Thin Ice (46 page)

"Great.” As she accepted Anna's bear hug of welcome and the tickets, Emily smiled her relief. “I'm amazed she could swing them at tickets, Emily smiled her relief. “I'm amazed she could swing them at such short notice.” She'd caled both women before she'd left Turnersvile to apprise them of her plans.

"Is everything stil set for tonight?” she asked after she'd dispatched Robbie to start unloading the car. Anna would meet them after the game and take Robbie for the night if things worked out the way Emily hoped they would. Prayed they would.

Anna nodded and transferred the food from the cooler to the fridge.

“Have you told him yet he's going to the game?"

"No. I want to make sure he takes a nap this afternoon. If I tel him about the game, he'l be too excited."

The three of them finished unloading the car, then Anna folowed Emily to the car rental lot to return the Explorer. On the return trip home, Robbie chattered non-stop about their trip to Turnersvile.

Robbie heard only the love and encouragement in Anna's voice, but Emily caught the sadness in Anna's smile as Robbie gushed about his grandma. Promising him a special treat if he took an extra long nap, Emily tucked Robbie into bed as soon as they got home. He was asleep almost before she left the room. She craved a nap herself, but instead went downstairs to where Anna waited to hear her version of the trip.

"It sounds like he had a wonderful time,” Anna said, her smile firmly in place as Emily poured them each a cup of tea.

"You'l always be his Nanna,” Emily said gently. “You know that, don't you?"

Anna's smile wobbled and her eyes misted. She tapped her head with her finger. “Up here, yes.” Her hand moved to her heart.

“Down here, I'm a little shaky."

"Oh, Anna..."

She waved Emily's protest aside. “Don't mind me. It'l just take some getting used to, that's al.” She sighed and smiled again, this time more naturaly. “So tel me about your family."

Emily obliged, but only because she didn't want Anna to feel any more left out than she already did. When she'd finished, Anna's eyes glistened. “I'm so happy for you, Emily. Wil they be coming to visit?"

Emily laughed. “Hopefuly not al at once, but they know my door is always open."

"And the foundation?"

"Is defunct as of Monday. I'm afraid you're out of a job."

They talked a while longer about the foundation, possibly re-vamping it into Robbie's colege fund, then reconfirmed their plans for the evening before Anna rose to leave. As was their custom, she would meet Augustus downtown for dinner before they went to the would meet Augustus downtown for dinner before they went to the arena. “We'l catch up with you outside the dressing rooms after the game, to pick up Robbie."

"Thanks again. For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Anna cupped her cheek. “You'd manage just fine, child. I've known that al along.” Her eyes twinkled. “Besides, I've seen that determined glint in your eye before. It tels me you're not about to let anyone or anything get in your way. I look forward to seeing the fireworks tonight."

Emily laughed and hugged her, hard. “Tel Augustus I owe him a week of Sundays for giving me the rest of the week off."

Upstairs she peeled off her traveling clothes and automaticaly checked her pockets before she tossed her jeans into the hamper.

She puled out the phone number she'd written down at the hospital, stared at it for a long moment, undecided, then took a deep breath and sat down on her bed to cal her ex-mother-in-law. A woman whose voice Emily recognized only vaguely answered, asked Emily to please hold, and went in search of Patricia. Several minutes later Emily heard a very frightened and alone sounding helo.

"Patricia. It's Emily. I'm sorry I didn't return your cals sooner. I've been out of town."

"Oh, Emily. I'm so glad it's you."

Emily closed her eyes. She didn't need this right now. “What happened?"

"I've left John. We ... we had words."

Emily doubted words were al they'd had if Patricia had fled to Harmony House.

"Can we ... meet?” Patricia asked hesitantly.

"Of course.” Emily knew Patricia meant as soon as possible. She'd already been there for at least six days, stranded in an unfamiliar world.

"I ... haven't got a car. I haven't got anything.” Patricia's voice broke.

"I'l be there as soon as I can."

Emily's long, leisurely soak became a quick shower. Her plans to fuss with her makeup became a couple of strokes of mascara and a dab of lip gloss. A cal to Anna's brought Melissa over on the double to keep an eye on Robbie until Emily could get back. She puled up in front of Harmony House less than an hour later.

Patricia waited for her in the common room, her elegant features pale and drawn, her eyes shadowed and uncertain. A large green-yelow bruise covered her left cheek. Emily took the older woman's hand and gently drew her toward a loveseat in a more private area hand and gently drew her toward a loveseat in a more private area of the room. “Tel me what happened."

"We argued. About you.” Patricia sniffed. Emily lifted a tissue from one of several boxes strategicaly placed around the room and pressed it into Patricia's hand. “After I left you at the hospital, I went to confront Ryan. I was unable to reach him for three days—

he and Catherine were spending the weekend with friends, but by the time he returned, I knew exactly what I was going to say to him."

"You didn't speak with John, first?"

"No. I wanted to handle this on my own."

Emily wondered if Ryan had been the one to hit Patricia.

"I confronted him at dinner Tuesday night. John wasn't home. I told Ryan I'd spoken with you and was appaled by his behavior and lack of responsibility toward his child."

"I see.” Emily decided not to remind Patricia that she wanted nothing from Ryan. The woman's hold on control was too tenuous.

"He denied Robbie was his. He said if you made claims to the contrary, you were only trying to get your hands on the Montgomery money. I told him I knew he was lying. I've seen the boy's picture. I reminded him a majority of the Montgomery money was once St. Clair money, and as the only living former St. Clair, I had considerable say in how it was distributed. I told him if he had considerable say in how it was distributed. I told him if he refused to acknowledge his financial responsibilities toward his son, I'd see to it his grandmother's funds were frozen until such time as Robbie's share could be determined and—"

"Oh, Patricia, you didn't."

"It's Robbie's birthright! Ryan has no right to squander it!"

Emily ran a tired hand over her face. “He was livid, I suppose.” She was glad she'd been out of town. There was no teling what Ryan might have done had he come looking for her.

"He threatened to have me declared incompetent. I ... suffer from depression. I have for years. I have these attacks, and..."

She faltered. Emily gave Patricia's hands a reassuring squeeze. “I understand."

"We've kept it in the family, but it's been wel documented. I've been hospitalized twice for treatment."

Treatment Emily suspected wouldn't have been necessary if Patricia hadn't been subjected to her husband's abuse for over thirty-five years, but she held her tongue. “Then I admire you al the more for taking the steps you have. When did you arrive at Harmony House?"

"Friday morning, while John was at work. I took a cab to your hospital, and your supervisor directed me here."

Augustus again. “When did John hit you?"

"Wednesday night. When Ryan refused to take me seriously, I told John what he had done. He caled Ryan into his study and confronted him again. Ryan denied Robbie was his son and repeated his claims you were only after his money. He admitted he'd seen you, but claimed it was at your request.

"John believed him. I knew he would. He's as obsessive as Ryan about money. When Ryan left, John turned on me. He ordered me to never mention the subject again, and said if he ever found out I'd tried to see you or Robbie, he'd make sure I regretted it.

"I don't know what came over me. I snapped. I told him I'd see my grandson as often as you would let me and there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it. He threw me against the bookcase.

When I tried to walk out of the room, he grabbed me again and backhanded me across the face."

Emily closed her eyes, picturing the scene al too wel. She'd lived it often enough herself. “But you stayed another two nights. Why?"

"I had to decide if I could live with his edict.” Her dark, wounded eyes lifted to Emily's. “I couldn't. Not this time."

"What wil you do now?"

"I don't know. I left everything behind."

"Do you want to go back?"

"Never."

Emily considered her next words carefuly. “Would you like the name of a good attorney?"

"I'd like any help you can give me. I know I don't deserve it after the way I treated you, but I have no one else to turn to."

Emily knew the feeling. No one in Ryan's circle of friends would have come forward to help her. “You've got friends here."

"I don't mean to sound like a snob, Emily. Truly I don't. But I find it difficult to talk to the people here. They treat me differently."

"The staff?"

"No. They've been wonderful. It's ... the others."

Women who felt they had as little in common with Mrs. John Montgomery as she'd once felt she had. Again, Emily understood.

“Give them time. They've each got their own set of circumstances to work through. Once they get to know you..."

"I was hoping you'd take me in. At least until I can get back on my feet."

Emily didn't know what to say. To refuse would be unconscionable.

Emily didn't know what to say. To refuse would be unconscionable.

To agree ... she hadn't told Robbie about Patricia yet. So much had happened in the last two weeks. She also had their safety to consider. By taking Patricia in, would she expose herself and Robbie to danger?

Instinct and experience told Emily no. Her ex-father-in-law was the type of man to cut his losses. Saving face, keeping up appearances was al-important to Dr. John Covington Montgomery. He wouldn't come after Patricia physicaly. He wouldn't risk his image that way.

"I shouldn't have asked."

Emily looked Patricia in the eye. “How soon can you be packed?"

Patricia's smile of gratitude cemented Emily's decision. Smiling, she stood and puled Patricia to her feet. Before they could leave, they'd need to get the shelter's legal department to issue a protection from abuse order and set up a schedule of counseling sessions for Patricia. “We'd better get busy. I have an important date to keep tonight."

"A date?” Patricia asked as Emily puled away from the shelter two hours later, the PFA order in the sheriff's hands and on its way to John Montgomery. For added insurance, Emily had had the legal department issue a PFA order for herself—to be delivered to Ryan.

To violate it would constitute a felony, something neither father nor son could afford to commit.

Emily smiled. “And a rather public one, at that."

Emily smiled. “And a rather public one, at that."

Patricia's eyes showed the first spark of life she'd probably exhibited in the past week. “Does it have something to do with the dashing Mr. Cameron?"

Emily arched an amused eyebrow. “Dashing?"

Patricia colored a bit. It looked good on her. “I must confess I found him quite charming and attractive that night at the banquet.

And so utterly devoted to you. Is it serious?"

Emily glanced at her watch. Five-thirty. Her smile was grim. “I'l find out in about five hours."

"Mom! Where have you been? We're gonna miss the game!"

Emily stepped into the foyer with Patricia behind her and looked up in surprise as Robbie raced down the staircase. Behind him, Melissa poked her head out of Robbie's bedroom. “Sorry, Dr.

Jordan. I had to tel him. When he woke up, he thought you'd gone to work and welched on his special treat."

Emily smiled and ruffled her son's hair. “Would I do that to you?"

"You mean we're realy going? Al right!” He took off for the kitchen.

"Robbie! Robbie, wait. I ... have another surprise for you. There's someone I'd like you to meet.” She stepped aside and drew Patricia forward. “This is Patricia. She's going to stay with us for a few weeks."

Robbie peered at Patricia with open curiosity. “Living with us? Like Nanna used to?"

Emily nodded. “Patricia, this is my son, Robbie Jordan."

"I'm very pleased to meet you, young man.” They'd agreed in the car to wait a while before springing the news on Robbie he had yet another grandmother to love him.

"Did somebody hit you, too?"

Patricia faltered a moment, then: “Yes."

"Did you hit ‘em back?"

"I'm afraid not."

"My dad hit my mom."

Emily cleared her throat in dismay. “Why don't we go into the kitchen and see what there is to eat? We'l have to leave soon if we want to get to the game on time."

"Mom told me to pul some stuff out of the freezer for you to microwave,” Melissa offered from the top of the stairs.

Emily could have kissed her. For a sixteen-year-old, she had a Emily could have kissed her. For a sixteen-year-old, she had a remarkable sense of tact ... and timing. “Thank you, Melissa.

Patricia, why don't you oversee dinner? I need to change. And Robbie—mind your manners. No nosy questions or you're staying home tonight!"

She dashed upstairs, where she paid Melissa and sent the girl home with a hefty bonus. She stripped again and slipped into her new Victoria's Secret body shaping bra and panties, a sea green cashmere sweater and pair of designer jeans Annalise had insisted made her look as sexy as a movie star, then yanked on the pair of calf-length black leather boots Suzanna had pushed her into buying as wel. She brushed her hair and let it fal loose and fluffy to her mid-back, touched up her makeup, and made it back to the kitchen in twelve minutes flat.