Weaving the Strands (23 page)

“Mexican for Christmas Eve?” John asked.

“Absolutely. Like all true immigrants to a foreign
land, we’re bringing some of our traditions with us,” Maggie said with a wink.
“Okay everybody, go get changed for church. We leave in fifteen minutes.”

“Can’t we stay here?” Sophia whined.

“With Eve and John?” Sarah added.

“I’m going to church with your Gramma,” John
interjected. “And I don’t think Santa likes children who whine about going to
church on Christmas Eve, do you?” he asked, turning to Maggie.

Sophie exchanged a look with Sarah. “We’re going,”
she shouted as they raced upstairs to get ready.

“Well played, sir,” Maggie said, planting a kiss
on his check.

“I’ll finish cleaning up the kitchen. You go
powder your nose or whatever you women do,” he replied, taking the dishtowel
from her.

***

The joyful family church service
featured a living nativity scene and enthusiastic singing of the familiar
carols. Snow had begun to fall when they exited the sanctuary. Light from the
enormous stained-glass windows painted a mosaic on the white canvas
accumulating outside.

“Time to get ready for bed,” Amy told the twins as
the car turned onto the long, winding driveway to Rosemont. “The sooner you get
to sleep, the sooner Santa will come.”

Maggie caught Sarah’s eye in the rearview mirror.
“Tell you what. You two get your bath done and pajamas on without any fussing,
and I’ll fix some hot cocoa. We’ll light the fire and turn out all the lights
except for the Christmas tree, and we’ll sip it in the dark. How would that
be?”

They both nodded and raced into the house.

“Good work, Mom,” Mike said as he and Amy trailed
after their children.

Maggie turned to John. “Did you see Susan and
Aaron? Weren’t they right behind us?” she asked, looking for their car on the
driveway.

“Aaron told me he had somewhere he wanted to take
her after church.”

Maggie raised her brows. “Don’t worry, they’ll be
fine,” John said reassuringly. “He’s a terrific young man, and he’s crazy about
her, if you haven’t noticed.”

“With all the commotion, I haven’t had much of a
chance to talk to Aaron. Susan is nuts about him, too, I’m afraid,” she
replied. “I hope she doesn’t get her heart broken. Especially at Christmas.”

John drew her into his arms. “I wouldn’t worry too
much about that.” He kissed the sides of her face, working his way to her
mouth. “He said they might be late and not to wait up,” he whispered against
her lips.

“On Christmas Eve, for heaven’s sake? Where in the
world can they be going? Nothing’s open. This is ridiculous,” she sputtered.

“Don’t go getting yourself all worked up. They’re
adults and it’ll be fine. Now kiss me,” he insisted, “like you mean it.”

***

As they exited the church, Aaron
had taken Susan’s hand. “Can I steal you away for a few hours? I’ve got
something I want to show you.”

Susan turned to him in the dark and nodded. “Sure.
Let me go tell Mom.”

“I’ve already told John that we won’t be back
until late. I hope that was all right.”

Susan smiled and glanced at her retreating family.
“Let’s get out of here before anyone discovers we’re missing,” she whispered
conspiratorially.

Aaron led her to his car, and they set off into
the countryside. The pavement was wet but still warm enough that the snow
wasn’t sticking. Susan tuned the car radio to a station playing sacred music of
the holiday; they allowed the rhythms to wash over them as they traversed the
back roads surrounding Westbury.

Some forty minutes outside of town, Aaron turned
off the highway onto an unmarked farm road. They bumped along the narrow track
through a tunnel of trees until they broke through to a large field dominated
by a lone pine tree. Majestic and tall, the tree was washed in moonlight and
adorned at the top with a single silver star.

Susan inhaled deeply. “It’s extraordinary. Simple
and pure and absolutely beautiful.”

Aaron nodded in satisfaction; he’d hoped she’d
react this way.

“Who did this?” Susan asked. “The farmer who owns
this field, I suppose.”

Aaron shook his head.

“Then who?”

“I did,” he replied. “I’ve put that star up for
the last several years, for as long as I’ve been spending the holidays here
with Alex. I don’t know how many people see it, but I do it in memory of my
uncle.”

Susan turned to face him in the dark car. She
waited.

“My uncle made the star in his workshop but he
died before he ever got to put it up. Nobody else wanted it, so I took it. He
was a very simple man, a farmer all his life. I knew that his star wouldn’t be
comfortable displayed in town. I found this spot and like the light. It’s very
peaceful. I’ve been putting the star up here on Christmas Eve ever since.”

“What a lovely tribute to your uncle,” Susan
replied, a catch in her throat. “I’m sure he can see it; I’m sure he’s so proud
of you.”

She turned and locked eyes with him. “Thank you
for sharing this with me. You are the most wonderful man,” she murmured as he
pulled her to him.

After what seemed like an eternity, he drew back
and took her face in both of his hands. “I know this has been fast, but I feel
like you’re part of me. I can’t imagine a future without you. I love you
totally and completely.”

Susan drew a ragged breath. “I’m in love with you,
too. I’m just not sure where this can go, since I practice law in California
and you’re going to set up your medical practice here.”

“That’s why I’m bringing this up so soon. Before
you may be ready,” he said looking intently into her eyes. “I’m committed to
you; I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He pressed a finger to her
lips to quell her response.

“I don’t want to disrupt your career. You’ve
worked hard to launch it, and you’re happy where you are. I can start mine
anywhere. I was looking at Westbury because Alex is the only family I have. But
I’m picking you over Alex. I’ve accepted a position with an orthopedic surgical
practice about an hour away from you. We can make that work.”

He brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen
over her eye.

“My decision in no way binds you to me. I made it
for me, without consulting you. You don’t need to feel guilty if you don’t feel
the same way. I don’t want to put any pressure on you. I just want to tell Alex
what I’ve decided, and you needed to be the first to know. In private.”

Susan struggled to hold back her tears.

“That’ll give you time to decide if you really
want to be the wife of a busy doctor,” Aaron added. “It isn’t for everyone.
You’re so independent. I think you’ll be fine, but you need to decide that for
yourself.”

Her tears broke free. He fumbled in the glove box
for tissues.

“Aaron—I love you, too. I’m head over heels
for you. But if you think this counts as a proposal, you’re wrong,” she managed
to choke out between sobs. “If you want me, you’re going to have to kick this
off old-school—on your knees and everything.”

Aaron grinned. “Duly noted, counselor,” he replied
as he restarted the car. “And now I’d better get you back to Rosemont before
the mayor sends the sheriff after us.”

Chapter 49

Christmas Eve had taken its toll,
and Sophie and Sarah had finally fallen asleep. Their parents turned in shortly
thereafter. The house was quiet and peaceful for the first time in days. Maggie
settled into a chair by the hearth to wait for Susan to come home.
Just like
when she was a teenager,
Maggie thought;
I could never go to bed while
the kids were out.
She sighed and dozed lightly in the glow from the Christmas
tree.

Eve was the first to hear the car approaching on
the driveway. Maggie managed to silence her after the first tentative woof; she
didn’t want the twins to wake up. She was about to throw the door open, but
stopped herself. Didn’t her daughter deserve a leisurely goodnight kiss on
Christmas Eve?

Susan eventually inserted her key in the lock and
crept quietly into the dimly lit foyer. She didn’t see Maggie and Eve standing
in the corner and nearly jumped out of her skin when Maggie softly spoke her
name.

“Mom,” she said, beginning to laugh. “You scared
me to death. What’re you doing down here? Waiting up for me?”

Maggie smiled. “Of course. And there’s still
something so satisfying about scaring the life out of a child who’s sneaking
into the house past curfew.”

“I wasn’t sneaking. And curfew? Honestly, Mom,”
Susan laughed. “But I am glad you’re up. I was going to wake you if you
weren’t.” She grabbed her mother’s hand and pulled her into the living room.
“He’s proposed!” she cried.

Maggie gasped.

“Sort of. He’s taken a job in a practice close to
me. So we can be together.”

Maggie squeezed her hands. “Oh, honey, that’s
wonderful. Though I half-hoped you’d come here to be with him, and then I’d
have you near me,” Maggie confessed. “If it got serious between you two.”

“Oh, Mom.” Susan sighed. “I’m all set in my job,
and he hasn’t started his career yet. That’s why he decided to move to me. He
said it would give me a chance to see what it was like to be a doctor’s
wife
.”
She squeezed her mother’s hands back. “He said I was the one for him, but he
wasn’t asking me to commit just yet. And I told him I loved him, Mom.” She
paused, and then smiled. “And that he’d still have to propose properly; down on
one knee and the whole bit.”

Maggie laughed. “You’ve always been an incredible
romantic.”

She held her daughter’s radiant face between her
hands and looked into her eyes. “Honey, I’m delighted for you. Aaron is a good
man, and it’s clear to me that he adores you.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon?”

“I don’t. Not at your ages. You should be able to
know quickly. When it takes a long time, you’re trying to talk yourself into
something. The fact that he’s setting up his practice to accommodate you tells
me that he’s thinking of you first. That’s a good thing.”

“Thanks, Mom. This has felt right since the moment
I met him. I know that sounds cheesy, but I knew he was the one.” Maggie drew
her daughter close, and they hugged each other hard. “Now let’s go to bed and
enjoy happy dreams,” Maggie murmured. “The girls will have us up before you
know it.”

***

Christmas Day and the rest of the
week flew by in a flurry of activity. Mike and the girls made a towering
snowman in the front yard, Eve was taken for more walks than she knew what to
do with, and the kitchen at Rosemont was always in service. By their scheduled
departure on the thirtieth, Maggie was exhausted and ready to have Rosemont to
herself again. With the baggage loaded in the cars and the twins saying a long
goodbye to Eve, Maggie took Amy’s arm and summoned John and her kids.

“Quickly,” she said. “I have an important
announcement to make before we head out.”

All eyes turned to her. “I’ve been offered a very
lucrative expert witness engagement, and I’ve decided to accept it.” She noted
the smile that spread across John’s face and the puzzled expressions of the
others. “That means that I’ll be resigning my position as mayor.”

“Oh, Mom,” Susan began, but Maggie held up a hand
to silence her.

“I’ve talked this over with John and thought this
through carefully. It’s the right decision. And I’ll be traveling to California
regularly, so I’ll be able to keep my promise to come see you.”

“That’ll be lovely, especially now,” Amy replied.
She glanced at Mike.

“We were going to wait,” he said. “But since we’re
making family announcements, Amy and I are expecting.”

Maggie swept them both into a hug.
“Congratulations! I had my suspicions,” she said, smiling. “This trip has been
full of wonderful news,” she said, her eyes cutting to Susan.

“When will you make your news official?” Mike
asked.

“I plan to turn in my resignation to the town
clerk tomorrow, effective January thirty-first. I’ll start my new engagement
mid-February.” Maggie turned to John. “If the good doctor here can spare the
time, I’d like us to take a vacation during the first week of February; maybe
go somewhere warm?”

John’s smile stretched so wide his cheeks hurt.
“You can count on it. Now, these folks have a plane to catch. Let’s get going.”

Chapter 50

Loretta stared out the window of
Haynes Enterprises at the swirling snow. By midafternoon, it was coming down
hard. The office was quiet; the phone hadn’t rung for hours. She didn’t have
any plans for the evening, other than staying home with her kids. Eyeing the
accumulation in the parking lot, she was anxious to get out of the office and
off the roads before the weather got worse.

She sighed and glanced at her boss’s office. He
worked behind closed doors now more than ever. Summoning her courage, she
knocked softly on his door. At the gruff “come in,” she opened it a crack and
stood in the doorway, one hand remaining on the knob. He didn’t bother to look
up.

“In light of the snow, I was wondering if I could
go to the bank early and then head home.”

He paused and his gaze narrowed. “Got big plans
tonight, have you?”

“No,” she answered defensively.

What business was it of his if she had, anyway?

“I’m not going anywhere. Just staying home with my
kids. These roads are going to be bad, and I’m still not used to driving in
snow. I just want to get them home safely.”

Haynes sighed. “Okay, sure. You can go.”

He was turning back to his computer when he swung
around quickly. “Loretta, since you’re driving right by on the way to the bank,
would you drop something off at Chuck Delgado’s for me?”

He sensed her unmistakable trepidation. “It’ll be
fine. He probably won’t even be there. You can leave it with the clerk in the
liquor store downstairs; his office is upstairs.”

“I’m really not comfortable with this. Can’t we
mail it?”

“I’d like him to have it today.”

“What about a messenger service?” she suggested.

“You’re going right by. I don’t see the point in
wasting money on a messenger.” He was getting annoyed. “You’re the one who
asked to leave early. If you want to go to the bank now, you need to drop this
off.”

Loretta nodded slowly.

Haynes grabbed a stack of papers from his desk and
sealed them in a large envelope. He held it out to her and said, “If you run
into him, don’t come on to him. I’d think a pretty girl like you would know how
to handle men by now.”

His patronizing remark stung her, but she dared
not reply. She snatched the envelope from his hand and turned on her heel.

***

As she had expected, Loretta found
the roads treacherous; she was thoroughly unnerved by the time she pulled into
the tiny parking lot of Delgado’s liquor store. The next day was New Year’s Eve
and the store was busy. She was waiting in line to hand her package to the
clerk when a familiar voice made her prickle with fear.

“Hello, little lady. Look who’s here in my humble
establishment. I knew you couldn’t stay away,” Delgado said with a smirk.

“I’m just here to deliver this to you from Mr.
Haynes,” she said, thrusting the package into his outstretched arms. She turned
to leave.

“Hold on a minute,” he stated, grabbing her arm.
“We’ve got some unfinished business from the other day.”

“I don’t think so,” she said, trying to extricate
herself. Other patrons were beginning to stare.

Delgado loosed his grip and leaned in. “I think
something funny’s been going on at Haynes Enterprises,” he whispered.

His breath was stale with alcohol and whatever
greasy sandwich he had eaten for lunch. She took a step back. Whatever did he
mean? Had he learned about the evidence of fraud and embezzlement she had
uncovered? Was he part of it? Or did he know that she had copies of the
documents? Loretta hesitated. She had to know what he was referring to.

Delgado realized he had her. He stepped back and
released her arm. “Let’s go upstairs to my office; we can talk privately
there,” he stated softly.

Loretta nodded and followed him out the rear door
and up the stairs.

When they reached his office, Delgado pulled out
his desk drawer and removed a half-empty bottle of Jameson and two Styrofoam
cups. He poured a generous portion in each and handed one to Loretta. When she
shook her head, he pressed it on her.

“It’s almost New Year’s Eve. Lighten up.” He
raised his cup to her. “Cheers,” he said, and drained it in one gulp.

He grabbed the bottle and steered her to the
decrepit sofa, motioning her to sit. She obliged.

“So. What did you want to tell me about Haynes Enterprises?”
she asked.

“All business, aren’t you?” He poured himself
another generous portion of whiskey and sat down, close to her. She pressed
herself into the arm at the end of the sofa.

“I like to get to know people before I talk
business, don’t you?” he said, running a finger up her neck, tracing her jaw
line.

“I didn’t come here for this,” she said angrily as
she heaved herself out of the sofa.

Delgado downed his drink and tossed the cup to the
floor. With surprising agility, he leapt up and caught her hair in his fist,
yanking her around to face him. “Limiting yourself to Frankie, are you?”

He saw the surprise in her eyes. “We all know
what’s going on. He don’t need no financial analyst or whatever trumped up
title he gave you. Everyone knows you’re just his whore. Frankie and me, we’s
partners; he won’t mind sharing. And you might find that you need what I got
for you,” he added with a leer, pressing his body against hers.

Loretta wedged her right hand against his chest
while she tugged with her left to release his hold on her hair. Delgado shoved
her against the wall, trapping her there. He let go of her hair and clamped his
hand over her mouth as she screamed and squirmed wildly. His free hand reached
under her skirt and ripped her underwear down her legs. She felt the bile rise
in her throat and knew she would be violently sick.

Delgado was fumbling with his zipper when Frank
Haynes flung the office door open. Delgado staggered backward, stumbling over
the edge of the sofa. Loretta bent over and wretched violently on the carpet.
Sobbing, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and reached for the underwear
in tatters at her ankles.

“Well, what have we got here?” he asked
sarcastically. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Loretta stared at Haynes. What did he think was
going on?

“What the hell you doin’ here, Frankie?” Delgado
asked shakily. “Don’t you know to knock?”

“I left something out of your package,” Haynes
said, waving a stack of papers in his hand. He tossed them on the desk. “The
guy at the register said that you’d come up here. So I thought I’d join you.”

Delgado quickly tried to regain his composure.
“Wanna drink? Toast the new year with me and Loretta?”

“No. It’s a bit early for me, Charles. And Loretta
can’t stay; she’s got to make the bank deposit. We need to be going.”

Ignoring her discomfiture, Haynes steered Loretta
to the top of the stairs. She pulled her coat around her shoulders and tried to
smooth her skirt. He followed her down the stairs and to her car in the parking
lot.

She fumbled for her key and unlocked her car. She
turned to Haynes. “He was going to rape me. You stopped him. If you hadn’t come
in, he’d have succeeded. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know nothing of the kind,” he stated
matter-of-factly, avoiding her gaze. “I saw two adults getting friendly. Too
friendly. I don’t want you to get involved with him.”

Loretta’s gaze hardened. “I’ve never wanted to get
involved with that creep! How can you say that? That was assault. I should call
the police right now.”

Haynes trained his piercing gaze on her. “I
wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’ll be a witness, and the only thing I’ll be
able to say is that it looked consensual to me.”

Loretta shot him a look of pure hatred.

“Quit coming on to him and you won’t have any
problems. You should have known better than to go up to his office with him.
This was your own fault.”

With those words, Frank Haynes sealed his fate.

***

Loretta clamped down on her raging
emotions as she drove to the bank and made the final deposit of the year for
Haynes Enterprises. By the time she picked up her children from the sitter and
pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex, her head was pounding.
This move to Westbury was supposed to be a fresh start for her, not a further
descent into hell.

“Mommy, are you okay?” Marissa asked.

“I’m not feeling well, honey.”

“When’s dinner? I’m starved,” Sean asked from the
backseat.

Loretta opened her mouth to deliver a short retort
and stopped herself. She looked in the rearview mirror at her children. She
loved these little guys, and she had made her mind up that things were going to
be different for them here. She was in possession of the means to make that happen.
Delgado and Haynes weren’t going to get away with abusing her and turning a
blind eye or, worse, making Delgado’s attempted rape her fault. She’d show
them.

“Let’s order pizza,” she replied. “It’s almost a
new year. We need to celebrate.”

“Really?” the older two chimed in unison. They
hadn’t had any pizza other than Loretta’s homemade version with sauce from a
jar and crust from a can since they had moved to Westbury.

“I know just the place,” Loretta said. “And we can
play board games and you can stay up an hour past your bedtime.” She was
suddenly feeling much better.

In the wee hours, long after the kids had gone to
bed, Loretta settled on her plan. She would put the evidence in the hands of
someone she could trust. She was new to Westbury and didn’t know many people.
She’d seen enough from Haynes’ secret spreadsheets to know that the former
mayor had been involved in fraud and embezzlement. Delgado and another person
named Isaac probably were too. It was impossible to know how widespread the corruption
was. If she put the evidence into the wrong hands, she was finished. She
shivered involuntarily.

The one person who couldn’t have been involved was
Mayor Maggie Martin. She hadn’t been in Westbury long enough. Paul had said
many derogatory things about his wife—she wondered now how true they had
been—but he always spoke of her scrupulous honesty and integrity. He even
mocked her sense of fairness and justice. What was it he called her? A goody two
shoes? When she put this evidence in the hands of the authorities, she would be
putting her safety and that of her children in their hands as well. If she were
going to trust anyone, it was going to be Maggie Martin.