Arabella sighed. “I shouldn’t have kept you apart for so long. Whatever our problems were, he’s still your father.” She paused for several beats. “Was your reunion what you expected?”
Caitlin laughed quietly. “No. Sorry, Dad-that’s not your fault. I guess I’d built you up into some kind of hero. You know-revolutionary, misunderstood by my petty bourgeois mother. And, Mother, I thought you had driven him away.”
“It wasn’t like that, love,” Nolan said. “I’ll take my share of the blame. And I could have tried harder to see you.”
“I know. It’s just that I was angry for so long, and Mother was the most convenient target. Mother, I really felt like you were too busy to bother with me, so you shipped me off to boarding school.”
“I know it sounds awful when you put it that way, Caitlin, but I had to make a living, to support us, since your father wouldn’t. And I did think it was the right thing for you.”
“I think it was. They’re good at what they do there at Bishop’s Gate, and they really helped me with the Asperger’s.”
I lay still, trying not to intrude on this belated family truth-telling. Caitlin was still speaking, in a near whisper. “In the beginning I hated you for it. I mean, there you were, playing Mommy to half the snot-nosed kids of Philadelphia, but you sent me away and then couldn’t take the time to visit me. It took me a long time to get over that.”
“I’ m sorry. I can see how it must have looked to you.” A pause. “Are you past it now?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I’m working with you, and for you, which I never would have imagined. And you were right-the school helped me deal with my problems. There were some good kids there, and I could make friends. I couldn’t do what you do, but I’m doing an okay job at Let’s Play, aren’t I?”
“You’re doing a fine job, darling. And I’d say that even if I weren’t your mother. If we ever get past this nonsense, the exhibit should be a big hit. In spite of Hadley.”
“You still awake, Dad?’
Nolan spoke from the opposite corner. “I am. I’m sorry I missed all those years, but I hope we can do better in the future. Maybe you’d like to plan a trip to Ireland, meet your half brother and sister?”
“I’d like that,” Caitlin said. “Maybe in the spring-Let’s Play is pretty busy in the summer. And not during spring breaks. But I’m sure I could work out something.”
The voices faded. The low fire crackled and spit. Outside it was quiet, except for the occasional crack as a branch fell from the weight of the ice. I fell asleep.
I awoke to full daylight. Checking my watch, I saw that it was nearly nine o’ clock. The fire was long dead, and three out of my four companions were still lumps under mounds of blankets-Nolan was snoring in an armchair, and Jason and Caitlin were snuggled together like puppies. The fourth, Arabella, I could hear down the hall, talking with Hadley. I disentangled myself from my own wrappings and, after a quick stop at the bathroom, I stumbled down the hall. Halfway there I encountered the smell of coffee and picked up my pace.
Hadley and Arabella were seated across from each other at a small table. There was a window behind them, and through it I could see a glittering array of ice-coated trees and shrubs-and an alarming number of broken branches dangling. “Morning,” I said. “Is there more of that?” I nodded toward their mugs.
“On the stove. Nolan showed me how to light the burner last night. I can manage to boil water,” Hadley replied.
I helped myself and sat down. “Any word from the outside world?”
“The power’s still out, but I think I saw a utility truck.”
“I hope so!” Arabella said. “There’s a lot to be done, and we have to talk to the police before we move forward.”
The idea of meeting with the law didn’t appear to bother Hadley now. She stirred her coffee idly and stared into space. I definitely preferred this resigned Hadley to the bitchy and demanding one, although I wondered if this mood would last.
“Hadley, do you have flour and eggs and sugar?” Arabella asked. “Maybe I can put together a meal.”
“I don’t know. Try that cupboard over there.” Hadley gestured vaguely.
I fled the scene of unlikely domesticity and retreated down the hall, away from the living room, where there were sounds of stirring. I retrieved my cell phone from my bag and punched in the number to my office. Eric answered promptly. “President’s office.”
“Eric, it’s me.”
“Nell! I was worried about you-it sounds like a real mess out there in the burbs.”
“You’ve got that right. I’m not even home-I’m still at Hadley’s house. Long story, but we’re all good. How’s it look there?”
“Roads are clear, so it’s business as usual. Do you think you’ll make it in?”
“I hope so, but we’ve got to get a tree out of the way first.” As we spoke, I could hear the welcome sound of chain saws in the lane in front of Hadley’s house. I peered out the window in the front and could see that the morning sun was well on its way to dissolving the layer of ice on the windshield of my car. “I think it’s happening as we speak, so I can probably make it by noon.” Then I was struck by a sudden thought. “Eric, can you ask Shelby to get in touch with Barney Hogan and have him call me this afternoon?”
“Yes, ma’am, I can do that. Everything okay?”
“I think so, or at least it will be. Thanks, Eric-see you later.” I hung up and thought a moment. There were five of us to transport back to the city, and three cars: mine, Hadley’s, and Caitlin’s. I wasn’t sure if the police wanted me to have any part of the coming discussion, but it might be best to be available, just in case-which meant we should all head for the city.
“I think they’re working on that tree now,” I said to the others. “We can head for town as soon as the road is clear. Do you need a ride, Hadley?”
There was a flash of the old Hadley, and I could almost hear her saying, As if I’d ride with any of you. “I’ll follow you in, in my car. Although we should speak to the authorities together, don’t you think?” Hadley said to Arabella, who nodded.
“I agree,” I said. “But I don’t think you need me. I’ll go in to work and be available if the police want to talk to me, but I think between all of you, you’ve got it covered. Oh, and don’t forget to take the Willy heads with you.”
CHAPTER 33
A tow truck had hauled the trunk of the fallen oak to the side of the road in under half an hour, and I managed to beat my estimated deadline and arrived at the office by eleven. I made a mental note to keep a change of clothes at the office in the future, not that I expected occasions like this to come around too often. At least, I hoped not. Caitlin had taken her parents and Jason in her car, and Hadley had promised to follow shortly, as soon as she checked her property for any storm damage. I wasn’t sure I trusted Hadley to follow through with making a statement without some encouragement, but I couldn’t exactly hog-tie her and throw her in my trunk, appealing though that idea was. Even by the light of day, I thought the scenario we had worked out the night before still made as much sense as anything else. I hoped the police would agree.
Eric was hovering anxiously at his desk, waiting for me. “Thank goodness! The news reports made it sound like a battle zone out there in the burbs.”
“A lot of tree damage,” I told him, “but once we reached a main road, things were fine. Did I miss anything here?”
“Nothing worth mentioning. So, tell me what went on last night?”
I checked my messages: nothing urgent. “Go get Shelby. She should hear it, too.”
Eric was gone in a flash and returned in moments with Shelby in tow. I wondered if she’d been waiting for my arrival. “Sounds like you had an interesting evening, lady,” she said, sitting in a chair opposite the desk. “So, spill it!”