The Ultimatum

by Nancy Moser

  Jered looked at the shelf that had held his few possessions. It was empty. Even his guitar was gone.

  Well then. He slipped his shirt back on, turned off the light, and went to the main house feeling like a servant who'd been invited into the masters domain. Jinko wasn't home yet; he must have made a special effort to get this done. He could have merely said, “You can move into the house,” without doing the work himself. But Jinko had made it special by making it a surprise.

  He'd also made it hard to refuse.

  Though Jered had been in Jinko's house many times to use the shower, he looked at it with new eyes. This was his house now. His home. This was real. He wasn't homeless anymore. He wasn't a kid passing through. He had roots.

  The second door on the right was closed, and Jered hesitated a moment before opening it. He knew it was a bedroom with a navy bedspread. He'd taken a peek inside on other days. But now that it was his room…

  He turned the knob and pushed the door open without entering. Leaning in the crook between bed and wall was his guitar. His music was neatly stacked on a desk under a window. Something was on the bed.

  Jered went inside to see but stopped short. Fanned neatly across the bedspread were twenty-dollar bills. Lots of them.

  Jered swooped them up and counted. Fifteen twenty-dollar bills. Three hundred dollars.

  He fell onto the bed, laughing, and tossed the money in the air, letting it float down upon him.

  He wouldn't leave now.

  He couldn't.

  “Ah, come on, Merry. Just one more antique store.”

  Merry pulled at her hair. “Eek! Claire, we've created a monster!”

  Annie pretended to pout. “I'm not that bad. I'm just having fun. That's legal, isn't it?”

  “Last time I—” Claire did a double take and pointed ahead, as traffic passed at the intersection in front of them. “Annie? Isn't that Cal's truck?”

  They all looked to the right as the white truck zoomed past. “It is! What's Cal—?” She slapped the back of the front seat. “Follow him, Claire!”

  Claire didn't argue. She turned right at the corner.

  Merry turned around to look at Annie, her eyes wide. “Annie, you don't think…?”

  “What other explanation is there? As soon as he found out I'd be gone all day, he was probably on the phone making his plans. With her.”

  “But if he knew you were coming to Eldora, why would he risk it?” Annie thought a moment. “I never told him where… He, and I never told him where we were going. I just said we shopping and out to eat.”

  Merry snickered. “He couldn't think we were staying. That shopping expedition would have lasted a whole.”

  “Lets not attempt to dissect the male mind. The point is, he',” Claire said.

  “Don't get too close!”

  Claire eased up but said, “I doubt he knows my car. We're okay.”

  “Just give him room. I don't want to spook him.”

  Merry's voice was soft. “You really want to know?”

  Annie's throat was dry. “It's not a matter of want. I have.”

  Cal's truck turned into a driveway—but not of a home. “Where' going?” Claire asked.

  “He's parking,” Merry said.

  “Pull to the side, up ahead,” Annie said.

  “What is this place?” Claire asked, craning her neck to see.

  Annie read the sign that was nearly obscured by bushes: “Friendly Acres Retirement Village.” She watched Cal go inside, then faced her friends. “I don't understand. His parents are long gone. He doesn't have any great-aunts or great-uncles. Avi and I are his only family.”

  “Maybe it's somebody he met somewhere?”

  Annie shook her head. “Then why wouldn't he tell me? If he has an elderly friend…I love old people. I'd have come to visit with him.”

  Claire put her hand on the ignition. “You want to wait?”

  “Do you mind?”

  She shut off the car.

  A half hour later, Merry exclaimed, “He's coming out!”

  They all swung around in their seats to look. Cal was heading to his truck.

  “Do you want me to continue to follow him?” Claire asked as she readied her keys.

  Annie had already thought this through. “No. I want to go inside and see who he's been visiting. Maybe it will explain everything.”

  “But what if its a fluke? A one-time visit?” Merry asked. “I don't want to play devil's advocate, but…”

  “Then I'll further pursue the idea he's having an affair.”

  “Pray for the best, expect the worst?” Claire said.

  “Get down!” Merry said. “He's driving out.”

  They all hunkered down in the car. “I feel like I'm in a mystery movie,” Claire said.

  Annie peeked out the window. Cal was gone. “And I plan to solve the mystery.” She opened the door. “Anyone want to come along?”

  “Mr. McFay? Yes, he was just—”

  “I know that,” Annie said. “I'm his wife.” She put on her most charming smile. “It's just that I've never been here before, and I thought I'd help him out with the visiting duties, and…” How can I word it?

  Claire did it for her. “We want to visit who Cal visited.”

  The receptionist's eyes scanned those of all three women. “All of you?”

  “It's not against the rules, is it?” Merry asked.

  “No, no. Mr. McFay can have as many visitors as he—”

  Annie leaned on the counter. “Mr. McFay?”

  “Your father-in-law. He's—”

  Annie's knees buckled. She found herself helped to a chair in the lobby.

  The receptionist left for a glass of water.

  “Annie, what's wrong?” Merry asked.

  “Cal's father is dead. He died before we got married.”

  “Apparently not,” Claire said.

  “Why would Cal lie?” Merry asked.

  Annie stood. “I have to see him. Now.”

  Fergis McFay sat in a wheelchair in the atrium. He had an oxygen tube in his nose and a tank on the back of the chair. He was sleeping despite two macaws squawking loudly in cages nearby. A few elderly people played cards. An employee, dressed in a teal uniform, watered plants. Annie, Merry, and Claire pulled three chairs close.

  The receptionist tapped him on the shoulder. “Mr. McFay? Mr. McFay? You have more visitors.”

  He grunted, then opened his eyes. Immediately Annie saw that Cal had inherited his blue eyes from his father. He blinked a few times then looked around, panicked. “Where's my chainsaw?”

  The receptionist patted his arm. “We'll find it for you.” She looked to the ladies. “He has Alzheimer's. He lives in the past more than the present, but he comes and goes. Sometimes he's here.”

  “I need him to be here,” Annie said.

  Merry leaned close and whispered, “He doesn't know you anyway, Annie.”

  Good point. She thanked the receptionist and turned to her father-in-law. What an odd experience. To think someone was dead only to find them alive?

  He surprised her by asking, “Who are you?” His voice was gruff. His eyes flashed.

  “I'm Annie. I'm—”

  He shook a finger at her and interrupted. “You're that white-trash girl, aren't you?”

  “What?”

  “The one Cal was going to save to impress me.”

  Annie looked at her friends. “Save? He married me.”

  Fergis flipped a hand. “Same thing.” He looked at her midsection. “You still prego?”

  Annie felt Merry's hand on her knee trying to give her comfort. It didn't work.

  Suddenly, Claire chimed in. “Yes, she's pregnant. The baby's due in a few months.”

  What was she doing?

  Fergis slumped back in his chair. He frowned and shook his head. “She's a fornicator having a bastard child.” He spoke to Claire as if Annie weren't there. “And my son's going to marry her!”

  “He's a good
man,” Claire said. “He loves her.”

  “No, he doesn't. He's just trying to impress me. Save the poor sinful girl, to atone for his own sins.”

  “He loved me. He loves me.” Annie didn't like the desperate whine in her voice.

  “He's trying to earn his way to heaven—and into my good graces. Dumb kid.” His face changed, his arm raised. “‘Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming!'”

  He put his arm down and leaned over the side of his wheelchair, searching for something. “Now, where is my chainsaw? I have that grove to clear. Someone took it.” He glared at Annie. “Did you take it?”

  She shook her head.

  Merry helped her to standing. “Let's go, Annie.”

  “Annie!” Fergis said. “My boy was going to marry her, but I forbid it! I forbid it!”

  Annie felt herself being hurried away. The next thing she knew, they were in the car, and Claire was driving on the highway home. Home. Just get me home.

  She curled up on the backseat and closed her eyes. If only she could close her ears and stop the words being repeated in her head.

  When Annie came in the kitchen door, Cal called out from the living room. “That you, Annie-girl?”

  Its me. Annie. Your fornicating charity case.

  She let her purse drop to the floor. She kept her jacket on and went into the living room. The television was on. She moved across the room like a floating zombie. She turned it off with a finger. The effort was difficult.

  “Hey! I was watching that.”

  She turned to face him.

  “Sheesh, Annie. What's wrong? You look like you've been run over.”

  She drew in a breath. “I have been run over. Run over by your lies.”

  He showed a glimmer of panic. “What are you talking about?”

  She sank into the rocker but did not rock. “I met a man today.” She purposely didn't say more. Let him suffer that fear for just a moment. It would serve him right. “His name is Fergis McFay.”

  Cal popped off the couch. “When? Why did you visit my father?”

  Annie had to laugh. “When? Why did I…? You're asking the wrong questions, Cal. How about the big one: Why did you tell me your father was dead? Why have you been hiding his existence all these years?”

  He fell onto the couch as if his muscles had left him. “I wanted to tell you so many times…”

  “Why didn't you?”

  Cal leaned forward, setting his elbows on his thighs. He ran his hands over his face. “I didn't want to admit I lied. I didn't want you to think badly of me.”

  She couldn't remain seated. She had to pace. “But a lie strung out for years becomes worse.”

  “I know; I know…”

  She spun around and faced him. “Where has he been all these years?

  “In Eldora. He had his own house until recently. His health…”

  “So that's why you've been making these trips to Eldora?”

  “He's kind of needy right now.”

  “You're not having an affair?” She hadn't meant to say it. Was it good she'd said it?

  His jaw dropped. “Why would you think…? No!” He stood and took her arms. “No, Annie. I love you. You alone. I would never be unfaithful.”

  She'd known that. Deep down, she'd known that. She dropped her forehead against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.

  “I'm so sorry, Annie. My father is a difficult man. He didn't approve of me marrying you since you were pregnant with another man's child.”

  Annie stood erect and stepped back. “He called me a fornicator and Avi a bastard.”

  Cal reached for her, but she stepped away. They needed to finish this.

  “My father calls himself a Christian. But he's first and foremost a judge. Everything has always been black and white to him. And I was never good enough. Nothing I did was good enough, even though I tried and tried to be the kind of man he wanted me to be.”

  Cal looked so pitiful, but Annie didn't go to him. Not yet. “He said you saved me, you saved the poor pregnant girl to impress him.”

  He hesitated a moment, then shrugged. “He was big into doing good deeds.”

  “I was a charity project to get brownie points with him?”

  “Annie, I chose you over my father. I married you even when he said not to. That's why I said he was dead. I didn't want you to have to endure his mean ways. I was trying to protect you.”

  “I don't need protection. I'm a big girl.”

  Cal's voice softened. “You don't need protection now, but you did then. You needed me.” He took a step toward her, and she didn't move away. He stroked her hair away from her face. “And I needed you, Annie-girl. I love you.”

  She let him hug her, and after a few moments she hugged back.

  Cal lay in bed, Annie asleep against his chest. He was glad that was over. He was glad the secret was out. Now Annie could come with him to visit his dad. And Avi had a grandfather she didn't even know about. Who knows? Maybe a granddaughter would soften his father.

  But Cal's relief was short-lived. One secret was out in the open.

  If only they all were…

  Thirteen

  People who want to get rich

  fall into temptation and a trap

  and into many foolish and harmful desires

  that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

  1 TIMOTHY 6:9

  ONE MONTH LATER

  “CHESTNUTS ROASTING on an open fire…”

  Bailey tossed the wad of Christmas lights on the couch. Bah. Humbug. He strode to the stereo and ejected Nat King Cole. Who was he trying to kid? Putting up a Christmas tree was meaningless without Jered around.

  He looked toward the box containing their collection of Santas. It was always Jered's job to arrange them on the mantel.

  He noticed a Santas foot sticking out the top. He retrieved the toppled jolly man. The stuffed Santa had a lopsided beard from the time Jered, at age five, had decided to give it a trim with fingernail scissors.

  Bailey moved toward the kitchen, toward a pair of scissors so he could make it right. Fix Jered's mistake. Why hadn't he done it before?

  But in the doorway he stopped. He looked at the Santa with the deformed beard. He ran a finger along its ragged edge.

  He backtracked and set him on the mantel, front and center. Then he hauled the rest of the boxes back to the basement.

  This one Santa was enough this year.

  This one particular Santa said it all.

  “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”

  “Jered? Come here.”

  He glanced up from untangling the string of Christmas lights. They were all white, not like the cool multicolored ones he and his dad always had. But he couldn't be picky. At least Jinko had a tree— such as it was. Just a tabletop thing Jinko said he could buy. Kind of pitiful, but better than nothing. Yet not a single Santa in sight. Jered had always loved to set up their Santa collection.

  “Jered! Get up here!”

  He tossed the lights on the couch. “Coming.” He went upstairs to Jinko's den and found him at the desk. A newspaper was open to the want ads. One ad was circled in red ink. Jinko pegged it with a finger.

  “This. This is it.”

  The print was too small, and Jered couldn't read it without picking it up. But since Jinko wasn't offering… Jered had learned not to grab. “What's ‘it’?”

  Jinko snatched the paper, shoving it under Jered's nose. “It is a place to get rich. A coin auction here in Eldora.”

  Jered took the page and read the ad. Coins. Money. That sounded good. But an auction? “We steal from houses, not people.”

  Jinko smiled. “Semantics, kid. Big gains always include big risks.”

  Jered shrugged. He wasn't about to argue—or ask too many questions.

  “That's it? I come up with a stunni
ng way to make some big cash, and all you can do is shrug?”

  “I'm sure it's doable.”

  Jinko tossed the paper on the desk. “I'll do it without you, if that's what you want. I'm only trying to look after you. I don't think you realize where you'd be without me.”

  Yes, but… It was a complicated point.

  Jinko tapped the ad. “If you don't want to be in on it, I'll find someone else.” His eyes did their own advertising.

  Jered shoved his hands in his pockets. How could he refuse? lm in.

  “Good choice.”

  Jered took a step toward the hall. He turned back. “You want to come help me decorate the tree?”

  “Christmas is your deal, kid, not mine. Knock yourself out.” Ho ho ho.

  “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”

  Annie loved this song. The mellow voice, the warm feeling of hearth and home. It was so nice to have an addition to their family gatherings this year. Since Cal had shared his secret father, they'd all been back to see Fergis many times. Avi, too. It was a little hard for her to understand how come she suddenly had an instant grandfather, but the old man and the girl hit it off immediately. Avi had even gotten Fergis to laugh. Kids. The wonder drug.

  And Thanksgiving a week ago had been nice with another place set at the table. Family. Things were the way they were supposed to be. Mostly.

  “Annie? Can you come here, please?”

  Cal was in the kitchen. She set aside the Christmas stocking she was cross-stitching for her father-in-law. She'd have to work on it double time to get it done.

  “What's up?” she asked.

  He was at the computer, but it was off. A newspaper sat on top of the desk, open to the want ads. One ad was circled in red ink. Cal pegged it with a finger.

  “This. This is it.”

  The print was too small, and Annie picked it up. “What's it?”

  “It is a place to get rich. A coin auction in Eldora.”

  Annie read the ad. Coins. Money. That sounded good. But an auction? “What do you have in mind?”

  Cal took the paper back. “We buy coins and sell them on-line. We can make a mint, pun intended. Plus, I have another idea if they have the right coins.”

  Oh, dear. What with the extra expense of Fergis's care and Christmas presents to buy, she really didn't feel they should invest in anything right now.