Christmas 2011 Trio A. Кейт Хьюит

      “You’re holding the evidence in your hand,” he countered, his voice raised in anger.

      Only he wasn’t really angry, Anne realized; he was hurt and disillusioned and growing more so by the minute. Oh, this was dreadful. It was as if God had broken a promise. Anne had felt so sure that Julie was the woman she’d been praying for all these years and now this … this betrayal.

      “All along, Julie was holding out for more money.” He rubbed his eyes as if he was exhausted. “I forgot about the settlement when we started dating.” He expelled a shaky breath. “Then she declined to move in with me, and that was the end of our fine romance. Except that I remembered we hadn’t settled her so-called accident and I contacted her again.”

      Anne didn’t say anything, waiting for him to continue his story.

      “She wouldn’t talk to me about it.”

      Anne silently applauded; perhaps everything wasn’t lost, after all.

      “The thing is, Mother, I thought she was different, that I could trust her.”

      Anne reached across the table and patted his hand.

      “Then she proved I can’t.”

      “Roy, let’s not be hasty here. Yes, it looks bad, but let’s face it—if Julie was interested in your money, she would’ve moved in with you. Don’t make the mistake of judging her too harshly.”

      “Harshly?” he snapped. “It isn’t just about the money. I went over to her place to see her, to talk to her. I hoped we could find a way to compromise…. All I wanted was for the two of us to be together.”

      Anne bit her lower lip, afraid of what he’d say next.

      “I told her if she didn’t want to move in with me, I’d be willing to set her up in her own apartment.”

      After a moment, Anne managed to speak. “She wasn’t interested in that, either, I take it.”

      “Not at all.”

      Anne smiled to herself. Perhaps, just perhaps, Julie was everything she’d hoped for. Surely God wouldn’t be so cruel as to send another Aimee into Roy’s life.

      “I reminded her that I wasn’t offering marriage, but she could have the next-best thing. I made it clear that this was my final offer. If she said no, I was walking out that door once and for all.”

      “She was willing to accept that?”

      He hung his head. “Apparently so. Then I brought up the settlement. I told her I wasn’t upping the ante. If she was going to get anything out of me, she’d better sign.”

      “You left the papers with her?”

      “Yes,” he said bitterly. “I had my attorney contact her. This afternoon I got the signed papers by messenger, with the attorney’s notice that the check had been mailed.”

      Roy looked so disheartened Anne ached once again to take him in her arms the way she had when he was small. He’d come to her for solace, but there was nothing she could do or say to ease this pain. Julie hadn’t turned out to be the woman Anne had hoped, after all.

      “She has her money, then?”

      He nodded. “It’s what she always wanted. Twenty-five thousand—no strings. I’ll say one thing for her,” he muttered cynically. “She was good.”

      Anne’s shoulders sagged with disappointment. “Live and learn,” she said under her breath.

      “She came in right after Aimee that afternoon,” Roy said, speaking almost to himself.

      Anne leaned closer, certain she’d misunderstood. “Aimee was five years ago.”

      “No, Aimee was three days ago.”

      Anne thought her heart had stopped beating. She needed a couple of minutes to calm herself before she asked, “Aimee came to see you? Recently?”

      Roy’s gaze darted to hers. “I didn’t mean to say anything—I shouldn’t have. I apologize, Mom, for bringing up unpleasant memories.”

      “Tell me,” Anne insisted.

      Roy tilted back his chair, staring at the ceiling. “She stopped by the office, unannounced and unwelcome.”

      “Whatever for?”

      “Why does Aimee do anything?” Roy said sarcastically. “She wanted something.”

      “What?”

      Roy shook his head as if to say he still didn’t really believe it. “She came with some ridiculous story about my father loving me and wanting to see me again.”

      “I know Burton’s tried to contact you,” Anne said.

      “Who told you that?”

      She didn’t want to get his assistant in trouble, but Ms. Johnson had volunteered the information. “It wouldn’t do you any harm to talk to him, you know.”

      “I don’t have anything to say to the man,” Roy said bluntly.

      Anne felt herself go rigid. “It’s been five years since you last talked to your father. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think it’s time you two called a truce.” As difficult as it was, she gave Aimee credit for supporting Burton’s desire to make peace with his son.

      “We don’t have anything in common.”

      “He’s your father.”

      “He betrayed us both.”

      Anne didn’t have a response to that. She wasn’t in any position to defend Burton, and wouldn’t. “At least Aimee tried to help.”

      Roy snickered. “Don’t go painting her in any chivalrous light. She had her own agenda. She always has. I should’ve recognized it at the time, but fool that I am, I took her at face value.”

      “What do you mean?”

      Roy looked away, as if he’d said more than he intended. “I called Dad.”

      “Oh, Roy, I’m so glad you did.” Part of that was a lie, but for Roy’s sake she was grateful. A son, no matter what his age, needed his father.

      He shook his head. “The conversation didn’t go well, but I did learn an important piece of information.”

      Anne waited for him to explain.

      “Aimee wants something big and expensive for Christmas, and Dad told her if he was going to plunk down thousands of dollars, she could do something for him.”

      “I see.”

      “He got what he wanted,” Roy murmured. “I phoned him, just like she knew I would.”

      Aimee’s manipulativeness had left Roy deeply cynical toward women; Julie’s actions, unfortunately, had only confirmed that cynicism.

      “How is your father?” Anne asked despite herself.

      “You honestly care?” Roy’s eyes were skeptical. “The man betrayed you, cheated you, and now you’re concerned about his well-being? Don’t be, Mother. Dad is getting exactly what he deserves.”

      “And what’s that?”

      He laughed. “Aimee. She’s spending money faster than he can earn it.”

      “I’m sorry to hear that.”

      He cast her a doubting look.

      Anne grinned. “Okay, that’s not entirely true. But I really don’t harbor any ill will toward your father. I’ve gotten on with my life. After the divorce, I felt used up and old, but now …” She got to her feet, still talking, and poured them each a coffee. “Well, the thing is, I found a whole new part of myself. I believe that our world