Behind the Pine Curtain (3 page)

The entryway for the county club was as impressive as ever, although the electronic gate had not been there in the old days. She gave the guard her name, and, after checking the guest list, he let her through, giving quick directions to the Lawrence’s house. Fifteen years ago, the country club was just getting started. There were only a handful of homes here then. She remembered her parents discussing whether they wanted to build a home out here. Apparently, they had. But even back then, they spent plenty of time at the country club. Much to her mother’s delight, Jacqueline excelled at golf and had joined them frequently on weekends.

She found the Lawrence home easily and parked in the circular drive.

Motion lights signaled her arrival, and she had no time for nervousness.

The front door opened immediately. John Lawrence hadn’t changed much in fifteen years, although his hair was no longer the salt and pepper she remembered. It was an attractive shade of white, and she recognized his wife, Mary standing behind him. She had aged more, and she looked nearly ten years his senior now. They both waved, and her uneasiness fled. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Grabbing the one bag she had on the back seat, she flung the strap over her shoulder and walked up. She stopped, smelling a fragrance in the air that brought back many memories. Jasmine. She smiled slightly, then walked up, hand outstretched to greet them.

“Jacqueline Keys, my God, look at you.”

“Mrs. Lawrence, how are you?”

“Call me Mary, dear. I’m so glad you came.”

“Thank you for having me on so short notice. The motel was . . . well, a rat trap may be too kind a word.”

They laughed and drew her inside their home. It was spacious, but still unpretentious and very homey. She’d always liked them. They never quite seemed to fit in with her parents’ normal circle of friends. This house wasn’t a showcase for their wealth, it was simply their home. She never could have said that about her own home growing up.

“When I called you, I was afraid you would turn me down. In fact, I expected it,” John Lawrence said.

“ To be honest with you, I’m not certain why I agreed to come. I don’t feel that I owe them anything.”

“I understand. But we have time to talk later. Let’s get you settled, and we’ll have dinner.”

Mary gave her a quick tour of the house, and Jacqueline was thankful that her room was on the opposite end from theirs. At least she wouldn’t feel in the way and would have some privacy. She tossed her one bag on the bed and turned, finding Mary watching her.

“Is that all you brought?”

“I’ve got another bag in the car with my suit, but I’ll get that later.”

Mary glanced once over her shoulder, then walked closer. “I know this must be very hard for you, Jacqueline. But we both felt like you had a right to be here, if you wanted. Of course, after all that happened all those years ago, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d chosen not to come here. You may not believe this, but it wasn’t your father’s idea to send you away. Your mother just . . . well, she went out of her mind over it all. She blew it all out of proportion, thinking the entire town was laughing at her. Truth is, most people didn’t really care. When word got out that she’d sent you away, well, most just felt sorry for her.”

“Does she know I’m here?”

Mary shook her head. “John didn’t think it was a good idea to tell her.”

“How is she, Mary? Is she well enough to attend the funeral?”

“No. She’s had two surgeries already. From what I understand, she’ll be in the hospital for another week or so, until they move her home. Even then, she’ll need a nurse to care for her for months yet.”

Jacqueline tried to muster up sympathy, or some emotion, but nothing would come. Her mother was but a stranger to her, and she couldn’t find it in her heart to feel sorry for her.

“What hospital is she in?”

“She’s here in Pine Springs.”

Jacqueline’s eyebrows shot up. “Pine Springs has a hospital?”

“Oh, yes. Over on the west side of town, things have grown quite a lot.”

Jacqueline frowned. “They have a hospital but no motel?” She watched as a slight blush colored Mary’s face.

“Actually, John may have omitted a few things. There is a fairly new motel on the west side.”

“And he sent me to the old Pine Springs Motel?”

Mary smiled. “He really wanted you to stay with us. He didn’t want you to feel like an outsider, and that’s exactly what you’d have been if you’d stayed at the motel. It wouldn’t take long for word to spread.”

“So, the town’s grown, but gossip still flies?”

“Jacqueline, your father was a very powerful man in the county, so yes, gossip and speculation have been spreading like wildfire.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Come on. Let’s get dinner on the table. John will discuss business with you afterward.”

“Sit, please,” Mr. Lawrence instructed, pointing to the leather couch in his study. He moved away, taking two glasses from the bar. “Scotch or brandy?”

“Brandy, please.”

He handed her a glass, then joined her on the sofa. Jacqueline sipped her drink quietly as her eyes moved around the room. Legal books lined one entire wall, but the rest was filled with family pictures. She recognized his son and daughter in several along with who she assumed were his grandchildren.

“I mean this as a compliment, but you’ve changed an awful lot in the last fifteen years, Jacqueline. The tomboy I remember has grown into a beautiful woman.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you mind me asking how you managed back then? Of course, if it’s none of my business, just say so.”

She shrugged. “It was hard at first. Very hard. When I made it to Los Angeles, I worked as a waitress for a year, saving every penny I could.

Then I started college, taking classes during the day and working nights.” She shrugged again. “I made out okay.”

“I think your father always hoped you’d contact him, behind your mother’s back. He was beside himself, the first few years when they couldn’t locate you. He blamed her totally. If not for his position in the community, I’m sure he would have divorced her. Over the years, their marriage deteriorated.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. You probably don’t care to hear that.”

“I don’t really care one way or the other, Mr. Lawrence.”

“Please, call me John.”

“Of course.”

“This may not mean anything to you, but your father was very proud of you.”

“Proud? I disgraced the family. In fact, he wouldn’t even speak to me the last two weeks I was here. Wouldn’t even
look
at me.”

“It was a . . . a shock to him, Jacqueline.”

“I’m sure it was, especially since he and Mr. Thornton had my marriage all arranged.”

John laughed before sipping from his drink. “Talk about ironic. Daniel went off to one of those Ivy League schools, pre-law. Next thing his parents knew, he’d moved to New York City and became an actor.”

“Really? Danny?”

“Yes.”

“How’d he do?”

“Had a couple of shows on Broadway, they tell me. But,” Lawrence shrugged. “He died of AIDS probably ten, twelve years ago now.”

“AIDS?”

“Yes. He was gay.”

Jacqueline stared at him. “Talk about ironic. If not for his death, this would be funny.”

“The situation, yes. I think, in your mother’s mind, her world was crashing down around her. She sent you away because you were gay and refused to marry Daniel Thornton. And then, a few years later, it’s made known that their chosen son-in-law is gay, too. Trust me, the news that the high school quarterback turned out to be gay was much bigger news than you.”

She smiled, thinking back to the innocent dates she’d had with Danny.

She should have known. She’d thought it was just her, but apparently Danny had been just as content to keep their relationship platonic as she was.

John stood and crossed to his desk, picking up a large folder, which he turned nervously in his hands. “I have something for you. And we have some things to discuss.”

Jacqueline watched him, eyebrows raised as he opened the folder and took out a small white envelope. Her name was printed neatly on the front.

“Your father wrote this to you, years ago. As I said, he was proud of the success you’d achieved. And all without his help.”

He handed the envelope to Jacqueline and she took it, staring at her name for a few seconds before laying the envelope in her lap. She couldn’t possibly imagine what her father had to say to her. An apology, perhaps. Well, she would read it later, if at all.

“This is his will. We’ll have a formal reading later, but I thought you should know ahead of the others. There’ll be problems, no doubt.”

“Problems?”

“Yes. He’s compensated your mother nicely, of course. More than half of his assets. But the business—Keys Industries—and a couple of other holdings, the rest of his wealth, he left to you.”

“
What?
”

“Your uncle, who has been managing the lumber mill for years, may contest the will. Of the original mill, your uncle owned less than forty percent. But you must understand, the mill was but a small portion of Keys Industries. And besides your uncle, you can be most certain that your mother will contest the will.”

“Jesus Christ, John! Why would he even mention me in his will?”

“On the surface, it would appear that he was trying to make up for what they did to you. In reality, he truly loved you.”

“Well, I can’t take it. I don’t need his money. I don’t
want
his money.”

“I understand. I’m simply his lawyer and the executor of his wishes. If you choose to sell the business or give it to your uncle or mother, that’s your decision. You probably have no idea of his worth, but it is substantial, Jacqueline. His business holdings aren’t limited to the mill.

In fact, while it is common knowledge that he bailed the bank out all those years ago, no one really knows that the bank would collapse should he pull his money. Keys Industries controls the bank.” He paused. “Perhaps, after you’ve had a chance to absorb this, you may decide to accept it.”

Jacqueline stood, pacing nervously across the room. This, she was not expecting. Jesus, talk about ironic. If her mere presence in town didn’t send her mother to her death, this most surely would.

“He controls the bank?” she asked quietly.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“It goes back to the days of your grandfather. However, poor business decisions over the years left the bank in desperate need of capital. Your father obliged, using Keys Industries. In turn, he was able to secure loans for future plants at exceptionally low interest rates. Financially, the bank is extremely sound now. Your father hired a financial consultant from Houston years ago to oversee investments and such. He doesn’t officially have anything to do with the bank, like the title of president—that honor goes to Mr. Wells—but he has the last say on everything. Your father trusted him completely.”

Jacqueline was speechless. “And my mother knows none of this?”

“No. She thinks he had a small interest in the bank. I assume she believes it was all left to her, along with the mill and the business, of course.”

“Jesus Christ,” she murmured.

John smiled. “No, he left Brother Garner out of the will.”

Jacqueline had one free day before the funeral, so she took Mary’s advice and drove into town, foregoing her original thoughts of playing a round of golf. You don’t play golf the day before your father’s funeral, even if the weather was perfect for it.

She found herself driving back toward the old downtown area, the buildings looking much drabber now in the light of day. And small.

Pine Springs had not changed, not really. Dobson’s bakery was still on the same corner. The meat market next to it. She felt a grin come on when she saw the sign for the café.
Garland’s Café-Just Good Food
.

God, did that bring back memories. Kay’s family had owned it for as long as she could remember, and Jacqueline spent many a Saturday morning there, helping Kay and her sister Rose in the back with dishes much to her mother’s dismay. A café was no place for the mayor’s daughter. On impulse, she decided a cup of coffee was in order. Perhaps Mrs. Garland would be there. It would be nice to say hello, at least.

The bell jingled as she opened the door, and she looked up, certain it was the very same bell she remembered from all those years ago. A few curious glances were tossed her way by the lingering breakfast crowd, but the conversations never missed a beat. She walked confidently to the counter, sat on one of the old barstools and waited. A bell dinged and “order up” was yelled from the kitchen. A young woman grabbed the two plates and hurried off to a table to deliver breakfast.

“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! Look what the cat drug in!”

Jacqueline turned, finding Rose Garland staring at her—an older, plumper version of the kid that used to tag along with her and Kay. She smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow, not exactly certain how her presence would be accepted.

“I’m surprised you recognize me.”

“Darlin’, there ain’t another person in this world got baby blues like you.” She laughed and walked closer. “Should I back away in case lightning bolts come crashing through the roof?”

“Might not be a bad idea.”

“Never thought we’d see you again, Jackie. How the hell are you?”

“I’m . . . I’m good.”

“Sorry about your father, but we didn’t think you’d actually come for the funeral. Kay and I were just talking about you last night. We wondered if anyone would even contact you.”

“Oh yeah? How is Kay?”

“Kay? Oh, Kay’s doing fine. She owns the Hallmark shop out in the new strip center.” Rose filled a cup with coffee and set it in front of Jacqueline. “So, you came back. Where’d they find you?”

“Monterey.”

“Where’s that? California?”

Jacqueline nodded. “South of San Francisco.”

“Well, it must suit you. You look great.”

“Thank you. You haven’t changed much, Rose.”

“Oh please. Who are you kidding? Having four kids before you’re thirty does this to your body,” she said, pointing at herself. “That, and eating Mama’s cooking.”