‘I see this is something personal. You’ll have to work that out on your own time,’ the detective said with a weary shake of his head. He waved at Sophia. ‘You’ll be coming with me.’ He seemed annoyed when she didn’t get out of the chair and waved to the uniformed officer to help.

  ‘Sorry,’ I said, holding back a smile for what I was about to say. It wasn’t really a cliché anyway, but rather an idiom, and in this case just a true statement. ‘She’s glued to her seat.’

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  I went home and collapsed on the couch. Jankowski had assured me that he’d want to talk to me some more. And there was still the issue that I’d gone into the house uninvited and it could be viewed that I’d tampered with evidence. I was pretty sure that – all things considered – there wouldn’t be any charges against me, though. Most likely, I’d get a warning to stop playing detective and mind my own business.

  By the time I’d left Maeve’s house, the newspeople were already on the sidewalk doing a remote report. I’d gone out the way I came in, by way of the basement. Kent had let me go through his backyard and driveway so that I escaped getting caught up in it. Ashleigh chose to let the newspeople grab her as she reached the sidewalk. I can only imagine what she had to say to them.

  My landline rang and I considered letting it go, but I saw it was Caleb. ‘She called,’ he said in an excited voice. ‘I knew my artwork would turn things around. She agreed to talk to me and I think she’s going to forgive me.’ He sounded happier and more enthused than I’d ever heard. He seemed clueless about what had just gone on next door to their house. But then he’d always seemed wrapped up in his own world. I guessed his wife was too.

  ‘Thank you for your help, but I wanted to let you know I won’t be needing it anymore. You can save whatever artwork is left for some other clients you get.’

  I choked back a laugh at the thought as I hung up. Next there was a text from Tizzy. Word of what had happened – at least sort of – had made it to the campus and she wanted details. We made a deal to meet for sherry but they’d come to me.

  I appreciated the company and the pizza they brought. ‘Tell us everything,’ Theo said. ‘I’m so glad I could be a part of it.’ I’d told him about using the kit he’d given me and offering it to Jankowski.

  ‘You should have seen Jennifer’s face when she realized Michael was a fraud. She’ll really have to pivot with the documentary now.’

  ‘Was it Sophia who spiked your drink?’ Theo asked.

  ‘It’s the only thing she didn’t do. I’m pretty sure it was Suzzanna, thinking she was helping her father by trying to scare me off. I don’t think she knew that her father wasn’t the real artist.’

  ‘Any idea how Sophia figured out that Michael wasn’t the artist?’ Tizzy asked.

  ‘She started to ramble before Jankowski took her away. Something about visiting Maeve at the Dupont Academy and seeing some sketches of the Scotty dog in her desk. When Sophia had asked her directly, Maeve had admitted she’d done them.’

  There was no way to explain Ashleigh’s appearance without explaining the whole situation with Ben. ‘I had no idea it was that big a mess. Wow, they’re still married,’ Tizzy said. She put her arm around my shoulder and gave me a reassuring squeeze. ‘I’m sorry he won’t be in the group anymore, but at least Theo will be there now to read Ed’s work.’

  Her husband nodded with a smile, saying he was up for the challenge. ‘What’s going to happen with the memoir?’ Theo said.

  ‘I’ve already talked to the publisher. She wants the book, and just as Maeve intended it. It’ll be about the paintings and their relationship, leaving it so it implies that he’s the artist until the big reveal at the end.’

  ‘What about the award?’ Theo asked, shaking his head.

  ‘I believe the award is connected to the art and who created it, not Michael the person. I expect there will be an announcement that he has been disqualified, with an explanation.’

  ‘What about the paintings of the dog?’ I chuckled at Tizzy’s question.

  ‘They’ll probably go up in value because of all the notoriety, and because the supply is now limited to what she already painted. I found something in the notes about her writing a will and leaving her worldly goods to the school she loved so much. The paintings should be part of that,’ I said.

  We discussed what would happen with Sophia and Zander. ‘I’m sure when they get her fingerprints and compare them with the paper wrapped around the cup that had the fingerprint art project, she’ll get charged with murder. I wonder if they allow prisoners to have YouTube channels?’

  We agreed that Zander would probably not be charged, as it seemed Sophia had worked alone. All he’d done was to gamble on buying some obscure paintings that his gallery made a bundle on after his girlfriend made the artist a star. I was sure Drexel would go to him.

  I was grateful for Tizzy and Theo’s company. It was good to have someone to talk everything over with. When they left, the whole impact of the day hit me, and I knew I was too spent to even write down some notes about everything. I was spent and wired. There was so much to process about the memoir and about Ben. After what Ashleigh had said, it made sense why he had stayed away with the claim of work. His text saying he would explain on the weekend probably had to do with somehow trying to keep our relationship going while he and Ashleigh started their new life together. Even if it did make me more interesting, I knew I wasn’t cut out to be ‘the other woman’. And if it was true that people had types they were attracted to, I was all wrong for him anyway. I looked down at my slightly ragged nails and shook my head, remembering her silver claws.

  I felt myself hit bottom. I was disappointed and sad as it hit me that Ben and I were truly over, but then it was like there was a spring waiting that gave me a bounce back up and I knew I would be OK. Nobody could say I wasn’t resilient. I put on the kettle and took out the chamomile tea. Settling on the couch with the flowery scented drink, I took out a ball of shell pink yarn and a hook. I started to make a foundation chain, thinking of what stitch pattern I’d do. I thought about Sara. She wasn’t going to take the news about Ashleigh well.

  ‘I am so glad to have you,’ I said to the black-and-white cat who was cuddled next to me. I began to feel a sense of peace after the day I’d had as the tea and stitching began to work their magic. I felt as if my whole body had let out a big sigh. The ping on my phone startled me and I flinched. I thought about ignoring it, but I was too curious to ever be good at that.

  It was from Ben asking if we could talk. He was outside my door.

  I didn’t know if I had it in me to deal with his situation right now. I was going to put off talking to him, but maybe it was better to let him say his piece and be done with it for good.

  He was leaning against the door frame and straightened when I opened the door. There were no flowers this time. He looked drained and I invited him in.

  ‘Sounds like you had quite an afternoon,’ he said. ‘So, you nabbed the bad guy, or should I say girl.’ He had a weak smile.

  He wanted to hear all about it. But I figured it was just a stall before he got to the why he’d come over. I gave him all the details. He loved that Sophia had gotten glued to the chair. And then it got very quiet as there was nothing else to keep him from talking about the real reason he was there.

  I offered him one of the pumpkin ales I’d gotten by mistake. He might as well have one for the road. He didn’t move from the couch while I went to get it. He took the bottle and I slipped into the wing chair.

  ‘Well, I guess this is it,’ I said.

  ‘What do you mean?’ he asked.

  ‘You weren’t there, but Ashleigh made it pretty clear to the world that you’re back together and that you were done with me and my unpolished nails. She said you’re going for the whole thing this time around – a house, cousins for Mikey and a dog.’

  ‘She said that?’ he said, stroking his forehead. ‘I’m sorry. I really am. She’s a force of nature.’ He’d dropped his hands and took a deep breath. ‘She told me that she had gone there, but I didn’t realize she went that far. That was just her grandstanding. The same as when she came to Sara’s. She hoped it would help with her negotiations. She has some other guy already. It was all about money and me giving her more. I finally caved and gave her what she was demanding.’ He let out his breath. ‘And she finally signed the papers.’

  ‘What?’ I said, incredulous. ‘This is going to take me a moment to process.’ I was stunned. ‘It was all about squeezing you for money? You could have told me what was going on.’ This time I put my hand on my forehead as I tried to make sense of it all.

  ‘I’m sorry, and I probably should have, but I guess I preferred the fantasy that the two of you were fighting over me,’ he said with a smile.

  ‘Don’t you wish,’ I said. The tension was gone and the mood was changing. ‘So, what now?’

  ‘I don’t suppose we could just ignore what happened,’ he said, looking at me intently.

  I shook my head. ‘I’m afraid Ashleigh is a little too memorable for that.’

  ‘How about we start by you joining me on the couch.’ He patted the spot next to him in welcome.

  ‘Are you sure no one else is going pop up out of nowhere? There aren’t any old girlfriends or another ex-wife?’

  ‘You imagine I’m a lot more popular than I am,’ he said.

  ‘There’s something else,’ I said, still in the chair. ‘Now that I’ve seen your type, I’m not so sure we’re right for each other.’

  He eyed me closely, trying to see how serious I was. Mostly, I was joking, but I suppose there was a touch of truth in it. ‘Maybe I should look up that ex-husband of yours,’ he said, ‘and check out your type.’

  ‘OK, agreed, neither of us will be judged by our past,’ I said. He patted the spot next to him again and this time I moved around the coffee table and settled next to him.

  ‘Now that I’m a free man again, how do you feel about being my plus one at my partner’s birthday party on Saturday night?’ he asked.

  ‘I’ll have to check my calendar. It’s kind of last minute,’ I teased.

  ‘Well?’ he said, looking at my phone.

  ‘OK, I don’t have to check. I’m free.’

  ‘That’s what I was hoping,’ he said, putting his arm around my shoulder. ‘So then we’re good?’

  ‘And then we’re back to where we left off,’ I said.

  ‘Or …’ he said, giving my shoulder an affectionate squeeze, ‘We could kick things up to the next level.’

  ‘You mean tell your sister?’ I teased.

  ‘I was thinking more of something that just involved the two of us,’ he said with a twinkle in his eye. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I’ll take it under consideration,’ I said.

  ‘Well,’ he said after a moment. ‘Have you considered?’

  ‘Yes, and yes,’ I said with a smile.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  It is always a pleasure working with my editor Carl Smith. He makes the editing process fun with all his comments and asides. Piers Tilbury has come up with another eye-catching cover. Natasha Bell is always great dealing with the final workings of the books. Behind the scenes, Penny Isaac did an excellent job of copy editing.

  Jessica Faust continues to help me navigate the publishing world.

  The Hyde Park Classics Facebook group has been a great help keeping me in touch with Veronica’s neighborhood. Through the group, I met Abbi Bardi who is almost a real live Tizzy. Penny Fisher Sanborn and Pam Fisher Armanino are my backup for memories connected to Veronica’s building. Jakey opened up a whole new world of YouTube videos for me. And thanks to Burl and Max for being there.

 

 

  Betty Hechtman, Making it Write

 

 

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