Drawing Close: The Fourth Novel in the Rosemont Series (15 page)

Chapter 32

Susan Martin stared at the text
message on her phone:

Can’t go Westbury with you on 1st. Can’t b away
that long. You go. I’ll come on 3rd. Explain later.

He could explain it right now. She punched his
number into her phone and waited. Dr. Aaron Scanlon answered just before the
call would have gone to voice mail. “I’m in the middle of something,” he said
in hushed tones. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”

“No. You promised me you’d make this trip. You’ve
taken your boards and your vacation was approved. And it’s your brother’s
surprise birthday party. You have no excuse.”

“I know, sweetheart,” he said. “I’ll make it for
the party. I’ve been offered the opportunity to assist a surgeon who’s visiting
here from Johns Hopkins. He’s demonstrating some cutting-edge techniques that
I’m very anxious to learn. This will be my only chance because nobody on the West
Coast does this procedure.”

“There’s always going to be something like this,
isn’t there? Every time we plan something, I’m not going to be able to count on
you.”

“That’s not fair, Susan. I’m only asking for a few
days. You can go to Westbury as planned and spend time with your mother. It’s
not like I’m abandoning you where you don’t know anybody. Why are you making
such a big deal out of this?”

“Because I haven’t spent any quality time with you
for weeks.” She struggled to hold back tears. “I was counting on this time to
reconnect with you.”

“I’ll be out on the third, and we’ll have three
days together. I’ll get the first flight out in the morning. How would that
be?”

Susan remained silent.

“I’ve accepted this invitation, and it would look
very bad if I now declined,” Aaron said.

“All right. I guess it doesn’t matter what I say.
Next time, please consider my feelings and ask me.”

“I’ll do that. I’m sorry that I’ve upset you. And
I’ll be there on the third in time to take you to lunch, I promise you that. I
want to be at Alex’s party, but I’m more excited to spend time with you.”

***

“The girls, too?” Maggie asked.
“Aren’t they just about to start school?”

“School begins the week after we get back.” Susan
sighed heavily.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“I’m bringing the girls with me on the spur of the
moment because Aaron signed up for some surgical thing and isn’t coming out
until the third. Since you and John will be working and the girls have been
nagging Mike and Amy to get back to Westbury to see their friend Marissa Nash,
I decided to bring them with me. Mike had airlines miles, so he booked their
tickets.”

“That was nice of you. And I’m thrilled that I’ll
get to see them. So why do you sound so down?”

“I’m disappointed about Aaron. I gave him lots of
leeway while he was studying for boards and I was so excited about this trip
together. Then he accepted an offer to assist this prominent surgeon from Johns
Hopkins with a surgical demonstration. He’d rather do that than spend time with
me,” she concluded glumly.

“I understand how you feel, believe me, I do. I
spent years feeling let down because something I was looking forward to got
canceled because of your father’s schedule. But to be fair to Aaron, this
sounds like a big deal for him.”

“It is, I guess.”

“And he’s still coming, just two days later. I
think your idea to bring the twins to Westbury is brilliant. We’ll have fun.
After all, when was the last time you spent two full days with them?”

“If you look at it that way, you’re right. And he
promised he’d be here by lunch on the third, so everything should work out
fine. You always make me feel better, Mom.”

Chapter 33

Maggie Martin and Gordon Mortimer
stepped out of the back exit of the Ferndale bank shortly after two o’clock.
The armored car that would be transporting Maggie’s treasure trove of silver to
New York for redeployment to London had just pulled out of the parking lot.

“I should be getting back to Westbury,” Maggie
said. “I didn’t think it would take so long to pack and load this. I thought
that Sotheby’s would take their own photos for the sale catalog.”

“They will, madam,” Mortimer said. “I always take
my own for insurance purposes. One can’t be too careful, you know.” He arched
his brow as he looked at her. “We just loaded well over a million dollars’
worth of silver onto that truck.”

“You’re right. Thank you, Gordon,” she said, realizing
she’d ruffled his feathers. “Do you want to get started tonight on the silver
that’s still at Rosemont?”

He shook his head. “I’d like to begin first thing
in the morning. The light will be better for photographs. It’s hard to use a
flash with silver. I think I can be done by noon. I’ll take the silver to the
post office to ship to New York in the afternoon.”

“Is it safe to send that way?”

Gordon Mortimer bristled. “Of course it is, madam,
or I wouldn’t be doing it. The silver that you kept at Rosemont wasn’t nearly
as valuable as the items here in the bank’s vaults. Everything will be fully
insured. And I’ll have my photos, of course.”

Maggie nodded. “Will you look at the furniture in
the attic while you’re there? We’ve added a painting to the lot, too.”

“I’ll have to do it another time. I’m planning to
leave as soon as I deposit the silver at the post office.”

“That’ll be fine,” Maggie said in a conciliatory
tone as she slid into the driver’s seat of her car. “Whenever you get a
chance.” She rolled down her window and called to him as he headed to his car.
“Are you staying in Westbury tonight?”

Gordon Mortimer nodded.

“Then come have dinner with my husband and me at
Rosemont. We’d love to have you,” she heard herself say cheerily.

“I’d be delighted, madam,” he replied.

“Seven o’clock,” Maggie called, wondering what in
the world she had in her refrigerator to feed him, and why she’d invited a
dinner guest the night before Susan and the twins were to arrive. She needed to
learn to keep her mouth shut.

***

Gordon Mortimer rang the doorbell
of Rosemont precisely at seven o’clock. John Allen opened the door and welcomed
him inside. Truth be told, he’d had a hard day at the animal hospital and
wanted nothing more than to take his wife out for a bite to eat and fall asleep
in his chair in front of the television. But this was important to her, so he’d
be a good sport and make the best of it.

Gordon Mortimer handed John a very nice bottle of
cabernet. Where in the world had the man found a bottle like this in Westbury?
John wondered.

As if reading his mind, Mortimer said, “The Mill
has quite a nice collection of wines. That’s one of my personal favorites. I
was very pleased that they had a bottle on hand.”

“I’ll open it now to let it breath before dinner,”
John said. “Are you staying at The Mill?”

“I am. I discovered it on my first visit to
Westbury and find it quite acceptable.”

John nodded. He was sure that The Mill’s owners
would hate that it was being described as “quite acceptable.”

Maggie emerged from the kitchen with a tray of
cheeses, grapes, olives, and crackers. She placed it on the coffee table in
front of the living-room fireplace and greeted their guest in the library.

“I’m so glad you could join us,” Maggie said,
extending her hand. “I see you need something to drink.”

“Look at the wine he brought us,” John said,
pointing to the bottle. “We’ll have it with dinner. In the meantime, I’ve
opened a pinot. Would you like some?” he asked their guest.

“Yes, thank you,” he replied as John poured three
glasses.

“Let’s go into the living room to enjoy this,”
Maggie said, leading the way. “I’ve got some nibbles in there.” She ushered Mortimer
to a chair opposite the fireplace and pointed to the tray on the coffee table.

He was almost seated when he jumped to his feet as
a small gray-and-white cat that Maggie recognized as Buttercup screeched in
protest and darted off the chair and up the stairs. “Good heavens!” he said,
clutching his chest. “Is that the cat that created such a ruckus when I was
here last time? I think she’s got it in for me. Cats don’t like me, and I’m not
fond of them.”

Maggie suppressed a laugh and avoided looking at
John, who was also politely holding back. “It was Bubbles, last time,” she
said.

“How many cats do you have?”

“Three cats and two dogs,” John interjected.
“We’re animal lovers. I’m a veterinarian, after all.”

“Ahhh …” Mortimer cleared his throat and turned to
the tray on the coffee table. He placed a slice of white cheddar on a cracker
and had it halfway to his mouth when he noticed the painting over the mantel.
“Is that new?” he asked, returning the cracker to the napkin on his lap.

“Yes,” John replied. “We just hung it a few days
ago. We got it on our honeymoon in Cornwall.”

Mortimer nodded. “Yes. I would have guessed that
it was Cornwall. It looks very much like it belongs to the Newlyn School.” He
sat, absorbed in the painting. “Do you mind if I have a closer look?”

“By all means,” Maggie said, arching her eyebrows
at John.

Gordon Mortimer set his wineglass on the coffee
table and approached the painting, scrutinizing it in silence.

Maggie finally broke into his thoughts. “What do
you think of it? We’re not art collectors or anything. We just loved it and
wanted to bring it home to remind us of our honeymoon.”

Mortimer chose his words carefully. “You have very
fine eyes,” he said to them both. “It’s unfinished, of course. I assume you
knew that?” he asked. “Good,” he said when they nodded. “That’s why it’s
unsigned. But it’s lovely.”

“Are you familiar with the Newlyn School?” Maggie
asked.

“I am, madam. Painting done at the turn of the
twentieth century in both the United States and the United Kingdom are a real
interest of mine. I’ve collected both professionally and personally.”

Maggie screwed up her courage and asked, “Do you
have any idea whose work this is?”

He paused, contemplating the painting, then turned
to her. “I feel certain it was done by either Elizabeth Forbes or Dame Laura
Knight. If this were finished and signed, it would be worth a very tidy sum.”

“That’s what the dealer we bought it from thought,
too.”

“I’m assuming you’ve insured this?” Mortimer asked,
slipping back into his official capacity.

“Yes. For what we paid for it,” Maggie replied,
supplying the amount.

Mortimer raised an eyebrow. “Might I suggest you
double the insurance?”

***

“He’s a very interesting guy,” John
said as they were getting ready for bed.

“It was a fun evening, wasn’t it?” Maggie asked.
“I was afraid you’d want to kill me when I left the message that I’d invited
him to dinner. I know you work so hard during the day and you need your
evenings to relax and decompress. Did you enjoy him?”

“I did. I wasn’t looking forward to being ‘on’
tonight, but it was fun. Plus the dinner you cooked was wonderful.”

“Pricey steaks and twice baked potatoes are always
a hit. The wine he brought was fabulous. We should get some to have on hand.”

“Not if you knew the price. That’s at least one
fifty a bottle.”

“No kidding? That was nice of him.”

John pulled back the covers, and they slid into
bed. Maggie wriggled into this arms. “Nice to hear him confirm what that dealer
told us about our painting. And I’m thrilled he’s giving us an appraisal for
double what we paid for it. We’re savvy art collectors and we didn’t even know
it.”

“Don’t get too carried away with yourself, Mrs.
Allen. We just got lucky. Honeymoon luck.” He began to trace her jaw line with
kisses. “How about we relive some of that honeymoon now?”

“Don’t you have to be up at the crack of dawn?”

John slid his hands to her waist. “No surgery
tomorrow morning. I get to sleep in until at least six thirty. Mortimer won’t
be here until eight to pack up the remaining silver. So we’ve got plenty of
time; the night is still young.”

“In that case, Dr. Allen,” Maggie breathed in his
ear, “you’re on.”

Chapter 34

“Gramma!” Sophie cried as Susan
ushered her nieces into the mayor’s office. Maggie came around the side of her
desk and scooped the girls into a hug.

“Look how much you’ve grown!” she cried. “You’ll
be taller than me, soon.” She held them close. “You’re early. I didn’t expect
you for another half hour.” She looked up at Susan. “Good flight?”

“A bit bumpy, with tailwinds. But those winds
pushed us here, and we landed ahead of schedule. The rental car was ready and
waiting, and there was almost no traffic.” Susan leaned in and hugged her
mother.

“Is this where you work, Gramma?” Sarah asked,
surveying the large office awash in sunshine from the large windows on either
side. “Why do you have a dining room table?”

Maggie smiled. “That’s a conference table. I have
meetings in here sometimes and I need a table that’s big enough for a group.”

“You must be important,” Sophie said, turning in a
circle to look at the room.

“Your grandmother is very important,” Susan
interjected. “She’s the mayor of Westbury. That means she runs this town. Do
you know what an election is?”

Both girls nodded in unison.

“Gramma was elected mayor by the people of
Westbury.”

The twins turned solemn eyes to their grandmother.
“Wow,” Sarah whispered.

Susan beamed at her mother. “You two need to know
how special she is.”

Maggie flushed. “That’s enough of that. I’ve got a
job and I do it, just like everybody else. Which reminds me,” she said, looking
at her watch, “I’ve got a meeting upstairs in five minutes. Why don’t you go to
Rosemont and get settled in? This won’t be a long meeting. I should be home in
an hour and a half. Roman and Eve are waiting for you.”

“What about the cats?” Sarah asked.

“Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup will hide at
first. Don’t chase them—let them come to you.” Maggie turned to Susan.
“John arranged his schedule so he’ll be done early today. He’ll pick up a pizza
on his way home.” She kissed them each, then escorted them to the elevator.
“See you soon.”

***

“They’re a handful, aren’t they?”
Maggie said later that night as the three adults sat on the veranda after the
girls finally went to bed. Eve and Roman lay passed out at John’s feet and the
cats were nowhere to be seen.

John chuckled. “By the looks of these two,” he
said, gesturing to the dogs, “I’d say they got quite a workout today.”

“The twins chased them up and down this back lawn
all afternoon,” Susan said. “After being cooped up on an airplane all day, I
thought the exercise would be good for them. Was it too much for these two?”
She pointed to the furry creatures at his feet.

He shook his head. “They’re fine. I’m sure they
loved it.”

“What do you have planned for the next few days
until Aaron comes? I’ve scheduled a vacation day on the fifth to spend with the
girls. I’ll take them to the mall to get new outfits for the first day of
school.”

“I loved how you always did that with me.” Susan
smiled at her mother. “It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so we’ll go to a pottery
painting place. We’ve invited Marissa Nash to join us.”

Maggie’s head came up sharply, but she remained
silent.

“I talked to Loretta last night. Apparently things
are touch and go with that sweet little Nicole. If she’s well enough, we’ll
take her with us. I invited Sean, but he’s not into that ‘girly stuff.’”

John glanced at Maggie. “That’s nice of you,
Susan.”

“Loretta’s invited the girls to spend the night of
the surprise party at her apartment. So we don’t have to take them with us,”
Susan continued. Maggie opened her mouth to protest. “I know you had crafts
planned to take with us to keep them occupied, Mom, but they’ll be happier with
Marissa. And we won’t have to keep track of them.”

“You’re right,” John jumped in. “The twins will
love that.”

“It’s all set, then,” Maggie said, rising stiffly.
“I’ve got an early meeting, so I’m heading to bed.”

“I’m beat, too,” Susan said. “Coming with you.”

Mother and daughter climbed the stairs in
companionable silence. “Let’s check on the girls,” they said in unison at the
top of the stairs.

They quietly opened the door to the guest room
that Sarah and Sophie referred to as “our room.” The girls were huddled
together in the king-sized bed, bracketed by the trio of cats. All were in a
deep sleep. Maggie gently closed the door and hugged her daughter tight before
they set off for their own beds.

***

Loretta Nash took a deep breath to
calm her nerves.

“Come on, Mom, they’re here!” Marissa cried.

Loretta opened the door to her apartment. Marissa
brushed past her mother to greet her friends and pulled them into the
apartment. “Let me show you my room.”

Loretta stood in the doorway, looking at Susan. It
was uncanny how like her father she was in the set of her jaw and her expansive
smile, even though her remarkable eyes were definitely Maggie’s.

Susan smiled. “How are you, Loretta?”

Loretta quickly stepped aside. “Come in, please.
I’m fine. How was your trip?”

“Uneventful. The girls are so excited to spend
time with Marissa. How’s Nicole? Will she be joining us?”

“I want to talk to you about that. She’s feeling
better today, and she’d like to go.”

“Great. Then it’s all set.”

Loretta hesitated. “That’s not all of it. Her
condition is delicate. Nicole is back on dialysis and may need a transplant.”

“I’m so sorry, Loretta,” Susan said, reaching out
to squeeze her hand.

“She needs to be tested before she can be placed
on the waiting list, and then we wait for a donor. In the meantime, we’ll
continue to monitor Nicole very carefully. She can’t get overly tired, and she
can’t be exposed to anyone who is sick. So I’m very hesitant to take her out in
public.”

“I understand completely,” Susan said. “I’ll keep
a very close eye on her and call you the minute she doesn’t feel well. The
pottery place shouldn’t be busy during the week, and if anyone there is sick,
we’ll leave immediately. I won’t take any risks. And you can call me to check
on her.” She looked into Loretta’s eyes. “This must be so hard on you.”

Loretta turned aside and nodded. “I think she
needs some fun in her life, too. She’s borne so much pain without complaint.
And she’s so excited to go with you.”

“Then it’s all set. We’ll be on our way, and I’ll
drop them off here when you get home from work.”

***

Susan commandeered a table for two
by the large plate-glass window of the pottery shop and set up the paints and
supplies that she and Nicole Nash selected for their projects. Susan was
working on a jewelry tray that she thought would go perfectly in her mother’s bedroom,
and Nicole selected a ceramic teddy bear. “For my Susan,” she said.

Susan gave her a quizzical glance. “Who is your
Susan?”

Nicole pointed to her beloved doll, propped onto a
chair at the end of their work table. “Her name is Susan. Like you.”

“Ahhh … that’s nice. I didn’t know we had the same
name.”

“Nicole named her after you,” Sarah supplied from
the next table over, where the three girls were hard at work on their projects.

Susan swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m sure
your Susan will love this teddy bear. If you need any help, you let me know.”

Nicole tackled her project with patience and
restraint rarely seen in a four-year-old. While the three older girls chattered
away at the next table, Susan and Nicole worked in companionable silence. When
it came time to fill in the eyes and nose on the bear, she held out her
paintbrush to Susan. “You do,” she commanded.

“That looks tricky,” Susan agreed. “You’ve done a
perfect job,” she said as she supplied the requested details. They both leaned
back to admire the completed bear. “We’ll leave him here to be fired. That’ll
make him shiny and the colors won’t rub off. They’ll call my mom when they’re
ready to be picked up, and she’ll bring them to you. Would that be okay?”

Nicole nodded.

Susan ruffled the little girl’s hair. If she’d had
a sister, she’d want her to be just like this little girl.