“It’s mom.” She forced the news out, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “She was killed last night in a car accident.”
“Oh honey, I’m sorry.” He held her.
“I can’t believe this happened,” she said.
“I know—”
“Some drunk crossed over into her lane and hit her head-on.”
“Babe, I am so sorry.” He said, “Life is not fair.”
Sniffling, she whimpered, “I know.” In the midst of her grief when Rex said,
Life
is
not
fair
she thought of Ryan. It was as if everything “not fair” in her life, rushed into her mind. Possibly a subliminal coping mechanism for dealing with her stress and grief; the brain’s way of diluting the trauma.
He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Honey, why don’t you run up and take a hot bath, it will make you feel better. I’ll take care of dinner.”
She sensed the distinct smell of alcohol on his breath. “Have you been drinking?”
“What makes you think that?” She moved closer and sniffed his breath.
“Because you reek with the smell of booze!” She jumped up in anger. “I don’t believe you! You’re no better than the drunk that murdered my mother!”
“Babe, I just had a couple of drinks.”
“Bad timing, Rex!” she said as she stormed off.
The remainder of the evening flashed by. Drained of emotion, after bathing, she packed for her trip then fell asleep without eating.
She woke at six, showered, dressed, and slipped out without waking Rex. When she arrived at the airport, the flight she had planned to take canceled because of a mechanical problem.
The airline rebooked the passengers on the next flight making it impossible for any standbys to be accommodated. With any luck, she could catch the flight that departed in two hours which was scheduled to arrive in Atlanta at five-fifteen.
That’s
going
to
put
me
in
the
middle
of
rush
traffic
.
She needed to call her dad and tell him she would be late.
CHAPTER 48
When Emily Anderson arrived at work, the office was buzzing with the news about the death of Ronald Hart’s wife. She immediately rushed to his house.
As his special assistant, she knew he would be contacting her soon, but her interest went far beyond her professional responsibilities. With his wife now out of the way, Emily needed to be sure Ronald knew she was there for him.
When he opened the door, she said, “I just heard. I knew you would need some help.”
“Yes.” He stepped aside. “Come in. Your timing was perfect. I was just on my way out.”
When he closed the door, she turned and gazed up into his eyes. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Would you mind staying at the house today? There are some details I need to attend to, and it would be nice if someone, other than the help, were here to answer the phone.”
“Certainly.” She followed him through the kitchen and into the garage.
After sliding into his car, he reached up and pressed a button starting the electric garage door up, then started the engine. “I’m expecting my daughter this afternoon. Other than her, there’s no other family.”
She bent over, resting her hands on her thighs, thankful she had worn her favorite red dress with its deep plunging neckline. As she’d hoped, his eyes stole a quick look at her cleavage. “I’m here for you,” she said. “Just let me know what you want me to do.”
He met her gaze. “For the next few weeks, we need to be discreet. In time, we will be free to do as we please, most people will even expect it.”
“Anything you say.”
He reached his hand out of the car window and up to the side of her head and gently pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “All I want is for you to be happy,” he said.
“I couldn’t be happier, and don’t you worry, everything is going to work out fine.”
“I know.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Thank you for being here.”
She leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek then stepped away from the car.
As he backed out of the garage, she watched him leave.
I
can’t
wait
to
see
Keri’s
face
when
she
finds
out
about
me
and
her
dad
.
She smiled and waved to Ronald one last time before the garage door rolled down.
* * *
Ronald paused, smiling at the beautiful young blond in the red dress as the metal curtain rolled down touching softly against the high gloss finish of the polyurethane coated floor.
The vision of the young woman was slow to fade from his thoughts. Any man his age would die to have such a woman beckoning his affection.
He reached for the shifter located between the two plush leather seats, pulled it into “drive”, then slowly maneuvered the luxury sedan around the circular drive that cut through the perfectly manicured lawn beneath towering oaks. Once at the end of the long drive and through the iron gate, he checked both ways and drove onto Habersham Road.
Neither his late wife nor his daughter knew of his threatening health concerns that had risen since his bypass surgery, six years ago. His condition, diagnosed as ischemic cardiomyopathy—an enlarged heart—had been the result of his coronary artery disease.
Recent episodes of chest pains and shortness of breath had driven him to visit his cardiologist. Tests revealed that since his bypass surgery, his heart had enlarged considerably along with increased coronary damage—both conditions untreatable by medical or surgical means.
Because his health and age put him in a high risk category for a heart transplant, his doctor had been forced to deliver the sad news: he had less than a year to live.
He had enticed the young blond to Atlanta with promises of marriage and a life of financial security, something he’d hoped his daughter would be slow to discover. But now, Keri was coming to Atlanta. This was not the way he had planned it. He needed more time. His biggest concern was how she would react once she learned that the young blond he was entertaining was none other than, Emily Mitchell.
As for now, he would make a quick stop by the funeral home and then visit with his good friend and lawyer, Philip Darby. Phil had worked with him closely during the past year structuring a will that accounted for every possible variable, including his plans for the young Emily Mitchell.
The unexpected death of his wife, though tragic, required that he accelerate his plan ahead of schedule. Time was of the essence.
CHAPTER 49
With the payphone receiver pressed against her ear, Keri anxiously waited for her dad to answer; her chest growing tighter with each unanswered ring.
Come
on
,
Dad
,
pick
up
,
pick
up
,
pick
up
.
Where
are
you
?
She scanned the crowded terminal: a businessman worried about his connection; a mother calming her sleep-deprived infant; a middle-aged woman nervously biting her nails—Keri assumed either nicotine-starved or a white-knuckled flyer.
“Hello.” A strange woman’s voice answered.
Surprised, she said, “Ah…this is Keri Hart, is my father there?”
“Oh, hi, Keri. Your dad is not here at the moment, but he mentioned you would be arriving this afternoon.”
“That’s what I called about. I wanted to let him know I will be arriving later than planned…hopefully by six or seven.”
“I’ll tell him.”
Keri paused, then asked, “Who is this?”
There was a moment of awkward silence, and then the woman said, “That’s too bad about your mother…I mean the drunk. It’s terrible she had to go like that. But in a way, I guess it was a good thing.”
Her comment caught Keri off guard. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, your dad really didn’t love her anymore.”
“What’s that suppose to mean? Are you saying just because my father didn’t love my mother, she might as well be dead? Who are you?”
“No, not really. It’s just a good thing she doesn’t have to live with the pain of knowing her husband is in love with another woman. It’s easier this way…for everyone.”
“Everyone?” Keri said angrily, “And how do you know so much about my dad?”
“Oh, I’ve known your dad for some time. He and I have grown very close over the last year. Listen, I know he wants to tell you himself, but considering the circumstances, I guess I could go ahead. Your dad and I are in love and plan to be married soon.”
“Married! That’s impossible!” Heads turned her way and stared. Keri pulled the receiver away from her ear and yelled into the phone, “Who are you?”
“Keri, I know with everything happening so suddenly, you have good reason to be upset, but I’m sure once we get to know each other—”
“In your dreams!” She slammed the receiver down. Her mind spinning like a top.
Dad
,
how
could
you
do
this
?
How
could
you
do
this
to
mom
?
To
me
?
Why
?
I
thought
we
were
close
?
Her dad must have been seeing this woman before her mom died…for at least a year, maybe longer.
He’s
probably
glad
mom
is
dead
.
That’s
disgusting
!
She suddenly saw no reason for going to Atlanta. She was only going to comfort her dad. It looked like he already had that area covered.
As far as she was concerned, he, along with his little skank, could rot. Now that her mom was dead, that woman would be moving into his house—the house Keri once called home. She never wanted to see him, or that woman, as long as she lived.
* * *
When she returned home, it was almost eleven o’clock. Rex was gone.
She spent the rest of the day trying to piece together her life; to make sense of all the confusion. Her mother was dead, her father had betrayed her, and her husband was not there when she needed him most. She needed someone to talk with that would understand. If only…
At five o’clock, the phone rang. “Hello.”
“Keri, are you okay?”
The sound of his voice sickened her. Her first thought was to hang up, but she didn’t. “Dad, how could you do it?”
“Keri, let me explain.”
“Explain? Explain what? I think I’ve heard about all I want to hear. You make me sick!”
“It’s not like you think—”
“How can you say that? I talked to that woman. She told me everything.”
“Keri—”
“I guess you’re happy now. Mom is dead! Now you can get on with your life. You and your little—”
“Please, Keri—”
“Don’t expect to see me at the funeral, and do me a favor…leave me alone. I never want to see you, or that woman, as long as I live.” She slammed the phone down and then cried.
The next morning, Keri rolled over and noticed that Rex had stayed out all night. She checked his schedule. He wasn’t due to fly out for two days.
CHAPTER 50
One
month
later
—
May
1986
Driving south on the 405 from LAX, Keri felt unusually tired. It had been a routine trip to New York and back, but she was exhausted.
She expected Rex would be home since his trip was scheduled to arrive at noon. They each had three days off. It would be the first time since the honeymoon they had been at home together for more than one night.
Her body had been acting strange. She thought the slight tinge of nausea she had experienced in New York might have been from the pizza she had eaten for dinner. But combined with her sore breasts and being almost a week late starting her period, she suspected something else. She placed her hand on her belly.
Could
I
be
pregnant
?
Before they got married, she and Rex had talked about having children, but not this soon. When the conversation came up, Rex was always excited about the idea, but wanted to wait a year or so. He had said he thought it would be good for their marriage if they waited. She thought back to the honeymoon and remembered how careful Rex had been to use protection. However, there was once, while they were in the whirlpool tub, that he hadn’t.
It
only
takes
one
, she thought.
One
strong
swimmer
.
The fastest way to know for sure was to stop and pick up a self-pregnancy tester. She remembered a pharmacy near her house. This way, she and Rex could find out together, tonight. Although it was unexpected and earlier than planned, she knew he would be just as excited as she was; that is, if she was pregnant.
When she arrived home, Rex was not there. In a way, she was glad. It would give her time to take a quiet bath and unwind a bit before he returned. The thought of shedding her uniform, a warm bath, and slipping into something comfortable sounded wonderful.
Anxious to be ready when Rex returned, she rushed the bath. While toweling off, she noticed his doc kit was not by his sink nor was his suitcase in the spot where he normally parked it after a trip.
I
thought
he
was
due
in
hours
ago
.
She checked his schedule, then called the airline to check arrivals. She was right. His flight landed on schedule. She glanced at her watch: 4:45.
She convinced herself that administering the self-pregnancy test before he arrived would not be all that bad. It might even be a good thing. After all, when it comes down to it, men just want the facts: yes or no.
She tore open the box and removed the contents. Interested in exactly how the test worked and how accurate it was, she took time to read the enclosed pamphlet.
She learned that a pregnancy can be detected within days of conception, but the test is ninety-nine percent accurate when used on or after the day of your expected period. For her, it had been five days since the date she’d expected her period.