Fat Fridays (31 page)

In the morning, Sukie gave Tiffany a key to the house, showed her the alarm system, then prepared for work. She believed Regard Wright when he told Tiffany they’d give her a week to calm down and figured the situation would remain fairly quiet for the next few days.

After a busy day at the library, Sukie returned home, excited by the prospect of spending time with Cam and Chloe. It had been two days since she’d seen them. She stopped at the mailbox and pulled out the usual stack of mail, leafing anxiously through it for hand-folded, ugly notes and breathed a sigh of relief when she found none. Still uneasy, Sukie glanced around, but saw nothing unusual. She slipped into her car, remembering the days when she’d felt safe in her own yard.

###

“S
ukie! Sukie!” Chloe shrieked, running toward her with outstretched arms. Sukie hugged Chloe to her and laughed when Cam wrapped his arms around both of them. She’d missed them terribly.

Chicken fingers and carrots were two of Chloe’s favorite things, which meant dinner was without the coaxing they sometimes needed to get her to eat.

After their meal, Sukie helped give Chloe a bath and then tucked her into bed. Sukie studied her sweet face ringed by damp curls. In just a few years, Chloe would be heading into the tween years and soon after would become a full-fledged teenager. The idea caught Sukie off guard. Elizabeth hadn’t been as difficult as some girls her age, but no teen girl was easy. Helping Chloe through those years would take a huge commitment on her part. Sukie kissed her goodnight and left Chloe and Cam alone to go through their nightly rituals.

Sitting at the bottom of the stairway, Sukie’s thoughts whirled. There were so many things to think about when considering her future. 

Cam came down the stairs and sat on the bottom step next to her. “God! It’s only been what? Two days? I’ve missed you.” His eyes sparkled with humor. “And your cooking.”

Sukie laughed. “Everyone loves my cooking. Even Ted.”

The smile left Cam’s face. “Sukie, I’ve heard rumors around town that things are not going well for Ted and Emmy Lou. He’d better not decide he’s made a huge mistake and come trotting back to you, asking your forgiveness.”

Sukie couldn’t hide her surprise. “Why would you think that? And, Cam, I could never go back to Ted Skidmore, no matter how much he threatens to take the house away from me.”

Cam frowned. “He’s threatening you? Maybe he’s the one sending those nasty notes. Don’t count that out. I’ve seen the looks he’s given you, seen his anger.”

A niggling thought entered Sukie’s mind. With her out of the picture, Ted would have the house free and clear and no alimony to pay. A shudder danced across her shoulders. No new notes had shown up lately, but maybe they’d been wrong about it being Lynn’s ex. The man she’d married was someone she didn’t know anymore.

Cam tilted Sukie’s chin and placed his warm, soft lips on hers. All worrisome thoughts evaporated as he told her how much he cared. Locked in his embrace, she thought of only him. 

L
ynn sat in her dark apartment in a complete funk. Seeing and hearing what Tiffany was going through had brought back many unhappy memories. Like Tiffany, she’d started out thinking she’d found the man she could happily live with for the rest of her life.

Caught up in the past, Lynn paced the living room. Maybe if Buck hadn’t been a long-distance truck driver, things might have been different. But he’d come back after being away for several days and had quizzed her—asking her who she’d seen, what she’d done in his absence and why she hadn’t answered the phone every time he’d called. That was how it had started.

Then he became suspicious of anyone she knew, claiming she was out to hurt him. He even refused to believe Misty, sweet, precious Misty, wasn’t the child of their next door neighbor back in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She’d tried to tell him there was nothing going on between her and Jack Spofford. In fact, Lynn had always suspected Jack was gay, but Buck wouldn’t listen to her or anyone else.

Lynn went into the kitchen and washed her hands, remembering how bloody they’d been when Buck had exploded one day and chased after her with a knife, threatening to kill her. She’d fought him with every bit of strength she’d had. Thank God neighbors had called the police when they’d heard her screams.

She dried her hands and headed back to the living room. Even with the hope the women in Fat Fridays tried to give her, she’d lived with being hunted down for so long she couldn’t believe she’d survive. Time was against her. She was sure he’d eventually find her. Those were the odds, pure and simple. 

She peered through the curtains in her bedroom to the darkness outside and wondered where that sick, brutal man was.

M
y life might as well be over.

Gasping for breath, Carol Ann hung up her office phone and gripped the edge of her desk, holding on as the room spun in sickening circles.

Staggering, she hurried to the ladies room and threw up. Washing up afterward, her stomach heaved in dry gulps at the thought of having to tell anyone what she’d just found out. She’d been such a stupid fool.

One of the girls in the office opened the door to the bathroom. “There you are, Carol Ann. Ed needs to see you in his office.”

Carol Ann patted wet cold paper towels against her face and braced herself for the meeting with her boss. She took another glance at herself in the mirror and tried to smile. She didn’t want anyone else to know about the disaster called her life. She needed time to sort things out. Telling herself to be brave, she took a deep breath and made her way to Ed’s office.

“Carol Ann! Come in!” Ed said, looking up from the papers on his desk. His smile became a frown. “Anything wrong?”

Carol Ann shook her head and burst into tears.

Ed rose from behind his desk and closed the door. “What’s going on? Anything you want to tell me?”

“No...yes...maybe...” Carol Ann dabbed at her eyes, willing them to stop flooding. It’s... I’ve been robbed,” she finally got out.

“What! Have you called security?” Ed sank down in his chair and gave her a worried look. “What happened? Can I do something for you?” Ed’s offer of help brought fresh tears to her eyes.

He handed Carol Ann a bunch of tissues. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.” His tone was gentle, threatening more tears.

Carol Ann drew a trembling breath. “I called the furniture company to verify delivery of my new furniture and found out my boyfriend had cancelled the order. I told the woman on the phone there must be some mistake. John had told me the arrangements were all set. He’d said we’d get a big discount for paying with cash.”

She took a shuddering breath. “The woman said, ‘Honey, that’s one of the oldest scams going. You’d better check out the story with your guy.’ I tried to call John but...but his cell number has been disconnected.” Carol Ann couldn’t stop tears from rolling down her cheeks. “Yesterday I gave him a check for $8,000.” Feeling sick all over again, she buried her face in her hands.

Ed’s voice broke through the haze that surrounded her. “Well, now, let’s see if we can stop payment on that check. Give me the name of the bank and the account number. Maybe we can catch the bastard.”

Carol Ann looked up, surprised at the anger in Ed’s voice, the way his nostrils flared. She gave him the information and sat back as he made the call, seeing him in a different light. She’d made fun of him with the ladies in the Fat Fridays group. Now, seeing him in action as he tried to help her, he seemed almost...well...nice looking. Nobody had ever fought for her like this.

Ed hung up the phone and shook his head. “Too late. The check has already been cashed. Anything else you need to worry about, Carol Ann?”

She let out a trembling sigh and the whole story came tumbling out. “I was so stupid. He didn’t want to date me exclusively. He wanted my money. Me and my big mouth. I told him on our first date that I had a lot of money saved up for a house. Then he went and stole it.” Her voice rose as it hit her all over again. “Do you know how long it took me to save up that much money?”

Ed’s expression grew grim. “Think now. What else might he have done? Where was the furniture to be delivered? Do you have any liability anywhere else?”

Carol Ann’s mind raced. “He wanted me to sign my name on the lease for the condo. Thank God I didn’t. He has no other information of mine that I know of.”

“You’d better call the bank to make sure you’re protected on all your credit cards and accounts. Do you have anything left in the condo? You should probably get it out of there.” He studied her a moment. “Give me a minute. I’ll cancel my meeting and we’ll go together.”

“I’ll meet you in the parking lot.” Carol Ann felt weak with relief she wouldn’t have to go to the condo alone. She left Ed, went to get her purse and quickly headed out the door before anyone could ask any questions.

Ed arrived in the parking lot a few moments later. “I’ll drive.” He led Carol Ann to a silver BMW.

As they drove into the condo complex, Carol Ann’s throat tightened. She’d had such high hopes of living there. Ed noticed her reaction and gave her an encouraging pat on the back.

They entered the condo, and Carol Ann steeled herself. Disappointment sank into her stomach heavy as a rock. She’d left a few items in the kitchen along with her CD player. Ed was right. She needed to remove any trace of her presence there. She suspected John had run off without paying the rent.

“Nice place,” Ed commented, walking into the living room. “Mind if I look around?”

Carol Ann shook her head and hurried into the kitchen and grabbed a box. Glasses, a few plates, dish towels, silverware and other items were still where she’d left them. She quickly gathered them up and looked for her CD player.

She climbed the stairs, hating the emptiness of the condo. It matched the emptiness inside her.

The master bedroom was cleared of any signs that a man named John had lived there. No air mattress, no television, no clothes in the closet. No CD player of hers!

Carol Ann sank to the floor and let the tears flow. He’d taken it, along with her money, her pride, her dreams, her hopes.

S
ukie was immersed in budget details for the summer children’s program when she received a call from Tiffany. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Tiffany said, “but Carol Ann is in Ed Pritchard’s office, crying. But the real reason I called was to tell you I won’t be home for dinner. I’m going to get my hair cut. This long hair is too hot and hard to deal with now that I’m getting big with the baby. I don’t have to please Beau anymore, so I can do what I want with it.”

Sukie hung up, amused. She’d always thought at this stage of her life she’d be slowing down and living a simpler life, but she seemed to be going backwards—dating a younger man, mothering his three-year-old daughter and sharing a house with a woman her daughter’s age. 

After work, Sukie went to see baby Jonathan. She tried to stop by every day or so to see him. Holding him in her arms, she reveled at how much he looked like his father. A deep love stirred inside her as she caressed his soft cheeks. Babies always reminded her of possibilities.

In her arms, the baby stared at her, his dark eyes studying her seriously. She smiled, certain he knew who she was. She kissed his soft, precious cheek.

After leaving Rob’s house, Sukie drove home. As she entered her driveway, Betsy pulled up behind her, got out of the car and came right over to her. “Can we talk?”

Noting the concern on Betsy’s face, Sukie said, “Sure. Come on in.”

They sat outside on the patio in the shade, sipping cold sweet tea. A light breeze danced playfully around them and cooled their bodies, but its playfulness couldn’t erase Sukie’s worry.

“What’s going on, Betsy?”

Betsy cleared her throat. “I wanted to tell you myself. Karen is going to move in with me as soon as she can get out of her lease. There’s no point in trying to deal with Sarah. She’s still refusing to let me come to their house. Richie has finally agreed to bring the children to the park on Sunday afternoon. That’s the only way I’m going to see them.” Her voice grew shaky with emotion. “It’s like having visitation rights, for God’s sake. To think of all the weekends Sarah and Richie dumped the kids off so they could go away for a couple of days!”

Sukie studied her friend. Dark shadows colored the skin under Betsy’s eyes. Lines of worry etched her face.

“Will it make things worse to have Karen move in with you?” Sukie wished life wasn’t so difficult.

Betsy shrugged. “Richie has inherited some of his father’s basic fairness, but I can’t predict what Sarah will do. I figure there’s no reason to wait until everyone is used to the idea. That might never happen.”

Knowing Sarah as she did, Sukie doubted the two of them would ever come to an agreement.

“Something else,” said Betsy. “Carol Ann was crying in Ed Pritchard’s office this morning and I haven’t seen her all day.”

“Tiffany mentioned it, too. Maybe we’d better call her to make sure she’s all right.” Sukie punched in Carol Ann’s cell number.

Carol Ann answered on the first ring. “Oh, Sukie!” she wailed. “It’s awful! John took the money I gave him for furniture and skipped town.” 

“What? How did that happen?” Sukie couldn’t believe that after all the warnings the women in Fat Fridays had given her, Carol Ann would just hand John money.

“I know what you’re thinking, but John told me a friend of his was picking up the furniture to save shipping costs. He said we’d get a deep discount for paying with cash. It seemed like a good deal, so I gave him a check.” Carol Ann’s words grew shaky.

A sick feeling crawled through Sukie. “Is all your money gone?”

“Most of it.” Carol Ann sniffled loudly.

“Oh, no! Can you stop payment on the check?”

“Ed Pritchard made a call to the bank, but it was too late. The jerk had already cashed it.”

Sukie’s heart sank. She knew what that money represented to Carol Ann. “How much did you lose?”