Fat Fridays (33 page)

Later, Elizabeth returned to the house and joined Sukie in the den. Sitting on the arm of the chair, she gave Sukie a look of regret. “I’ve got to head for the airport soon.”

Sukie squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “So? How did it go with your father? No more trouble with your tuition, I hope.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No, but, Mom? I don’t think this thing with Dad and Emmy Lou is going to work out. All she wants from him is his money. You should hear the way she talks to him.”

Sukie pressed her lips together. “He’ll have to work things out for himself, Elizabeth.”

“I know, but at least he’s not married to her. I could never think of her as my step-mother. Gawd!”

“And Cam?” Sukie held her breath.

Elizabeth paused. “There’s no doubt he loves you, Mom. That’s so important to me. I saw how Dad sometimes treated you. I’m going to try to get used to the idea of you being with him. And, like you said, Chloe is adorable.”

Sukie let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Elizabeth.  I needed to hear that.”

“Sure,” Elizabeth replied, looking pleased. “I hope one day some man looks at me the way Cam looks at you. I just don’t want you to get hurt, Mom. You deserve something better than that.” She checked her watch. “I’d better go.”

Sukie rose. They walked arm in arm out to Elizabeth’s rental car. “I haven’t had a chance to ask, but how did your finals go?”

“I got an A and three Bs,” Elizabeth said, proudly.

“That’s my girl,” Sukie said, giving her a squeeze.

They hugged goodbye, then Sukie stood in the driveway, watching her daughter leave. She loved her so much. Her thoughts turned to Tiffany. It was sad, really, that she’d never known such love.

H
olding her bank savings book in her hands, Carol Ann stared at the dismal numbers, feeling wretched. Why hadn’t she seen what kind of man John really was? she wondered. All he’d ever want to talk about was money—how much she had and what
he
wanted to do with it.

Carol Ann paced in her bedroom, too restless to sit still while her whole life had unraveled. Her thoughts flew to the women in Fat Fridays. They hadn’t said much about her being such a fool, but they didn’t have to. She knew how stupid she’d been, all because of a handsome man who’d talked big. They’d warned her about John, but no, she’d been too stubborn to listen. They’d also tried to tell her Ed Pritchard was a really nice guy.

Who knew when she went to him with her troubles, she’d end up sobbing in his arms? And when she’d broken down at the condo, he’d pulled her up into his arms and held her. At the memory, she let out a sigh. She couldn’t forget how it felt when his strong arms came around her or how solid his chest was when she’d leaned against it or forget his sweet murmurs of encouragement. No one had ever made her feel so cared for, so protected.

Even now, remembering it, thinking how their lips had met, sending messages neither of them could say aloud, there was a tugging inside her body. It was the best kiss she’d ever had. How could she have been so stupid about men? She’d gone for a jerk when a really good guy was right before her.

Carol Ann grabbed the keys to her car off the top of her bureau and picked up her purse. She’d promised to meet Ed for Sunday brunch to discuss ideas about how she could strike out on her own. Thinking of him again, Carol Ann decided the wispy hair on top of his head was kinda cute. Or maybe it was the way Ed’s bright blue eyes lit up at the sight of her that filled her with an unexpected joy. God! He made her feel positively beautiful. 

In such a short time, Carol Ann thought, he’d become someone who could one day be everything she’d ever dreamed of in a man. Well, almost. Maybe...more.

S
ukie arrived at the library, grateful no presentations were required from her for the Friends meeting. Her replacement would be taking over that task in just a few weeks.

Julie waved at her from behind the circulation desk. Lifting her hand, Sukie waved back and headed for her desk, hoping to take some personal time for an online course on Excel.

“Wait, Sukie! I have something to tell you.” Julie crossed the room toward her as Edythe Aynsley entered the building.

Edythe gave Sukie a disapproving look and turned to Julie. “You and I were to meet promptly at nine. Your conversation with Sukie will have to wait.”

Julie’s face turned an ugly red. “I need to talk to her. I’m hoping Sukie will be willing to overlook your interference and help train her replacement for as long as she can.”

“Well?” Edythe said, turning to Sukie.

Tired of Edythe’s interference and her narrow thinking, Sukie’s nostrils flared.  “I would be happy to do that for you, Julie, but I am not going to deal with Edythe during this transition period. I hope that’s clear.”

Gasping like a goldfish whose bowl has just been shattered, Edythe stared at Sukie wide-eyed.

Sukie turned and walked away. She didn’t care what a spiteful woman like Edythe Aynsley thought of her. She may have lost her job because of the woman, but she hadn’t lost her sense of self.

Sukie spent most of the day writing up instructions for the young woman who’d replace her. Regardless of how she felt about Edythe, she wanted to leave the position well documented. She’d just finished the last report when Tiffany called.

“Sukie? After work, meet me at Betsy’s. We’ve got a lot to celebrate!”

At the enthusiasm in Tiffany’s voice, Sukie grinned. “What’s happening?”

“I’ve made an agreement with Beau to try living on my own. Carol Ann has some big news, too.”

“Who’s bringing the champagne?” Sukie joked.

Tiffany laughed. “I will, even though I can’t have more than a taste.”

“Deal. I’m on my way.”

Sukie drove to Betsy’s, full of excitement. The luck of the ladies in the Fat Fridays Club appeared to be changing.

Betsy greeted her at the door with a smile. “Sukie! Come on in!” She led Sukie out to the porch where Carol Ann and Karen were deep in conversation. 

When Carol Ann saw her, she jumped up. “Oh, Sukie! You’re here!” Her eyes shining, she rushed over to her. “I think I’ve found the man of my dreams! And it wouldn’t have happened without you.”

“Somebody new?”

Carol Ann grinned at Betsy. “Should I tell her?”

Amused, Sukie waited, knowing full well Carol Ann wasn’t about to keep it to herself for long.

“It’s Ed! Ed Pritchard. He was so nice about helping me out with the stolen check that when he asked if I’d go out with him on Saturday, I said yes.” A pink tinge crept to Carol Ann’s ears. “He’s a real good...um...kisser. And that’s not all. We met for brunch on Sunday. He thinks he can find a small house for me through a government program for first-time homebuyers. Isn’t he the best?”

“It sure sounds that way.” Sukie gave Carol Ann a hug. “Congratulations!” 

Tiffany and Lynn arrived together and joined them on the sunporch.

Tiffany held up a large green bottle. “I’ve got some chilled bubbly.” She handed the bottle to Betsy and turned to the group with a smile. “I can’t believe it! Everything is turning out so good for all of us!”

Betsy brought out six tulip glasses on a tray and set it down on the table. They gathered around the table and watched as Lynn helped Tiffany open the bottle. At the pop of the cork, they cheered.

Tiffany poured a little champagne into each glass but her own. Raising her empty glass, she said, “Beau has finally agreed to hold off on taking any legal action against me until I’ve had a chance to live on my own for three months. His parents were mad as hell at him for agreeing to this, but for once, he stood up to them. We’ve even begun talking about getting help for him.”

“We’ll drink a toast to that!” said Betsy.

“Here! Here!” Sukie cried. She clinked glasses with Tiffany, realizing what a major step this was for Beau. “Did you get the agreement in writing?”

Tiffany shook her head. “I know he’ll follow through on this. He made it a point to tell me.”

“You make sure he doesn’t strike out at you again,” warned Lynn. “Sometimes things happen when you least expect it.”

Sukie nodded. Life delivered one surprise after another. A little less than a year ago, she’d thought she was happily married.

###

T
he next morning, Sukie dressed and ambled out to the front porch for the morning paper. Sleepily, she bent over to pick it up and froze. A neatly folded note lay on top of the paper. Heart pounding, she scooped it up and opened it.

“
IT’S OVER, BITCH!”

The bold typed letters wavered in front of Sukie’s eyes. She clutched the sheet of paper so hard it crumpled in her hand. Shaking, she scanned the area but couldn’t see anyone. Shivers, like an army of a thousand ants, marched up and down her back.  Someone had been standing in her yard in the early morning light while she’d stirred sleepily in her bed, thinking happy thoughts about a future with Cam. Her stomach clenched. She hurried inside. It was time to bring everyone back into the nightmare.

The first person she called was Lynn. No answer.

Then she called Betsy. “Another note has arrived. I couldn’t get hold of Lynn but I’ll try again. Come to my house right after work and ask the others to come with you. It’s not over, not even if the person who wrote it thinks so.”

“Omigod! What did it say?” Betsy asked.

Sukie told her. “It could be meant for any of us. Not just Lynn. That’s why it’s important for us to meet.”

“I agree,” said Betsy. “It’s time for us to make a plan.” She hung up without any of her usual joking.

Sukie called Bill Michaels and told him about the latest note. He promised they’d double the swing-by operation he’d set up. Though Sukie was glad for his help, it did little to quell her nerves. Someone, she couldn’t guess who, was out to hurt her or her friends.

The evening was unusually dark when the women arrived shortly before six. A storm system had brought much-needed rain to the area most of the day. It was a solemn group as they shook out umbrellas and placed them on Sukie’s porch. Sukie ushered them into the living room.

The note lay in the middle of the coffee table like a lit stick of dynamite.

“This is very serious,” said Betsy, picking it up and reading it. “Like you said, Sukie, it could be for any of us.” She turned to Carol Ann. “Do you think John would do this to you? You know, get back at you for not playing along with him? Reporting him to the police?”

Carol Ann’s jaw dropped. “Me? What about you and Sarah?”

Betsy let out a trembling sigh. “Sarah is so upset with me right now I think she’s capable of most anything. Look what happened at the school. She wanted me arrested by the FBI, for God’s sake.”

Sukie couldn’t remain quiet. She’d thought about it all day. “I ran into Ted at Bea’s the other night and had words with him. After he left our table, Cam warned me to go easy, that Ted is very, very angry. Cam’s heard things are not going well between Ted and Emmy Lou. Elizabeth isn’t sure the relationship will even last. If looks could kill, I’d be dead right now. Think of what he’d gain with me out of the way—the house, no alimony payments...”

“Maybe it’s Beau,” said Tiffany, cutting in. “Sukie’s seen first-hand what he’s capable of doing. He’s hit me, and those awful words scrawled on the nursery walls...”

“Each of us has a reason to be the one,” said Carol Ann, whitefaced. “I was supposed to give John all my money. Thank God, I didn’t, but maybe he really does want to get back at me.” 

“I’ve made a decision,” said Lynn, speaking up. “Tonight I’ll contact a safe house and leave town. I won’t allow any of you to get hurt because of me.”

“But, Lynn,” Sukie said. “We don’t know for sure you’re the one who is being targeted. The notes keep coming to my house. Maybe I’m the one someone’s after.”

“No. Don’t you see? If my ex left me those notes at my apartment, then I’d know for sure he was after me again. This way, I can’t go to the police with anything definite. It keeps me on edge. That’s how his sick mind works. No, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Sukie could tell from the set of Lynn’s jaw and the tears in her eyes, how determined she was. “Let’s talk about it with a glass of wine and some refreshments.”

“I’m leaving and there will be no discussion about it.” Lynn turned to Betsy. “I’ll let you handle my departure at the office, explain what my life is like.”

At the thought of losing Lynn, Sukie’s eyes grew misty. A quiet, no nonsense kind of person, Lynn was a stable part of their group.

She went into the kitchen for refreshments and returned to the living room. “We’ll at least send Lynn off with some good memories. And, Lynn, we expect to see you again. We’ll put an end to this.”

A range of emotions crossed Lynn’s face, telling of her sorrow and shame. “No matter what happens, I’ll always remember our time together and how wonderful you all have been to me.”

They were an unusually somber group as they sipped their wine and nibbled on treats. Sukie was sure the others, like she, were thinking of Lynn’s strength through the years. 

“I’d better go,” said Betsy, rising. “Karen will be calling me. She’s at an out-of-town meeting.” She embraced Lynn one more time. “Think this over, Lynn. Don’t be so anxious to leave. I think you’re safer here than anywhere else.”

Sukie walked Betsy to the front of the house, switched on the porch light and opened the door. 

“Okay, Bitch!” a voice cried out from across the lawn. “It’s over. No more running.”

The menacing figure of a man loomed in the dark.

Sukie froze in the doorway, feeling as if she were trapped in a scene from a violent television show. Light glinted off the barrel of a gun in his hand.

Sukie blocked the entrance to the house as best she could. “Stay back,” she warned the women behind her. “He’s got a gun.”

“You! Get away from the door! Now!” the intruder barked.

Sukie’s mouth went dry.

From behind Sukie, someone charged with a roar, shoving her aside. She tumbled to the front porch stoop with a yelp. A light flashed in front of her eyes as her head hit the brick. Dazed, Sukie heard the deafening report of a gun and a cry of pain.