Greater Than Rubies, a Novella inspired by the Jewel Trilogy (24 page)

IB: You two come from opposite ends of the financial spectrum. How do you feel about marrying one of the wealthiest bachelors in Boston?

Robin: He is amazing and generous and loving, and I feel so incredibly blessed.

She remembered saying those words during the first interview, the one that concluded with security guards turkey trotting Don Roberts from the building. She skimmed further down.

IB: Robin, so many things about your childhood would astonish our readers. From what you’ve shared with us, it was pretty rough. Your father was in prison. Your mother died of gunshot wounds. For part of your childhood, you were in the foster system. Anything you want to share with our readers about that?

Robin: One of the things I admire about Tony is his heart for children. He supports hundreds of homes like the one here at Boston Bible that give children like my sisters and I once were a clean, safe, loving environment. I can’t wait to support him in those ministries as his wife.

He had taken her answer out of context but somehow it fit perfectly. She spotted her father’s name and read carefully.

IB: Your father, Craig Bartlett, has been the topic of a number of news stories in recent months. What can you tell our readers about your dad?

Robin: The Craig Bartlett of today, the man I know is not the man in the tabloid stories. My father turned himself in and confessed to all of his crimes without even trying to strike a deal. He is doing what he can to make restitution for his past wrongs. The way he has turned his life around despite his past, I have to say I’m proud of him. I pray for him every day.

It was a direct quote, what she had said word for word, but again out of context. Is this how interviews were supposed to be written?

IB: Robin, in your opinion, what is the most attractive thing about Tony Viscolli?

Robin: His abiding and unshakable faith in God and his faithfulness to Him is certainly the most attractive thing about my fiancée.

IB: Your faith is important to you and your future husband. How would you characterize your beliefs?

Robin: We’re Christians.

She remembered how negatively Don Roberts had treated anything she had said about faith. Yet here, he highlighted their faith in the way that she wanted it seen by the world.

IB: What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in life, Robin?

Robin: The greatest thing I’ve done in my life so far was getting custody of my sister, Maxine.

IB: Any plans for after the wedding? Plan on doing a lot of shopping?

Robin: I’ll still run Hank’s.

She read through all of the questions twice. The way that Don Roberts had combined answers from their initial and second interview into a cohesive article revealed every fact she had shared, but also put Robin Bartlett and Tony Viscolli in the best possible light.

When she turned the final page, she found a handwritten sticky note Don had left for her. In really minuscule print, he had written, “Robin, I realize Tony is a billionaire, not a millionaire, but it didn’t have the same alliterative ring to it for the headline. You should know that I’m also a believer. I admire what the two of you are doing. The truth is you gave me a lot to think about, a lot to admire, and a lot to pray about. I wanted you to know that I am going to stop hiding my light under a bushel so much and let it shine a little more often. I pray I did you justice with this piece. Thanks for witnessing to me. Yours in Christ, DR.”

The woman this
Inside Boston
article portrayed, from the photographs to the out of context quotations, was not the woman holding and reading the magazine. The woman within these pages was confident, competent, and capable. Magazine article Robin was accomplished, witty, polished, and professional. That Robin would certainly make a fine match for Tony Viscolli. She would love him and support him and make him happy throughout his lifetime.

By contrast, the very real Robin Bartlett had brought nothing but conflict, heartache, and shame to Tony Viscolli since the very day he had first laid eyes on her. Everything about her spelled trouble from her heritage, her violent past, her lack of education, to her ignorance of the day to day politics of the high society world in which he lived. She wondered how Don Roberts would handle the fact that the woman who had witnessed to him so profoundly was less than two weeks away from leaving Tony Viscolli at the altar.

This magazine would hit newsstands tomorrow. She could not fight that. She could not run from that. She could not hide from that. She envisioned her life spinning away and out of control, down into a bottomless vortex like a fast sinking ship. She envisioned taking Tony and dozens of others down along with her.

ONY
stood in Barry’s office, hands in his pockets, looking out at the courthouse. A copy of the most recent
Inside Boston
lay atop Barry’s desk but both men had studiously ignored its presence there. Although neither mentioned it, both of them occasionally let their eyes stray back to glance at Robin Bartlett’s photo on the cover.

“You’re right. It isn’t unethical or illegal. It’s just completely unheard of. “Barry ran his massive hand through his straw blond hair. “Tony, I can’t do this.”

“You must. I’m ordering you to,” Tony said with a half grin that had nothing to do with humor.

Barry shook his head. “You must be of sound mind and body to execute legal instruments of this nature. And clearly, you’re just a little bit out of your mind right now,” his friend observed.

“No, I’m not.” Or, maybe Barry was right. Maybe Tony had lost his senses. Could it be that he was getting in the way of God’s will for his life right now? Was he allowing greed, or pride, or anger to dictate or manipulate his actions? He really didn’t think so. This felt exactly right. He had a lot of fear and he felt very angry that he could still feel fear, but outside of that was nothing except a sense of peace. “I’m really not crazy. I know what I’m doing.”

Tony turned to look at his attorney and very best friend in the entire world and Barry shook his head again. “Do you have any idea what this will mean?”

“We can work it out to make it as simple as possible. But I’m serious about my timeline.”

Barry sighed. “I don’t think I can do this for you. Tony, I’m your lawyer but you and I are best friends. If you go through with this, what will happen to our friendship? You’re the only person I can really even talk to anymore. I can’t – “

Tony stepped forward and held up a finger. His voice became hard, like steel, and cold. He spoke as if to a subordinate, ensuring that Barry knew that friendship was on the line already. “You will do it, Barry, or else I’ll find someone who will. Again, I’m not asking your opinion or your advice in this matter. I am simply hiring you to do a job and you will be paid very well to accomplish it.”

Tony watched Barry’s eyes flash, but felt no remorse at standing up to his best friend. “Fine,” Barry bit. Then with practiced cordiality, “Please have a seat, Mr. Viscolli. Make yourself comfortable. Pardon my unprofessional outburst. I can ask Elizabeth to order up some lunch, if you like. We have quite a number of details to cover and this will take some time.”

OBIN
tried to pay attention to whatever show Sarah had put on the television for them, but honestly, she couldn’t focus. Tomorrow would be Tuesday, which means she destroyed her life and the life of the most amazing man on the planet just five short days ago. Since the day their relationship started, she hadn’t ever gone so long without talking with him, without seeing him. Sunday she’d skipped church, afraid to go and be seen by him, or be seen with him. She could barely breathe. She felt lost, floundering, sinking, and had no idea what to do next.

She still hadn’t told Maxine or Sarah. All evening, Sarah had excitedly talked about the shoes Maxine had found for them to wear with their bridesmaid dresses. How could she tell them? What could she say?

Now she sat limp on the edge of the couch staring at the television screen. She didn’t even know what they were watching.

She heard Maxine’s keys in the door. She barely looked up when her sister stormed into the apartment.

“All right. I’ve had enough. I’ve kept my mouth shut for nearly a week, waiting for you to come to me, and I’m tired of it.” Maxine announced as she tossed her keys on a little table by the door. Sarah used the remote to pause the movie and looked between Robin and Maxine. “Are you planning to mention it to us?”

Robin glared at Maxine. She’d cried until she honestly didn’t think she could cry anymore. Today she’d been kind of a zombie, stumbling around, not sure about what she should do, what she should wear, what she should eat. It took a moment to understand what Maxine was talking about. “No.”

Maxine slammed the door, making Sarah jump. “What’s going on?” the youngest sister asked.

“Robin here,” Maxine said, “broke it off with Tony.”

Sarah looked as confused as if Maxine had just announced that pigeons no longer flew, preferring instead to swim. “What?”

“Last Thursday.”

“What?!” Sarah’s head whirled around. “Robin? Why didn’t you say something?”

Robin stood. “Because I don’t want you two cooing over Tony and telling me how great he is, how great it is that I’m going to be his wife.”

Sarah blinked. “But – “

Maxine stepped forward. “No, we won’t. We are here to tell you we love you, and whatever you need from us, you’ll get.” She grabbed Robin and hugged her. “I understand.” She pulled back and looked into Robin’s eyes. Robin saw all of the pain and fear that she felt reflected back from her sister’s emerald pools. “You know I understand. Whatever you need.”

Tears fell from burning dry eyes literally worn out from crying. “Thank you,” Robin whispered.

Sarah got up and hugged both Robin and Maxine. “Honey, I’m so sorry,” she said. “What can I do?”

Robin closed her eyes, resetting back to last summer, to the way she thought, to her motivations then. “Graduate with honors and get a good job,” she said. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted from you.”