Vegas Heat (15 page)

Outside in the bright sunshine, Fanny wandered aimlessly through the garden, stopping to pick a flower from time to time. How many hours she’d spent in this very garden. Once it had been a comforting place to sit and think, a place where she found solace in her troubled marriage. More than once she and Ash had made love on the springy green grass. It was silent now. She looked overhead to see if there were any birds nestled in the trees.

Fanny sat down and reached for a long blade of grass. She placed it between her fingers and brought it to her lips. An earsplitting sound echoed around the garden. Once she’d had a contest with her mother-in-law. She couldn’t remember who had won. The little contest had been one of her nicest memories, and now she barely remembered it.

“A penny for your thoughts, Fanny.”

“Tyler. I’m afraid they aren’t worth even a penny. Where’s Jake?”

“Napping. He plays hard and falls asleep on his feet. How are you, Fanny?”

“I thought I was fine until I got here. The truth is I can’t wait to leave. I don’t feel like I belong here, and I also don’t feel welcome.”

“I live here, thanks to your generosity, and I feel just the way you do sometimes. These last two years have not been easy.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“Why didn’t you ask, Fanny? Sunny’s your daughter. We talked about her several times. If there was anyone in the world she’d listen to, it was you. You didn’t take the time. I guess I’m blaming you. It isn’t right, but it’s how I feel.”

“Honesty is always good. A person would be a fool not to respect an honest statement of fact. Are you asking me if I’m going to defend myself for the last three years?”

“Only if you feel the need to explain. At this point I really don’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve been doing. My only concern is my stubborn wife and my two children. Is that honest enough for you?”

Fanny stared at her son-in-law. She saw the torment and anger in his eyes, noticed his clenched fists. She adored this young man with the magical hands, hands that could reconstruct a person’s face after a bad accident and make that person whole again. She knew he was a good husband and father. “Of course. Let me make sure I understand this. What you’re saying is you’re holding me responsible for Sunny’s condition. You’re her husband, Tyler. You live with her every day Why couldn’t you get her to a doctor? Surely you must have watched her deteriorate. I wasn’t here.”

“My point exactly. A psychiatrist I spoke with told me women, Sunny in particular, want to be perfect for their husbands. That means no warts, no nothing. When deformities, real or imaginary, show up, the wart holder feels inferior and starts to go into a shell. Confiding in a mother who loves unconditionally, accepts everything unconditionally, is the way to go. That mother gives emotional support. To Sunny you were her cherry Popsicle but you didn’t show up to hand it to her. I know she calls you every day because I see the phone bills. What in the goddamn hell did you think, Fanny?”

Fanny felt her insides start to crumple. “I think I thought she wasn’t happy. I swear to you, each time she called I asked how she was and asked if there was anything I could do. I invited her to the ranch, but she declined, said she didn’t want to come without you and you were too busy. She never once asked me to come here. If she had asked, I would have come. I think you know that, Tyler.”

Tyler shrugged. His voice was frosty when he said, “I went to Ash. I have to say he was already on top of it. You have to give the devil his due, Fanny. He came, saw, and did what you should have done.”

“That’s so cruel, Tyler.”

“It’s a fact. You can’t dispute a fact. I came here to tell you Billie and Thad have arrived and they’re on the patio.”

Fanny nodded because she didn’t trust herself to speak. She watched her son-in-law walk away. She wished she could cry, but her eyes felt dry and hot. The rest of her body felt icy cold.

Fanny straightened her shoulders and strode up the path to the patio. Her smile was warm and all-encompassing when she hugged Billie and Thad.

“Fanny, this baby is so beautiful I never want to let her go. She looks like Sunny. Sit, sit, and tell me what’s going on and then I’ll tell you horror stories about Washington. I can’t wait till we get married. Keeping two residences is ridiculous,” she whispered. “I heard about the pup and Thad and I are going to take her if you don’t object. He’s got her inside his shirt. He’s some guy. I didn’t think I could ever be this happy, Fanny. You aren’t exactly blooming. Do you want to go for a walk and talk?”

“I’d like that. Let me check first to see if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Not a thing, Fanny,” Bess said. “Be back in an hour. John’s barbecuing, and he wants to hear compliments.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“That’s good because we have to leave right after dinner. Thad rented a plane to make the trip. He has to be back in Washington at the crack of dawn. We’ll make it with the time difference. God, I hate politics.”

Billie linked her arm with Fanny’s. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

Fanny told her. “I want to cry,” she said. “I need to cry, but I can’t.”

They talked, these two old friends who understood family, and who had shared more tragedy in their lives than most people experienced in a lifetime.

“When is it my turn, Billie? Why is this my fault? They’re all blaming me. I can see it in their faces. Ash . . . Ash has taken my place. I swear on my children, Billie, I don’t begrudge what he’s doing as long as his motives are pure. I don’t believe they are, and I hope I’m wrong. I’d give up my life for any one of my children just the way you would.

“I was sitting in the garden before and I started to think about Sallie. She knew her children would break her heart. She talked about it so often. It has to be me, Billie. My children keep switching up. One minute they side with me, the next it’s with their father. Why can’t it just be all of us? They have every right to love their father. That doesn’t mean they have to like all the things he does. The same goes for me. They constantly choose sides and smack in the middle of all of this is Simon. If I had married anyone but Simon, things would be just fine. I don’t know what to do.”

“What did Sallie always tell us? When you don’t know what to do, do nothing. That’s my advice, Fanny. You want to stay here now, don’t you?”

“Part of me does, but as Bess pointed out, I wasn’t invited. Simon and I will be right behind you when you leave. Ash will be here for Sunny. If I believed in my heart that there was something I could do, nothing in this world could make me leave. It’s a terrible feeling not to be needed or wanted by your own children.”

“At this point in time, Fanny, your children love you as much as you love them. This is one of those crises that pop up from time to time when everyone goes off the deep end. Things always right themselves later on. Do whatever feels right to you, Fanny. You can call me any time of the day or night. You know that. When you have more of a grip on things, we can take a vacation together. We could go back to that little house in Arizona that belonged to Sallie and Devin. Or if you feel the need to get away to lick your wounds, you could go alone. Did you ever tell Simon about that little house?”

“No. I don’t know why I didn’t. Probably because of something Sallie said. You know, never share everything. Some things need to be kept private. When I felt the urge to bolt, I thought about that little house. We probably should be getting back. Bess’s husband is a cranky cook. A good one, but feisty. I don’t think I can eat anything anyway. Do me a favor, Billie. Eat and run so I can leave. I never thought I’d live to see the day I would say something like that.”

Billie laughed. “Next time I get to unload. My granddaughter and my daughter are at it, too. Sawyer absolutely refuses to acknowledge Maggie as her mother. It’s eating Maggie alive, and there’s nothing she can do about it. It seems to me like we just move from one crisis to the next with barely a breather in between. Take a deep breath now. You can handle this, Fanny.”

The next two hours were pleasant enough. Everyone smiled, joked, ate, drank, and cleaned up. Fanny watched Ash closely, her thoughts in a turmoil. As Billie and Thad said their good-byes, Fanny walked over to Ash’s chair, leaned over and whispered, “If I ever find out you have an ulterior motive for what you promised today, I swear, I’ll make you regret the day you were born. Better yet, I’ll shut down Babylon. For good. I have the power to do that. I think it’s wonderful that you got Sunny to agree to seek help. Don’t let her swing in the wind, Ash.” She leaned even closer, her voice more hushed, “You fuck with our kids, and it’s all over for you. That’s a threat and a promise. I apologize for my language. Unfortunately it’s the only kind you understand. Did I make myself clear?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then I’ll say good-bye.”

“Leaving so soon, Mom?” young Billie said.

“Yes. You young people can visit. Is there anything I can do before I leave?”

“Not a thing,” Sunny said as she hugged her mother. “You’re upset with me, aren’t you?”

“A little, but it’s okay. I understand, Sunny. If you need me or if I can do anything, call me. I can be here in a few hours. Polly is just as beautiful as you were when you were born. Take good care of her. Hug Jake for me and give him a big kiss.”

“Okay, Mom.”

The chorus of good-byes rang across the mountain as Simon slipped the car in gear.

Fanny was silent for so long, Simon reached over and chucked her under the chin. “Tell me
exactly
what’s wrong. How can I help you? What can I do? If my opinion counts for anything, I want you to know that I believe Ash will come through. We had a long talk at the cemetery. For the first time in his life he cares about someone besides himself. In his condition that says a lot.”

“Simon, I want to stay here for a few days. I’d like it if you dropped me off in town and went back to the ranch yourself. Just for a few days. I think I need to be by myself for a little while.”

“If that’s what you want, Fanny. My thinking is you shouldn’t be alone.”

Fanny thought her husband’s voice was whiny and threatening at the same time. She felt her insides start to crunch.

“I
need
to be alone. If you don’t or can’t understand that, then I’m sorry.”

“I do, and I don’t. Will you at least call me?”

“No. Alone means alone.”

“If you had married anyone but me, this wouldn’t be happening, would it?”

“I don’t know. What I do know is I cannot allow my children to dictate my life. I would not do that to them, and I will not tolerate it from any child of mine. Just drop me off at Babylon. I want to locate the most strategic places in the casino in case I have to torch it.”

“Jesus, Fanny, do you know what you just said?”

“I told Ash I would do it if he didn’t follow through with Sunny. I will, too. Yes, drop me off at Babylon.”

“Fanny, do you see this developing into a problem between the two of us?”

“We already have a problem, Simon. My family that you’re so intent on keeping away from me is now right before me. I will deal with it, and I don’t want any interference from you. Now, tell me, is Polly the most beautiful baby you’ve ever seen?”

“You were probably just as pretty when you were born. I know a secret.”

There was such tight control in Simon’s voice, Fanny felt her insides start to shrivel. “You can’t keep a secret, Simon. Tell me.”

“Okay. Thad isn’t taking Billie back to Washington. He’s taking her to Hawaii!”

“Oh, how wonderful for Billie. When is he going to tell her?”

“When she realizes they aren’t landing at Washington National on time. Are we going to be okay, Fanny? I need to know.”

“I’ll be fine, Simon. I don’t know about you. I think I still love you, Simon.”

“You
think!
”

“Yes, think. I haven’t been happy for a long time. You know that, and you don’t seem to care. You are much too controlling, and I do not like the way you try to keep me from my family. I’m having a hard time believing I capitulated where you’re concerned. I won’t do that again, so be so advised.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“Call it whatever you want. It’s the way it is.”

“Obviously we need to have a long talk.”

“We had three years to talk, and it didn’t work. Do you know why it didn’t work? It didn’t work, Simon, because you were too busy listening to yourself instead of hearing what I had to say. I don’t care to discuss this anymore.”

“Fine,” Simon snapped.

“We should be leaving, Tyler. It’s after nine and Sunny looks tired.”

“It’s a good kind of tired, Sage. She loves it when you all come up here and she gets to show off the kids and her homemaking skills. Birch looks like he’s had a few too many. Perhaps you should drive him down the mountain.”

“I already thought about that and mentioned it to Lily. She’s agreeable. We’ll say good night then. Guess I’ll take the lead. Is Dad staying over?”

“He didn’t say anything to me. I don’t think so. He said something about wanting to be in town first thing in the morning to get things moving.”

“Guess he’ll bring up the rear then.”

“Time to go, Sage. You’re last in line and blocking my car,” Birch said.

“Get in my car, Birch, you’ve had too much to drink. Tyler will move your car to the garage and drive it into town tomorrow. I’ll bring him back up the mountain in the evening.”

“Telling me what to do again, Sage?”

“You’re drunk, Birch.”

“Want to see me walk a straight line?”

“Sage is right, Birch,” Ash said quietly.

“Am I drunk, Lily? Are you afraid to drive with me?”

“Why don’t I drive?”

“Does that mean you think I’m drunk, too?”

“I don’t know if you’re drunk, but yes, I think you had too much to drink,” Lily said.

“Well I don’t think any such thing. If you’re coming with me, get in the car.”

“I’m going first, Birch. Stay behind me and don’t even think about passing me on the road. You ride my bumper,” Sage said.