And then he’d said he couldn’t discuss it any further, that he would be in touch later. Later turned out to be the following night, after Walter got home from work. They were both on the deck, sitting down in their comfortable chairs, each with a glass of wine, looking out over the sound, when Marissa’s cell rang.
Jeremy was only a minute into his rant when Marissa put the phone on speaker so that Walter could hear how upset her brother was.
“What were you thinking?” he asked her.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said, keeping her voice level and controlled. “Lots of people have done this. Millions of people have done this.”
“Well, now you’re as foolish as the rest of them.”
“I don’t understand what’s foolish about wanting to know where you came from, who you are, what other relatives you might—”
“Jesus, Marissa, don’t the relatives we already have give us enough grief? Why ask for more?”
At this point, Walter could no longer remain silent. He didn’t much care for the way his brother-in-law was speaking to his wife.
“Jeremy,” he said. “Walter here.”
Silence from the other end of the line for a moment. “Hello, Walter.”
“Do you think maybe you’re overreacting to this a bit? Marissa meant no harm.”
This time, Jeremy was quiet for so long they thought the connection had been lost.
“Jer?” Marissa asked. “Did we lose you?”
“I’m here,” he said coolly. “Walter, could I talk to you a second, off speaker?”
Walter glanced at his wife, as though looking for permission. This was her brother, after all. She shrugged, allowing Walter to pick up her phone, hit the button turning off the speaker, and put the phone to his ear.
“I’m here, Jeremy.” Walter got out of his chair, stood at the railing, watching what looked like a whale breaking the surface of the water.
“Good. Walter, listen closely, and try not to give away anything by acting shocked or startled.”
“What? What are you talking—”
“See? You’re already acting shocked and startled. So put your game face on and listen to what I have to say.”
Walter took a moment to compose himself. “Okay, then,” he said.
“I know where the money’s going.”
Walter suddenly felt a shiver run the length of his spine, and he nearly blurted out a What? but instead managed to remain calm and said slowly, “Go on.”
“You may be doing your best to hide it from my sister, but I’m aware of the addiction.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t—”
“Walter, please, don’t interrupt. You have a problem. You should talk to someone. Gamblers Anonymous, maybe. The only reason Marissa hasn’t noticed a cash flow problem is because I’ve been helping you out when I can. But the online gambling, hitting the casinos, you need to get a handle on that.”
“Yes, yes, that’s very interesting,” Walter said.
Marissa looked at her husband and mouthed, What’s he saying? Walter held up his index finger.
“You’re probably wondering, how could I possibly know this?” Jeremy continued. “How could I have learned that my brother-in-law is throwing his money away? It’s my job to know things, Walter. Information is my currency, whether it’s about you, or Marissa, the New York Stock Exchange, or the fucking king of Siam. So this is what’s going to happen. You’re going to tell Marissa to stop researching her family tree. I’m not going to get into why, but you can tell her that this course of action she’s taken could open me up to strangers harassing me, making claims against me. I’m in the public eye, and vulnerable to all sorts of charlatans. How does that sound?”
“That sounds good.”
“And the reason I’m having you persuade her is because I’m only her stupid brother and she’s never wanted to listen to me before, so why would she listen to me now? How about that?”
“Absolutely,” Walter said.
“So we’re clear. You’re going to make sure she abandons this new little hobby of hers, or I am going to tell her all about yours.”
“I understand,” he said. “I totally see your point.”
“Now put Marissa on so I can say goodbye.”
Walter slowly took the phone from his ear and handed it to his wife. “He, he wants to say goodbye.”
Marissa took the phone. “Jeremy?”
“You take care,” he said. “Let me know, next time you’re coming to New York, we’ll all go to a show. Just tell me what you want to see. I can get tickets to anything.”
“Okay, but—”
“Gotta go,” he said, and ended the call.
Marissa put down the phone and said, “What the hell did he say to you?”
Walter had an answer ready. “Well, first he apologized for his outburst. I think he was genuinely sorry about how he spoke to you. And then he calmed down and said — and I may have lost some of the details here about how it all works — but that he has so many people trying to make some kind of claim against him, that any sort of loose connection to him could lead to all sorts of legal entanglements.”
Marissa made an oh, I never thought of that kind of face. “Gee,” she said. “He’s probably got a point.”
“So he’s hoping you’ll drop it. And you know, it’s totally up to you. It’s your life. But—” and he stepped forward and encircled her in his arms “—I don’t think it would kill us to honor his wishes. Let’s face it. He’s been awfully good to us.”
“Okay,” she said, returning his hug. “I think he’s overreacting, but if that’s what he wants, then fine. I won’t take it any further.”
“Probably for the best.”
“I’m still pissed,” Marissa said, “but you’re right. He’s been pretty good at watching over us over the years.”
And I had no idea until now, Walter thought, just how closely.
Ten
New Rochelle, NY
Even in good times, Julie Harkin didn’t have the money to go out for lunch. Every morning, before she left home to go to her receptionist job at the ReproGold Clinic, Julie would make herself something. A simple sandwich, or a salad. A few crackers and some sliced cheddar. A handful of grapes. She shopped carefully, bought items on sale, sometimes went from one grocery store to the next to take advantage of weekly specials. She figured her homemade lunch probably cost her less than two dollars a day — a peanut butter sandwich was only pennies — while even the cheapest meal at a fast-food place would set her back at least five or six. And she never, ever, bought bottled water. What sort of fool paid for something you could get out of the tap for free?
Julie had always been careful about her spending, but never more so than after her divorce ten years ago. She hadn’t seen anything from her ex since they’d split, and it wasn’t worth the time or money to track him down to try and squeeze a few nickels and dimes out of him to help raise their daughter, Sophie. Chances were, even if she could find him, he’d be out of work, or spending, in local bars, what little he made from digging ditches or putting up drywall. Even if she had to struggle to get by, she was better off without him.
Now, with Sophie in her second year at Monroe, they were cutting it pretty fine. Thank God Sophie was attending a college close enough that she could still live at home. There was no way Julie could pay to board her someplace. And God bless her, Sophie was doing everything she could to make it easier for her mom. She’d spent the summer working every night in the kitchen of an Italian restaurant, often bringing home lasagna and tortellini and salad that the manager might otherwise have pitched at the end of the day. Sophie was soaking up everything she could on how a place like that operated. Dovetailed perfectly with the culinary degree she was going after. Everything Sophie made she put toward her school year. But it wasn’t enough. Julie had to dip into her savings to make up the difference.