“I don’t intend to be insulted in my own home. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to prepare for a job I’m working on. We don’t have anything more to talk about.” She walked to the door and opened it. “Good night.”
Cash strode to the door, fury echoing in each step. He brushed past her without a word.
Like a whirlwind, he had rushed into her life, and then just as quickly had stormed out of it. One minute her spirits had soared, the next they had plummeted. She wished they could smooth things over, but she could not ignore his verbal assault. He had attacked not only her professional ability, but he had gotten personal. He could not take back the words, and she couldn’t forget them. Was the rift in their relationship too wide to bridge? Whatever the answer, the result was written in stone: she might never see Cash again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The call came in midafternoon. Christie could hardly understand Elliot. His voice was filled with exuberance. He was talking so fast his words ran together.
“It’s a girl, Christie. A darling, healthy little granddaughter. Margo came through without any problems, thank God. Hal was going to call you, but he is so wrapped up in holding his daughter, and kissing his wife, he doesn’t have a minute to pick up a phone! I knew you would want to know right away, so I took on announcement duty.”
“Oh, Elliot, I’m so happy for all of you. And congratulations. Have they named the baby?”
Elliot’s words slowed, and Christie could tell that he was struggling with emotion. “Emily Anne. Named her after Margo’s mother. Our own little Emily Anne.” There was awe in his voice. “My wife would have been so proud.” Christie detected a break in his voice.
“Margo and Hal said to tell you the baptism will be two weeks from Sunday. They don’t lose any time, those two. Mark the date on your calendar.”
“Have you told Cash?”
“Just got off the phone with him. He said nothing would get in the way of his being there. It will be a fine celebration, I guarantee that.”
“I’m sure it will, Elliot.”
After jotting down the hospital that Margo was in, Christie replaced the receiver in its cradle and leaned her elbows on the desk. With her hands clasped together, she rested her chin on her knuckles. Should she tell Margo that she and Cash had broken up? Try to back out of being the godmother? Margo would understand that it was an untenable situation. How could she possibly go to Arizona and be with Cash at the christening? Then again, how could she not? She was committed to being Emily Anne’s godmother, and injured feelings would have to be set aside temporarily. She and Cash would only be together for a few hours; it would be awkward and painful, but she would have to endure that.
She called a florist and ordered a basket of golden chrysanthemums to be sent to the hospital. This was a grand occasion, and she could not allow personal sensitivities to get in the way. They had all prayed for a normal delivery, a healthy baby, and their prayers had been answered. Yes, it was time to celebrate, but now that Cash was out of her life, Christie would celebrate alone.
She shook her head. She had to concentrate on her good fortune, not her disappointments. Her career was in its zenith; solving the Farley case had brought a good measure of publicity and new clients. She would no longer have concerns about where her next case and paycheck came from.
She had received calls from a cadre of lawyers. One firm offered a generous retainer if she would exclusively align herself with them. It was tempting, but she liked being independent.
She was riffling through a stack of notes when the phone rang. She picked up the receiver and heard her friend’s voice.
“Hey, Christie, we were supposed to meet for lunch. What happened?”
“Darn! I forgot, Kathleen. My thoughts have been a bit scattered lately; I didn’t check my calendar this morning. I’m sorry; I would have enjoyed lunch together.”
“You’re usually on top of things; what’s going on?”
“Cash and I broke up,” she blurted.
“I can’t believe it! Was he cheating on you?”
“Nothing like that. We had an argument, and…well, he behaved badly. Said some things that were hurtful. I told him I didn’t want to see him again.”
“Just like that? Maybe you overreacted.”
“I don’t think so. And besides, he hasn’t attempted an apology—not a word to indicate that he’s sorry. So it’s over.”
“And now you’re miserable?”
“And now I’m miserable.”
“Oh, honey, I wish I could help.”
So do I, Christie thought, but no one could help her get over her feelings or patch up the broken relationship. She had to move on, perhaps take on extra work to get her mind off her heartache. But she was only kidding herself; no amount of work was going to ease the pain that the loss of love evoked. Nothing was going to divert her thoughts from Cash. He intruded every minute that she dropped her guard—and that was most of the time.
And in two weeks, they would be standing side by side. She would have two weeks of anxiety as she ran scenarios of herself and Cash through her mind before actually being with him again. She would only stay overnight, she decided; she’d find a motel near Margo and Hal and leave immediately after the christening party.
A few days later, Margo called. “Thank you for the flowers, Christie, they’re lovely.”
“I’m so happy for you and Hal. Elliot said the baby is beautiful.”
“Not that he isn’t biased, but he’s right, Emily Anne is a darling. I can’t wait to have you see her. Dad gave you the date for the baptism? You can fly down with Cash the Friday before.”
“Margo, has Cash mentioned…? Has he said anything…?”
“Said anything?”
“We aren’t seeing each other anymore.”
“Not seeing each other? Oh, Christie, what happened? You and Cash seemed perfect for each other.”
“We didn’t see eye-to-eye on a professional level, and it spilled over into our personal lives.”
“Surely it can be fixed. Cash was so happy.”
“So was I, Margo, so was I.”
“Perhaps when you are both here in Arizona, with your careers put aside, you can renew your relationship.”
“It’s too late, Margo. So please don’t think about trying to play matchmaker.” Christie spoke with a light tone, but she was dead serious.
“I won’t. Well, I can’t really promise that I won’t, but I’ll try not to interfere. And Christie, you’ll stay with us for the weekend? Hal and I haven’t decorated the baby’s room yet—we were too superstitious. Emily Anne is in our room now, anyway, and will be for at least six weeks. So we can easily accommodate you. Please say yes.”
“I…I’d like that, Margo. Thanks. But I won’t fly in with Cash,” she added. “I’ll take a commercial flight.”
“I understand. Hal will pick you up at the airport. Just let us know what time. I can’t wait to see you, Christie, and of course, I’m anxious to show off Emily Anne.”
Christie was happy for Margo and Hal. And Elliot. A loving family. Will I ever have a child of her own? she wondered. Not that she and Cash had known each other long enough to explore that possibility, but with the dissolution of their relationship, her dream of marriage and children had vanished. She would become a workaholic. Perhaps she might eventually save enough money to buy a small vacation place at the beach.
Evenings she would sit on the couch with her cat on her lap and watch TV or knit a sweater. She would stroke Tosha’s soft fur and listen to her purr. And she would convince herself that she was content. If she had lived in another era, she would be called a spinster. Such a harsh word, she thought, but it fully described the plight she imagined herself facing ten years from now.