A Fine Mess

by Kristy K. James

  “Well,” Annie told her with a chuckle, “it’s the truth.”

  “So where are you headed off to this afternoon?” her mother wanted to know.

  “I-just feel like taking a drive, I guess. It’s such a nice day-”

  “And you’re stuck at home with me,” Maddie murmured.

  “No, Mother, I am not stuck home with you. But Dad is home and I get the distinct feeling that he’d like to spend some time with you.” That much was the truth. “Three can be a crowd, you know.”

  “But-”

  “But nothing. The stroganoff is in the crock pot. I’ll be back in plenty of time to get the potatoes and noodles ready for supper.”

  For some reason her mother’s favorite meals consisted of ‘comfort foods.’ When she could keep them down, anyway. And today being a good day, she would be plied with one of her favorites, stroganoff with noodles over homemade mashed potatoes.

  No, she wouldn’t eat a whole lot, but at least Annie would have the satisfaction of having provided her with a rib-sticking meal. And if she had room, there was even hot fudge cake waiting to be warmed in the microwave.

  There were two especially nice things about giving up her job and moving back home. One was spending more time with her parents. The other was being able to indulge in her love of cooking and baking on a daily basis.

  When she’d been working, and living in her apartment, she’d often resorted to frozen meals during the week because there simply hadn’t been enough hours to spend in the kitchen creating culinary masterpieces.

  She wished there weren’t now. She wished her mother was healthy and taking care of her home and her husband while Annie slaved away in an office eating TV dinners alone at night.

  “Okay, I’ll give you some time alone with Dad. See you in a bit,” she said, stealing a glance at the clock. If she didn’t leave now, there might not be enough time. “I love you.

  “Drive carefully, Honey.”

  “I will.”

  If she’d thought to escape without her father knowing about it, it had been a vain hope. He cornered her at the front door, asking too casually where she was going. Annie sighed mightily.

  “Dad, I need to get out for awhile, okay? I’m going for a drive. I won’t be long.”

  “Annie-”

  “Dad, it’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. But I need to know that you are.” She hung her head for a moment before replying.

  “I want to tell you that I am, but I’d be lying. I’m trying to be, but I’m scared.” She walked into his open arms for a much needed hug.

  “I know. So am I.”

  “Look, you go spend some time with Mom. I really won’t be gone long. I promise. Back in time for supper.”

  “Drive carefully, Sweetheart,” he said, echoing his wife’s thoughts on the matter.

  “I will. See you in a bit.”

  Chapter 2

  Annie sat with her hands clenched so tightly around her little black clutch purse that her knuckles were white. The odds that he would still in the office on a late Friday afternoon had been slim at best. Especially one that marked the beginning of a holiday weekend. But finding that he actually was here had caused the butterflies in her stomach to morph into Condors ,and she was really afraid that she might throw up.

  The receptionist, one she vaguely remembered from the Fourth of July picnic, had explained that he was on a phone call but would be with her shortly.

  That had been about ten minutes ago. Ten of the longest minutes of her life.

  She tried to pray to calm her nerves but so far all she’d managed was one version or another of, “Oh, Lord, please help me!”

  Another five minutes into her wait, second Timothy chapter one and verse seven popped into her head and she clung to it, repeating it to herself so fast that she figured she would be qualified to become an auctioneer by the time this ordeal was over.

  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

  Over and over and over, yet she was still overcome with the spirit of fear.

  “Miss Blake, Mr. McCann will see you now.”

  Annie’s breath left her as though she’d been slugged in the stomach by Joe Lewis. The moment of truth had arrived.

  And all she wanted to do was run out to her car and drive. Until God sent some angels, and a hundred and five thousand dollars, to fix everything so that her father was safe. While He was at it, it would be just dandy if He sent one to fix her mother up, too!

  “Thank you,” she murmured, standing on legs that didn’t want to support her.

  She followed the receptionist through a maze of hallways, stopping behind her at a door with a shiny gold, engraved name plate proclaiming, ‘Ian McCann.’ After a sharp knock, the door was opened by none other than Ian McCann. Junior.

  The only name that kept coming to mind during her desperate prayers at home. A man as different from his father as night was from day.

  Perhaps their only hope.

  He flashed a dimpled grin at her and swung the door wide, inviting her inside.

  Annie had seen glimpses of his friendly demeanor at company picnics and parties, and heard her father speak nothing but good of the man.

  God willing, that goodness also included a tendency toward forgiveness, compassion and leniency. If not, she didn’t know what she might do.

  “Won’t you have a seat,” he invited, pointing to an expensive leather chair. Surprisingly, he joined her in its twin, both sitting before the desk. He turned to face her. “Is everything all right with your mother? The last I heard, her test results looked a little more promising than they had before she started the new treatment.”

  “I-” Annie was stunned that he knew so much about her mother, and it must have been apparent in her expression because Mr. McCann smiled kindly.

  “Your father has been with us for a good many years. We care about our employees and try to support them when they are going through rough times.”

  Support them? Annie almost laughed. She’d just bet that the support he was talking about wasn’t nearly as generous as the tenth of a million dollars that she‘d come to discuss!

  “She does seem to be doing better,” she assured him quickly. “Thank you for asking.”

  “You’re very welcome, Miss Blake. Now what can I do for you today?”

  Annie didn’t know where to start. She just looked at him, noticing what a beautiful specimen of a man he was. God had certainly outdone Himself here. Wavy, jet black hair, cut fairly short and parted on one side, a perfectly proportioned face, straight noise, square jaw and chin. And a smile that reached his bright blue eyes. Yup. God had done an exceptional job here.

  Hopefully the heart was as beautiful as the packaging.

  “Did I dribble something on my chin?” he asked, clearly amused at her intent inspection of his face. Annie felt herself blush.

  “No. I’m sorry. I’m really not staring,” she stammered, knowing that she kind of had been. But not for the reasons he might think. “I- I just don’t know how to start.”

  “When in doubt I think the best policy is to start at the beginning.”

  So that’s what she did. Haltingly, hating every word that came out of her mouth because they sounded so bad. Trying not to cry, and not succeeding very well. Watching the lips that had smiled in welcome just minutes ago form into a thin, tense line.

  When she finished confessing her father’s sins, she couldn’t stop herself from pleading with him to not turn him in until after the holiday, if he couldn’t find it in his heart to understand and work out some sort of repayment arrangement.

  He didn’t say anything for long minutes and all Annie could do was bow her head and close her eyes, praying that God would be merciful.”

  “I would never have believed your father capable of any sort of theft,” Mr. McCann finally said, sounding
tired and disappointed.

  “He never would have, if he hadn‘t been so afraid for my mother,” she whispered.

  “I want you to know that while I can understand why he did it, I may not be able to do anything to help him. I’m only an employee here. The company belongs to my father, and he doesn’t take matters like this lightly.”

  “We will repay everything,” she promised again. “I’ll get another job and turn over every penny I earn until my father can sell the house.”

  “That’s a nice thought,” he told her, sounding sincere, “but in the current housing market, that could take awhile. And as far as you’re getting another job- I know you quit long-term employment to care for your mother but, as I recall, you were a secretary at a factory?” The man had a memory like an elephant!

  “Yes.”

  “Can I ask what your yearly salary was?” When Annie told him she saw him shake his head. “If the house doesn’t sell, with what you and your father can do now, without even factoring in interest, it would take you over five years to pay back the principle. I can guarantee you that my father won’t find that acceptable.”

  Annie took a steadying breath.

  “Then I guess there’s nothing to be done. I hope you understand that I had to try.”

  “Yes, I understand,” he said gently.

  “Well, I guess I’ll go now. But please, if you could just wait until Tuesday. Dad wanted to have this last holiday with her before he’s arrested.”

  “It may not have to come to that,” he said slowly as she got up to leave. Annie looked at him to see if he was serious, and saw that he was.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Let me check into a couple of things and get back to you later. I’ll come by your house around seven. Is that okay?”

  “I-”

  “There isn’t much time, Miss Blake. If I can figure a way out of this, we will have to move quickly.”

  “Yes. Of course. I’ll be home then. Thank you so much!”

  “Why don’t you wait to see what I can come up with. Or if I can come up with anything at all before you thank me.” With tears in her eyes yet again, Annie looked him square in the eye.

  “Thank you for caring enough about my father to try to help. It means a lot that you don’t hate him because of what he did.”

  “Your father is one of my favorite people. I just wish he’d trusted me enough to come to me first instead of resorting to such drastic measures. Even if it was to help your mother.”

  “So do I, Mr. McCann.”

  ~~~~

  All Ian had wanted to do was get to Muskegon before dark, launch his 39’ cabin cruiser and spend the weekend on Lake Michigan relaxing, maybe doing a little fishing or sight seeing along the coast. Or both.

  What he hadn’t counted on was Annie Blake showing up at his door with her heartbreaking story of love and theft.

  The only thing that prevented him from phoning the police immediately was that Paul Blake had become more of a surrogate uncle to him than an employee. He also believed the man to be as honest as anyone he‘d ever met. Under normal circumstances anyway. And he did understand that his lapse in judgment had been because he feared for the life of his wife.

  Okay, so there was more than one reason to stop him from turning Paul in. Now the question was, could he actually help him out of this predicament?

  Taking his cell phone out of his jacket pocket, and dialing the number for his attorney, he knew he was about to find out. But if what he suspected was the case really was the case, he was going to have to figure out in a hurry if it would be worth the trouble it was going to cost him.

  ~~~~

  Annie wished she had a Valium. She suspected that her father probably wished he had some, too, given his nervousness since her return home.

  Even though she’d tried to put on a good act, she knew she’d been acting oddly. But it was hard not to, knowing that Mr. McCann would be arriving shortly after supper.

  A thought that spurred her into frantic preparations, peeling potatoes and cutting the noodles she’d made earlier in the day so they could be boiled as soon as the water was ready.

  In the midst of cutting everything, she also managed to slice her left thumb quite nicely, too. Just what she needed to end a day that had gone steadily downhill since early afternoon.

  She quickly ran it under water, then pressed a paper towel to it to stop the bleeding, no easy task as the cut appeared to be a little deeper than she’d thought. So she wrapped a Band-Aid around it snugly and went on about finishing supper, careful not to bump it against anything.

  ~~~~

  Maddie usually insisted on eating at the dining room table, if the treatments weren’t causing too much nausea. Today was one of the better days and while Annie was grateful for it, it would have been easier had she been able to eat at the counter as she usually did on the not so good days. No witnesses that way.

  Because, much as she loved stroganoff, it was all she could do to swallow half of what she put on her plate, and that wasn’t much. Even Maddie managed to eat more.

  “Are you sure you’re okay, Sweetie?” she asked, motherly concern evident.

  “I’m fine, Mom. Really,” Annie said with a smile, forcing another forkful into her mouth.

  “Are you sure? You haven’t seemed like yourself all afternoon. You’re not coming down with a summer cold, are you?”

  “If I were, Mom, I’d be hightailing it to a motel or something.” They all knew that Maddie’s immunity was compromised with the chemo treatments. “I guess I just didn’t sleep well last night. This heat wave isn‘t helping either. I swear summers are hotter now than when I was a kid!”

  “Well, I’m not so sure about that,” her mother said with a sigh. “I seem to recall thinking similar thoughts when I was your age. In fact, I guess I think them now. But I suspect that it’s more that when we’re young, we’re so busy having fun that we don’t really pay a lot of attention to the weather. Then we get older and do notice!”

  “I expect you’re right, Mom. Either that or I‘m turning into a wimp in my old age!”

  “What do you think, Paul? You’ve been pretty quiet today, too.”

  “I agree with Annie in that you’re probably right. As for my being a little quiet, it’s just been a long week and I’m taking it easy so I can have fun over the weekend,” her husband said with a forced grin. “I hope you’re up for barbeque because I’m planning on giving the grill a good workout between now and Monday night.”

  “Hmm. I could probably work up an appetite for some steak tips,” Maddie decided after considering her options. “And maybe a New York strip steak. Then again, a plain old fashioned hamburger sounds pretty good, too.” Paul chuckled.

  “Your wish is my command, Sweetheart.”

  Annie felt like she was in a bad soap opera. Not that there were any good soap operas, but this one would be in the top two worst of all time.

  How could they be talking about grilling steaks and burgers when things like embezzlement and jail loomed over their heads? Throw in her mother’s cancer and the whole situation was just too bizarre for words.

  ~~~~

  At seven on the nose the doorbell rang, and the Condors returned, bringing several of their friends along to keep them company. Annie wished sincerely that she’d skipped dinner. Still, she jumped up as though propelled from a canon saying,

  “I’ll get it.”

  And she practically flew from the room, wiping her sweaty palms on the jeans she’d changed into as soon as she’d gotten home. Hands that trembled when she opened the door to Ian McCann.

  “Miss Blake,” he said quietly. Annie’s stomach felt like it fell to her feet. The tone of his voice did not sound promising. “May I come in so we can talk?”

  “Of course,” she murmured, stepping aside to admit him into the small foyer. Without preamble he told her what he’d come to say.

  “I may have come up with a plan to fix this.” Short, to the
point, and very sweet to her ears.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, sagging against the stair railing.

  “Please understand that I’ll need to see your mother before I can make up my mind as to whether I want to take a risk like this.”

  “Um- She doesn’t know what my father has done,” Annie explained quickly. “She’d have had a screaming fit if she’d known. And refused treatment.”

  “I wondered if she knew,” he said, nodding his head slightly. “Don’t worry, I won’t clue her in to the situation. But I do need to make one thing clear.”

  “And that is?”

  “If I decide to help, I need to know that you will back me up one hundred percent.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  “Mr. McCann? My father doesn’t know I came to see you this afternoon.”

  “Lots of secrets in your family, eh?” A slight smile softened his observation. “You’re all trying to help and protect one another. Very commendable.”

  ~~~~

  A concept that was utterly foreign to Ian. His mother had died while he was a young boy, and after that, his father had looked upon him as an inconvenience. Until he’d shown an amazing talent in dealing with stocks anyway. But even then, Ian McCann Sr. was looking out after his own best interests and never that of his son.

  “Shall we go?” Annie Blake reluctantly said. “Mom usually falls asleep not long after supper.”

  Ian nodded then followed her into a living room that one would probably describe as ’homey.’ Again, not that he would know about that. His father’s home, basically a small mansion, could never be described as anything but cold. He owned the best of everything, making Ian feel as though he were living in a showroom at an upscale furniture store.

  Then there was his apartment. He supposed that might be considered Spartan, though it was all he required. Most of his waking hours were spent at the office, so he didn’t require much.

  The Blake home was like nothing he’d ever seen and he felt out of his element. So he concentrated on the woman in the recliner in the corner, preferring to ignore the frightened face of Paul Blake for the moment.