Home Free (10 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
Chapter 9
“
I
think, Fergus, it's time to get dressed for our guests. I told everyone to come anytime after noon, and it is noon now. It might behoove us to put some clothes on. What do you think, sweetie?”
I
think, Fergus, it's time to get dressed for our guests. I told everyone to come anytime after noon, and it is noon now. It might behoove us to put some clothes on. What do you think, sweetie?”
No one had ever called Fergus Duffy “sweetie.” Fergus threw his head back and let loose with a bear of a laugh. And to think he'd dreaded this visit to the United States. “Well, you do hang out with a prudish bunch, so yes, let's get dressed.”
Ninety minutes later, including a small interlude for a little tomfoolery, as Annie put it, the couple was sitting across from each other in the kitchen, sipping coffee.
“Fergus, do I look as sappy as you do?” Annie asked fretfully.
“Absolutely. Do you want to practice looking . . . oh, I don't know, maybe stupid?”
“My girls would see through that in a New York minute. I know, let's talk about something else. Tell me what you think of our president. I'm trying to figure out why she invited Maggie Spritzer to Camp David. The invitation came out of the blue three days before Thanksgiving. That alone tells me something is going on. The question is, What? and whatever âWhat?' is, does it have to do with Maggie Spritzer? Why Maggie, of all people? Yes, she is a wonderful person. Yes, she is the editor in chief of the
Post
. Then there is that whole vigilante thing, where she and the paper befriended them . . . us. I can't get a handle on it for some reason. This is really bothering me, Fergus, so help me out here.”
Post
. Then there is that whole vigilante thing, where she and the paper befriended them . . . us. I can't get a handle on it for some reason. This is really bothering me, Fergus, so help me out here.”
“Your president appears to me to be, as you Yanks like to say, âon the ball.' She has her fingers on everything, not just the nuclear button. Maybe it isn't Miss Spritzer but the companion she took with her. Didn't you say the girls told you about her new paramour? Maybe that's where we should be looking instead of at Maggie.”
Annie cupped her chin in her hands and stared at Fergus, all thoughts of what had transpired during the previous hours now just a memory. “But that's chancy. Maggie could just as well have invited Ted or anyone else and not the man who caused Nikki's and Alexis's antennae to start waving.
“From what I can gather, the man is not involved in politics. He's some kind of financial wizard, or so he would like you to believe. And yet, the girls feel like he sought out Maggie for a reason. Woman's intuition on that score.”
“I, for one, would never argue with a woman's intuition. Especially a vigilante's intuition. For whatever this is worth, and it is just my opinion, Annie, the girls warned Maggie, and she is at heart still a reporter, so her instincts have kicked in, which is just another way of saying she will be on high alert.”
“In your gut, do you think Maggie's invitation to Camp David has anything to do with
you
and your colleagues' visit to the White House yesterday?”
you
and your colleagues' visit to the White House yesterday?”
“Annie, I honestly don't know. Our meeting was more of a fact-finding kind of meeting. The reason for our invitation to Camp David had more to do with timing than anything else. The president had to cut our meeting short when she was summoned by her chief of staff. We had traveled here from Europe and were planning on leaving today, as a matter of fact, but the president extended the invitation so that we could meet tomorrow, finish up at Camp David, and be on our way back home tomorrow.
“As I told you earlier, I was just a stand-in for my replacement, who was scheduled to arrive Monday. Things just got bollixed up for some reason. Now, I don't know if my replacement is coming or whether he will do a webcam solo tomorrow. I'm technically out of the loop here.”
“Let me ask you this,” Annie said as she leered at Fergus, and there was no mistaking her intent, which was, “Tell me what I want to know, or you are outta here.” Fergus correctly interpreted the look. “In your opinion, was your meeting primarily about how the European countries handle, monitor, and deal with their governmental
slush funds
? Those billion-dollar babies the public is not privy to? Or was that just a side issue?”
slush funds
? Those billion-dollar babies the public is not privy to? Or was that just a side issue?”
Fergus had a momentary vision of himself driving away from Annie's house, his visit a distant memory, as his nostrils fought the tantalizing aromas he'd helped create. He decided it was in his best interest to step up to the plate. “We did spend what I thought was an inordinate amount of time discussing the matter. My colleagues agreed with my assessment, and when we were having coffee while the president went off to do whatever she had to do, we did agree that your . . . organizational funds were at the heart of our meeting.”
Annie digested the information and decided Fergus was telling her the truth as he saw it and as much of that as he was allowed to talk about. “Okay. That's pretty much what I thought.” She smiled.
Fergus sighed so loud, he knew the sound could be heard all the way to the interstate. Fergus got up to check the turkey. “Have you decided on how you are going to explain my being here to your friends?” he asked casually.
“I thought I would go with the truth. You can't go wrong when you tell the truth. I . . . ah . . . might leave out a few details, but yes, I think I will just go with the truth. The girls will either figure it out or they won't. But either way, it really isn't my problem, now, is it? In case you haven't figured it out, I don't answer to anyone but myself. I might listen to other opinions, but in the end, mine is the only one that counts. What about you?”
“I don't have to answer to anyone, not even my colleagues. What is it you Americans are so fond of saying? Oh, yes, I'm free as the breeze. Footloose and fancy free. What that means to you, Annie, is this. I can stay on here as long as you want me to stay. It might be cold here, but it is ten times worse back in Scotland, and I do not have central heating. I can't fish in the winter, and I don't like hunting. There is one thing, however, and we need to get it straight right now. I pay my own way. I can't live off you. My pension is not all that big, and I have to measure out my wants and needs. I do have a nest egg, but that is for emergencies. Is that going to be a problem, Annie?”
Annie thought about what Fergus said. She understood it and admired the man for his ethics. “This is how I see it right now, Fergus. You're my guest. Guests don't pay their host for living accommodationsâat least my guests don't. When and if I visit you in Scotland, I wouldn't expect you to charge me for staying with you.”
“Annie, there is a world of difference between
your
accommodations and
my
accommodations. I do see your point, though. Then there is the question of airfare between our two countries.”
your
accommodations and
my
accommodations. I do see your point, though. Then there is the question of airfare between our two countries.”
“I have a private jet, Fergus.”
Fergus groaned. “I know that. That is the problem. I will not . . . I cannot . . .”
Annie stood up to her full height, which was impressive. “You
will
! Money is not our issue. This is about you and me. We can make it work, but you have to cooperate with me. Otherwise, you can leave right now.”
will
! Money is not our issue. This is about you and me. We can make it work, but you have to cooperate with me. Otherwise, you can leave right now.”
Fergus's vision of driving down the road in the snow swam before his eyes again. “Can we put this on the shelf to be discussed again?”
“We can,” Annie said happily.
Fergus was saved from any further rebuttal when they heard the sound of a horn that announced an arrival. Annie ran to the window. “It's Kathryn and Bert! Oh, look, it's snowing harder. This is all so wonderful! Maybe we'll be snowbound for the weekend! I do love snow, don't you, Fergus?”
Fergus hated snow, but he wouldn't admit to any negatives at that point in time. “I do, dear lady. I dearly love snow.”
“It's not the same when you run through the snow with a ton of clothing on as opposed to running through the rain bare-ass naked.”
Fergus decided to let that little comment go right past him.
Hugs and kisses and a manly handshake between Bert and Fergus, and the greeting was over. Annie finished off the greeting by saying Fergus was taking Maggie's seat at dinner, and wasn't it wonderful how he gave up dinner at Camp David to come celebrate Thanksgiving with them?
When she started to say something about trading Fergus for Maggie, Kathryn walked over and whispered in Annie's ear, “You need to quit while you're ahead. So, was it as good as you thought it would be?”
Annie flushed a bright pink. “Actually, it was better. Are you telling me I need to tone it down for when the others get here?”
“You said it, not me, but yeah. Way to go, âMom'!”
“Do you girls mind if we go into the family room to watch a pregame?”
The minute Fergus and Bert were out of earshot, Kathryn hissed, “Tell me everything, and don't leave one thing out.”
“Oh, my God, I don't know where to start. I gave my first pole recital!”
Kathryn was so jaded she didn't think anything could surprise her, but her eyes popped wide as saucers. “You didn't!”
“I did, and it was perfect. I did such a good job, I didn't think I would be able to revive Fergus. And at my age!” Annie cackled.
“Is this going to go somewhere, Annie?”
“Well, if it doesn't, it won't be for lack of trying on my part. He has this thing about my money. It could become an issue.”
“Only if you let it, Annie. What I'm trying to say here is, don't be too quick to want it all
your
way. He's a man. He has pride. Let's face it, your lifestyle is one that most people can only dream about. Be open, okay?”
your
way. He's a man. He has pride. Let's face it, your lifestyle is one that most people can only dream about. Be open, okay?”
“That lifestyle hasn't gotten me a companion, now, has it? I am open. For now it is what it is, and I will not rock the boat. I wish you could have seen me on that pole. I was like greased lightning, and I didn't make a single mistake. Fergus did say he likes my agility. And he did mention that my enthusiasm was contagious.”
“TMI, Annie.”
“One can never have too much information, Kathryn. It is, after all, the information age.”
Just then, another horn sounded. Kathryn craned her neck. “It's Jack and Nikki. While you greet them and fill Nikki in, do you want me to crack the champagne and set out the nibbles for the guys?”
“Yes, of course. I was so caught up in my . . . Well, I was caught up.” Annie started to giggle and couldn't stop.
Kathryn doubled over, slapping at her sides. “I can't wait to hear what Myra and Nellie have to say.”
That comment took the wind out of Annie's sails. She looked so crestfallen, Kathryn set the nibble tray on the table and hugged her. “They will be so jealous, Annie. Trust me. Plus, I know they'll be as happy for you as I am.”
The door flew open, and Nikki and Jack walked in. “It's snowing harder,” Nikki said as she wrapped her arms around Annie. She held out a bottle of champagne.
Jack waited his turn, then said, “Nothing smells as good as a Thanksgiving dinner. I sure hope you outdid yourself this year, Annie.”
“I really did, dear, and you have no idea how
tired
I am right now.”
tired
I am right now.”
Kathryn winked at Nikki, then raised her eyebrows. She whispered, “That lady has one hell of a story to tell you girls,” before she scampered off with her nibble tray.
Myra, Charles, Nellie, and Elias were the next guests to arrive, followed by Yoko and Harry. Barely five minutes passed before Espinosa, Alexis, and Ted arrived. The only guests not yet accounted for were Isabelle and Pearl Barnes.
The men clustered in the family room while the women settled themselves around the kitchen table, where women had congregated for hundreds of years. Or as Annie put it, “The kitchen table is the very essence of family life, and that's what we're all about.”
“We picked up an extra guest to take Maggie's seat,” Annie said. “You will never guess who appeared on my doorstep after midnight. Fergus Duffy! I was sitting right over there at the island, scanning all those cookbooks, and there he was! And . . . get this, he was also invited to Camp David, but when I invited him for dinner, he blew off the president of the United States.”
“You must have been very persuasive, Annie,” Myra said.
“Myra, you have no idea how persuasive I was. I even gave my first recital on the pole, and I want you to know I aced it!”
“Oh, myyyy Godddd!” Myra said, her jaw dropping. The others simply looked stunned as Annie went into her spiel, adding and making up as she went along to make her encounter even more interesting.
“And now you expect us to sit at the dinner table, across from that man, and not . . . explode into laughter?” Nellie said.
Myra rose to the occasion and said, “Congratulations, Annie. I guess you really are a cougar.”
“Oh, Myra, no. You're only a cougar when the guy is younger than you. But, I will say this. I roared like a lion, I stalked him like a panther, and then I pounced like the sleek fox I am. I showed him no mercy. Not that he asked for any, mind you. That's why I'm tired today, girls.”
Yoko clapped her hands. “That was a wonderful story, âMom.' How much of it was true?”
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