Anabel Unraveled (20 page)

“Alexis,” I almost giggled at the memory. “She was talking to Sam and said, ‘I can’t believe I have to deal with some spoiled princess, Sam!’ And so it stuck. From what I’m told, Sam’s head of security turned to the detail and said, ‘When Princess arrives . . .’”

“That Alexis is such a sweetheart. You’re all set,” she announced, turning down the bed for me. I slid into it, enjoying the feel of the cool, crisp sheets.

“I can’t thank you enough.” I slipped my arm under the pillow.

She sat down on the floor next to me. “Okay, I do have to ask. How do you feel about him? Honestly?”

“I don’t know,” I groaned. “I should never have let myself get caught up in the moment with him earlier. I made a complete and utter idiot of myself.”

She nodded. “I know I keep saying this, but he really does care about you.”

“But only since he found out I was pregnant,” I pointed out. “He was such a jerk to me that first day at the hearings, Meghan. All I kept thinking about on the drive over there was that I wanted him to die.”

“I’m sure it would make things easier,” she noted, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“But he’s the father of my child, so he’s in my life whether I like it or not,” I continued. “It would make things easier if I knew I could count on him, if I could trust him.”

“Well, just give yourself time. See how things work out. That’s all I can tell you,” she offered. “You know, I’m glad you’re here. It’s better for you to be away from Alexis.”

I frowned. “Is there something going on that I don’t know about?”

“You mean you don’t know?” Meghan looked surprised. “Well, she did an interview the other day and basically called you an ungrateful little . . . strumpet.”

“She did not say strumpet!” I started to giggle.

She laughed along with me. “No, but something along those lines.”

“Well, that would explain the nice, tense atmosphere around Blair House. She and I don’t get along; I think she took an instant dislike to me.”

“My guess is she doesn’t like your relationship with your brother.”

“Yeah, I suppose.” I put my head down.

“I’m serious, Anabel. You know, she would never contradict him. Not in public, which is why all the tabloid stories about them were from dinners, events where they thought that they were alone. But you—you don’t seem to care he used to be our President, you know? The media thinks it’s delightful that you backtalk Sam, and they’ve been quoting you left and right.”

“Oh, dear,” I closed my eyes. “My poor brother. I should go a little easier on him. I guess that’s why they put me through those lovely ‘how to talk to the press’ classes.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Oh yes.” I sat up. “Well, it doesn’t surprise me. The other night she made an effort, but she’s since gone back to being her usual heinous self.”

“Well, you don’t deserve it.”

“You’re sweet. I should go to bed though. Goodnight, Meghan.”

“Pleasant dreams, Anabel.”

Chapter 21—Jared

I didn’t sleep that night.

Listening to Anabel talk had been just about the worst experience of my life.

I couldn’t deal with it. I couldn’t deal with her, and I couldn’t deal with myself.

Around four I got up and went for a jog.

Irony of ironies, I found myself in Rock Creek Park. There were a few deer in sight, and I broke into a run. It had been months since I had been down here, and I didn’t enjoy it. Too many bad memories.

I ran until my lungs felt like they would burst, and then I paused and bent over, catching my breath. And then, I heard her voice. “What are you doing, Jared?”

I looked up and saw Natasha. “Not you, too.”

She approached me, half-smiling, just like she used to. She was dressed for a run, her almost black hair in a high ponytail. She had always looked like this: perfectly put together, flawless in her attire; she could run for miles and never break a sweat. “You can’t run away from the little mess you’ve created this time.”

“I don’t know what to do.” I couldn’t lie to her.

She laughed a little. “I know you don’t. But you screwed up last night.”

“What do you mean?”

“You left her, Jared. You shouldn’t have done that. You should have at least attempted to comfort her. And to leave her with Meghan, of all people! Let’s face it, your sister—she’s not exactly the friendliest, is she?” She came closer. “Listen to me. Anabel Martin . . . you only get a limited amount of chances with a girl like that. Sort of like with me.”

“That was different, Nat.” I closed my eyes.

“Was it?”

“We weren’t supposed to be together.”

“I loved you,” came her fierce declaration.

“I know you did. And I messed that up. I can’t forgive myself for that.”

“You’re going to do that with Anabel, too, you know. There’s no getting around it, Jared. You’re running out of time, and there are things you can’t fix.”

“You should leave now.”

“Why?”

“Because,” I said, keeping my eyes closed, “you’re not really here.”

And when I opened my eyes, she was gone. I took a few deep breaths, and then ran back to my apartment. I had errands to run.

A few hours later, I was standing outside the Capitol Building. Scanning the crowd, I didn’t see her mass of brown hair or my sister’s neat red bob. I checked my watch again. 9:01. I had to talk to her before we went in.

A few minutes later, I was relieved to see them, walking closely together. Anabel looked relaxed. She was giggling, and Meghan was smiling back at her, but also looking around. I had a feeling she was doing her best to keep their entrance inconspicuous. I was surprised to see Anabel lean in and whisper something in Meghan’s ear, and then to see my sister actually laugh. Anabel had won her over.

As they came closer I overheard Meghan say, “Now, when’s the last time you talked to your father’s attorney?”

Anabel frowned. “You know, I haven’t heard from him, I’ll ask Sam today.”

“Good, because you really need your document—oh,” she said, noticing me. The two of them stopped in their tracks.

“Oh, hello,” Anabel stammered.

“Hi. Hello Meghan.” I stared at my sister.

Meghan smiled. “Well, this is where I leave you. I have to go down to the office.” She kissed me on the cheek, and whispered, “Hey, she had a pretty bad nightmare last night, go easy on her.” Then she turned to Anabel. “Bye Princess!”

“Good-bye!” she called. She then turned to me. “Your sister is rather lovely.”

“Yeah, she’s okay,” I agreed. “Hey, Anabel—”

“There is a long list of things that I do not feel like talking about right now,” she began.

“I know,” I cut her off. “Listen, I got you something.”

She looked surprised. “Oh?”

“Yes, here,” I thrust the package at her.

We had all sorts of people milling about us, but oblivious little Anabel was lost in her own world of unwrapping my gift, blocking the way without noticing. When she got the paper off her eyes widened. “Oh Jared,” she whispered.

“Does this mean you like it?”

“I LOVE it!” she practically screamed. “My very own BlackBerry!”

“Well, you insist on clinging to a keyboard,” I rolled my eyes. She grinned. “Only I have the number, so I guess I’m the only one who can call you at the moment. It’s written on the box,” I said, feeling awkward. “But it’s all activated and ready to go.”

She hugged me, then seemed to regret it in the same instant and stepped away. Then she frowned. “But doesn’t this cost money?”

I stared at her.

She quickly recovered. “Okay, dumb question. But, Jared, you don’t have a job right now.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t have money,” I told her. “Look, I wanted to do something nice for you, okay? I needed to. Just allow me this.”

She looked unsure.

“Please, Anabel. You can ask Meghan, she’ll tell you I don’t do this sort of thing for just anyone.” I tried to smile at her.

She stared at me for a moment, biting her lower lip, but then she nodded. “Okay, but I will pay you back as soon as everything gets straightened out with—”

“Miss Martin?” called a voice through the crowd. Anabel turned from me and beamed at the bespectacled stranger.

“Mr. Holbrook! I was just talking about you!” She turned to me. “Jared, this is Nathaniel Holbrook, he was my father’s attorney, and now he’s the executor of Jonathan’s estate.”

“Nice to meet you.” I extended a hand.

“Quite,” he returned, ignoring the hand. I deduced he probably knew who I was. He was an older man, with thinning hair. He straightened his tie. “Miss Martin, can we meet during your lunch recess? I need to discuss the particulars of Jonathan’s will with you.”

“Sure! Here, I just got a BlackBerry, let me get your phone number, and I’ll call you when we get out . . .” She grinned at me as they exchanged numbers.

Mr. Holbrook was on his way when she turned to me.

“So, we don’t have a lot of time, the hearing is starting in a minute, but I have to say something to you,” she informed me. “About today, Jared, I need to tell you that I just want you to tell the truth.”

“Can you handle it?” I asked.

She nodded. “Just be honest. That’s the best way to handle this whole mess.” Then she grinned and took my arm. “You bought me a BLACKBERRY!”

“Does that make you feel better? After last night?”

“Did Meghan say something?”

“Yes, she’s sneaky like that.”

She frowned. “Yeah, the nightmares are coming back. I haven’t had too many in recent months.” She fell in step next to me. “They’re all about Jonathan’s death—I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Fair enough.”

We walked into the hearing room and were accosted by Sam and Alexis. “Where have you been? It’s almost 9:30!” Alexis scowled at me.

“I’m sorry, traffic was really bad on Massachusetts Avenue,” sang Anabel. “Look!” She held up her new phone.

Sam blinked. “Where did you get that?”

She pointed at me. Sam did not look happy. “Do not try and buy my sister’s affections, Sorensen,” he warned.

“Everyone else tries to,” she shot back. I snorted.

Alexis took her arm. “Annie, I want to apologize to you for yesterday. I was out of line, and both Sam and I would really like it if you would come home with us this evening.”

Anabel smiled at her. “That’s very sweet, Alexis, but I think it is time that I moved out. I will come by later to get my things, but after that I am just going to stay away. Besides, you and I both know that you are telling anyone who will listen that I’m a total slut, and staying with you just destroys my credibility.”

Both Alexis and Sam looked flabbergasted, and they turned to stare at each other for a long time.

Anabel looked at me and whispered, “I think they’re having a telepathic conversation. And I think Alexis is winning.”

I choked back a laugh and turned away. Anabel was grinning at me with a conspiratorial smile, and I had a flash of the girl I used to know.

It was Sam who spoke first. “Anabel, you can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m quite serious,” she affirmed. “Meghan has offered to let me stay with her until I figure things out. As it happens, I am having a meeting with Jonathan’s attorney today, so I can at least see what my options are with regards to his will, and maybe I can get my hands on my trust fund money early.”

Sam glared at me. “I assume this is your doing?”

“It’s news to me,” I replied.

Alexis scoffed. “Anabel, sweetie, you don’t know a thing about how to take care of yourself. And this is the District of Columbia!”

“I think I’ll be okay,” she declared, looking at Sam. He looked at her, long and hard, and then nodded.

But Alexis was getting angry. “You are coming home with us, young lady, and that is that.” She glared at Sam, but his eyes were on Anabel.

Who, for the record, looked extremely amused. “You have no right to tell me what to do, Alexis, and I think we need some time apart.”

“Is this because of Jared?” Sam asked her.

“Oh no, absolutely not,” she told him. With a furtive glance at me, she threw her arms around her brother. “I love and adore you, big brother, but I need to get my life together, and I think it is just best if we make a clean break.” She pulled away from him, looking sad. “You miss your children, and I’m sure that the two of you are anxious to find a house, or something. Besides, it’s just better if we do it now, before the baby is born.”

“You don’t know the first thing about taking care of an infant!” Now Alexis was starting to cause a scene.

Anabel shrugged. “No, but as you pointed out, there are books.” She frowned. “Alexis, I thought you’d be happy. I mean, yesterday you were proclaiming what a burden I was.”

“I changed my mind,” she sniffed. I looked at her, trying to figure this out. This was not Alexis. I was well aware of the things she was saying to the media about her sister-in-law, and this change in demeanor bothered me. Had Sam threatened her? Or was there some sort of ulterior motive?

“Anabel, please come home with us this evening,” Sam begged.

Her eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”

Alexis sighed, finally becoming conscious of people looking her way. She gave a tight smile. “You are much better protected with us, Anabel.”

“Why do I need protection?”

“Because you are clearly oblivious,” she snapped. “The person who killed Jonathan is still out there. Have you forgotten?”

Anabel slumped. “But wouldn’t that person still be on Caereon?”

“We just don’t know who it is, honey,” Sam reminded her. “We sent protection to watch you last night, but it made me really uncomfortable to think that you might be in danger.”

“He didn’t sleep,” Alexis put in.

Anabel nodded, mulling it over. “I will think about it,” she said. “I think we ought to go in.” She walked in, but Sam caught my arm.

“Listen to me,” he growled. “You can’t fix this by buying her things, Jared. You and I both know that.” He pushed past me and went to stand by his sister, before I could even open my mouth to protest.

So we sat down. As much as it annoyed Anabel, it also really grated on me to be here. It made me severely frustrated that this was the third week of hearings for us, and we hadn’t covered any ground. I didn’t have too much time to think about that, however, because I was asked to speak.