Nancy Herkness (20 page)

“You’re jerking me around,” Peter said, but he sat.

“Maybe. Have some coffee.” Jack took a swallow of water. “Here’s the deal: I’m having an attack of altruism myself. I want to sell to your consortium, but you’ve got to sweeten the offer, and I need one guarantee.”

“What’s the guarantee?” Peter sipped the coffee.

“That your private investor is not Curt Vandermade.”

“I can guarantee that.”

“Good.”

“And I’m prepared to go slightly higher in price.”

“As they say in Georgia, now you’re fryin’ hog guts in moonshine,” Jack said, with a grin and a drawl thicker than molasses.

The bio-astronomer looked pained. “I grew up in Georgia too, and I’ve never heard that particular expression before.”

“You must have kept better company than I did.”

He punched a speed dial number into his cell phone. “Hey, amigo, I just sold Sahara-Mars to the good guys.”

“I never doubted you would,” Miguel said. “That’s why I told you to put the ‘gift to science’ clause in the contract with Sotheby’s.”

“If you’re so smart, why did we sign the contract with Sotheby’s in the first place?”

“To drive up the price, of course. If those scientists knew what a soft touch you are, we’d have gotten nothing for our treasure. By the way, what are we getting?”

Jack named the sum, and Miguel whistled.

“You got your pound of flesh, amigo.”

Charlie watched Don McGraw and Sallyanne checking math problems at the table on the back porch, their matching blond heads nearly touching as they bent to their work. How could anyone decide they didn’t belong together?

Don had arrived after school with a small bouquet of daisies for her and a chocolate lollipop in the shape of a butterfly for Sallyanne. He immediately sat down with his daughter to supervise her homework, accepting only a glass of milk and a cookie. Now their voices wafted in through the open French doors, and Charlie noticed Sallyanne’s accent deepened when she was with her father.

Even their voices went together.

They closed the books and stowed them in Sallyanne’s backpack. “Charlie,” Sallyanne said, coming to the door. “I’m finished with my homework. Papa wants to know if we can all three take a walk on the beach?”

“Sure,” Charlie said, slipping into the beach sandals she kept by the door. Major raised his head hopefully, but she didn’t want any distractions from her observation of Don, so she gave him the stay signal. He dropped his head back to the rug with a disgusted erf.

Don carried in the dishes and carefully loaded them into the dishwasher. When Charlie smiled her thanks, he looked gratified.

It was a glorious day to walk on the beach. As they strolled toward the sea, gulls easily rode a surprisingly gentle breeze, hovering almost at eye-level over the water of the channel. When Sallyanne took Charlie’s hand and swung it jauntily between them, her day was complete.

She almost didn’t notice Sallyanne was holding Don’s hand as well.

Twenty

Sallyanne let go of their hands to run ahead, scanning the sand for seashells.

“I saw you on television last night,” Don said. “You looked real pretty.”

“Thank you,” Charlie said, turning her face upward to enjoy the sunshine.

“I read about the party in the newspaper today. It’s amazing what people will pay for a chunk of black rock.”

“I suppose so, but it is from Mars.”

“No offense meant, ma’am,” he said, picking up a broken clam shell and hurling it into an oncoming wave.

“None taken.”

It was too beautiful a day to be offended. The sun sent sparkles dancing off the waves, the air blew clean and salty, even the gulls’ cries seemed raucous rather than mournful. Sallyanne raced the surf up and down the shore, shrieking when the cold water splashed up her bare calves.

“Don,” Charlie plunged in, “what are your plans for her?”

“Plans?” He picked up another fragment of shell and tossed it in the water. “I’m going to take her home to Tennessee and be her papa.”

“Do you have a house there?” She hated to be so blunt, but she needed to build a picture of what the girl’s life would be like.

“I stay with Sallyanne’s grandmother when I’m home. It’s not as nice as your house, but the cookin’s good.”

“When you’re not home, where do you live?” Charlie asked neutrally.

“Wherever there’s work.” He shrugged. “A man has to go where the opportunities are.”

“Would Sallyanne live with her grandmother then?”

“Until I got set up with a permanent position. Then I’d send for her. She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?”

Charlie watched the little girl, her hair flying in the wind. “She’s the most beautiful child I’ve ever seen,” she said. “She’s also sweet and brave and loving. Your wife did well with her.”

“You’re saying I didn’t?”

Charlie shook her head. “I don’t hold the past against anyone. People make mistakes. That doesn’t mean you can’t try to fix them.”

“Sallyanne told me you grew up an orphan.”

“That’s true, so I think having a father is very important.”

“I missed my little girl something fierce when Leah took her away.” He kicked a piece of driftwood out of his path. “I guess you understand, because I think you like her a lot.”

“Would I be able to talk to her grandmother?” Charlie asked. “I assume that’s your mother?”

“Sure, you can talk to her, if you come down to Tennessee. She doesn’t have a phone, and she wouldn’t talk on it if she did.”

“Oh, I see.” Does the lack of a phone indicate a lack of other creature comforts? But then who am I to decide a telephone is a requirement for a good life?

“She’s a stubborn old woman,” Don continued, not without affection. “She doesn’t own a television either, although I’ve offered to get her one.”

“So she’s old-fashioned?” Charlie asked.

“Except for the washer and dryer. She was happy enough to get rid of her washtub and roller when the electricity came in.”

Charlie swallowed.

“But we’ve got a movie theater,” Don continued, “and a McDonald’s, and Walmart is only a half an hour drive. Sallyanne’ll have everything she needs.”

“What about school? Is there a local one?”

“Naw, they regionalized us years ago. But there’s a school bus that stops right in town.”

“What do you think of the school?”

“School’s school,” he said, shrugging. “Readin’, writin’, arithmetic. Sallyanne’s real smart; she’ll do just fine.”

“Look what I found,” Sallyanne said, running up at that moment with her hand held open. “An almost-perfect scallop shell.”

The white shell with pinkish-brown stripes fanned across her small palm.

“There’s just a tiny little hole right here,” she said, pointing.

“You’ve got good eyes, honey bunch,” Don said. “I can barely see that itty bitty hole.”

“Do you want to take it home?” Charlie asked. “I’ll put it in my pocket.”

“Yes, please,” Sallyanne said, handing over her treasure.

Then she took Don’s hand and chattered happily about her day at school.

Charlie watched and listened. Don’s description of his life in Tennessee had been unappealing; surely he knew that. Why does he want me to think Sallyanne’s life with him will be less than satisfactory?

“Charlie, what flavor ice cream cone do you want?” Sallyanne’s voice penetrated her mental debate. “Papa’s going up to the sweet shop on the boardwalk.”

“What? Oh, mint chocolate chip would be great,” Charlie said.

Don jogged across the sand while Charlie and Sallyanne followed more slowly.

“My papa’s really nice, isn’t he?” Sallyanne said happily.

“I think so,” Charlie answered. I hope so.

The telephone rang, and Charlie handed Sallyanne the napkins and silverware to finish setting the dinner table for three.

“Jack! How did all your meetings go?” she said, delighted he had called.

“Fine. I’ve sold Sahara-Mars.”

“Before the auction? I didn’t know you could do that.”

“I had an escape clause in my auction contract, if I sold it to a research institution.”

“That’s where you really wanted it to be! So Peter Burke finally found the money?”

“Yes.”

Charlie could hear a smile in his voice. “You made him miserable before you sold it to him, didn’t you?” she guessed.

“Payback’s a bitch.”

“If I hadn’t seen his behavior at your lecture, I’d feel sorry for the man.”

“Save your sympathy. I just got off the phone with Curt Vandermade.”

Charlie whistled. “I’ll bet he hates to lose.”

“It was ugly.” Jack hesitated. “Do you want to break the story on this?”

Now it was Charlie’s turn to hesitate. What an offer! Jack’s attitude about her profession seemed to have taken a turn for the better. On the other hand, the direction of Sallyanne’s life hung in the balance. “I’d love to but I couldn’t do it justice right now.” She lowered her voice, “Don’s here for dinner. I could recommend the second-best person for the job.”

“I guess I’ll have to settle then.”

Charlie gave him a name and telephone number before she added, “Thank you so much for asking me. I’m sorry I can’t do it for you.”

“Sallyanne comes first. A child should always come first. Good night.”

Charlie put down the telephone. He hadn’t said a word about last night. She tried to console herself with the fact he had offered her a story. He had even approved of her refusal to take it.

Maybe that was better than sex?

The evening passed pleasantly enough. Before he left, Don asked if he could come by in the morning after his daughter went to school to “discuss her future.” Charlie agreed, and they set a meeting for nine o’clock. She suggested including Rhonda but Don demurred, saying, “You know her the best of anyone here. I want to talk to you.”

The next morning, he arrived promptly at nine with a box of Dunkin’ Donuts.

“I’ve always been partial to the cinnamon,” he commented as Charlie arranged them on a plate. “Sallyanne likes Boston Creme so I bought a bunch of those too.”

“I love the marble frosted ones,” Charlie said, leading the way into the living room. Major was right on her heels.

“Can I give the dog a bit?” Don asked as he sat down and reached for his favorite.

Charlie wanted to be friendly so she nodded.

Don broke off a piece of cinnamon doughnut and held it out. Normally, Major would have swallowed it whole in three seconds flat. Instead, he lowered his head and stared at Don.

“Go on, Major,” Charlie said, giving him a nudge with her knee.

The dog looked up at her before stalking over to take the proffered treat. He immediately returned to Charlie’s side.

“Sorry, he’s still learning his manners,” Charlie said, thinking back to what Isabelle had said. Major really does not like Don. “Would you like some coffee?”

Don took the mug and cleared his throat. “Ma’am, you’ve taken real good care of my little girl, and she’s crazy about you. I feel terrible taking her away.”

“I appreciate that, but I knew her stay was only temporary.” Charlie gripped her mug tightly. “As much as I’ve come to love her, I want her to be with her family.”

“Family’s important; but I can’t give her all this. I don’t live where she can go to the beach. I don’t have a house with a room she can have all to herself. She’d be living with her grandma most of the time because I’ve got to work.”

“It may not be ideal, but I’m sure she’ll love her grandmother too,” Charlie said, even as she wondered where this conversation was leading.

“What I’m saying is,” and now Don leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “I love my little girl more than life itself. I love her so much I’m willing to give her up to you so she can have a better life.”

“Oh.” Charlie felt both relieved and terribly sad. Don had confirmed everyone’s mistrust of him as a genuinely interested parent, but that left Sallyanne without a father. “Having Sallyanne live with me is only temporary,” she repeated. “Rhonda brought her here because it was an emergency.” She didn’t add that she wasn’t even a real foster parent.

For a moment, Don looked nonplused. Then he smiled.

“I can see how much Sallyanne means to you. I know you’d like to adopt her.”

Would you keep her if you could? Mike had asked. Of course, she had said. And suddenly, she had no doubts. Even if it meant she could never adopt a baby from China, she wanted to hold onto Sallyanne with a fierceness that shook her to her core.

“I will need to cover my expenses for coming up here.” Don’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “And there will be some legal costs. And it must be worth something for a father to give up his daughter.”

“Yes?” Could he really be suggesting she pay him to keep his child?

“I figure $50,000 would be fair.”

“I see.” She tried to keep her shock from showing. As appalling as his offer was, she wondered if she should clean out her savings account and pay him. It might be the easiest way to get him out of Sallyanne’s life. Instead, she stalled. “I’ll have to think about it. It’s a lot of money.”

“Not compared to that Mars rock your husband’s got,” Don snorted. “You can’t put a price on a child; what I’m asking is just help me get started someplace new where I won’t be reminded of my loss.”

What you’re asking is to be bought off. Maybe we could use this to our advantage in a custody battle? She needed to consult with Rhonda and Mike.

“I understand, but I’ve got to talk with my husband,” she said.

Don’s face flushed crimson as he muttered something unflattering about Jack. He stood up. “Don’t talk too long, or I may change my mind.”

“No, I won’t. Thanks for the doughnuts.” Charlie wanted him out of her house before she said something to antagonize him. The man was beneath contempt.

He stopped on the porch and turned to level a finger at her. “I’ll be back after school to spend some more time with my daughter. Maybe I’ll take her back to the motel with me. She might like to spend the night with her papa.”

That was a threat, and Charlie didn’t respond well to threats. “I’m going to keep this polite for Sallyanne’s sake,” she said in a deceptively calm voice. “She stays here until her social worker says otherwise.”

“I’m her father. I have rights, and if you make trouble for me, my expenses will go up.” He put his face too close to hers. “I know you don’t want my little girl to think her papa doesn’t love her so you’re not going to say a word about any of this to her. Are you, pretty lady?” Then be grabbed her chin and pushed her head from side to side in a travesty of agreement before she could jerk out of his grip. He laughed and turned away to walk down the steps, squaring his shoulders as though he had won a fight.

Charlie watched him get into his rented car.

Don McGraw wouldn’t know what hit him by the time she was through.