Ric rounded the last turn before the Trudeau house and felt a knot forming in his stomach. He wasn’t sure he was ready for dessert; Christ, he wasn’t ready for lunch. There it was, the “mansion in the sky,” as the townspeople called it. Suck it up, he told himself. Hang on for the ride, wherever it goes. Ric walked to the door, rang the chimes, and pasted on his best athletic director smile. Abigail Trudeau was standing before him.
“Abby, so good to see you up and around,” he said and gave her a gentle hug. She grimaced. “Sorry. Still sore?”
“A little, nothing I can’t handle,” Abby said.
“Well, I told Ginny the other day what a miracle it was that Noah found you like he did. We’re all so thankful, and you really look wonderful.”
“I owe my life to that man. I hope you treat him right.” Abby walked toward her kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Sure, I can always use another cup of coffee. If I don’t get my caffeine, I unplug and shut down.”
Abby poured his coffee in an oversized clay mug and handed it to Ric. She poured herself a cup of tea.
“Great coffee!” Ric said.
“Ric, I didn’t invite you up here for coffee, as I am sure you know.”
“Yes, I know,” he said and lowered his eyes. “What did you want to tell me, Abby?” He swallowed hard.
“I am leaving Zach on Wednesday. I am telling you this in the utmost confidence. Do you understand?”
“But I thought...”
“I know you did. Sorry, but it just isn’t going to be business as usual anymore.”
“But why?”
“There are many reasons, and you should know them all because you must not let Zach contaminate your program for another day. I respect you too much, and you know I love the kids on the team. Zach has no right coaching young, impressionable boys like them. You must stop him.”
“Abby, do you know what you’re saying?”
“Ric, please. I’m not a stupid woman. You and I both know about Bobbie Jansen. If that weren’t bad enough, and it should be, let me fill you in on the rest of Zach’s colorful history.”
“Abby, you don’t have to do this.”
“Oh, yes, I do. Let me get this all out, Ric, or I may lose my courage.”
“Sorry. Go on.”
“He and Stuart Leer conducted an orgy that night in New York. I found them writhing in Stuart’s penthouse with two hookers. I am convinced that Stuart believes I remember nothing of that night; otherwise, his paranoia would be hounding me in some sick way. I wanted both Zach and Stuart to believe that, and they are desperate enough to have taken the bait.”
“This is incredible! Abby, this doesn’t sound like you. I’ve never known you to conspire.”
“I, too, am desperate, Ric. The reason I went to New York in the first place was because of a visitor who came to see me that day. Her name doesn’t matter, but it seems she is Zach’s half- sister, and he fathered her child. Zach never acknowledged him, of course. That child is nearly thirty now and has been institutionalized since birth. He has developed bone cancer. Zach might be able to save him with bone marrow, but he refuses to try. She came to me as one mother to another. I knew she was telling me the truth. She is a distressed woman just trying to save her son. I haven’t heard from her since the accident, but I will try to find her again and do what I can to help.” Abby took a sip of her tea.
“I don’t know what to say. I just can’t believe this is happening.”
“There’s one more thing. I saw Stuart Leer hand some money to your quarterback, that Matt Roman boy, at the end of the championship game. I don’t know how much, but it happened and I know it’s illegal.”
Ric’s eyes opened wide. “Does Zach know about the money?”
“Did he say anything to me? No. Does he know? I’d bet the house on it. You know what he did say to me once?”
“I hate to think.”
“He said, and I quote, ‘Once you get over the sincerity crap, the rest is easy.’”
“He said that? Jesus Christ! Oh, sorry, Abby, it’s just so inconceivable to hear all this from you. And, of course, it leaves me no choice. But then, you knew that when you asked me here, didn’t you?”
“You were going to force him out anyway; we both know that. It was just a matter of time.”
“If he cleaned up, he had a chance to survive. But now...”
“Don’t you see? He can’t clean up, as you say. He’s got something wrong with him. For all these years, I thought it was me. He said I was crazy. He said I was the cause of his strayin’ ways. He said a lot of hateful things. But I’m not fooled anymore. I nearly died because of him, and I won’t give him one more day of my life. And you, Ric, he’ll do the same to you. Zach screws everybody sooner or later.”
“Abby, you deserve to know what I know, too. That’s the least I can do.”
“Please.”
“Sam has gone to the papers about Zach and Bobbie. I don’t know if they’ll print any of it; it’s all so sleazy, but they might. It’s you and the kids who’ll be hurt if they do. You deserve to be warned.”
“That’s a problem I hadn’t planned on. I will talk to the children tomorrow and take them home with me if they’ll go. They’re good kids; they’ll be okay in time. Zach’s screwing them, too, but he’ll find a way to blame it on me or you or somebody, anybody but himself.”
“Why Wednesday, Abby?”
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that he’s going to be in a monstrous rage when he finds me gone. You can plan on that.” Abby finished her tea, put down her cup and made it clear she was finished talking.
“Appreciate it, really I do. I should go,” Ric said and stood to leave and moved toward the door. “Ginny and I will dearly miss you, Abby, but I hope you will have a better time of it at home with your family.”
“Please give Ginny my best. Perhaps, if you are in New Orleans for a convention or something, we can meet again. No offense intended, but I will never return to Vermont.”
“No offense taken, but never say never, Abby. Who knows what life will bring?” Ric reached for his coat and opened the door.
“Ric, please, remember, I have told you my plans in confidence. You must not even tell Ginny until I’ve gone. Can you promise me this one thing? It is all I ask.” Abby watched his face with intensity.
“Keeping this from Ginny will be difficult, but she will understand when I explain my promise. Of course, I’ll honor your request, Abby. I swear it.”
“Good. Thank you, Ric. Best of luck.” Abby waved him on and closed the door. The phone was ringing.
“Hello, Abigail Trudeau speaking.”
“Mrs. Trudeau. How are you today?” the voice said.
“Fine, thank you. Who’s calling please?”
“Randy Dealle from the Cross Courier, Mrs. Trudeau. Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions about your husband?”
Abby could feel the heat rise to her head. “Yes, Mr. Dealle, I do. If you want to ask questions about my husband, you need to ask him.”
“Do you know where to contact him, then?”
“He’s on the road and unreachable right now. Try again in a few days when he’s back in the office.”
“Well, Mrs. Trudeau, I’ll ask you then. Please excuse the bluntness of my question, but what is your response to a recent accusation made by a Mr. Sam Jansen that your husband has run off with his wife?”
“I’d be very careful if I were you, Mr. Dealle. There are laws against slander in this state. Good day!” Abby slammed down the phone and took it off the hook.
It had begun.
CHAPTER 42
All passengers for New England Air flight 2241 should be checked in at the main counter and may now board at gate number one,” the intercom blared. Abby looked elegant in her blue Pendleton dress and coat. Her black boots moved ahead one tentative step at a time. She was exhausted and still reeling from Tuesday’s efforts. As Abby edged toward the gate, the last two days
flooded her mind.
The movers had arrived at eight o’clock, right on schedule. Watching each piece of furniture, the children’s things, closets and paintings all march up the ramp to the massive truck made Abby feel unsure somehow. Her life was getting boxed and tagged and hauled away. They started to move her bed.
“Stop!” she yelled at them. They stopped and looked at her like she was crazy.
“Don’t take that. I don’t want it. Leave it just the way it is, everything.”
“Whatever you say, lady,” the beefy moving man said and dropped his end of the hateful piece of furniture. He threw his hands in the air as if to prove he was no longer touching it anywhere.
When there was only one box left, Abby ran around the house removing the toilet paper from all three bathrooms.
“Here,” she said as she tossed the half-used rolls in the box. “Take these. Now you can close it up.”
The movers left at four-thirty, and Abby made one more round to survey the house. It had never been this empty, even when it was being built. She remembered the card table and chairs she and Zach had hauled up to the house just so they could sit for a few minutes after their daily inspection.
It echoed when she walked over the quarry tile. Abby felt as empty as the kitchen shelves and the bare refrigerator. Nothing was left of her life on Shay Mountain. Nothing but the beams and glass and walls hinted that she’d ever been there. She took one last long look down the valley. That’s all she’d miss, the twinkling lights below the cliffs.
She had locked the doors, climbed into the Jeep with her two suitcases and carry-on bag, and backed away. It was time to tell her children.
They met her at the appointed place, Claire’s house. Claire and Noah were working. They were the only friends besides Ric Houston who knew, and Abby trusted them completely. She would stay with them that night and leave in the morning.
Zoe was so intense, so full of contrasts and unpredictable emotions. Abby had anticipated how she would react to the news. She was like a sudden storm, transforming from brilliant sunshine to gathering clouds that twisted into a black and lethal tornado, spinning furiously, demolishing everything in its path.
Luke would be quiet. That worried Abby. It was so important that he talk about his feelings.
Abby met them at the front door.
“What’s up, Mother? Why are we meeting here anyway?” Zoe asked.
Luke’s face showed his concern. He knew his mother too well; she was predictable and methodical and never left things to chance. This was not her style, and he didn’t like it.
“Please sit down, both of you.” Abby waited while her children selected a place on the couch across from her.
“I have given this a great deal of thought. You are both adults now, so I’ll not keep anything from you that you need to know. I am leaving Vermont tomorrow and moving back home to Louisiana.” Abby paused for a breath and to let them absorb what she had said.
“There’s trouble with your father. He has behaved badly and been involved with Bobbie Jansen. It will probably cost him his job.” Zoe started to talk and Abby held up her hand.
“Let me finish first, Zoe,” Abby said. “This whole mess will be front-page news when it happens, and it will certainly affect your last few months here. I want you both to come home with me unless you feel you can’t. I have your tickets.” Abby handed one to each of them. She had purchased two complete sets, one for the morning flight and one for the afternoon; she handed them the afternoon tickets. If they wanted to come, she would take them with her on the morning flight and turn in the spares. If not, Zoe would give Zach the wrong information.
Zoe started to cry, but then pulled her chin in and shaped her mouth into her famous pout.
“Mother?” she asked, “Are you saying you’re going to up and leave Daddy just when he might lose his job and you expect us to hop on a plane with you when there’s only three months until graduation?”
“Yes, Zoe. That is what I am saying. And there’s more. Your father will be coming back tomorrow and see I have gone, and that the house is empty. Of course, he will be furious. He will blame me and curse me. The truth is, I couldn’t have stopped any of it, and I can’t stay here any longer and watch it or be part of the whole sordid mess. There is nothing else I can do. I feel it would be better if you both came with me, but you must decide for yourselves.”
“Mother?” Luke asked.
“Yes, Luke.”
“I’ve known all along that he was...well, I’ve known, that’s all. If you want me to go with you and help, I will, but I’d like to finish here and then come down. I hate him for what he’s done. I don’t want to see him again, ever!” Luke’s face contorted like Abby hadn’t seen since he was a toddler. His hurt and his shame were more than he could hide anymore.
Abby went to her son. “Oh Luke, don’t cut yourself off from your father. He’s imperfect, yes, and he’s done some very bad things, but hating him will only eat you up inside, I know. I don’t hate him anymore; I just can’t live with him. Are you listening, Luke?”
He looked at her and buried his head in her shoulder like he used to when he was a small boy. For the first time in memory, he let himself really cry, and Abby cried with him.
Zoe said nothing. Finally, Abby looked over at her and motioned with her hand for Zoe to come to her. Zoe turned her head away.
“Zoe, I know how close you are to Daddy, and I know you are worried for him, but he’ll bounce back; he always has. You have to think of yourself right now and what you want to do.”
“Is that what you’re doing mother? Thinking of yourself? What has he done that’s so terrible you can’t forgive him? You’re not so perfect. I saw that man who came with Emmy and Grandma. I saw the way you looked at him and how he looked at you. And Daddy told me all about how that was an old boyfriend of yours and how mad he was that the guy wouldn’t leave.”
Abby refused to feel guilty or dirty because of Wills. She wanted to tell her daughter how wrong she was to think of Zach as some kind of mystical hero and Wills as a spoiler. But Zoe would never hear it, not from her; she knew that.
“I know you’re angry, Zoe,” Abby said quietly. “I know it’s hard for you to fathom, and I know you love your father, as you should. But please believe me when I say, I cannot stay here anymore. I just hope that someday you’ll be able to balance who he is and who he’s not, for your own sake.”
“I’ve heard enough! I don’t want you to go, and I won’t be going either. I’ll stay here with Luke and Daddy. Have you already shipped off all my things?”
“Yes, I did, but I can send back anything you want. I had hoped you’d be coming with me.”
“Well, you were wrong, Mother, about a lot of things. I can’t believe you’re doing this to us!”
“Zoe! Stop it!” Luke yelled at his sister. “Mother isn’t doing anything to us. She’s doing what she has to and telling us to do what we have to. You know, you have a really short memory. We nearly lost our mother a few weeks ago, and now you talk like this. It’s him who’s to blame. He’s the backdoor man. He’s the liar. He’s the...”
“Shut up, Luke! That’s it, I’m out of here.” Zoe flung herself off the couch and ran out of the house. Abby called after her, but Zoe didn’t turn back.
“She’ll come around,” Luke said to Abby.
“I hope you’re right. But I’ve lost her for now.” Abby looked away and wiped her eyes.
“Mother, I’ll be home as soon as school’s out. Will you save me a room?”
“Of course, I will.” Abby said. She hugged his back and kissed the top of his head.
“I love you, too,” he said and squeezed her hands.
CHAPTER 43
Zach called home at seven from his hotel. He called at eight and again at ten. He was cold and tired and missing Bobbie. She left Chicago early to meet with her lawyer the next morning. Zach hated to be alone, and he hated the silence. Why didn’t Abby answer the phone? He calle
d Zoe.
“Hello,” Zoe said.
“Hey, princess, did I wake you up?”
“Daddy? Is that you? I’ve been trying to find you all day!”
Zach heard the panic in her voice. “Is it your mother? Where is she? I’ve been callin’ all night.”
“Oh, Daddy, she’s...she’s left you and the house and us and everything. I have been trying to find you all day so I could tell you what Mother said.” Zoe burst into tears.
“Left me? What d’ya mean, left me? Zoe! For God’s sake, stop your whimperin’ and tell me what’s going on. Zoe!”
“She said you were in trouble and she couldn’t live with you anymore and that Luke and I could come to Baton Rouge with her, and, Daddy, she said she packed up our house. She’s leaving tomorrow afternoon.”
“You sure she said all that, Zoe? Are you absolutely sure?”
“Call Luke if you don’t believe me. It’s true. She’s leaving, and she took everything. I told her you hadn’t done anything so bad. She said it was about Bobbie, but I didn’t let on that I knew anything, Daddy, I didn’t, I swear it!”
“It’s okay, baby. Daddy’ll take care of everything. Listen to me careful now. Find out when she’s leavin’ and call me back. I’ve got a plan. Here’s the number.” Zach finished his instructions and hung up the phone. He paced the floor of his hotel and cursed at the top of his lungs while he waited for Zoe to call back. Finally, it rang.
“Daddy, she’s leaving at twelve-forty tomorrow afternoon; that’s what the ticket she gave me says.”
“Fine. Where is she now?” Zach asked his daughter.
“At Claire and Noah’s.”
“That’s a good girl. You did right, honey, and I’ll be seein’ you real soon. Now don’t worry.” Zach hung up and called information for Noah Thompson, Cross, Vermont.
“You have reached eight six eight four three zero zero. We are unable to come the phone right now, but you can leave a message at the tone, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you,” the machine said. Beeeeeeep.
“Shit! I hate these friggin’ machines. Abby, I know you’re there, pick up the goddam phone....Abby! Goddam it, pick up the phone...All right, have it your way, but you’re not gettin’ away with this. I’ll stop you, I promise you that. You better think again before you try walkin’ out on me, ya hear? You get nothin’ if you walk out now, nothin’ do you....” Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
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