Two weeks passed at the hospital. Despite the pain, the itchiness, and awkwardness of the large cast, Jamie managed to be quite happy. Charity spent each day with her, thankful so such for an amazing little child. Elijah popped in and out whenever he could. He was on call most nights but since they were at the hospital, it actually made it a lot easier. Margaret and Charity’s father came each day. Jamie’s face brightened each time she saw them. While they visited, Charity spent time working on the fundraiser. She had ideas floating in her head for what to do with the money, but she first needed to see if she’d be able to match the donation needed. She did the minimal amount of work needed.

Despite the stressfulness of the two weeks, they managed and Charity swore they were a stronger family because of it. Jamie was healing nicely and the hospital threw her an ice cream party the day they checked out. Charity’s mouth fell open when she looked out in the backyard once they were home. She’d been terrified to see the pile of rubble where the terrible accident had happened. Instead, a treehouse complete with swings and safe equipment sat where the pile once had. Elijah informed her their parents had done it just for Jamie.

 

 

“Thanks for all your help the past weeks Margaret.” Charity sat drinking coffee while Margaret moved comfortably about in the kitchen. “I have to admit, I was mad at first when I heard about my father’s a fib. I understand why the two of you kept things quiet, but can you promise me that you’ll never do that again?”

“We can’t predict the future, Charity. I hope we never have an accident like Jamie’s happen again.” Margaret continued making breakfast. She held the frying pan up at an angle to show Charity. “Mickey Mouse pancakes!”

“Cute.” Charity smiled and decided to push her mother-in-law for some personal, but not too personal, information. “I hope Haunch understood when you had to delay your getaway to Florida.” She couldn’t resist being a bit nosy where her father was concerned.

Margaret set the cooked pancake on a plate and started making another. “I hesitate to get into this now because it’s such a long story.”

Oh, I’ve got time. “I just checked on our little patient and she’s sleeping soundly. She was up late last night so we have time. You don’t have to involve me if it’s too personal,” Charity offered. She was actually anxious to hear the news.

“I’ll dish if you feel like listening. It does involve Scott, so therefore it involves you.”

Charity pulled herself closer to the table and set her chin on the heel of her hand. She topped off Margaret’s cup of coffee and settled in. “I’m all ears.”

“Jamie’s accident set into motion a chaotic time in all of our lives. When your father went into a fib, it only added to the drama. I went into protective mode as if I was a mama bear. Not only did I want to protect my sweet grandchild, you and Elijah; I wanted to make sure I could do anything possible for Scott. He never lost consciousness and he wasn’t in any imminent danger of dying but I was scared. I didn’t know that at the time. It got me thinking of him as mine to lose and our whole dynamic changed in my mind.” Margaret paused to sip her coffee. “Why we kept your dad’s condition from you and whether or not it was the right thing to do is a story for another time.”

Charity interjected. “It’s fine. No further explanation needed. It gave me an idea of just how much people around me care. Elijah and I are very lucky.” She shifted in her seat. “So what about Florida?”

“Florida was suddenly out of the question. I had two people whom I care about deeply in the hospital and I wasn’t about to head south. Haunch is a laid-back man. so I thought he wouldn’t mind skipping Florida and coming here to New York. The city isn’t lacking in tourist attractions and he could head out to the Hamptons if he wanted the beach.”

“You invited him here?”

“I did.”

“Let me guess, the man with the odd name started acting like the jealous boyfriend.” Charity knew there was something up with her father’s rival for Margaret’s affection.

“Bingo. How the hell do you know so much about a man you’ve never met?” Margaret smiled.

“It was the name at first but now I have other reasons. I don’t like a possessive man.”

“Yes, well Haunch threw an ultimatum at me. Be in Key West by the end of the week or he was heading back to New Zealand without me.”

“He didn’t!” Charity couldn’t imagine anyone speaking to Margaret like that. “So I take it he flew back to New Zealand?”

Margaret rolled her eyes. “What you don’t know is that Haunch Bradenton has taken up residence at my estate. It’s turned into a real nightmare because I’ve created business ties with Haunch. I invested a great deal of money in his business ventures and if I piss him off any further, I risk losing a great deal.”

Charity nearly laughed. She’d never heard Margaret swear before. “Margaret, I think you can afford to take a financial hit. What I’ve come to realize is that it’s the people we love that make all of the difference.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.”

“Then where do you and my dad stand?”

“We’re slowly beginning to take our relationship to the next level.”

Charity shot Margaret a questioning look. “Next level? Aren’t the two of you,” she said and swallowed, “getting jiggy with it?”

“Sex? Oh, yes. We would have swung from the chandeliers if your father had them.”

“Thanks for the visual Margaret.” Charity smirked.

“We all have the same physical needs. I’m no different than you, dear.”

Margaret’s face was serious and all Charity wanted to do was hide behind something while her mother-in-law referred to boning her father. The images wouldn’t stop popping into her head.

“Have you ever heard of the nineteen-sixties, the era of free love?”

Oh no, I hate where this is going. “I know what happened in the sixties.”

“This is like free love when you’re sixty. Your dad and I have long since explored the physical aspect of our relationship. The earth moves, Charity. Let me tell you that there is something to look forward to when you get to be my age. I’m sorry love, I digress. With the sex operating like a well-oiled machine.”

“Enough analogies,” Charity cut her off. “I’m never changing the oil in my car again.”

Margaret continued. “We’ve decided to delve into each other’s spiritual, emotional and intellectual sides.”

“Sounds pretty deep Margaret. How does one do such a thing exactly?”

“For starters…”

Saved by the bell, or the two year old to be exact.

“Momma. Out! Out! Gamma play now? Momma!”

Jamie’s call put a smile on Charity’s face. She hoped her little girl would never have to listen to her rant about how delicious sex was at sixty. She held back a laugh. She’d have to keep an eye on Elijah. It might run in the family. He might start telling Jamie’s husband about it in the future.

“I’ll go grab her,” Margaret offered.

“I can.” Charity stood and pointed to the cute pancakes. “She’ll be so excited to see you making those.”

“I still don’t understand why they put her in such a big cast. Elijah said the break wasn’t as bad as they had anticipated.”

Charity had seen the X-rays after the surgery and had asked Elijah the same thing. “Doctor Bailey felt that since the break was so high up on her femur it was safer for her to be in it. She’s young and very active, it was better to be safe than sorry.”

“I guess, I just feel bad for the little kiwi.”

Charity smiled as Jamie called out for her again. “I’m coming, Peanut!” she called out. “Doctor Bailey said four weeks, and thank heavens it’s already been three. One more week and they’ll put her in a smaller leg cast. Then before we know it, it’ll be back to potty training and having a panic attack every time she climbs. I don’t even want her scaling the living room couch. I have visions of her falling off her big-girl bed and it’s only inches off the ground.”

“She’ll be fine,” Margaret assured.

“I hope so.” Charity walked down the hall to get Jamie. Part of life returning to normal meant getting back to work and all that implied. She would have to play catch-up. Charity couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t playing catch-up. It would all work out. It always did. She thought of something that needed to be done first. Margaret shouldn’t have to deal with Haunch Bradenton and his antics.

****

After breakfast and helping Jamie with the crazy morning routine, Charity waved from the door as Margaret took her for a walk in a wheelchair around the neighborhood. When she sat down in her office, Charity opened her laptop and got to work. She didn’t know exactly how Margaret had exposed her portfolio to Haunch. She was involved in real estate, art and a lot of her money was in the stock market. She decided to start with Haunch himself. She performed an online search, which was immediate gold. First, she had to see a photo of the guy. Yuck, he was a clone of Henry Kissinger. Her father had nothing to worry about where that was concerned. He was from Germany and owned a couple of galleries in New Zealand and the U.S. Charity picked up the phone and dialed up his business in Malibu.

“Bradenton Gallery. This is Melissa Bradenton.” A youngish-sounding woman answered.

“Hello. I’m calling from the Tate Museum and I had spoken to Haunch about loaning some pieces from our collection to your gallery. As a means of increasing traffic in your establishment,” Charity lied.

“Really?” The woman sounded excited. “I had no idea my husband was exploring that option!”

“Oh dear.” Charity’s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. She was going to kill the man. “I think it was supposed to be a surprise. I didn’t realize I was speaking to his w-wife.”

The woman giggled. “I’ll pretend I didn’t know. He’ll be back from a trip to Florida in a couple of days. Can I have him contact you?”

The louse was using Margaret to fund his marriage to Melissa. She wondered if they were even legally married. Was he using Margaret to get a visa from a marriage to Margaret to do business in New Zealand? Charity had enough on Haunch to shut him up. She’d make sure he released Margaret from any financial obligations or she’d contact her father’s lawyer.

“Yes, have him contact Mrs. Swindel.” She gave her a one-eight-hundred number connected with her own business.

Melissa was clueless. She believed a reputable gallery would submit an eight-hundred number for sensitive business.

“I’ll make sure he gets the message.” Melissa hung up.

Whatever the rest of the day had in store could not feel as good as catching a thief. Margaret would have one less thing to worry about. Charity grinned. She was playing Cupid for her father. One day she’d have a fantastic story to tell.