A Tale of Deception

October turned into November, while the vibrant colors of autumn vanished, revealing unadorned trees extending their empty limbs to an overcast gray sky, and still no word from Jordan.

  Reverberating next to Ann’s bed, the alarm went off, a brash and loud clamor, at 6:30 in the morning. Her hand stretched out, flopping heavily on the device, to stifle its irritating noise.

  Rising onto her elbows, she looked out the window onto a cold, dreary day. It was raining. Rain in the Pacific Northwest could fall in small, soft, misty raindrops at times. Even though it fell heavily from the sky, it fell softly, silently, soaking everything, making the leaves glossy, the ground mushy, and the streets sloppy - a day without the sun, muting the colors to gray, with a dampness that sank into the bones and keep you cold.

  Snuggling under the covers a little longer, she lay there glad to be warm and cozy.

  After several minutes, she dressed in a warm sweater and jeans, and joined Marty and Emma in the sitting room. They descended together to the first floor and walked into the morning room for a hearty and hot breakfast. Afterward, Marty ran to meet the school van.

  Emma went to the family room to study.

  Ann was in her office, at her desk, when Shelly walked in. Ann quickly rose to embrace her friend.

  “What are you doing here?” Ann asked in wonder.

  “I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I’d drop by,” she said with a smirk. “But getting through the gatekeeper was such a joy. You’d think I was a subversive or something, the way he questioned me,” she joked.

  “Good thing I told him to put you on the list of acceptable visitors,” Ann happily smiled. “It’s so good to see you, Shell. I’ve missed you.”

  The two sat and talked for a while. Ann told Shelly all about her life at Drummond Hall. While they were chatting, the phone on her desk rang.

  “Drummond Hall, Ann speaking,” she said professionally.

  “Hello, Ann? This is Bill Henderson,” her ex-father-in-law stated.

  “Well, hello Bill. How’d you find me?” she asked in surprise, because she hadn’t talked with him for quite a while.

  “Shelly Ferguson gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind,” he inquired.

  “You say Shelly Ferguson gave it to you?” she said, eyeing Shelly sitting next to her with a playful sneer. Shelly rolled her eyes and put her hands to her face in mock fear.

  “How are you and Eva doing?” Ann continued with a warm spot in her heart for Sean’s parents. They were kind, hardworking people, who had amassed wealth of their own.

  The divorce between their son and Ann had separated them from her life for many years, due to their loyalty to their only child. But, with his death, they were welcomed back into her life without reservation. After all, Ann got along with them quite well and Marty needed all the family God could provide.

  “We’re just fine Ann. But the reason I called is Eva and I have something important to discuss with you and we need to do it at our attorney’s office. Can you meet with us at Tillman, Fester, Brewster and Associates on Thursday of this week, at 2:00 in the afternoon? They’re downtown in the Kingston Building on the tenth floor. I don’t want you to worry, but I think you’ll like what we have in mind. It’s a legal matter and we need to meet at his office to conclude it.”

  Ann sat thinking very fast, Attorney? Is it about Marty? They don’t want custody, surely!

  Emotions of fear, insecurity, pain, and loss surfaced.

  And then she thought, Marty’s grandparents are good people and they aren’t like Sean, but she was apprehensive.

  “Can’t you tell me more about it?” she asked trying to keep the concern out of her voice.

  “All I can tell you is, I think you’ll be very pleased with the outcome. At least Eva and I hope so,” he replied.

  “Did you say 2 o’clock?”

  “Yes 2:00 in the afternoon, at David Tillman’s office. Ask for Ginger, his secretary. She’ll be expecting you. I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Ann,” he said in an excited voice.

  “There’s supposed to be a big snow storm coming that day, isn’t there? I’m not sure I can come all that way, if the snow gets too bad,” Ann stated apprehensively.

  “If it does, be safe. We can do this another time. Call us if you need to cancel, we’ll understand,” he offered.

  “Of course, Bill, I will,” she decided.

  “Give our love to Marty. See you in a few days if you can make it,” he said as he hung up the phone.

  Shelly sat looking at Ann’s face changing expressions rapidly from delight, fear, concern, to puzzlement as she talked on the phone. Shelly was dying to know what was going on.

  “Well?” she asked with feeling.

  “I don’t know! It was Bill Henderson. He and his wife Eva want to meet with me this Thursday at their lawyer’s office. He wouldn’t tell me what it was about. Just that he hopes I’ll be pleased with the result when they’re finished,” Ann explained.

  Shelly sat thinking. Then she said, “I can’t make it out either. It doesn’t sound like something serious, but why at a lawyer’s office? Why can’t they talk about it over the phone, or even at their home? Why all the mystery? Are you worried about it?”

  “I don’t think so,” Ann answered vaguely. “No, I guess not,” she said firmly. “I’ll just have to wait until Thursday to find out,” she said with resignation. “I’ll make sure it’s okay with Nessa, but I don’t see why I can’t go, unless it’s the weather.”

  Shelly and Ann spent a pleasant day together, before she had to leave. As Ann walked her best friend to the door, she vowed to make more time to see her again.

 

  Making It Right