Barbara Dunlop - Marriage, Manhattan Style

“What about the police?” Reed asked her.

“I’m not putting this into the bowels of their backed-up crime lab. I’ll get to them later.”

“Any more clues? Anything else at all to go on?”

“I’m still following up on Hammond and Pysanski. In my opinion, we have a better chance of clearing up the SEC thing than finding the blackmailer. It we cut the SEC investigation off at the knees…” She snapped her fingers in the air. “Poof, the blackmail problem is gone.”

“For me, anyway,” said Reed. The blackmailer undoubtedly had other victims in mind.

“And, since you’re the one paying my salary, you’re the one I care most about.”

“And me?” Gage put in, in a voice tinged with mock offense.

“You’ll be a collateral victory,” said Selina.

“You heard me say that?” asked Gage.

“I hear everything.” She gave her attention back to Reed. “Something triggered this second letter. We’re going to have to go over the details of your past few days.”

Reed nodded in resignation, desperately worried about Elizabeth, and hoping Collin was taking good care of the will issue. Lately, it seemed as if Reed were being dragged simultaneously in a dozen different, yet crucial directions.

Elizabeth sat in the wingback chair opposite Collin.

“On my preliminary read,” he was saying, the legal documents in his hands, “I’m feeling very optimistic. But I have a friend who’s a member of the bar in California. I can get him to fly out tomorrow so that we can start on a proper plan of defense.”

Elizabeth nodded, grateful to Collin. He was cool and controlled, and his expertise shone through at every turn in the conversation. But she couldn’t help thinking that Reed should be here instead. It should be her husband who was offering comfort and advice, not his lawyer.

Then she berated herself for that train of thought. Hanna was right. Elizabeth needed to stand on her own two feet.

“I’d like to meet with your friend,” she told Collin, squaring her shoulders. “I’m available anytime.”

“I’ll set it up.”

The penthouse door opened, and they both turned to see Reed stride in. “What did I miss?” he asked.

Elizabeth glanced at her watch. It was nearly nine.

“I read the package,” said Collin, coming to his feet. “I’m going to ask Ned Landers to fly in tomorrow.”

Elizabeth stood to face Reed. “It’s all under control. You don’t need to worry.”

Reed drew back sharply. “That’s-”

“I know you’re busy,” she put in. Then she turned and reached out to shake Collin’s hand. “Thank you very much for your advice, Collin. I appreciate your taking the time.”

“Not a problem,” he answered. “I’m always available for you, Elizabeth.”

At the other side of the room, Reed stayed silent.

“Good night,” Collin said to them both.

As soon as the door shut behind Collin, Reed turned on Elizabeth. “What the hell was that all about?”

She blinked at him in surprise. “What?”

“‘I don’t need your help, Reed,’” he simpered. “‘It’s all under control.’”

“It is all under control. Collin says we’re in a very strong position. He says the Vances would essentially have to prove we’re unfit parents to win in court.”

“It’s nice to know what Collin had to say, but what about what I have to say?”

“You weren’t here.”

“I had a meeting.”

“You always have a meeting.” She cringed at the sarcasm in her voice.

Reed’s tone grew stronger. “I would have been here if I could.”

“Keep your voice down.”

He drew an exasperated breath. “I want the details.”

She pointed to the papers on the round table. “Help yourself.”

“I also want to know exactly what Collin said,” he warned, scooping up the paperwork.

“I’ll tell you everything I remember.”

His eyes narrowed, and he peered at her.

“What on earth is the matter?” she demanded.

He was acting as though he were jealous of Collin.

Reed was stonily silent for a long beat. “I don’t like being replaced by my lawyer. This is our problem, not your problem alone.”

“I can take care of it, Reed. I’ll have professional help.”

His complexion turned ruddy. “So, you don’t need me? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Isn’t that exactly what you said to me?” Even as she lobbed the volley, Elizabeth silently acknowledged that she didn’t want to have this fight. Lucas was what mattered. All of her energy and emotional resources needed to be directed at him for the time being.

Reed turned sharply, and marched down the hall into his office.

Now she’d done it. The closeness they’d shared in France was officially a distant memory, and the cool formality from before their trip had turned to hurt and anger. And it was her fault. Fawning over Collin’s presence had been a passive-aggressive slam at Reed’s absence.

She screwed up her courage and followed him down the hall, carefully sliding open the door.

“Reed?” she ventured.

Without looking up, he grunted an acknowledgment.

“I’m sorry.”

That got his attention.

“We should work on this together,” she said calmly. “And I do appreciate your perspective.”

“He’s my son, too, you know.”

Her eyes clouded, and she blinked rapidly. “Of course. I thought you were too busy. I was trying…”

Reed let the sheaf of papers flatten on the desk. “I’m sorry I was late.” His jaw tightened. “Things are complicated…at the office right now.”

She nodded, even though she didn’t understand what he meant. But then she never had been privy to the intricacies and machinations of Wellington International. “Lucas is what matters.”

“Yes, he is. We’re his parents now, Elizabeth, and we need to ensure his well-being. On all fronts.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. “Why are they doing this?”

Reed shook his head. “Grief over Heather? Maybe a desire to cling to a little piece of her?”

“But Brandon and Heather chose us.” Elizabeth didn’t know the Vances. They could be selfish or mean-spirited, they might even be fanatical about something. There was a reason her brother and sister-in-law had entrusted Lucas to her care, and she wasn’t going to let them down.

“And the court will see it that way,” said Reed. “We’ll talk to Ned Landers together.”

“Together,” Elizabeth agreed. But a little part of her couldn’t help wondering if Reed would make the meeting.

Ned Landers advised Reed and Elizabeth to carry on with their ordinary lives. The only leg the Vances might have to stand on is if they could paint Reed and Elizabeth as unsuitable parents. That task would be all but impossible.

Although Elizabeth had been focused on Lucas, her party planner and neighbor, Amanda Crawford, had carried on with the anniversary party plans. Ned recommended that they go ahead with the party. It sent a signal that their marriage was strong, and that they had a good support network of friends and extended family, helping to paint them as a stable family unit.

Hanna had volunteered to babysit Lucas for the evening, insisting that she was the only one he trusted and that she hated big parties anyway. Elizabeth knew that was true, so she went along with the plan. For some reason, Reed had also insisted Joe Germain spend the evening in the penthouse.

Hanna had protested the arrangement. That is, until Joe showed up at the door and she got a good look at the tall, übermasculine man.

Elizabeth supposed Joe was a handsome man, in a caveman kind of way. Although, if a woman were turned on by physical power, Joe was about as good a fantasy as a girl could get.

Judging by Hanna’s speechless, wide-eyed stare, she had a thing for physical power.

“Thanks for coming, Joe,” said Reed, appearing from the kitchen.

Joe headed for Reed, giving Hanna a curious nod of greeting as he passed.

Hanna’s gaze locked on the rear view of Joe.

Elizabeth elbowed her friend. “Down, girl. I don’t think he’s allowed to make out on duty.”

“How would you know?”

“It must be in the handbook or something.”

Hanna grinned. Then her gaze drifted up and down Elizabeth’s red satin evening gown.

“You’re going to knock ’em dead,” said Hanna. “I wish I had your clothing budget.”

“I feel pretty spoiled tonight,” Elizabeth admitted. Reed had insisted that her gown be custom-made and dramatic.

Hanna gathered Lucas from Elizabeth’s arms.

“There are a couple of bottles for him in the refrigerator,” said Elizabeth, smoothing his hair and kissing his chubby baby cheek as she ran down the instructions.

“Yes, Mommy,” Hanna sing-songed, and Elizabeth’s thoughts went immediately to Heather.

“Sorry,” Hanna whispered.

“It’s all right. We have to move forward. And I guess I’m the one to do it.”

“You’re doing beautifully,” said Hanna.

Elizabeth took a breath, and Reed appeared at her side.

“Ready?” he asked.

“I don’t know how regular parents do this,” said Elizabeth, reluctant to leave little Lucas.

Joe stepped up. “I’m trained in fire safety, first aid, defensive driving and, well, hand-to-hand combat.”

Reed grinned. “See that? We have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“Do you change diapers?” asked Hanna, obviously trying for a joke, but her voice came out breathy.

“Whatever’s necessary,” Joe said easily, lifting Lucas with a deft gentleness out of Hanna’s arms and tucking him against his shoulder like he’d been doing it all his life.

Elizabeth wasn’t sure, but she thought Hanna might have fallen instantly for Joe.

Reed held out an arm to Elizabeth. “Shall we?”

She smiled up at him, determined to enjoy her evening. She linked her arm into his as they turned for the door.

“Is Joe single?” she whispered under her breath.

“I think so. Why?”

Elizabeth glanced back at Hanna’s expression. Her friend looked liked she’d been dropped straight into her deepest fantasy.

It wasn’t often that Reed imagined himself in a science fiction story. But, at the moment, he would take it very kindly if somebody would please beam him up.

“I understand that these things can happen,” continued Vivian Vannick-Smythe, a halo of feathers that served as a hat quivering around her lined face while she gesticulated her story. “And I’m certainly not one to stand in judgment.”

Reed choked back a laugh at that statement.

While Vivian carried on about the SEC investigation and how it was all about her, he scanned the crowd for Elizabeth, wondering why, since this was their anniversary party, he’d spent so little time with her. Then he saw her dancing with Prince Sebastian. The man was holding her too close for Reed’s taste. If not for the Prince’s European sensibilities and the fact that he was getting married in Caspia on New Year’s Day to his American assistant, Tessa Banks, Reed would have had words with the man.

“I think the reputation of the entire building is at stake,” Vivian prattled on. “And if I were you-”

“You’re not me,” Reed pointed out.

Vivian took an imperious breath, the feathers jiggling again. “If I were you, I would do everything in my power to bring a speedy end to this embarrassing episode.”

“You don’t think I’m already doing that?” he asked.

Her eyes narrowed. “You should think long and hard about how you go about protecting your family, your friends and your neighbors…”

Reed drew back from her shrewd expression and the odd turn of phrase.

“From the crushing embarrassment of being associated with an accused criminal,” she finished.

“Right,” said Reed. “The crushing embarrassment of my neighbors is my primary concern at the moment.”

“Good evening, Reed,” came a familiar male voice.

Vivian’s head came up, her self-confidence instantly evaporating.

“Good evening, Father,” said Reed.

Anton stared Vivian down until she mumbled something unintelligible and scooted away.

Reed resisted the urge to thank his father.

“Elizabeth is looking well.”

Reed turned his attention to the dance floor, agreeing that his wife looked incredibly beautiful, particularly considering everything she’d been through. “She’s coping the best she can.”

“I understand she’s taking care of her nephew now?”

“Our nephew,” Reed corrected.

“Yes, of course. And there are some grandparents in the picture?”

Reed gazed at his father’s inscrutable expression. “You mean the Vances?”

“I understand they’d like to raise the boy.”

“Lucas. His name is Lucas. And we’re his legal guardians.”

“Do you think that’s wise?”

An uncomfortable feeling wedged its way into Reed’s stomach. “It’s not a matter of wise or unwise, Lucas is our responsibility now.”