Fern Michaels: Tuesday’s Child

Conversation was light and merry, the mood exuberant. Smiling faces abounded.

Ben Jefferson made the first move by nudging Kala. It was time to leave. Another round of hugs followed.

Kala and Ben were the first out the door, followed minutes later by Sophie, Patty, and Nick. Linda and Jay stayed behind to tidy up and close the office.

“Okay, Jay, spit it out. What’s bothering you?” Linda said as she swept the plastic champagne glasses into the trash basket. The empty champagne bottles followed. “And don’t tell me nothing is bothering you. I know you too well.”

“I just had a… kind of eerie feeling out there at the airport. I think Kala did, too. I think… I know this is going to sound silly, and maybe it’s a girl thing, but I think it had something to do with the flowers.”

Linda laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks. “The flowers! The lei? Or the white flowers in Sophie’s hair? You’re right, that is silly. Sophie learned how to make the lei. She made it fresh just for Kala. And the white flowers in her hair the way Kala wears hers… that was just to show Kala she appreciated all that she’s done for her.”

Jay listened to his wife because he always listened to her. She had more street smarts and common sense than anyone he knew, and that included himself. “Okay, then maybe it was the color. Red is when Kala goes to war. White is for winning and victory. So why was the lei red? I think Kala was wondering the same thing. So there, Miss Smarty Pants. Explain it to me.”

Linda laughed again. “Is it even remotely possible that when it was time to pick the flowers, the red ones were the prettiest? Maybe you didn’t notice it because you’re a guy, but there were tiny white flowers in among the red ones. Did you miss that, my genius husband?”

“Yeah, I guess I did. This is one of those whatever kind of things, I’m thinking. Do you want to go out to eat or cook at home?” Jay asked, a clear indication that any further discussion about red or white flowers was over and done with.

“Home. I have this crazy urge to cook for you, darling. I want to wait on you hand and foot.”

“I do not want Lipton noodle soup and grilled cheese. I want real food. I want mashed potatoes, gravy, and a big slab of meat. You can have my salad. Oh, and I want a giant slice of blackberry pie with two scoops of vanilla ice cream.”

Linda sighed. Happily. “Okay, it’s Mulligans. It’s early enough that we won’t need a reservation. Carry on, fearless leader, and I’ll be right behind you.” Linda felt pleased with herself. Jay fell for it every time. She didn’t have to cook, and that was her intention all along. “But, if you keep that puss on, I’m going home. Show me some teeth now in a big smile.”

Jay grimaced, but Linda settled for what she called a half-assed smile.

Nine miles away Sophie, Patty, and Nick sat at Patty’s kitchen table with large glasses of sweet tea in front of them. Sula slept under the window.

“This is really a cute little house, Patty. It’s you. When are you guys going to tell me what’s in the shopping bag you’ve been carrying around?”

Seeing the uncomfortable look on Patty’s face, Nick jumped into the conversation. “So tell us what your plans are, Sophie.”

“Like I said in the car on the way here, I’m staying five days. I want to go to St. Gabriel’s to make a donation to Sister Julie and, of course, see all the nuns. That’s a whole day right there. I want to hang with you guys as much as I can, but I have meetings with the lawyers at Star. I have to make decisions. At least that’s what Kala told me. There is the news conference tomorrow. On the flight here, I was thinking I might like to go to the Star mansion and walk through it. I know how morbid that sounds, but for some strange reason I think I need to do that. Do you guys want to go with me?”

“Sure,” Nick said. He would have said yes to anything Sophie suggested. “We were just there a week ago. In all the excitement at the airport and the office, I guess we forgot to tell you. We found Audrey Star’s old journals. And the jewelry she kept at the mansion. You should see it, Sophie. Tons of diamonds and all kinds of fancy gold jewelry.”

“There wasn’t tons but there was a lot. Probably as much as the Queen of England has. What are you going to do with it all?” Patty asked curiously.

Sophie fingered the locket at her neck, then the bracelet on her wrist. “I don’t have a clue. I have to speak to some investment people. I’m sure they’ll have ideas. Was there anything there you two would like? If there is, help yourself.”

“Are you serious?” Patty asked, her jaw dropping.

“I think I’ll pass,” Nick said.

Sophie looked at Patty. “Of course I’m serious. Take it all if you want.”

“I couldn’t do that, Sophie. And anyway, I’m no lawyer, but I think it belongs to the estate and has to go through probate. There was a pair of earrings I liked, though.”

“Then when it’s all said and done, they’re yours,” Sophie said happily. “What’s in the bag, Sophie? And, I hate to bring this up, but what’s for dinner? Do you think we could order a loaded pizza? I have been dying for pizza. And an ice-cold root beer. Did you guys go and buy me a present? Is that the surprise that’s in the shopping bag?”

Nick had his cell phone in hand to call to order the pizza. He looked at Patty, and Patty looked at him. They both shrugged at the same time.

“It… it’s not a gift but it… it’s going to be a surprise,” Patty said in a choked voice.

Sophie grew so still, Sula got up and walked over to her, sensing something the others couldn’t define. “Why don’t you just tell me what’s in the bag? Is it Audrey’s last journal, the one you all couldn’t find?”

Nick looked so stricken, Patty had a hard time coming up with the words she was looking for. She finally blurted out, “Why would you think that?”

Sophie threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t know. You said a surprise. That’s the only surprise I can think of. You all said you couldn’t find it. The last piece of the puzzle, so to speak. If that isn’t it, then what is it? Don’t tell me it’s Sister Julie’s famous seven-layer chocolate cake. That’s it, right? Listen, I’m sensing something here, and I don’t know what it is. It feels to me like we’re all trying too hard to… to regain what we once had. We’re different people today. Ten years is a long time. I guess you two think I’m different, or now that I’m suddenly rich, I’m going to turn into someone else. That’s what I’m seeing here. Am I wrong? So, will one of you tell me what’s in the damn bag already so we can get past this… awkward moment.”

“It’s Jon’s ashes. Jon died several years after you went to prison. He got some kind of jungle bug, and with his weak immune system, he couldn’t fight it off. We had him cremated. Patty and I take turns keeping his ashes. It was Patty’s turn this week. She brought the urn to show you.”

Sophie’s face went totally blank. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because,” Patty said, bitterness ringing in her voice, “you cut off all visitation and the mail that we sent you was returned. We did try, Sophie.” Patty swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. Nick looked away before he knuckled his own eyes.

“I wonder why I didn’t sense something. We were all so close. I am so sorry. When I first got off the plane and saw the only person missing was Jon, I was going to ask you both if you thought he would be able to come back if I sent him a ticket. I thought… I thought… I could fly you all to Hawaii, and we could have an island reunion. But in the excitement, I forgot, and that’s not a good thing. I can’t believe… Let me see the urn, Patty.”