Getting Even (27 page)

“A
nd some shocking news now. It is with sadness that I report what’s unfolding with the Wishes Come True Foundation, a charity that grants wishes to terminally ill children in and around the Atlanta area. Charles Crawford, the charity’s secretary, and Marsha Hindenberg, the charity’s treasurer, have both been charged with embezzling over 1.8 million dollars from the foundation. Adam Hart, whom we all got to know very well in Atlanta after he began his philanthropic work with the charity, is being investigated for his role in the scandal. Some say the charity began to suffer after Adam’s reported marijuana and cocaine use. Glenn Baxter, a pilot with All-American Air, is also under investigation after it was learned that he recently deposited eight hundred thousand dollars into an account in Arizona. Sadly, the entire legitimacy of the charity has been called into question.” I pause for effect as I look into the camera. “I, for one, am deeply saddened at these stunning turn of events. The Wishes Come True Foundation is near and dear to my heart, as I know it is for many of you. I’ve been to many fund-raisers in support of its efforts. I can only hope that the charity doesn’t suffer too greatly because of this, as the cause is such a worthy one.”

I watch the entire report with my hands on my cheeks, and my legs curled on the sofa beneath me at Claudia’s place. Claudia hits the pause button on the VCR, and neither she, I nor Annelise speak for a moment.

Annelise is the first to break the silence. “Wow.”

My heart is pounding in my chest. “I know.”

“We really did it,” Claudia comments.

More silence. I’m not sure what my friends are thinking.

Regret, perhaps?

Annelise starts to laugh, completely giddy with excitement. “Did you see the look on Charles’s face? Oh my God, I thought he was going to pass out before they put him in the police cruiser. And Marsha—she looks like she’s aged fifty years overnight!”

“And Adam.” Claudia stifles a laugh. “Seeing the footage of him trying to run from reporters like the coward he is. Priceless.”

“And the look of pure horror on Glenn’s face when he’s exiting the plane and sees all the cameras.” I clamp a hand on my mouth to stop my hysterical laughter. “I can just imagine what his wife’s gonna say when this news gets back to her.”

“I feel relieved,” Annelise says. “And I couldn’t be happier—even if I’m going to be totally broke.”

I face her. “I have to thank you for planting that seed in Dominic’s head about Glenn. I’m sure it won’t take long for him to realize that Glenn wasn’t really part of the embezzlement scheme, but at least to have his name linked to the scandal, and that footage of him—it’s the best revenge. And oh, how shocked he must have been. But, I did tell him I wanted the money transferred to my account by Friday, and the money wasn’t there until Saturday.”

“Hey,” Claudia begins nonchalantly. “He was warned.”

“I can’t believe I was just in Costa Rica a few days ago. It’s only Tuesday, and already this story’s broken wide open. Charles is back in the U.S., and he’s going to jail.”

“Sweetie, I’m going to hook you up with my uncle who’s the divorce lawyer. There’s probably a way for you to get
something
out of the house, even if it has to be sold because of this whole fiasco. I don’t know if it does or not, especially given that the house was purchased before Charles ever stole a dime from the charity.”

“It’ll all work out,” I assure Annelise. “I believe that.”

She smiles softly. “I think so, too.”

“Ooh, I don’t think she’s talking about the house anymore—what about you, Lishelle?”

“With that smile, I’ll bet she’s thinking about Dominic.” I sing his name like a fifth-grade schoolgirl.

“He called me today. Just like he did yesterday. Like he did while he was still in Costa Rica. I think he really likes me.”

“Uh, yeah.” Claudia rolls her eyes jokingly.

“I never thought I could feel like this. So…”

“Sexually invigorated?” I suggest.

Annelise’s smile widens. “That, too. But I was going to say, so happy. I didn’t realize how miserable I was all these years with Charles until I spent time with Dominic.”

“That means he’s well hung.”

“Claudia!”

“Are you denying it?” Claudia asks.

Annelise giggles. “I have
no
complaints at all about Dominic’s anatomy. He’s…”

“Well hung,” I say.

“Yeah, that,” Annelise admits. “And incredible overall. Even if things don’t work out with us, I’m so totally grateful for that night in Costa Rica.”

“You got your groove back,” Claudia chimes.

“Did I ever!”

“And your sister?” I ask. “Have you heard from her?”

Annelise shakes her head, though she’s grinning. “I can’t believe her. Says she’s in love with Miguel. That now she knows what all the fuss is about.” She shrugs. “I give her seven, ten days tops before she’s back in Atlanta. But, you never know.”

“Yeah, you never know,” I agree. “There
are
some good guys out there. And I can’t believe I’m saying that, given what Glenn did to me, and Charles to you and Adam to you.”

“Because you don’t want Glenn or anyone else to take away your hope,” Claudia tells me. “That’d be the worst thing of all.”

I finally reach for my glass of apple martini, knowing that Claudia is right. Who knows if I’ll ever meet a man that’s right for me, but I can’t give up hope.

“We always have to have hope,” Annelise says. “Look at how much my relationship with my sister improved in just two days? We’re closer than I ever thought we would be. And who thought I’d meet someone as great as Dominic already?”

“Rub it in,” Claudia whines. “Rub it in.”

“You enjoy it,” I tell Annelise. “I ain’t mad atcha. You deserve to be happy.”

Silence settles over us as we all sip our drinks.

“You know what’s weird?” Claudia asks after a moment.

“What?” I ask.

“I’ve gotten my revenge and thought for sure I’d feel so much better. Instead, I feel sort of empty inside. Yes, I’ve outed Adam, and I’m glad to know he can’t hurt me anymore, but I feel like something’s missing. Know what I mean?”

Annelise looks thoughtful. “What, you want to go on
Oprah
or something?”

“No, not like that.” She pauses, and her eyes light up. “Oh, I know. We have to do something for the kids!”

A warm feeling starts to spread inside of me. “You must be psychic. I was thinking the same thing.”

“Something good has to come from all this,” Claudia says. “Revenge is sweet, but—”

“Helping out the kids who so desperately need it is even better.” Annelise’s face fills with happiness. “Oh, guys. That’s such a great idea.”

“How can we do it?” Claudia asks.

“Some sort of pledging drive,” I answer. “I can get the station to back it. Maybe it can be nationwide through the network.”

“Yes, yes,” Annelise agrees, waving a hand excitedly. “All those children we can help…And to think it’s because we were hurt so badly. You’d never imagine it.”

“I know,” I say wistfully. The prospect of giving such positive meaning to the negative we experienced makes all we suffered worth it.

“This is perfect,” Claudia says. “I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about how many kids we’ll help because of this.”

I raise my martini glass. “A toast. To us. To the kind of friendship that will never die. The kind of friendship that lifts you up when you so desperately need it. The kind of friends you know you can count on, without ever having to ask. The kind of friends who know that even better than getting revenge is doing something to give back.” I pause. And smile, even though emotion is causing tears to fill my eyes. “And to saying goodbye to the schmucks in our lives. To moving onward and upward. And to never giving up the faith that we deserve, and will find, the kind of love that’s real.” I inhale a deep breath. “There. I think that’s all.”

“It couldn’t be better,” Claudia says.

“No,” Annelise agrees. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

“I think so,” I say.

And then we all clink glasses, toasting friendship and a fabulous tomorrow.