walking, she texted Michael. Really? Where are you now? Walking home. What r u wearing? Jeans and the pink shirt you gave me. Did I ever tell u how sexy you look in that? Is anybody checking u out? Ur being creepy and stupid now. What r u wearing? Same as always but with the blue tie you got me. I love when you wear ties. All I can do is think how much I want to untie them and unbutton ur shirt. If u don’t stop, I’m getting on next plane home. I’ll stop for now. I’ll call you tonight. I’ll wait up.
~~~
It was almost twelve when Michael finally called. "What are you doing now?"
"Just watching TV."
"What are you wearing?"
"Your blue pajama top and those boy briefs you like so much."
"Mmm hmm," he said, and she laughed.
/> "What are you wearing?"
"My boxers."
"Mmm hmm," she said, and then he laughed.
"Turn off the TV."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to go into the bedroom."
She smiled and turned off the TV. "Are you by yourself now?"
"Since when do I like to share?"
She closed the bedroom door. "Now what?"
"Take off that shirt, for starters."
~~~
Emily met Miranda at noon the next day. Miranda grinned when she saw Emily and threw her arms around her. Emily hugged her back. She could feel how happy and warm Miranda was. She wanted to run out right then.
"How is Mitch? Is he still excited about the baby? Have you picked out any names? Zainab told me you were feeling better. Was it like this for your mom? I think I read this runs in families. Oh, Emily, I’ve missed you so much! I wanted to call you so many times, but I was afraid you wouldn’t want to talk to me."
"I missed you too, Miranda." She couldn’t stop crying now. "I’m so sorry. I wish I’d seen you earlier."
Miranda took a deep breath. "Em, I understand. I really do. I was never angry with you. I just hope—I hope this means that you know things are good and that I’m happy. He’s not the same person he was. I don’t know what Zainab and Richard have told you, but—"
"Miranda, please stop!" Emily closed her eyes miserably. "I have to tell you something. Alex Sheldon paid me a surprise visit yesterday."
Miranda’s lip trembled. "Oh, Em." She looked away. "Is that why you wanted to see me all of a sudden?"
"Yes—no. I missed you, I wanted to see you. I...Alex wanted me to see you, but I don’t care what he wants. I know he’s a monster. I don’t know how..." Emily started crying again. "You’re too wonderful for both of them. I’m sorry to come like this."
"Emily, what’s going on?" Miranda reached her hand out to Emily. "He had no right to bother you, especially now, and I’m going to tell him just that."
"I have to give you something, honey. I’m telling you now how sorry I am, and I hope you remember that I love you, and whatever happens now, I’m going to be there for you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t before. Do you believe me?"
Miranda nodded her head, looking at her wide-eyed. "What do you have for me?"
Silently weeping, Emily handed Miranda the same two envelopes that Alex had given her yesterday. Like Emily, Miranda opened the big one first. She seemed to understand what it was more quickly, but was just as disbelieving as Emily had been when she got to the end. "Alex gave you this?" she asked incredulously.
Emily nodded mutely. She held Miranda’s eyes for a moment before pushing the second envelope in front of her. She forced herself not to blink as Miranda opened it.
Miranda read the small piece of paper once, then again. Then again, and again. She looked up at Emily. "No," she said finally, but it was more a plea than a denial.
"Miranda, that’s what they look like."
"No..." She grabbed her stomach with one hand and covered her mouth with another. She ran to the bathroom. Emily grabbed the documents and followed her into the stall. She stayed with her for ten minutes while Miranda vomited. Emily wiped her hair and forehead just the way Mitch had when she’d been sick.
Miranda stood up and made her way to the sink. She splashed her face with cold water. Emily ran out to get her some ice water. Miranda drank it while she cried.
"Who else knows?"
Emily shook her head. "I don’t know. I didn’t tell anyone."
"Please," she said weakly, "please take me to Richard’s office."
They made it to Richard’s office near South Station in less than twenty-five minutes. Miranda sobbed the whole way there, and Emily cried with her as she stroked her hair. She hated to be a part of this, but she would have hated herself more if she had just let it go.
Emily had called Richard ahead of time. He was waiting for them when they got there. He closed the door and Emily handed him both documents. He held Miranda for twenty minutes while she sobbed. "Did you know?"
Richard shook. "Miranda, sweetie, I had no idea. No one ever said anything to me and even my family..." He teared up too. "How long has Alex known?" he asked Emily.
Emily shook her head. "I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I was too busy telling him off."
"Hopefully I can think of a few things you didn’t say."
"Richard, please, please," Miranda pleaded. "I need to know if this is true. Call your lawyers, track this down. I need to know." She sobbed again. "Michael’s coming home tonight." Emily, who still hated Michael almost as much as she hated Drew Sharpe and Joe Welles, cried all over again at Miranda’s misery.
Richard was on the phone for two hours. Emily sent people away every time they knocked on his door. Miranda didn’t move.
Richard put the phone down. The pained expression on his face said it all. "The dates check out," he managed at last. "The original beneficiary and originator...that’s accurate. And the transition date...it fits."
"And that means the second document..."
"That would explain everything," Richard said softly through his tears.
Miranda looked at the wall. "I need to go home," she said in a monotone. "He’s coming home tonight."
Emily composed herself. She wasn’t being fair spending so much time crying. "Do you want us to come with you?" she asked gently.
Miranda shook her head. "No. Richard, can you take me there? But then I need to be alone with him."
Richard hugged her and kissed her forehead. "Whatever you want sweetheart. Always." She nodded, looking up at him.
"Actually, I guess there is just one more thing."
Richard dropped Miranda off at her house, and he and Emily watched her walk in and then close the door.
"I’m sorry," Emily said. "I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t hate Michael that much."
Richard nodded sadly. "It’s better that it was you, Em. He would have made sure it was someone."
CHAPTER 51
On that spring day in 1990, it had taken Alex three hours to decide to finally do what he knew he was going to as soon as he’d gotten off the phone with the older woman at Tatiana’s house. Alex liked to take his time and make sure he made the right decision. Because once he made a decision, it was final.
He marched over to Stephen’s house. Michael answered the door. "Hello, Michael. Is your dad home?" Michael shook his head silently. "Is your mom home?" Michael nodded. "Can I come in and see her?" Michael didn’t say anything.
Alex bent down so he was right at Michael’s level. "It’s very important that I speak to your mom, son. I think they’d want you to let me in." Michael, still silent, sighed and let Alex into his house. That was why Alex knew Michael would always secretly blame himself for what happened next, even when he was too old to remember exactly what he had done. But Alex had always remembered.
Michael went to get his mother. Annabelle came out a moment later. Her eyes blazed when she saw Alex. She stopped herself from saying anything. "Honey, I want you to go to your room now, alright? Why don’t you read that book about the baseball players Uncle Jimmy got for you?"
"Mom, I don’t want—"
"Sweetheart, do what I’m telling you to do. Right now." She cupped his chin in her hand and kissed his forehead. "Right now." Michael nodded and slowly walked to his room.
Annabelle led Alex into the living room and closed the door. "You have a lot of nerve," she said at last. "How dare you show your face here after what you did to my husband? You’ve never done anything but leech off of him, and you repay his generosity by hitting him? What kind of a man are you?"
"That isn’t really the question here," Alex said coldly. "You should be more concerned with what kind of a man your husband is."
Annabelle walked right up to Alex’s face. She wasn’t afraid of him at all. That had always bothered Alex. "You aren’t fit to clean his shoes. He is a better man in every measure. He doesn’t bu
lly people, he doesn’t use them, he doesn’t turn on his friends. I’m proud to call him my husband."
"He’s no saint, Annabelle. You know it. He doesn’t go out of his way to do anything. He just lets things happen. Just falls into them. You love him because he’s weak and you think he needs you— "
"He’s not weak."
"So then what does he need you for?"
"I guess you’ve never loved anyone, have you?"
"And you’re sure Stephen loves you?"
"I’m positive. Despite every bit of poison you injected into my family, I’m sure."
"Really? So where are Michael’s brothers and sisters?"
"How dare you?"
"He wants more children, you don’t. Why is that?"
Annabelle walked to the door and opened it. "Get out."
"Because you know Stephen can barely keep it together for the two of you, isn’t that right?"
Annabelle closed the door. "We can have children anytime we want. We’re letting Michael enjoy being the only child for now."
He snickered. "You just keep telling yourself that."
"What do you want? Tell me, and then get out."
"I think it’s time for you to know what kind of a man your husband is."
"I know better than you do."
"No, sorry. I know you always wanted to win that little competition, but you never stood a chance. And I’ve got you now."
"You just keep telling yourself that."
"Where is he right now, Annabelle?" She didn’t say anything. "You don’t know. That’s okay. I know. Do you want to know?"
"Anything, Alex. I want to hear whatever you have to say if that will get you to leave."
"He’s having an affair, Annabelle."
"You’re a lying piece of garbage."
"That may very well be the case, but I just told you the truth. He’s having an affair, and you’ve already met his mistress."
"You said your piece, now go."
"Don’t you want to know who it is?"
"I don’t care what you think, or what you think you know."
"Sure you do. You want to know. You want to know, because after I tell you, I’m going to leave, and I won’t darken your doorstep again."
The Family You Choose Page 24
