Crazy Little Thing (35 page)

Jeanette continued, “And here’s some good news: Richard has to pay you for your half. Like I said before, the market has tanked, but he has to give you fifty percent of its current value. That’s not a huge amount, but it should be enough to get you settled in Bell Harbor.”

Another tiny victory.

“That is good news, Jeannette. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m not sure how fast this will all play out. Richard is antsy to get in the door, but legally he can’t enter the premises until you sign off on it, so his lawyer is drawing up the papers ASAP. As soon as I’ve gotten a copy and reviewed it, I’ll give you a call. Don’t let him in the house until I’ve said so.”

So that was it then. It was all decided. Once again the flick of a pen would alter my entire future.

“That’s fine. Whatever.”

“I have to say, Sadie, you’re taking this really well.”

I was, kind of, wasn’t I? Maybe I was finally learning which battles were worth fighting. Or maybe I just didn’t have the energy to fight for anything at all.

CHAPTER 25

THE DAY OF DODY’S PARTY dawned clear and bright with not a cloud in the sky. It was a picture-perfect summer day in western Michigan. The decorations were up, along with a big white canopy and a makeshift dance floor made from painted plywood. Everything looked sparkly and elegant, as it should.

Jasper, putting the finishing touches on a tray of delectable goodies, said, “Sadie, could you please take the dogs over to Mrs. Schmidt’s house? She said we could keep them there until after the party so they don’t eat all our food. Fatso! Get down from there!”

The dog gave Jasper a doleful look and thumped down from the counter.

“Sure.” I was glad for something to do. The fact that Mrs. Schmidt’s house was next to the Pullmans’ didn’t bother me either. In fact, it was the perfect excuse to peek in the windows again to see if Des’s boxes were gone. I still couldn’t believe he hadn’t returned my call. It wasn’t like him to be so ruthless. But then again, maybe I hadn’t known him as well as I thought.

Once outside with Lazyboy and Fatso, I recalled why I hated walking them. They were eighty-pound moving obstacles, jumping around in front of me as if I were a giant squirrel. Lazyboy dragged his head along my leg, leaving a trail of drool.

I could not get to Mrs. Schmidt’s door fast enough. She opened it, wearing a peach housecoat and curlers in her hair.

“Oh, hello, Sadie. Do come in. How is Dody feeling?” For a moment I thought she’d found out about the cancer, but quickly realized she was just being cordial. The dogs bounded in, making themselves right at home. I heard a cat hiss in the other room.

“Dody is wonderful. Thanks for asking. She’s very excited about the party, of course. Thank you so much for keeping the dogs.”

“Oh, it’s no bother. I’m like Dr. Doolittle these days,” she responded. “With your doggies, and Phantom from next door.”

As if on cue, Bitchy the cat jumped up on the counter and hissed at me. God! I hated that cat.

“Phantom? Is that her name? Why is she here?” I realized then I’d never asked Des anything about her. Maybe that’s why he broke up with me.

Mrs. Schmidt nodded. “Yes, Dr. McKnight asked me to keep her while he’s on his boat race.”

Wait.

What?

“His boat race?” My voice came out in a strangled mumble.

“Yes. Didn’t he mention it? I thought you two were quite an item.” She wiggled her eyebrows, making the curlers twitch.

I shifted from one foot to the other. “Um, we’re not. But what boat race are you talking about?”

“That big one from Chicago up to Mackinaw Island. He wasn’t very excited about it, from what I could tell. But he said his friend called and insisted. Then he’s going to visit his mother. What a dear boy.”

The race? He went on the race? Could that be why he hadn’t tried to call? Not that it changed anything, but still, it was an interesting morsel of information. At the very least, it could mean he hadn’t officially moved yet. Could there still be a chance?

I tried to scratch Bitchy/Phantom behind the ears as if we were the best of pals. She bit me. “When will he get back?” I asked casually.

Mrs. Schmidt patted her heart. “Not an item, you say? But you’d like to be, right? Ahh...” She sighed and cast a dreamy gaze toward the ceiling. “Can’t say I blame you. If I was thirty years younger and twenty pounds lighter, I’d be after him myself. Lucky for you I’m old and fat.” Her eyes came back to mine. “I’m not sure when he’ll be back. Sometime next week, I think.”

“Well, thanks Mrs. Schmidt, for taking the dogs. I should get back home now. There’s still a lot to do before the party.”

“Of course. See you tonight.”

I scurried back home as fast as I could, bursting in through the door.

Fontaine was slicing lemons at the island.

“He’s on a boat!” I exclaimed.

“Who’s on a boat?”

“Des is on a boat! Mrs. Schmidt just told me he’s on the Chi-Mack race in the middle of fucking Lake Michigan! Do you think that’s why he hasn’t called?”

By now the entire family knew all the gory details of Des’s abrupt departure. I hadn’t been able to keep it a secret after all.

Fontaine raised his dark brows. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” My voice was unflatteringly shrill.

“I don’t know, baby girl.”

I clenched my fists, looking at Fontaine imploringly.

Come on! Couldn’t he do better than that? I needed reassurance! I needed hope. If Des hadn’t gotten my message, maybe there was time to tell him how I felt. Maybe it would make a difference in him moving away. Maybe it would make
all
the difference.

That was a lot of maybes.

And what if he never made it back? What if his boat capsized and they all drowned? I’d end up like the girl from that old seventies song in love with the sailor who told her she was a fine girl and what a good wife she would be. What the hell was the name of that song? Brittney? Bethany? Betty?

“Brandy!” I shouted, clenching my fists.

“What?” Fontaine’s eyes went big.

“What if he drowns? I’ll end up just like Brandy.”

“The singer?”

“No, stupid, the tavern girl. From the song.”

Fontaine set down the paring knife, slowly easing toward me with hands outstretched, as if I had my finger on the trigger of a loaded gun.

“Love bug, you have rounded the bend.”

I giggled hysterically. He was right. The stress was making me nuts. What difference did it make if Des was on a boat, or the space shuttle or a hot air balloon? He was still moving to Seattle. Even if he did return my call, what could I possibly say to make him change his mind? Absolutely nothing. My momentary hope sank faster than the
Titanic
. Either way, I’d end up just like Brandy, standing alone on a windswept shore, waiting for a man who was out of my reach. Stupid sailors.

The birthday extravaganza was about to begin. Fontaine flitted around like a hummingbird on crack, spastically fluffing tulle bows and rearranging the floral arrangements. He had insisted Dody stay in the house all afternoon so she could have the Big Reveal moment. He’d even instructed all the guests to wear white so everyone would match our sparkly elegant palette.

Fontaine, Jasper, Beth, Paige, Jordan, and I were gathered on the deck when Kyle led Dody out from the house.

She gasped with pleasure. “Oh, look, it’s delightful! Simply delightful. Oh, you children, you’ve done too much. It’s so lovely. See the flowers and the bows and the lights. Oh, Jasper, the food looks divine. Oh, it’s perfection.” She hugged and kissed each one of us at least twice. My kids quickly tired of the attention not being on them and slipped away to run circles on the dance floor.

“That’s a lovely dress, Dody,” Beth told her.

Dody curtsied. “Thank you, darling. It’s from the Marie Osmond Collection. I thought my silk might be a little too warm. And don’t you look lovely too! Oh, my!” She gasped again, suddenly realizing we were all dressed in white. “You all look like angels. I’m not dead already, am I? Is this heaven?”

Fontaine shook his head. “That’s nice, Mom! I go to all this trouble and all you can say is, ‘I see dead people’?”

She giggled. “I’m sorry, darling. I’m teasing. It looks beautiful, really. Utterly fabulous.”

“Thank you. Now let’s get you a little wine spritzer, shall we?” Fontaine stepped over to the corner of the deck, where we’d set up an extensive bar.

Kyle came and stood next to me and leaned against the tulle-covered railing.

“It does look great, doesn’t it?” He slung his arm around my shoulders. “Maybe we should add party planning extraordinaire to our list of services.”

“We should. Thanks for all your help.” I felt an overwhelming surge of goodwill toward Kyle. He’d been so kind and generous, stepping up to help us through this time of need. He’d become a true friend to me. I couldn’t resist hugging him. “You’re the best. I adore you.”

“This must be Dezzzzzzzz.”

Oh. God. You have got to be kidding me.

Richard’s sarcastic drawl singed my eardrums like burning cinders. My head snapped around, and there he stood! I gripped Kyle so tightly he gave a little squeak.

“What are you doing here, Richard?”

Everyone turned in unison to stare. A silicone-enhanced
Jersey Shore
reject hung on his arm. She might have been twenty in real time but appeared older in skanky ho years. I’d had pimples that covered more surface area than the itty-bitty dress she was (almost) wearing.

Richard held up an envelope. “I have papers for you to sign, Sadie. House papers. Thought we should make this legal before your jackal of a lawyer tried to complicate things.” He grinned at everyone around the deck and chuckled. “You guys having a party? Why wasn’t I invited?”

Who had flipped over that big rock and let Richard crawl out? And how dare he? How dare he show up unannounced and start waving papers in my face? It was too much! And he brought a date? What kind of man brought a date to the figurative screwing of his ex-wife? I was speechless on the outside, but only because the screaming inside my head would burn my lips if those choice words came out.

“Richard, this really isn’t the time,” Dody said. “Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”

Everyone’s eyes darted between Richard and me.

Richard’s smiled broadened, as if this were some chitchatty visit with old friends. “Sorry. No can do, Doodoo. We are on our way out of town, but I want these papers signed before I leave since I can’t step a foot over the threshold until Miss Ice Princess signs it over. So what do you say, Sadie? Sign the papers and I’ll be on my way.”

I could hardly breathe. “Richard, I’m not signing anything tonight. I’ll sign it tomorrow, after I’ve had a chance to talk to my lawyer.”

Richard shook his head. “Uh, uh, uh. I want these papers filed before next week. Don’t make this hard. You agreed, so don’t try and fight about it now.”

“I’m not making this hard. You’re being unreasonable. We are in the middle of a party, Richard. I’ll read the papers first thing in the morning.”

“Now would be better. Oh, by the way, this is Barbie. Barbie, Sadie.”

Barbie smiled. I nearly expected teeth to be missing, she was so young.

Richard’s drawl continued. “And aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Dezzzzz?”

He gave Kyle a smug once-over. Damn it! Richard was so awful, so infuriating! That’s what made me do it! That’s why my mouth started talking independently of my brain.

I hugged Kyle tighter still. “Yes, Richard, this is Des. And we’d both like you to leave.”

I heard the jaws of my family audibly dropping.

Fontaine whimpered in distress.

Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod! Did I say that out loud?
I stole a glance at Kyle.

He was wide-eyed with surprise.

Yes, it seems I did say that out loud
.

After a lifetime, Kyle extended his hand. “Richard.”

A collective exhale from my relatives followed.

Richard shook his hand. “I thought you were Scottish. Where’s the skirt?”

Kyle, my brave hero, did not miss a beat. “At the cleaners. You’ll have to chase somebody else’s tonight.”