Once Upon a Project (27 page)

Chapter 43

 

S
usan snuggled up to Charles. Everything was going beautifully. She'd enrolled Quentin and Alyssa in a two-week day camp, which kept them occupied until five-thirty. Charles had rented a room in an extended-stay hotel just a few minutes north of her home. She'd spent every day with him, and it saddened her to think that it would all end today.

But she'd made progress in her plan. She'd been offered the bookkeeping position she applied for, and she accepted it. She would work four hours a day, from ten until two. She would start a week from Monday, which was the kids' first day of school. Bruce hadn't objected to the schedule, for she would be at work while the kids were in school. She'd already gotten permission from the owner about taking off on single-day school holidays, like Labor Day, Columbus Day, and even two days for Thanksgiving. Christmas break was something else, lasting up to a week and a half, but Susan assured the owner that wouldn't be a problem. She could get one of the older neighborhood kids to stay with Quentin and Alyssa while she went in. She so looked forward to working again and gaining some experience.

“Guess what?” she murmured to Charles.

“I know. It's time for you to go.”

“The past two weeks have been wonderful.”

He pulled her closer. “For me, too.”

“Are you going back right away?”

“I'll probably wait until the morning, since I'm paid up through tomorrow. If I leave early I shouldn't run into traffic. I'll go out and get something to eat and bring it back.”

“I think I'll take the kids out. Bruce already told me he'll be late.” Susan sighed. After getting home relatively early for weeks, Bruce had returned to late hours. She wanted so badly to just throw in the towel on her marriage, but she had to resist the urge to spontaneously blurt out her intentions to Bruce. “Tomorrow's Quentin's birthday, so we might as well get an early start on our celebration.”

“What is he, eleven?”

She nodded. “It's going to be a busy week. I've got to take the kids shopping for school clothes, and Elyse and I are having lunch . . . And I moved up my appointment for my one-year cancer screening so I don't have to take time off from work.” Her body went rigid, as it always did as the time for her screening approached. She couldn't help feeling nervous. Its results would help determine her future . . . whether she lived or died.

“I can tell you're worried,” Charles said. “Would you like me to go with you?”

His concern made her want to cry. Bruce had made no such offer when she told him about the appointment. It gave her the uncomfortable feeling that he secretly hoped her cancer would claim her life, just to make things easy for him.

“I'd like that, Charles. But I don't think I should. Bruce hasn't said anything about coming along, but I think he might do it at the last minute.”

“If he doesn't, you call me.”

She shut her eyes, overcome with emotion. She knew how difficult it was for Charles to volunteer to be second. He truly did love her. She couldn't wait to be with him openly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Chapter 44

 

B
ruce left his office five minutes before Shay got off work and waited by her car, leaning against the driver's-side door. Five minutes later she came out of the building, crossing her arms in front of her chest when she saw him. “Not a good idea, Bruce.”

The words rushed out of him. “Shay, I can't stand being without you. I promise you, by the end of the year my divorce will be in motion. I've already spoken to a lawyer.”

“Really. And have you spoken to your wife?”

“Not yet. We're working on our strategy. I don't want to spring it on her until we've got everything worked out. I'm not looking to screw her out of anything, but I don't want her to get half of what I've got, either.” He didn't want to mention that he also wanted to wait for the results of Susan's workup. Shay had already accused him of hiding behind his wife's health, but it did play a role. As much as he wanted Shay, he knew he wouldn't be able to bring himself to ask Susan for a divorce while she fought cancer. He only prayed her remission would continue. He couldn't reclaim his passion for her—Lord knew he'd tried—and he suspected she had grown weary of his halfhearted attempts. All he could think about was Shay.

“So you're hiding your assets.”

He began to feel foolish. He'd hoped that the moment Shay heard about his consulting an attorney she'd rush into his arms. Instead she still stood several feet away from him, not relaxing her stance one bit.

“I've put the wheels in motion,” he corrected. In a softer tone, he said, “Come on, Shay. It hasn't been that long. Surely you haven't been able to replace me already.”

She dropped her arms and stared at him uncertainly. “Bruce, if you're stringing me along. . . .”

He looked her dead in her eye so she could see the truth in his. “I've always been honest with you, Shay, from the very beginning. I told you I was married and had a family. When you decided you couldn't wait for me to get my life together, I walked out of your life without objection or even hesitation. And now I'm telling you that I'm in the process of divorcing my wife, that I want you in my life. No, Shay, I'm not stringing you along. I'd never want to deny you anything you want, and certainly not something you want so badly.”

She hesitated. “I just can't get too excited about this. Not until it actually happens, and too much can go wrong.”

“Why don't we go to dinner, and we can talk some more?” Bruce stepped forward and held out his hand. He breathed a sigh of relief when she took it.

This was the first step toward being happy again.

Chapter 45

 

S
usan listened as the person at the register repeated their order. “That's right,” she said. The cashier stated the total and instructed them to drive to the pickup window.

“You kids are really giving me a break,” she remarked as she drove. “I never thought you would have wanted Culver's.”

“I wanted a hamburger,” Quentin said, “and theirs are the best.”

Susan had to agree. The chain, located predominantly in the Midwest, had the best burgers she'd ever tasted, whether in a fast-food or more elegant setting. She'd ordered hers with mushrooms and Swiss cheese.

She pulled up to the window, a twenty all ready to hand over to the cashier.

“Oh, the gentleman in front of you paid for your order, miss,” the cashier informed her.

Susan's neck jerked as she peered at the car at the second window. An aqua Blazer with Illinois plates. It had to be Charles. Of all times for him to go out to get something to eat. What the hell was he thinking, paying for her order? He'd obviously seen her pull up behind him—she hadn't noticed him—but hadn't he noticed Quentin sitting in the front seat next to her? Okay, so he wasn't tall enough for his head to extend beyond the seat. But every two minutes he stuck his head between the front seats to say something to Alyssa.

Susan leaned out of the window and spoke to the cashier softly. “In that case, can you break this twenty for me? Two tens would be fine.”

“But, ma'am, I can't open my register without making a sale.”

“Get your manager,” she hissed. The last thing she wanted was for Quentin to ask why they didn't have to pay. He sat right beside her, and he missed nothing.

“What's going on, Mom?” he asked now.

“Nothing. Everything's fine.” She turned her head to face the cashier, putting the index finger of her left hand to her lips.

The cashier took the cue and said softly, “I'm going to get someone to bring this bill up front for me and break it for you, since I can't leave the window.”

“Fine,” Susan said tersely. She cursed herself for not recognizing Charles's car in front of her, but even if she had, she never thought he'd pull a stunt like this. How was she supposed to explain a stranger buying their dinner to her children?

Just wait til she got hold of him.

The change was given to her shortly, and she replaced it in her wallet and pulled forward. Their food had already been bagged up. Charles had pulled into a parking space in the front of the building. If he expected her to stop and introduce him to her kids, he really was nuts, Susan thought.

She drove by without so much as slowing down.

 

 

After she got home, she dialed Charles's cell from the privacy of her bedroom. He answered on the second ring. “What do you mean, paying for my kids' food? Don't you think that's going to make them curious about who you are and why you're doing that? They might even mention it to their father. What am I supposed to tell them, Charles?”

“What
did
you tell them?”

“Fortunately, I didn't have to tell them anything. The cashier told me that you'd paid, but she spoke softly enough that no one but me heard her. I already had my money out, and my son was sitting right next to me, so I covered by asking the cashier to give me change for a twenty.”

“So everything worked out.”

“Don't sound so disappointed. I want to know what it is you're up to, Charles Valentine.”

“All right. You deserve to know the truth. I'm getting a little tired of having the woman I love be some other man's wife. I want you to get a divorce, Susan, so you can marry me. We've already lost twenty-five years because of a bunch of foolishness. I don't want any more delays.”

Not this again. He hadn't mentioned it once during the two weeks he'd been staying at the extended-stay hotel. His offer to go with her to her cancer screening if Bruce didn't had probably gotten him thinking about how much he disliked having her go home to Bruce every time they were together. Now she regretted having brought it up.

“Where are you now?” She decided that the seriousness of his action called for a face-to-face confrontation, not a telephone call.

“On my way home. I'm driving through Waukegan, I think.”

That was too far for her to travel; he was already halfway to Cook County. “All right. Monday I'm coming down. Can you meet me? We need to have a talk.”

“Just tell me where.”

Over the weekend Susan arranged for a sitter. She drove to the station and boarded a southbound train. After a scenic ride that lasted nearly an hour and a half, she arrived at the Ogilvie Transportation Center. She easily found the restaurant where Charles had suggested they meet. The lunch rush hadn't started yet, and she had an attentive waiter.

Charles rushed in after just under ten minutes. “Sorry,” he said. “Metra's running a little behind schedule.”

“That's all right. They haven't started looking at me funny yet.”

They placed their orders, and then he said, “I know you're angry at me for what I did Friday.”

She sighed. “I've gotten over it. I know you won't do it again. But Charles, you have to be patient. Things can't move as fast as you want them to.”

“I'm not some stranger you just met, Susan. I wanted to marry you years ago, but you said no because of Douglas and my mother.”

“That's
another
problem,” she muttered.

“That's my point. There don't have to be
any
problems. Don't make everything more complicated than it has to be.”

“You know I'm trying to get things in place, Charles. You know I start working part-time next week. I'd rather get in at the school board because they pay better, but they said they wouldn't consider me if I only want to work part-time.”

“Why don't you work full-time, then?”

“Because Bruce will never go for it. Alyssa is just going into third grade. Even though I feel she's too young not to have me at home after school, I do not want to put all that responsibility on Quentin. Someone could knock on the door pretending to be the mailman. Quentin might open it. . . .” She raised her chin defiantly. “I won't put my children in that position.”

“I wouldn't want you to,” he said. “But are you actually telling me that Bruce will refuse you alimony so you can stay at home?”

“Alimony will end the moment I remarry.”

“
I
want to marry you. I've told you that a half dozen times. I don't expect Bruce to support you forever. That's supposed to be
my
job. This is just for an interim period.”

“Trust me, the minute he finds out about you he'll fight for custody of the kids. I don't want that to happen, either.”

She watched his expression harden just as if someone had slid a veil over his face and magically turned him into stone.

“So, more hiding?” he asked with narrowed eyes. “Tell me, Susan, do you ever anticipate being able to walk down the street holding my hand? Or do you intend to keep me hidden away forever, like a crazy uncle in the attic?”

“What I'm trying to do,” she hissed, “is come up with a way that will allow me to keep my children and be with you openly.
And
maintain my health insurance, since once I'm divorced, Bruce can't legally cover me. I've got a health issue, in case you've forgotten.”

“Of course I haven't forgotten. But there's COBRA.”

“COBRA is expensive. Besides, you can't keep it indefinitely. The only way I can be covered is if I've got a job. I don't know how I can get that to work out, Charles. I wish you'd help me come up with some ideas instead of giving me a hard time.”

“Susan, if you marry me I'll put you on my insurance. We can get married as soon as you're free, the day after, if we can arrange it that fast. You won't be without coverage at any time. I really think you're making too much of this. Divorce Bruce, marry me. If you want to work part-time so you can be there when your kids get home from school you can do it.” He looked at her through eyes that suddenly had gone suspicious. “I'm wondering if there's something you're not telling me.”

She sighed, not wanting to say anything that would hurt his feelings. “I have to consider my kids' feelings, Charles. You haven't even met them yet.”

“Under the circumstances that would be a little awkward, don't you think?”

“Of course it would. That's why I was so upset when I thought Quentin had seen you. The divorce is going to come as a huge shock to them. They might not cotton so well to seeing me with a new partner.”

“We'll work it out. Maybe you haven't noticed, but I can be pretty charming when I want to.”

She wished he would give the situation the serious consideration it merited. “It might not be as simple as you expect. Then there's the economics. It's going to be a hard adjustment for them. You've seen the house they live in now. They don't want for anything. That wonderful lifestyle they enjoy is provided by Bruce, who's a millionaire several times over. You and I won't be able to afford to keep them in that fashion. Trust me, that's the first thing Bruce will pounce on when he finds out I'm seeing you.”

He nodded thoughtfully, then looked at her with a cautious expression she'd never seen on him before. “Are you sure it's only the
kids'
adjustment you're concerned about, Susan?”

She didn't know where he was headed, but she didn't like it. “What's
that
supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like,” he snapped. “How do
you
feel about living a middle-class lifestyle after being married to a millionaire?”

She glared at him, knowing he wouldn't have asked this question if he hadn't insisted on coming to pick her up that time she had the flat tire. But because he'd seen her house, he had doubts. “You know better than to ask me that, Charles, after all I've been through.”

“It's a valid question.”

“I grew up in the Theodore Dreiser Projects, just like you did. And if there's one thing I've learned in my life, it's that I'd rather be happy and middle class than wealthy and undesired.” Her eyes dampened with tears. She was trying so hard. How could he say such a cruel thing to her?

“Susan, you're being hesitant. What other conclusion can I come to, other than you don't want to leave that lifestyle Bruce provides for you?”

Her fury strengthened like a hurricane. Only their public setting kept her from screaming at him. “How dare you say that to me. The first time we met to talk, you told me I'd never been a shallow person. But now you accuse me of staying in an empty marriage just because I like living in a large house and being a stay-at-home mother. It's like you didn't hear a word I said when I told you how unhappy I was, or how I'm trying to get back into the workforce so I can support myself and my children.”

“Susan.” He looked like he was ready to apologize, but she wasn't having it.

“Your answer to everything is that we'll work it out, that everything's so simple. But you've never once explained where we'll live or what will happen if my remission ends. You have a one-bedroom apartment, and your job's insurance company might not take kindly to your marrying a cancer patient. For all I know, you're expecting my children to move into your apartment and sleep on the kitchen table and in the bathtub. So don't sit there and tell me that money doesn't count, or accuse me of being overly concerned about it. Bruce pays for everything for the kids and me, and I don't work at all. If I get sick I wouldn't have to go to some crummy hospital on the verge of losing its accreditation. Will
you
be able to do all that on a teacher's salary?”

Charles slid back his chair abruptly. “I see this wasn't such a good idea. Tell the waiter I changed my mind.”

“That makes two of us,” she said, waving her hand. “But you go first.”

She sat there, seething, long enough to wait for the waiter to return and tell him that they wouldn't be staying. Then she went to the ladies' room, forced herself to calm down, and headed for the train station and home.