Chapter 9

I called Chelsea, still sputtering, and let it all out. She seemed horrified. “I had no idea. She called yesterday, happy and bubbling one minute, scared to death the next. I was sure one look at each other and the healing would begin. I guess I was wrong.”

Calming down, I spoke, letting the pain come through. “I’d say we all were. I guess once she achieved success and fame, we were just bit players in the drama of her life. You’ll excuse me, but I won’t be coming to dinner tomorrow night. Tell Katie I love her, but I fear if I’m in the same room with her mother I’d say something that would damage Katies’ opinion of me forever. I have to think of a way to tell her. In my opinion her mother is too much of a coward, so I’ll be the one breaking her heart.”

“None of what you told me matches what she’s been telling me for the last two months. I have a hard time believing she could have a change of heart so quickly. She was almost crying with happiness at the thought of seeing you this week. I’m going to ask you to leave your options open, and promise me that if I call, you’ll come. If it really is over, it might give you some closure. If not, well, we’ll see where it goes.”

“Chelsea,” I said, “Promise me you don’t have an agenda here. If I feel the least bit of pressure or the slightest hint of manipulation, I’ll be gone, and I won’t ever come back.”

She laughed sadly. “Of course, I have an agenda here. I want to make sure the man who considers me his adopted grandmother is happy. That being said, it is your life. All I intend to do is provide a neutral meeting ground. If it goes south, if you don’t like her answers to your questions, I’ll support you completely if you walk away. I have no idea how you’re going to handle breaking the news to Katie. She’s a happy little girl, but the strain is starting to show. She showed me a painting she’d finished and pointed out her signature. Katie O’Mallory-Dawes. If you guys do part, I’ll be keeping her as much as her mother will allow. We’ve bonded to each other and I think of her as a real granddaughter.”

She gave a little sad laugh. “Well, technically, great-granddaughter, but the love is still here. It’s going to break Henry’s heart if she leaves; that little girl has him wrapped around her finger. He’s more energetic and happier than I’ve seen him in years. He’s even making plans to pre-pay her college, to his alma mater, of course, in case he’s not around when the time comes.”

I heard the emotion in her voice and tried to cheer her up. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Henry will probably be one of the pallbearers at my funeral. His good character and his devotion to you will keep him here for a very long time.”

I heard the snuffle, as quiet as it was. “I ... I need to ring off now, honey. Please keep your phone on and answer when I call.”

I promised. It seemed very important to her. They only had one child, a daughter, and something happened in the birthing process that left her unable to bear more children. They poured all their love into the daughter, proud when she married well. Not to a rich man, but to a man of character. He’d been a Marine when they met, had a military wedding, and then he shipped out. He was in the middle of his third tour when he went down in a hail of fire. Hit three times, he stayed conscious and directed his men in their defense, only passing out when the helicopters arrived. He survived and was retired for medical reasons. He took his degree in international relations; that, and his military service procured a low-level job in the State Department, working his way up and out into an Minister-Counselor posting, taking over when his boss was killed. It was a very unsettled country, but he persevered, gaining many concessions and good will from the government. They were deeply disappointed when he was promoted to a Europe posting.