Celebration Read online

  Kristine’s throat closed up as she hugged her youngest son. “Not half as much as I missed you. I just want you to be happy, Tyler.”

  “I’ll be home when I get my first leave.”

  “I’ll be waiting, honey. You be careful now.”

  Kristine stepped back as her children embraced Woodie. And then it was her turn again. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She was almost delirious with joy when she saw her children’s wet eyes. Maybe something good would come of this after all.

  Woodie put his arm around her shoulder. “There go three great kids. I’m so damn proud of them, and they aren’t even mine. I don’t know how to figure that one out.”

  “They said they loved me. I didn’t think I’d ever hear them say that. I had myself prepared for the worst. God, Woodie, I am so happy. Can we go home now? I have sixteen pups I want to cuddle.”

  “When I’m here you want puppies!” Woodie said in mock horror.

  “They’re the next best thing to babies and children. It was a great weekend, Woodie. I loved every minute of it.”

  “Are you going to start to cry?”

  “So what if I do. Don’t you have a broad shoulder?”

  “It’s yours anytime you want it, Kristine.”

  “I want it.”

  “Then it’s yours.”

  They drove in comfortable silence until Kristine spoke.

  “Woodie, what do you think about me selling the old Kelly farm? I know it’s in ramshackle condition, but it has to be worth something. The acreage has to be valuable. I don’t want the money for myself. I’d give it to the kids. Do you know if I can sell it legally?”

  “I don’t know. I can look into it for you. Is this the first step in ... whatever it is you see down the road?”

  “The kids could use a nice nest egg. They might want to buy a house, put down some roots. It will probably take a while to sell it. The house and barns are beyond fixing up. Actually, the whole place is a disaster. The thousand acres it sits on have to be worth money to the right buyer. We might get lucky and net enough profit so the kids can buy houses and not have to carry mortgages. That’s the least Logan can do for them.”

  “You might have to declare him legally dead, Kristine.”

  Kristine’s jaw dropped. “Dead? I don’t think I could . . . how can you declare someone dead if you aren’t sure? Doesn’t desertion count? If what was mine was his, why isn’t what was his mine?”

  “I’m not a lawyer, Kristine. I will look into it, though. You are also going to have to look into finding a good investment counselor. When you turn fifty, you take control of the money in trust for you. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need to listen, Kristine. According to my father, your parents didn’t care for Logan, and were afraid that you would marry him. That’s the reason they set things up the way they did. It’s a very complicated business when you inherit this kind of money. You’ll need to set up new trusts, make a new will, hire an estate planner, get a good tax man. You should go to New York soon to start all the paperwork. It’s going to take time. I also suggest you put your house into a trust for the kids, with the proviso that you can live out your life there if you want. You need to clear everything up in case Logan does show up at some point. Does Logan know that you stand to take control of the trust at age fifty? Did he ever see the will?”

  “I don’t think so. I never had a copy of it. To tell you the truth, after my parents’ death, I didn’t ask any questions. Your father said there would be a check every month. If he said anything else, I don’t remember. I really wasn’t interested in the money, Woodie. Hard as it is to believe, it’s the truth. I was in love, I was young, and I was grieving. All I wanted to do was run as far away as I could. Even if Logan knows, so what? He can’t do anything about it. We opened all new accounts with just my name on everything.”

  “You’re still married, Kristine. If your husband is alive, that gives him certain rights.”

  “Beyond stealing my eight million and my eight thousand dollars? I don’t think so, Woodie.”

  “When can you get away to go to New York? I’ll do some checking and put you in touch with some good people. Two days at the most.”

  Kristine felt her stomach start to knot up. “Will next week be soon enough?”

  “Next week will be just fine. You can’t afford to be sloppy now. The last time you were lax, you got taken. Keep thinking about those three wonderful kids of yours.”

  “I understand, Woodie. You never told me how much money I’m going to come into.”

  “I can’t tell you because I don’t know. Your grandparents socked all their assets in New York banks. Your parents followed suit at some point along the way. My father was a little perturbed over that. I guess he got over it. I’ve asked for an accounting on your behalf. While you’re in New York, you can go to the banks yourself as long as you have the proper ID. I’ll also write you a letter on bank stationery.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Let’s talk about the kids. Do you ever regret not having children?”

  “Yes. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

  “I’m hungry,” Kristine said.

  “Have you ever been on a moonlight picnic?”

  Kristine rolled down the car window. “Do you mean the kind with no food and no moonlight and wet grass?”

  “Yeah, that’s the kind.”

  “No, I can’t say that I have. I’m one of those people who likes to try new things.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  Kristine started to laugh and couldn’t stop. In between choking fits of laughter she managed to say, “Then let’s go for it.”

  “My mother didn’t raise any fools either, Kristine Kelly.”

  Kristine continued to laugh. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this good. Hadn’t her son said she should laugh more often? Oh, yeah. She cuddled as close to Woodie as the console in the middle of the two seats would allow. Woodie’s arm moved to cover her shoulder. It felt right, good, and so very wonderful.

  There was a spring in Kristine’s steps as she bounded through the house, out to the kitchen, then to the barn.

  “Whoa” Pete said, holding up his hand. He had three pups in his arms who were trying to lick at his chin. “Is this the same Kristine Kelly who left here two days ago? You’re lookin’ good, Kristine. How was the trip?”

  Kristine beamed. “The trip was, in a word, wonderful.”

  “That good, huh?”

  “Better than good, my friend.”

  “Tell me about it,” Pete said, transferring the pups to Kristine’s waiting arms.

  “The sky was bluer, the air sweeter, the sun more golden. The warm summer rain was delicious,” she said, nuzzling the pups.

  “I don’t think I ever heard a graduation summed up quite like that. Or, are we talking about Woodie?”

  Kristine flushed. “Both. Don’t be nosy.”

  “I deserve to be nosy. How was the graduation?”

  “It was wonderful. I was so fearful but the kids . . . they said they loved me, Pete. I never expected to hear that from any of them. Mike has a girlfriend and a job in California. Cala has a boyfriend, and she’s going to work in California, too. Tyler enlisted in the Marines. That shook me up a little, but I’m okay with it. He’s going to come here when he gets his first leave. They’re so grown-up. I had to fight not to cry, but then I did and so did they. It’s a start, a kind of new beginning. God, it was so wonderful. Listen, do you think you can handle things here? We drove all night, and I’d like to get a few hours’ sleep.”

  “No problem, Kristine. Now, what about Woodie?”

  “He’s wonderful, too. Everything is wonderful. Isn’t wonderful a wonderful word?”

  “I guess that means you got laid.”

  “Pete!”

  “It’s written all over your face. Listen, I’m happy for you. Woodie is a great guy. In fact, I don’t think they come any better than him with the exception of mysel
f. I’m for anything that puts a smile on your face. Don’t look at me like that. You and I have shared a lot of secrets these past two years while we waited for the dogs to give birth. I just want you to know I’m happy for you, and I don’t want any details. Go on, take your nap, and I’ll take care of things.”

  “I might have to go to New York next week for a few days. Woodie thinks I need all these people to, you know, set up trusts and stuff. He wants to make sure I’m protected. Do you mind? I’ll be glad to pay you overtime.”

  “Woodie’s right. I don’t mind, and overtime is not necessary. The free room and board takes care of everything. Do what you have to do.”

  Kristine handed over the three small balls of fur. “I’ll see you later, Pete.”

  “Yeah, later,” Pete said as he tried to get a firmer grip on the wiggling dogs.

  Upstairs in her room, with the door closed, Kristine’s shoulders slumped when she looked at the room she’d slept in for the past three years. Her body started to shake the moment she made eye contact with the picture of Logan on her night table.

  Anyone seeing the room for the first time would have thought it was a shrine to Logan Kelly. There were pictures and mementos everywhere.

  Kristine felt a lump form in her throat at the same moment her stomach gave birth to a huge knot. For one brief moment she thought she was going to black out. She steadied herself, then reached for the photograph, her fingers tracing the outline of her husband’s face. “I’m sorry, Logan, but I can’t wait forever. I’m human. I deserve a life too. Woodie is ... Woodie is ... someone I care about. Just so you know, I didn’t tell him I loved him. I wanted to, but the words stuck in my throat. He loves me, cares about me, and he hates your fucking guts. I should hate you, too. I want to, but part of me will always belong to you. That was a terrible legacy for you to leave me, Logan. If I’m going to get on with my life then I have to cut you out of that life. I’m not going to be a good little soldier any longer. That book is going in the trash as soon as I can lay my hands on it.”

  Kristine walked over to the built-in window seat and propped open the lid. She dumped all her mementos and pictures on the bottom, not caring if the glass frames broke or not. She looked around to see if she had forgotten anything. She hadn’t. The lid snapped shut.

  Gone but not forgotten.

  Kristine’s gaze swept to the mantel, where only one picture remained, of her three children, taken in Sadie’s backyard. She smiled.

  “Your loss, Logan. Your loss,” she murmured as she drifted into sleep.

  7

  Her heart pounding in her chest, Kristine followed the receptionist down a long hallway. The meeting with her advisors, which had to be put back a month because Kristine had come down with a bad cold, was about to take place. The meeting Woodie had gone out of his way to arrange. She wished she knew more about finances. She’d been a fool to trust Logan with everything. These men were going to see how stupid she really was. Was. Was is my keyword, she thought as the door opened.

  They stared at her, polite looks on their faces. She wanted to smile, but her facial muscles felt like they were stretched tight on an embroidery hoop. She inclined her head slightly, and said, “Gentlemen,” by way of acknowledgment. Like Woodie said, Don’t let them intimidate you. You’re paying them. They’re going to work for you.

  One of the men rose to hold her chair. She sank down gratefully and waited expectantly as coffee was poured, cigarettes lighted. Then the introductions. Edwin Leavitt-Gruberger, estate and pension planner; Martin Friedman, attorney; Peter Rubolotta, broker; Michael and Audrey Bernstein, CPAs. She nodded again, and the meeting was under way.

  Six hours later, with a thirty-minute break for lunch, the meeting was over. Kristine heaved a sigh of relief as she made her way to the rest room with Audrey Bernstein. “I think you’re in good hands, Mrs. Kelly.”

  Kristine smiled. “I think so, too.”

  “It will take a little while before everything is formalized. Papers will arrive by the pound. Read everything carefully, and if you have any questions, we’re only a phone call away. I’m sorry your life didn’t turn out the way you had every right to expect it to. I have two little girls, and my husband and I both feel that nothing is more important than family. You’re on the right track now. The important thing is, are you comfortable with everything that was said and done in that room today. If not, we can go back in there and start over.”

  “No, everything is fine. I understand everything we talked about. On the plane today, coming here, I felt an awful sense of disloyalty. I felt like I was trying to cheat my husband when I don’t even have a husband. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead. All I know is he stole eight million dollars from me along with my eight-thousand-dollar household savings. I turned into a drunk, lost my children, and I feel disloyal. In a million years I will never understand that person I once was.”

  “Just think about who you are now. Think about what you accomplished and what you will continue to accomplish. If there are any losers here, you aren’t among them. Believe it or not, you came out the winner. In time, you’ll come to realize that. My husband is waiting for me. We have to drive to New Jersey, and this is rush hour. We promised Jessica and Corinne we’d take them to Chili’s. We try never to break a promise. It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Kelly. We’ll talk again.”

  “I’m sure we will. Thank you very much.”

  Kristine was the last one to leave the office, her head swimming with everything that had been said during the previous hours. Her shoulders straightened imperceptibly as she stepped into the elevator. “So there, Logan Kelly, so there,” she murmured over and over as she rode to the main lobby.

  She knew he would be waiting for her. What she didn’t know or expect was the rush of adrenaline she would feel as he held out his arms. She stepped into them as though she’d been doing it all her life. It felt right. It felt good and oh so wonderful. She smiled to herself. There was that word wonderful again.

  “How about coming to my house for a sleepover?” Woodie grinned.

  “Now that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day. Aren’t you going to ask me how it went?”

  “No. That’s your private business, Kristine. I have been assured that all the professionals you finally got to meet with today are tops in their fields. You’re going to be nurtured, Kristine.”

  “I know. I’m glad it’s done, and I’m glad it’s out of the way. I have to call Pete to tell him I won’t be home tonight. Do you mind waiting a few minutes?”

  “I took care of that. He said to stay as long as you like.”

  “Is that what he said?” Kristine drawled.

  “Yep. Word for word.”

  “In that case, I might stay the weekend. I’m all wired up as my son Mike would say.”

  “I know something that will help to alleviate that particular condition.”

  “Are you going to tell me or show me?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I always did like show-and-tell and in that order.”

  “Me too.”

  Kristine stepped from Woodie’s car, a stunned look on her face. “This is a modern house,” she said in surprise. “Why did I think you lived in a house like mine? This is gorgeous. I love redwood and all that glass. Good Lord, who cleans all those windows? Do you have shades? Do you have a gardener?”

  “Slow down. I had this house built because I personally hate old, moldy things, and my parents’ house was old and moldy. It would have cost more to restore it and it would still have been an old house with antique plumbing and electricity. I think of myself as a modern kind of guy, you know the kind, push buttons everywhere, Jacuzzis on every floor, a satellite dish, wide-screen TV for sports events. I have a cleaning crew who cleans the windows twice a year. There are no shades because I like to look outdoors winter or summer. The views from every window are spectacular. Since there are no immediate neighbors, I have no worries about privacy. This house sits on six acre
s, all of them wooded except for my lawn. I even have a bubbling or is that babbling brook in the back. There’s also a wraparound deck off the family room with a hot tub. I have a lady who comes in daily to clean and cook dinner for me. Her husband does the gardening. It all works for me. Trust me when I tell you there will be a dinner warming in the oven. There will be wine in a chilled bucket along with some sparkling cider for you. Betsy probably used one of the good tablecloths and real napkins. She likes to fuss. Come inside, and I’ll give you the tour.” Woodie reached for her hand. Kristine clutched his tightly, an electric current shooting through her body. She wondered if she gave off sparks.

  “Oh, this is gorgeous! I love these vaulted ceilings. I bet you have a magnificent Christmas tree. Do you polish the woodwork?”

  Woodie blinked. “I have no idea. I don’t do it. Maybe Betsy or Frank does it. I wanted everything natural so I wouldn’t have to paint every couple of years. Do you think this looks like a man’s . . . you know, a bachelor’s house?”

  “Kind of. Obviously you like leather furniture. I would have picked something in pale gray, a nubby kind of material. A center rug would be nice. It would close in the room a little more and make it cozy. I like cozy. I guess I’m just a nester by instinct. The floors are beautiful, though. The fica trees and all those green plants help a lot. I would imagine your daylight lighting is perfect for growing anything. Did you live here with your first wife?” Kristine sucked in her breath as she waited for his response. She could feel a streak of jealousy start to consume her.

  “God, no. We lived in a condo, all glass and chrome. It was black and white. Not one bit of color. Maureen was a black-and-white person. She hates this place. One time I bought her red roses, and she sent them back and asked for white ones. That was a long time ago. You wouldn’t have liked her. Hell, I didn’t like her, and I was married to her. I was lucky I came out of it in one piece.”

  “How long have you been divorced, Woodie?”