Besides, Dirk would be mad if I interfered.
Pulling out of the parking lot, Gordy sighed. I let her slip through my fingers.
39
Cleo was about to make a mad dash for the front door of Dirk’s cabin when his cell phone rang. He opened his eyes and grabbed the phone. What am I going to do? Cleo wondered nervously as Dirk spoke to Gordy. Just because he has a rifle doesn’t make him a psychopathic killer. He might have it for self-defense. But a rifle? When he finishes his conversation, I’m going to tell him I have to go back and work on the book I’m supposedly writing about meditation. Right now I could really use some secrets on achieving inner peace. I’m a nervous wreck.
Cleo tried to keep her eyes away from the floor where the rifle was peeking out from under the couch. I’ve got other worries, she realized. Like how did my bathing suit end up on the clothesline? Did someone follow me here? Are they hiding in the woods right now, waiting for an opportune moment to do me in? Cleo’s heart started pounding in her chest. I’ll go back to my cabin, pack up my things, and get out of here. I won’t stop until I get to New York City where I’ll check into a crowded hotel. Safety in numbers, she thought. I don’t want to be alone.
Finally, Dirk hung up his cell phone and tossed it back on the coffee table. “Gordy’s leaving for the day,” he said to Cleo. “He’s a good kid. I just have to keep after him sometimes. He is so young.”
“He’s very nice,” Cleo said, then stood. “I should get going.”
A slightly hurt expression crossed Dirk’s face. “Why?”
“I have to go back and get some work done. Of course, I can give you a lift to the hospital first if you’d like …”
“Nah,” Dirk said, leaning forward and adjusting the ice pack again. “You can wait hours in those emergency rooms. If it gets worse, I’ll find somebody to give me a ride later.” He looked up at her. “How does your head feel?”
“Fine,” Cleo answered quickly. “I am absolutely fine.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay a while? We could listen to music, or watch TV, just relax.”
“No thank you. Really.”
Dirk frowned. “You changed your mind so quickly. I don’t understand why, but it’s your choice.” Somewhat forlorn, he shook his head, folded his hands, then looked down at the ground.
“Okay. Let me know if you need anything,” Cleo said as she made a beeline for the door.
“Ohhhhhh! Miss Connie! I know why you’re leaving!”
No you don’t, Cleo thought as she quickly reached for the door handle.
“This isn’t a real rifle! I swear it isn’t.”
Cleo froze.
“I’m throwing it over to the other couch. Look at it, Connie, please. The last thing I want is for you to be worried that …”
Cleo turned her head as the rifle landed on the other couch, its barrel pointed in her direction. Dirk’s eyes were twinkling. “I worked at a ranch out West for a while. When I was moving back home, my friends had that made for me for a joke. Look, it’s a fake. It’s got my name on it and the word “Ponderosa” because they knew I loved Bonanza. You ever see that show?”
Cleo nodded. “In reruns.”
Dirk howled. “Of course in reruns! I saw it in reruns, too. We’re both too young to have seen the original shows.” Cleo laughed in spite of herself.
“I keep the rifle under the couch because people come in here and get scared when they first see it. Like you did.”
“No I didn’t.”
Dirk’s cell phone rang again. He looked at the caller ID. “It’s my mother,” he said, then answered. “Hello, Mom … Mrs. Briggs got the news to you already huh?” Dirk winked at Cleo. “I’m fine … Yes, really … As a matter of fact, I’ve got a real cute girl taking care of me … Oh, you know that, too? … She almost left, ‘cause she saw that rifle the boys from the ranch gave me sticking out from under the couch … I know I should put it away … Sure, here, talk to her.” Grinning, Dirk held out the phone to Cleo. “My mother would like to say hello.”
“Oh,” Cleo said, clearly taken aback. She took the phone. “Hello, this is Connie.”
“Connie, don’t let my boy scare you. I told him to get rid of that stupid toy of his … How does his ankle look?”
“It’s definitely swollen.”
“Oh dear. Well, thank you for taking care of him.”
“You’re welcome,” Cleo said. “Hopefully the ice pack will help the swelling … I’m sure he’ll call you if it doesn’t … Okay, then, it’s nice talking to you … Bye now.” Cleo handed the phone back to Dirk, shaking her head with amusement.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll be fine. You and Mrs. Briggs have some hotline going … Yes, I’ll let you know if it gets worse … I promise … Talk to you later … Love you, too.” Dirk snapped his phone shut, threw it on the table, and smiled at Cleo. “We have a close family.” He rolled his eyes. “As you can see, not much that I do gets by my mother. But it’s great. My parents live about an hour from here so I see them a fair amount.”
Cleo smiled. “You’re lucky. My parents travel all over the world so I don’t get to see them much.”
“Do you have brothers and sisters?”
“No.”
“That must be hard to have no family around,” Dirk said softly.
“It’s lonely sometimes.” Cleo shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, sometimes I get lonely even when I’m with my family. But I guess you’re used to spending time alone. You must like it,” Dirk said teasingly. “You’ve barely come out of your cabin all week.”
Cleo made a face. “I told you I have work to do.”
“Connie?”
“Yes.”
“You’re very mysterious.”
“Why? Just because I’m working hard?” Cleo asked, enjoying the playful exchange. “Some people call that discipline.”
Dirk looked into her eyes. “You’re an intriguing little lady. A very cute one, too.”
“Well, shucks,” Cleo joked.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of hungry.”
“Me, too,” Cleo said.
“You mind fixing us some lunch? I’ve got plenty of food in the fridge.”
Cleo smiled. “Sure. Why not?”
Dirk laughed and slapped his thigh. “You were scared of me!”
“No I wasn’t!” Cleo protested dramatically as she headed toward the kitchen. “You don’t scare me!” she said, laughing. “Not in the least!” With you I feel safe, she thought. Other things scare me, but I’m putting them out of my mind right now.
She started to poke through the refrigerator.
Dirk called from the couch. “What’s taking so long?”
Cleo laughed. “Oh, be quiet!” That does it, she thought happily. I’m living for the moment. I can’t be so afraid anymore.
If only she’d waited one more day to change her thinking …
40
Here goes, Scott thought as he pulled up to the security booth at the gated community of the couple he and Jillian had met the night before.
The guard opened the window. “Can I help you?” he asked, in a somewhat hostile tone.
“Hello,” Scott said cheerily, then gave his name. “I’m here to meet with the Binders.”
“They’re expecting you.” The guard pushed a button and the gate started to open. “Make a right and follow the road. After you pass Oakley Way, it’s a few houses down on the left.”
“Thank you, sir,” Scott said, continuing his cheery act. It’s showtime. When an event was about to start, that’s what Hayley would say to her workers. It’s showtime, everybody! Scott pulled through the open gate. I hope everything works out so I can see her on Saturday, he thought. We always have a good time.
The houses in the complex were all attractive one-story brick structures, built very close together, obviously well cared for. There wasn’t a single one that screamed for the attention of a handyman. Not like the neighborhood
I spent my early years in, Scott thought. One neighbor’s front yard was nothing but overgrown weeds, another guy painted his house a neon color that made Scott wince, then let it peel, and a third idiot never bothered to remove a plastic display of Santa and his reindeer from the roof when the Christmas season was over. A windstorm the following July blew it onto the front lawn, where it remained for months.
Scott located the Binders’ home, parked in front on the narrow, curving street, and turned off the car. Everything was so calm and orderly, he felt a little nervous. This might not be so easy. People who were too orderly weren’t his best targets. He preferred the type whose paperwork was in a jumble and who couldn’t keep track of their affairs. With resolve, Scott grabbed his briefcase, got out of the car, and walked up the path to the front porch. He pointed his well-manicured finger at the buzzer and pressed hard.
“Scott!” Betty Binder exclaimed when the door flew open. “How lovely to see you again.” The tiny eighty-six-year-old woman was dressed in pale pink pants, a short-sleeved pale pink top, and white sneakers. Her white hair was well coiffed, her pretty, lined face carefully made up just like last night. She grabbed Scott’s hand. “Come in, dear!”
“Thank you.” He stepped into the beautifully appointed foyer and glanced around. “This is lovely.”
“It’s home,” Betty chirped, obviously pleased. “I love to decorate. Isn’t that stone tile pretty?”
“Gorgeous,” Scott answered, then looked in her eyes. “I have to tell you. It was such a wonderful surprise to meet you last night. I can’t get over it.”
“For us, too!” Betty grabbed Scott’s arm as she gazed up at him. “I get chills thinking about that moment when Jillian screamed, ‘Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!’ I love romantic movies but to witness a beautiful moment like that in real life …” She put her hands up to her face. “I get all teary-eyed thinking about it. And then to have the chance to spend time with you and Jillian, such nice young people. It just doesn’t happen very often in this crazy world.”
Scott put his arm around Betty and tenderly patted her frail shoulder. He could almost feel her swoon, hoping she got a whiff of his expensive cologne. “I’m so lucky,” he said, willing his voice to crack. “I’m more than lucky, I’m blessed. Jillian means the world to me. I can only pray we have as long and happy a marriage as you and your husband.”
“You will,” Betty said, clutching Scott’s elegant suit jacket. “I know you will. Come, please.” She took his hand.
Scott followed Betty down the hallway into the tastefully furnished, spotless living room. Nothing was out of place. A small, walled-off backyard, resplendent with colorful flowers and plants, was visible through sliding glass doors. Bright patio furniture and a state-of-the-art grill set the scene for summer entertaining. This is all bad for me, Scott thought. Their lives are too orderly.
White-haired Ed Binder emerged from a hallway, moving slowly. He was wearing khaki pants, a red short-sleeved shirt, and like his wife, a pair of white sneakers.
“Hello.” His gravelly voice greeted Scott.
“Hello there, Mr. Binder,” Scott replied, extending his hand. “I was just saying to Mrs. Binder that I hope Jillian and I have as many wonderful years together as—”
“Scott, I told you last night,” Betty interrupted with mock exasperation. “Call us Betty and Ed.”
Scott laughed. “Okay. I will.” He shook Ed’s hand, then turned. His gaze fell onto a framed black-and-white wedding photo obviously taken many moons ago. “Is this …? “he asked, raising an eyebrow and walking toward a table full of pictures.
Betty beamed. “Yes, it’s us. Sixty-seven years ago. What a day. It was so rainy.”
“You looked beautiful,” Scott said.
“She still looks beautiful,” Ed muttered.
“She certainly does.”
“Enough, you two,” Betty joked, her face glowing. “Let’s sit. Scott, I fixed a special lunch. I hope you’ll break bread with us after we talk business.”
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble …”
“No trouble at all.”
“Thank you. That would be an honor.” Scott’s eyes quickly scanned the photos on the table. There was one other wedding shot. “I have to ask,” he said, “who’s the lovely bride here?”
“Our daughter. Diane is our only child.”
“She’s beautiful, too.”
“Thank you. Diane was married thirty years ago. She and her husband, Brad, moved into a tiny studio apartment in New York City. Now they’re so rich you can’t believe it!”
Scott laughed. “Really?”
Betty rolled her eyes. “Brad got involved in the television business and then the Internet business. They have two huge homes and are always on the run. He’s a little quiet for my taste, you know, the strong, silent type, but he’s been a good provider. And Diane’s happy. She hasn’t changed a bit. She tries to buy us things all the time but we won’t let her. We take care of ourselves. Right, honey?”
Ed nodded. “I never asked anybody for anything.” He took a monogrammed handkerchief out of his pocket. “Never will, either.”
“She sounds like an amazing person,” Scott said. “But how could she not be? She had two loving parents who gave her a good home, everything she needed, and raised her with the right values. Not every child is that lucky. That’s why I started a charity that helps children all over the world. Now Jillian will be working with me. She’s already been involved, of course. But now it’s official.”
“A charity for children?” Betty asked, her eyes widening. “How marvelous. I want to hear all about it. Scott, can I get you anything to drink?”
“No thanks, I’ll wait until lunch. It’s so great to see you two again,” he said as he sat in a chair opposite the couch where Betty and Ed were settling in.
“Scott, what’s your charity called?” Betty asked quickly.
A saintly expression came over Scott’s face. “Most Precious Treasures.”
Betty’s hands flew to her mouth. “I’m going to cry.”
Ed nodded. “Good name. Children are our most precious treasures.”
“What exactly is it your charity does?” Betty asked.
Scott leaned forward. “I’ve got to tell you. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life. Our board has quarterly meetings to decide where to distribute our money, which children in need will receive our aid. It’s always a tough, tough meeting. We get so many requests. Right now there’s a school in South America that was practically destroyed by a flood. They’re rebuilding and are in desperate need of supplies. We’re sending a check out next week. It’s not enough to cover everything, but we do what we can.” Scott leaned over, picked up his briefcase, and opened it. “When I’m feeling down I look at these photos for inspiration. It motivates me to keep going, keep working.” He took out a manila envelope and handed it to Betty. “These are pictures of children we’ve helped all over the world.”
Scott passed the photos to Betty and Ed. “Look at their faces,” Betty said. “They’re adorable! Why, they’re precious!”
Scott smiled as Betty handed him back the envelope. “They certainly are precious,” he repeated, his voice husky. He then removed another envelope from his briefcase. “And these are pictures of some of the celebrities who have contributed to Most Precious Treasures.” He handed Betty the second envelope.
“Oh, you’re in all these pictures!” Betty said with delight as she rifled through the photos. “Ed, look at all these stars posing with Scott!”
“I’m looking.”
“Those stars are good people,” Scott said solemnly. “They often get criticized for being too Hollywood or too self-absorbed. But let me tell you, when it comes down to the basics, they’re just like you and me. They care about the future of our children.”
“Oh, Scott!” Betty exclaimed. “This was all meant to be. Ed, to think we almost decided to stay in last night and cook hot dogs.”
>
“We came pretty close. I was starting to heat up the grill and you decided you wanted chicken with snow peas.”
“Meant to be?” Scott asked innocently.
“This morning Ed and I had a long talk about money. We knew we’d be discussing financial planning with you and possible investments, but do you know what we ended up talking about?”
“What?” Scott asked, trying to remain calm.
“Making a difference in people’s lives. We have plenty of money to live on. Our grandchildren have big trust funds and don’t need our dollars, which on the one hand is great, but on the other makes us feel, well …”
“Like you’re not as needed as you’d like to be?” Scott suggested helpfully.
“Yes!” Betty said. “That’s exactly it. We’re thrilled that Diane and Brad have so much. But we’ve never been able to experience the joy of giving our grandchildren something that their parents couldn’t afford. They already have everything! Just today we decided we’d give more of our money to charity, and list more charities in our wills. But we didn’t know where to start. And here you are, telling us about a charity that helps children. That’s perfect for us! Children who need us! I’m telling you, there are no coincidences!”
“None!” Scott agreed.
Two hours later, Scott drove away with a check made out to Most Precious Treasures. A check for fifty thousand dollars.
More was promised.
41
Edna,” Regan began. “The person who called before—”
“Look!” Edna cried joyously, pointing across the street. “My friends from Golden Peaks!” She dashed off to greet them.
Four elderly women were waiting out of harm’s way until the Flakes were good and gone.
Nora looked at Regan, a half smile on her face. “Karen told me she was glad Edna had hired security guards. Wait until she hears how hard they had to work. But everything else seems okay around here. You know, Regan, it’s Edna’s right to sell her house. Look how happy she is with her new friends. She’s excited about this next phase of her life.”
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