All That Lies Broken (Ashmore's Folly Book 2) (10 page)

I have to tell you that I feel uneasy about the discord that has sprung up between us. I was surprised that you came so vehemently to the defense of your sister’s husband the other night. From the history of that man, Ashmore is the last person you should want to defend. However, I know that you grew up together, and it is often difficult to put aside childhood loyalties. Your disappearance over the weekend and your refusal to answer my calls lead me to think that your trip to see your family is not helping you reconcile with the past as I had hoped. I fear that your family may be trying to turn you against us.

About the other matter – Emma was shooting in the dark. I only know because Cam told me in the letter he left for me. The papers in question are locked in my safe at the office, and I am the only one with the combination. In the event something happens to me, I’ve left a sealed letter with my lawyers so that they can open the safe and return the papers to you.

I hope that there is nothing wrong between the two of us. I have tried to give you space while you continue to come to grips with Cam’s death. We both have healing to do. But I still want to pursue the relationship between us that we discussed in New York. I think we’ll make a good team – our marriage might be the making of a very fine family.

Love, Mark

~•~

To: Mark St. Bride

From: Laura St. Bride

Subject: Re: What is going on?

Dear Mark:

1.
 
Why did you tell Emma we were getting married?

2.
 
Why did Cam send my father $5,000 a month starting about the time of the IPO? I have the check stubs in my possession.

Laura

PS: Please return the adoption papers and anything else related to my daughter to me.

PPS: Of course I would never take your father’s desk. It’s yours.

~•~

To: Laura St. Bride

From: Mark St. Bride

Subject: RE: What is going on?

Dear Laura:

All right, I spoke out of turn with Emma. She was pestering me to tear the kitchen apart for remodeling, and I told her I wanted to get your opinion, and before I knew it, she started screaming at me, and I decided to shut her up by telling her we were getting married. I take it Meg overheard us. I apologize for jumping the gun.

I’m not going to apologize for hoping that it happens. A Christmas wedding is probably too soon. Late spring is more realistic. I know you had a civil ceremony at City Hall with Cam. If you’d like a big church wedding this time, with a gown and veil and the whole show, I’m more than willing. I will tell you I do not wish to be married in the Catholic Church – I know you are Catholic, but I just can’t do that. I prefer to be married in my church by my pastor. It is important to start off our marriage on the right foot, and I sincerely hope that you will join me in my faith and that we will attend church as a couple.

As for the checks, I thought you knew about those. After the IPO, Cam told me that you had expressed concern about your father’s welfare and wanted to make sure that he was secure. Starting back in 1995, we sent a check for $5,000 on the first of every month to your father, and he always cashed the checks. I don’t know what Cam told him to explain why he was getting this money. The checks were always charged against Cam’s personal account. He didn’t want you bothered.

I didn’t know your father had died until the check sent on 9/1/2001 came back because he hadn’t signed for it. In fact – and I didn’t tell you about this before because I didn’t want you to get upset – I got to the office early on 9/11 because I’d been out Monday with a root canal, and when I went through my mail, I found the check with “Deceased” on the envelope. I called Cam to find out what was going on, and while we were talking, the plane hit.

I don’t want you to feel guilty. It’s not your fault that I called Cam about your father any more than it’s mine for calling him and keeping him off that elevator. You have no idea how many times I’ve wished I hadn’t gotten to the office early that day or I’d gotten a cup of coffee before I made that call. A couple of minutes would have made all the difference.

I understand that Emma said some unforgivable things to you concerning this. Disregard that. Between you and me, I wonder if she’s starting to go through the change.

Of course, you can have Meg’s adoption papers. You’re her mother. Do you have somewhere safe to put them? They may be important soon.

Love, Mark

PS: Answer your phone.

~•~

To: Mark St. Bride

From: Laura St. Bride

Subject: Re: What is going on?

Dear Mark:

Thank you for telling me about the checks. I have no idea why Cam took it upon himself to do that. It certainly wasn’t at my request. I also appreciate your telling me about the phone call. Among the many things Emma said, one thing really upset me – that my family and I were the cause of Cam’s death. I cannot express how I feel now that I know why he didn’t take that elevator. My father wasn’t worth it.

I can’t even think about that right now. Someday, when we can, we have to talk about that day. If I’m not to feel guilty, then I really don’t want you feeling guilty either, and I think you do.

Mark, I do appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for Meg and me. I really don’t want to hurt your feelings, believe me, I don’t. But please stop making assumptions. I haven’t said I would marry you.

Why are Meg’s adoption papers important to anyone except me?

Laura

~•~

To: Laura St. Bride

From: Mark St. Bride

Subject: RE: What is going on?

Dear Laura:

I didn’t want to tell you this, because I have been trying to talk her out of it. Emma wants to file suit against the airline and the New York Port Authority and the WTC architects and everyone back to the prophet Mohammed and the colonists who originally settled Manhattan. Obviously, we are not going to participate in the survivors’ fund – it’s ludicrous with our resources. As Cam’s widow and the mother of his child, you are certainly welcome to do so, but I urge you not to waste your time.

We met a few days ago with lawyers and architects to explore the feasibility of a lawsuit. While we may have a case, we will be competing with all of the other WTC families who choose to sue. Since most of the casualties occurred in the north tower, any award will be insignificant compared to our resources, and I said as much to Emma. But she is interested in accountability, not money. The lawyers told her that, since she is not the closest surviving relative, her standing to sue is very weak. They told her that you, as his widow, are the logical plaintiff, and that you can also sue as Meg’s legal guardian. To be honest, that seemed to unhinge her.

The only way Emma can sue is to prove that Meg has no standing because she is not a blood child. But she is legally adopted, and adopted children have all the standing of natural children. She might be able to remove you, since Cam filed for divorce and the petition was rescinded the morning of his death, but there’s no getting around Meg.

That’s why the adoption papers are important, so you need to keep them safe. I’ve looked through the papers, and you and Cam did the adoption right. It’s all legal and airtight. No need to worry.

If you have any questions, just call me.

Love, Mark

~•~

To: Mark St. Bride

From: Laura St. Bride

Subject: NO!

Dear Mark:

I am not interested in suing, on my own behalf or on Meg’s. What good does it do? The airline was a victim. The tower itself was a victim. The only people to sue died at the moment of impact.

We have enough money. And suing won’t bring Cam back.

Question: If the adoption papers stay in your safe, are they considered to be in your “possession, custody, or control”? Or are they in mine since they belong to me?

Laura

~•~

To: Laura St. Bride

From: Mark St. Bride

Subject: RE: NO!

Dear Laura:

We can do this by phone, you know. Have you checked your phone? Is it on?

Yes to your first question. Right now, the papers are in my control because they are in my safe. You might want to consider leaving the papers where no one except me can get to them. “Possession, custody, or control” sounds like lawyer talk. If your sister is going to send me another letter, tell her not to bother. As I said, of course, you can have the papers if you want them.

Onto a happier subject (I hope). I was surfing a couple of cruise sites while I listened to marketing plans. We are still over the Pacific, and I think we are all ready to get on the ground, and frankly I find market studies to be the epitome of boring. But flying so close to Alaska, I thought about something I’ve wanted to do since I was a boy – go to Antarctica. There’s a month-long cruise from January 15 to February 15 that circumnavigates the continent. Would you like to go? Not to pressure you or anything, but it would make an unforgettable honeymoon. It would mean we would have to get married at Christmas instead of spring. I’d like to take the cruise before we start a family – pregnant women are strongly discouraged from the trip because it’s so far from medical facilities.

Here’s the link so you can look at the cruise for yourself. Should I see about reserving the Penthouse Suite?

Love, Mark

~•~

To: Mark St. Bride

From: Laura St. Bride

Subject: Read this carefully

Mark:

1.
 
My next wedding will be at a high Mass at St. Peter’s, with the Pope presiding.

2.
 
I spent the weekend in bed with Richard Ashmore.

Laura

~•~

To: Laura St. Bride

From: System Administrator

Subject: Attempt to recall message - failure

The system could not recall your email message because the recipient had already opened it for reading.

~•~

To: Laura St. Bride

From: Mark St. Bride

Subject: RE: Read this carefully

Dear Laura:

Not funny.

I get the message. I’m coming on too strong. We’ll talk tomorrow, if you’ll turn your damn phone on.

Love, Mark

PS: I take it that crack about Ashmore was your way of telling me not to take you for granted.

~•~

To: Mark St. Bride

From: Laura St. Bride

Subject: Re: Read this carefully

Mark:

That crack was my way of telling you that I spent the weekend in bed with Richard Ashmore.

I get a vote in this. I vote NO. I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY YOU.

Laura

PS: Don’t bother to call. I am too angry to talk to you right now.

PPS: BTW, I am not “dumb as rocks.” I am not “in outer space.” I have a
summa cum laude
degree in music, and I do NOT appreciate being treated like a simpleton, by you or Cam or your sister or ANYONE ELSE.

Chapter 5: Iceberg, Dead Ahead

“LAURA?”

She heard his voice calling her from the front of the house, but she did not answer. She sat on the back steps, staring off into the night, her left hand petting Max the length of his body as he lay beside her. Max was possibly the only male on earth that she didn’t hate with a passion right now.

Cam, Mark, Richard – all of them protecting her, shielding her, treating her as if she was fragile as glass, dumb as rocks. At the moment, she wished them all to perdition. One was permanently out of reach, another had prudently removed himself to the other side of the world, but the third—

Richard called her name again, louder this time, and she heard him open the side gate door.

“Laura? Are you back there?”