Return to Sender

by Fern Michaels

  When they landed in Atlanta, Lin breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad to be on the ground. She’d spent the past two hours trying to come up with a plan, something to even the score. Lin had spent so many years struggling. If Nicholas Pemberton hadn’t been such an ass, things might’ve been easier for her and Will. She’d truly believed Nick would have at the very least offered financial support when he learned of her pregnancy. Of course, that had never happened, because the jerk had never bothered to read her letters. She was hurt, and she was very, very angry.

  Anger ate at her as she made her way through the mob of travelers. She had never been one to be vindictive, but thoughts of all she and Will had endured throughout the years enraged her. There had been many times when she fed Will store-brand powdered macaroni and cheese, and she’d had to make the box last for at least two meals. She remembered once, right after she brought him home from the hospital, finances were so tight, she’d scrounged through the couch cushions, searching for change. She’d managed to dig up thirty-five cents. From there she’d walked three miles to the grocery store, where she’d purchased three packages of ramen noodles. That had comprised a week’s worth of groceries for her. Then, of course, once she went back to work, she’d had babysitters to pay, formula to buy. No, there hadn’t been anything extra those first few years. When she’d managed to start saving, she’d vowed that she and her son would never be hungry again. They might have to wear secondhand clothes and repair the holes in their shoes, but they wouldn’t go hungry.

  Tears welled in her eyes when she recalled her past. A pity party wasn’t her style. She removed a tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes. What was that saying she and Sally were always quoting? “Don’t get mad, get even.”

  As of that moment, that was exactly what she planned to do. She would figure out the details later. For now, she knew this was something she had to do in order to get on with her life. Being completely honest with herself, she admitted that she had always hoped that Nick would look for her, be her knight in shining armor, discover they had a child together. And once he found out, that he would marry her and they would all live happily ever after.

  Right! I’ll make my own happily ever after!

  Determined more than ever, Lin hustled through the airport, glad she hadn’t checked any luggage. She dialed Sally’s cell number. “I’m here.”

  “I’m in the parking lot. Be there in ten.”

  Lin closed her phone and raced through the airport as fast as she could so Sally wouldn’t have to circle the airport a second time. Lin stepped outside just as Sally pulled up in her new Hummer. Lin climbed inside, gave her friend a quick hug, and fastened her seat belt.

  “It’s good to be home.”

  “Like you’ve been gone a long time,” Sally teased.

  “I know, but you know me. I’m a homebody. Though it was nice to take a trip, it sure as heck didn’t turn out the way I’d planned.”

  “As long as Will is safely tucked away in his new world of academia, that’s what matters most. He was the reason you made the trip in the first place,” Sally reminded her.

  “You’re right. I’m just ticked that I had to leave early. Why did I allow that low-life scum sucker to intimidate me? Will you listen to the way I’m talking? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. No, no, that’s a lie. I did mean it. My father would wash my mouth out with soap if he heard me.”

  “You’ll have to answer that yourself. Personally, I would’ve gone on as though nothing had happened. Really, nothing did happen, when you stop and think about it. You saw him. He saw you. Apparently, he didn’t recognize you.” Sally paused. “That’s what’s bothering you, isn’t it? You wanted him to recognize you, and he didn’t. I know you too well, Lin.”

  Lin hated to admit it to anyone, but Sally was partially right. It hurt that she’d made no impression whatsoever on her son’s father.

  “I think that’s part of it. Hell, I don’t know. I know I was shocked to see him. And I know something else. This has to stay between us.

  Promise me that whatever you do, you won’t spill the beans on what I’m about to propose.”

  “Okay. I promise. Now, out with it.” Sally took the exit leading to I-75 North. Once she was on the freeway, she set the Hummer to cruise control. “I’m all ears.”

  “You know as well as I do that Will and I had some lean times in the beginning.” Lin wanted to lay the foundation for what she was about to do, in hopes that Sally would understand and agree to help her with her plans.

  “Of course I do. I remember when you came into Jack’s, asking for a job. Even though you weren’t showing, I knew you were pregnant. I think Irma did, too. All Jack saw was another set of arms and legs to serve up his concoctions.” Sally laughed. “You didn’t have anyone fooled. We all fell in love with you, and as they say, the rest is history.”

  Lin hoped her proposal wouldn’t tarnish Sally’s image of her. “I could’ve had a much easier go of it had Nicholas been willing to read my letters. I can’t explain why he chose to ignore me, and at this point I don’t care any longer. What I do care about, though, is this. He’s a very wealthy man. I want to find out just how wealthy he is. Maybe mess with his finances a bit. Make him jump through a few hoops. Sort of like I had to.”

  Sally shot her a wicked grin. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”

  Lin laughed. “Tell me what you’re thinking first.”

  “You want to mess with old Nick’s bank accounts, maybe steal his identity?”

  “Something along those lines. I don’t even know where to begin. What I do know is this—I want the bastard to suffer a little bit. Let him wonder where his next meal is coming from. Not that I expect that to happen literally, but people with fortunes expect the world to jump at their beck and call. I want Nick and his wife to have a few restless nights.” There, it was out in the open. “So what are your thoughts?”

  Sally raised an eyebrow, then smiled. “I like it. Now, all we have to do is come up with a plan where he gets a good financial fucking without us getting caught. I assume you’ve given thought to what will happen if we’re caught?”

  “Sorry to say I didn’t get that far in my thinking. I wanted to see what your reaction was first before I go full bore.”

  “No, you wanted to see if I would help you.” Sally laughed.

  “That, too,” Lin said with a wicked smirk of her own.

  “What about the diner?” Sally asked.

  Lin raised her eyebrows in question. “You don’t think I can do both?”

  “It’s not a question of what I think. It’s what you can do. Think you can run a business while trying to destroy someone else’s?”

  “People do it all the time,” Lin said airily. “At least they do in the news accounts I’ve read.”

  “Yes, but you’re not like those people, Lin. You’re honest and decent.”

  “Thanks. I think. Look at it this way. Let’s just say I’m about to jump off the wagon for a while. Give me a couple of months to do what needs to be done, and then I’ll put the Miss Goody Two-shoes hat back on.”

  As they were approaching Cartersville, Sally took the first exit. “I need something to drink and a trip to the restroom.”

  “Sally, are you angry with me?” Lin asked suddenly.

  “No! What makes you think I’m angry?”

  “You’re stopping in the middle of a very delicate conversation. I thought maybe you were trying to avoid the subject.”

  “No, I have to pee, Lin. Seriously. I’m thirsty, too.” Sally pulled into a rinky-dink mom-and-pop gas station that looked as though it’d seen better days. “Get us something to drink while I hit the ladies’ room.”

  “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

  Lin removed a ten-dollar bill from her purse and went inside the musty little station. An old icebox-style Coke machine hummed as she removed two frosted bottles of Diet Coke. She used the opener on the machine to flip the metal tops off. She ha
dn’t seen a machine like this in years. She placed the drinks on the counter.

  “Two bucks,” said a woman of indeterminate age.

  Lin held her hand out for her change. “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, missy.”

  Lin had a huge grin on her face as she went back to the Hummer. Missy. For a minute Lin thought the old gal was going to call her Miss Stinky Pants. Sally was waiting for her.

  “This place is in a time warp. I swear the toilets were those old black kind with the pull chain attached.” Shaking her head, Sally drove up to the on-ramp leading to I-75 North.

  “You should’ve seen the Coke machine. That place is probably full of antiques.”

  “Lots of these old mom-and-pop stores have them. I don’t think they care about updating to the newer, more modern way. Sometimes I think the old ways were the best.”

  “I don’t,” Lin said. “I like modern conveniences.”

  “And you’re going to need some high-tech software if you’re planning on screwing with Mr. Pemberton’s finances.”

  “How do you know that?” Lin asked.

  “I watch TV.”

  “Remember that computer geek that used to come to the diner, the one who reminded me of Pee-wee Herman?” Lin asked.

  “Yeah. What about him?”

  “I bet he’d know how to get his hands on the software we need.”

  Sally glanced at her. “May I ask how you’re going to approach him? Better yet, how do you plan to find him? He doesn’t come in the diner anymore. Maybe he moved.”

  Lin took a deep breath. “I honestly haven’t thought that far ahead. I need to sit down and make a concrete plan, something doable.”

  “If it were me, I’d hire the best PI money could buy. You’ve got tons of the stuff now. What are you saving it for? Will’s college is paid for. The diner’s mortgage is paid off. I think you should put some of that fortune of yours to good use here so you won’t be jumping all over the page. Hire the best. Tell him what you want, and more important, make sure to explain money is no object.”

  “I think you like spending my money. Don’t kid yourself, Sally dear. You’ve raked in a bundle yourself. We’re both lucky we made those investments way back when.”

  “True. Paid for Lizzie’s college.”

  “And that swanky nursing home for my father. We can’t forget that.”

  Sally took the Walnut Avenue exit in Dalton before shooting Lin a dark look. “You know as well as I do that you wouldn’t put your father in some decrepit old folks’ home. Though he deserves it. One with hardwood floors.”

  Lin gave her a half smile. “If I did that, I’d be on his level, Sal. It’s not me, anyway. If he doesn’t get his comeuppance here on earth, he will in the afterlife.”

  “We can only hope,” Sally added.

  “I don’t have any qualms about putting the screws to Nicholas Pemberton, though. That doesn’t say a whole lot about me, now does it?”

  Sally made a sharp right turn onto Morningside Drive, where she and Lin both had built their dream homes. As she pulled into Lin’s driveway, she said, “Look, if you want to get back at him, you need to put your principles and your conscience aside. Ask for forgiveness when it’s over. You keep thinking like this, you’ll get screwed all over again.”

  Lin opened the passenger door, took her bag from the backseat. “Yeah, you’re right, as usual. Want to come in for a drink?”

  “Can’t. I promised Kelly Ann I’d work her shift tonight.”

  “I’m impressed,” Lin said. “Just don’t overdo it. I need your help now more than ever.”

  “Not to worry. There’s plenty of me to spare. I’ll call you tonight.”

  “Thanks, Sally. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Sally pulled out of the driveway, waving as she turned onto the street. Lin really didn’t know what she’d do without Sally. She was the big sister she never had.

  For that alone, she was beyond thankful.

  It had taken a full week before Nicholas Pemberton could get an appointment with Dr. Reeves, and by the time the day of the appointment arrived, he had no patience left. To make matters worse, he’d already been in Evan Reeves’s office for two hours without seeing the great man himself.

  They’d taken numerous blood samples, asked every medical question known to man, then asked him to wait. He did not like waiting. Especially in a cubicle the size of his clothes closet.

  In an hour he had another Friday meeting with his staff. If Dr. Reeves didn’t make an appearance by then, he would have to come to Nick. Nick glanced at his Rolex for the tenth time. As he was about to leave, the door opened.

  Dr. Reeves was not what Nick had expected. He was in his mid-to late thirties, was deeply tanned, and had longish blond hair. Wide shoulders tapered to a narrow waist. He must work out, Nick thought. In fact, he looked more like a beach bum than a doctor. Women would certainly find him attractive.

  “Mr. Pemberton”—the doctor held out a hand—“I’m Evan Reeves.

  Sorry we kept you waiting so long. Dr. Warner asked that we wait for the results of your blood work.”

  Nick leaned against an examining table. “And?” he inquired impatiently.

  “He was right to be concerned.” Dr. Reeves took a deep breath.

  “Let’s go to my office. These rooms are too small to breathe in.”

  Maybe the guy wasn’t so bad, after all.

  “Yes, they are.”

  Nick followed him down a narrow hall. At the end, Dr. Reeves opened a door to his left, stood back, and motioned for Nick to come inside.

  “Please, have a seat.”

  Nick sat down in an awkward plastic chair, one of those modern-looking things that was supposed to be comfortable. “So, am I going to die?” Nick didn’t want to waste time on idle chatter. He had things to do.

  Dr. Reeves sat at his desk. He picked up a sheet of paper and scanned the results. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep you from dying, Mr. Pemberton.”

  Nick’s pulse rate increased. He raked a hand through his hair and felt his hand tremble. “This is serious, isn’t it?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Give it to me straight up. I don’t want the sugarcoated version.”

  Nick jammed both hands in his pockets to hide his tremors. He did not want to appear vulnerable or afraid to the doctor.

  Dr. Reeves swiped a dark hand through his messy hair. “Okay. I think you have leukemia. We’ll need to do a bone-marrow test to confirm my findings, but at this point, I think I’m on the money. I see this every day.”

  It took Nick several minutes to absorb the doctor’s words. He didn’t interrupt him, and for that Nick was grateful. A deep breath didn’t help at all. Chelsea swore by them, but he thought her stupid. What did she know?

  “Then let’s do this test. I want to be one hundred percent sure.”

  “All right. You’ll have to be hospitalized—”

  “Are you serious? For a goddamn test? I have a meeting in less than an hour!”

  “Mr. Pemberton, this is very serious. It can be life threatening. If my suspicion is correct, you don’t have time to worry about meetings. This disease can be devastating in its swiftness. Sometimes we have only a matter of weeks to treat leukemia.”

  A thousand thoughts surged through Nick’s mind. He could die. Soon, according to the doctor. Maybe he should get another opinion. But Reeves was the best in his field; he’d gained that much information from Vinery before firing him. He was the second opinion.

  “Then let’s not waste time. Set the test up now. I’ll make a few phone calls to clear my schedule.”

  “Of course.” Dr. Reeves picked up the phone on his desk, swiveled around in his chair, facing the bookshelves behind his desk. He spoke quietly into the phone. Turning around, he got up and walked to the door. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll have my staff take care of your admission. There’s a bit of paperwork involved.” The doctor paused before le
aving him in the hands of his staff. “Is there someone you’d like to call? Maybe I can make a call for you?”

  Nick was touched by the doctor’s kindness, and it surprised him. Normally, he was not a sentimental man, yet it wasn’t every day he was told he had a serious, possibly fatal illness. “I’ll call my office. They can take care of rescheduling.”

  “Good. Then let’s get this paperwork started. I don’t know what the world is coming to when it takes longer to fill out the forms than it does to do the actual procedure itself,” Dr. Reeves commented with a trace of ridicule for the system of which he was an integral part.

  “If you’ll have a seat,” said a young woman, motioning, “we’ll get through this as quickly as possible.”

  Nick nodded, gave the young woman his insurance card and driver’s license before taking a seat opposite her. Nick took his cell phone from his jacket pocket. He dialed Rosa’s direct number. She answered immediately.

  “Rosa, I want you to cancel all my meetings and appointments for the next…” He paused, unsure of how long. He wasn’t even sure how long he would live at this point. “Cancel everything for the next two weeks. Something’s come up, and I cannot work around it. Have Gerald take some of my appointments. Cancel the trip to China. It can wait. Call Chelsea. Ask her to meet me at Presbyterian Hospital. Tell her to pack an overnight bag and bring it with her. And, Rosa, if I hear of one single word of this conversation floating around the office, I’ll fire the entire staff. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, Mr. Pemberton. Sir, I…uh, hope you’ll be fine.”