A Sister's Promise (Promises) (21 page)

The nurse leaned forward and whispered, “Take it. Please.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Kate and Joely softly embraced in front of a two-story limestone building with “Spiegel & Locke Law Firm” etched above the door. Kate smiled thinking of her grandpa’s lake house a few miles away, where he used to help Kate and Joely catch tadpoles.

Now Kate noticed her sister’s drooping eyelids. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.” Joely nodded as if to reinforce her answer then waited for Kate to pull open the heavy black door with the shiny brass handle. A woman dressed in a gray suit greeted them from behind an over-sized antique desk. After hearing their names, the woman offered them coffee or Evian.

Normally Joely would’ve lingered at the desk talking until the secretary revealed their shared affection for hamsters or something. Today, though, Joely took a seat next to Kate and waited in silence.

A few minutes later a young woman in a navy suit came over and shook their hands with a tight grip. “I’m Mary Spiegel.”

They walked to a conference room dominated by an oval table. Kate ran her fingertips along the aged cherry wood top as she sat down. She imagined her dad sitting at that same table and admiring its beauty all of those years ago. She turned toward Mary. “Did you meet with our dad to draw up his will?”

“No, I’m afraid not. Another lawyer at our firm did. He has since retired.”

“Oh,” Kate said, disappointed.

Mary Spiegel opened a file with the name Shupe, Edgar written on it. Just reading her dad’s name tickled Kate with excitement.

Mary asked to see their identification then suggested they walk down the block to the First National Bank where the trust administrator worked. She explained that he had been managing and investing the funds on their behalf.

As they rose, Kate asked, “Why weren’t we notified about the money when we turned twenty-one?”

Opening the file again, Mary skimmed the papers. “We sent a certified letter to your guardian, Suzanne Engle, but it came back undeliverable.”

Kate made a fist and mentally added another black mark to her aunt’s record. She looked at Joely who raised her eyebrows and shrugged. They buttoned their coats and walked to the door.

Outside winter refused to yield to spring and the wind stung Kate’s cheeks. Wishing she had replaced the gloves she’d given to Renee, Kate stuffed her hands in her coat pockets. She welcomed the blast of dry heat when she opened the bank door. Mary said hello to a teller and greeted two loan officers on the way to an office in the back.

Kate couldn’t help wondering how much money there might be. Her body tingled, like she was about to win the lottery.

Mary ushered them into a corner office with a gold plaque reading “Warren Donner, President” on the door. Had the bank president been taking care of their assets? Inside, a white-haired gentleman who looked about seventy smiled at them. He stood and shook their hands.

“So you’re the Shupe girls,” he said. “I’ve been wondering when we would meet.” He motioned for them to sit down.

“We just found out about this,” Joely said.

“I’m glad you did. Edgar would’ve wanted you to have this money. It’s not doing anyone any good sitting here in the bank.”

“Did you know our dad?” Kate asked.

“Sure. I knew your grandfather, too. We went to school together.” He smiled at the memory. “Good ‘ole Bernard.”

Kate and Joely exchanged a look of giddiness. Kate welcomed any opportunity to learn more about her parents’ and grandparents’ lives. She longed to fill in the blank pages of her family album.

Mr. Donner leaned back in his chair, his fingers laced behind his head. “Bernard and I played on the high school’s basketball team. Won state championships one year. Our senior year he talked me into stealing a goat and letting it loose in the school for a senior prank. We were lucky we didn’t get caught. They probably wouldn’t have given us our diplomas.” His eyes twinkled as if he had traveled back in time, long before wrinkles ingrained his face.

Kate chuckled.

“That doesn’t sound like grandpa,” Joely said. “He was always so serious—reading medical journals and telling us to study hard.”

Leather-bound books filled the built-in shelves of their grandpa’s study and overflowed onto his desk. On one wall a shadow box displayed his butterfly collection. Below sheets of glass, paper-thin wings fanned outward from black thoraxes lacerated with stickpins. Kate’s favorite had delicate bluish-violet wings which reminded her of her mother’s eyes.

“We were all a little crazy in our teen years,” Mr. Donner continued. “Then we got married, got jobs and had to settle down.”

Kate sat upright. “How well did you know our dad?”

“Not as well, but Bernard would tell me stories. He was so upset when Edgar didn’t go to college. He called him a bum and kicked him out of the house.”

Kate and Joely exchanged knowing glances, familiar with the rift between the two.

Mr. Donner’s chair squeaked. “I have to say it took years for Bernard to come around. Eventually he found a way to be proud of Edgar’s fine woodworking skill, but mostly he was proud of the way he took care of you girls when your mom became ill.”

Kate squirmed a little, touched by this revelation.

“I was so pleased when Bernard changed his will and decided to leave his money to your father. I know Edgar had a lot of bills to pay.”

Because of Mom
, Kate thought.
God, I hope I don’t have it.

Mary appeared restless until Mr. Donner told her he could handle things from there. She left after giving Kate another too-firm handshake.

“Do either of you have children?”

They shook their heads.

“Too bad. That makes you the last of a generation.”

The significance of that statement hit Kate hard. How would her dad have felt about that? After all, he passed out pennies to the nearby children every time they passed a gumball machine. Even when Mom was sick and he did all of the household chores, he always took the time to read her a bedtime story. He obviously loved children. And he would’ve loved being a grandpa. Kate’s eyes grew moist.

Mr. Donner explained that it would take a few weeks to process their brokerage accounts and transfer the money into their names. Apparently, Joely couldn’t take the suspense any more. “Could you please tell us the amount in the account?”

He typed some numbers into his computer. They waited in heavy silence. Then he announced, “There’s a little over three thousand dollars. For each of you.”

Kate nodded, feeling like an idiot. She was barely able to wait until she and Joely went back outside before bursting out in laughter. “Three thousand dollars?” Kate appreciated the money, but had imagined more of a windfall. “I figured Dad inherited at least a hundred thousand from Grandpa.”

Joely wasn’t laughing. “He must have spent it all on hospital bills.”

Kate sobered and shivered in the frigid air. “Let’s get in my car and talk.” They speed-walked down the cement path and jumped in Kate’s Miata.

“So what are you going to do with your share? Decorate the nursery?” Joely asked.

“I don’t know.” Kate paused. “There was a time when that money would’ve really helped out. Like when we were in college blowing our noses on toilet paper because we couldn’t afford tissues.” The windows started to fog up so Kate started the car and turned on the defrost. “I guess it’s just one more reason to hate Aunt Suzy.”

“I don’t hate her. She’s just a self-centered person who got stuck raising two kids that weren’t her own. Some people would’ve risen gracefully to the occasion, but she didn’t. It’s better to just forget about it,” Joely said.

Kate couldn’t help but pause, surprised that Joely wasn’t willing to exchange Aunt Suzy stories. “But she ruined our childhood.”

“Yes. But that was half a lifetime ago. I think it’s time to move on.”

Kate wasn’t so sure she wanted to give up one of their sisterly rituals. She stared at the steering wheel, thinking about how talking about the neglect cemented their bond. She also considered how rehashing the details agitated her. Maybe Joely was right. It was time to move on.

Then she thought of a better tradition. She remembered their trip to Disney World. “Et’s-lay o-gay et-gay ome-say ice-way eam-cray,” Kate said, hoping her Pig Latin wasn’t too rusty. “My treat.”

They walked to a small restaurant on the opposite corner from the law firm. As they sat in a wooden booth, Joely chewed on her straw until the end was flat.

Kate stopped drinking her root beer float. “What’s wrong?”

Joely sighed. “A client fired me today.”

“Really? What happened?”

Joely twirled the straw in the brown foam. “I’m not sure exactly. I’ve been working long hours lately—pushing myself now that I’m feeling better. Anyway, I was painting this mural on a dining room wall and the next thing I knew, the client, a highly successful advertising executive, was standing over me and I was slumped on the floor. I don’t know how, but I must have fallen asleep.”

“Oh, Joely.” Kate reached across the table to touch her sister’s hand.

“I was so embarrassed. I apologized profusely, but she just told me to go home and tell Kelly she would find another interior decorator.”

“Did you tell her about the lupus?”

Joely shook her head, looking down.

“You should have. Maybe she would’ve understood.”

“I couldn’t. It’s no excuse.”

Kate squeezed Joely’s hand. “It’s not an excuse. It’s a legitimate explanation.” She thought for a moment. “Maybe you should ask Kelly if you could go part-time.”

“Then how will I pay my rent?”

“You have this inheritance.”

Joely stared out the window. “What will I do when that runs out?”

“You’re always welcome to come live with Mitch and me.”

Joely’s cell phone rang. She looked down to silence it and the corner of her mouth pulled upward.

Kate took a drink. “Who was it?”

“Nobody.” Pink spread over Joely’s cheeks.

“It looks to me like it was definitely somebody. Somebody special. Come on. Are you seeing someone and you didn’t tell me?” Kate cajoled.

Joely’s eyes fluttered a little as she avoided looking at Kate.

Kate leaned forward. “Joely, do tell.”

“Oh, OK. But you can’t judge.”

Kate tilted her head. “Why would I judge you? I’m happy for you.”

Joely paused and stirred her drink. “If you must know. . .it was Jake.”

“Jake?” Kate exclaimed so loudly that an old woman in the next booth looked their way. “Why is Jake calling you?”

Joely’s gaze settled on the table. “We’ve been sort of seeing each other.”

“What? I thought you said he was married.”

“See, Kate. I knew you’d get all judgmental on me. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“How long have you two been involved?”

Joely folded her napkin over and over until it became a tiny square. “Since November. I went to see him after you left me in California.”

“I did not
leave
you in California.” Joely still hasn’t let this go? But she called from San Diego and said she never should’ve asked me to stay. She seemed happy. Oh—that’s why she was so happy. She had reconnected with Jake.

Then it hit Kate. “Did you cancel your Christmas plans with me to be with him?”

Joely chose not to answer, giving Kate one more reason to detest that man. First he practically left Joely at the altar and now he had returned to trample her heart again. What a self-centered jerk! She wanted to strangle him! “I can’t believe you’re involved with him. He’s married. He has kids. You’re ‘the other woman’.”

“It’s not like that. He only proposed because she got pregnant with the twins. He thought it was the right thing to do. But they’re not a good match.”

Kate looked into Joely’s eyes. Somehow she had to stop her. “Joely, listen to me. This is not a smart idea. You know that.”

“He’s my soul mate,” she crooned. “We should’ve married years ago.”

“There was a reason you broke up. You wanted different things.” Kate felt her stomach twist. Was it time she told Joely the truth?

“But now it doesn’t matter. He’s thinking about moving back. Says he misses the Midwest. Misses me.”

Kate’s sister could not fall in love with a married man and certainly not that one. Joely would only end up damaged all over again. But would it do any good for Kate to confess?

Kate licked her lower lip, preparing to speak. “Didn’t you think it was strange how Jake suddenly changed his mind about having a family?”

“It wasn’t sudden. The twins were an accident.”

Kate picked at a hangnail, wishing this moment had never arrived. “The truth is Jake
did
want kids.” She swallowed, trying to get rid of the fear constricting her throat. “Just not with you.” As the words left Kate’s mouth, she couldn’t believe how sharp they sounded.

Joely’s mouth fell open. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You know as well as I do, that’s the whole reason we broke up.”

“Joely, you broke up because he found out about Mom’s illness.”

“He already knew about that.”

If only she could let her believe that. She wanted to. But she couldn’t risk Joely getting sucked in by Jake’s charm. He would only leave her in the end—worse off than before. “You didn’t tell him the gruesome details. How Mom couldn’t take care of herself, how she couldn’t take care of us.” Kate chewed on her bottom lip as she considered her words. “But I did. And that’s why you two didn’t get married.”

“Why are you saying this? Why are you making stuff up about Jake?” Joely squeezed her glass.

“I’m telling you that man cannot be trusted.”

“That’s not true.”

Kate shoved her unfinished ice cream away. “He lied about not wanting kids and now he’s lying to his wife every time he’s with you.”

“I think you don’t want me to find someone because then I won’t need you any more.”

Kate’s heart jumped into fight or flight mode. “That’s ridiculous. I would love it if I didn’t have to worry about you any more.”

“Well, you can stop worrying. I’m fine. I’m more than fine. I’m happy.” Joely crossed her arms.