Morning, Noon & Night

Tyler sat there a moment. Then he thought, He wouldn’t have said he missed me if he didn’t mean it. With the exception of Woody and Peggy, the family was gathered in the drawing room at Rose Hill. Steve studied their faces. Judge Stanford seemed very relaxed. Steve Slanced at Kendall. She seemed unnaturally tense. Her husband had come up from New York the day before for the meeting. Steve looked over at Marc. The Frenchman was good-looking, a few years younger than his wife. And then there was Julia. She seemed to be taking her acceptance into the family very calmly. I would have expected someone who had just inherited a billion dollars or so to be a little more excited, Steve thought. He glanced at their faces again, wondering if one of them was responsible for having Harry Stanford’s body stolen, and if so, which one? And why’?

Tyler was speaking. ‘. Sloane, I’m familiar with the probate laws in Illinois, but I don’t know how much they differ from the laws in Massachusetts. We 214 were wondering whether there – wasn’t some way to expedite the procedure.’ Steve smiled to himself. I should have made Sinwn take that bet. He turned to Tyler. ”re already working on it, Judge Stanford.’ Tyler said pointedly, ‘ Stanford name might be useful in speeding things up.’ He’s right about that, Steve thought. He nodded. ”ll do everything I can. If it’s at all possible to There were voices from the staircase. ‘ shut up, you stupid bitch! I don’t want to hear another word. Do you understandt Woody and Peggy came down the stairs and into the room. Peggy’s face was badly swollen, and she had a black eye. Woody was grinning, and his eyes were bright. ‘, everybody. I hope the party’s not over.’ The group was looking at Peggy in shock. Kendall rose. ‘ happened to yout ‘. I … I bumped into a door.’ Woody took a seat. Peggy sat next to him. Woody patted her hand and asked solicitously, ‘ you all right, my deart Peggy nodded, not trusting herself to speak. ‘.’ Woody turned to the others. ‘, what did I miss?’ Tyler looked at him disapprovingly. ‘ just asked Mr. Sloane if he could expedite the probating of the will.’ Woody grinned.

"That would be nice.’ He turned to 215 Peggy. ”d like some new clothes, wouldn’t you, darlingt ‘ don’t need any new clothes,’ she said timidly. ”s right. You don’t go anywhere, do yout He turned to the others. ‘ is very shy. She doesn’t have anything to talk about, do yout Peggy got up and ran out of the room. ”ll see if she’s all right,’ Kendall said. She rose and hurried after her. My Godf Steve thought. If Woody behaves like this in front of others, what must it be like when he and his wife are alone? Woody turned to Steve. ‘ long have you been with Fitzgerald’s law firmt, ‘ years." they could stand working for my father, I’ll never know.’ Steve said carefully, ‘ undeistand your father was … could be difficult.’ Woody snorted.

.’Difficult? He was a two-legged monster. Did you know he had nicknames for all of us? Mine was Charlie. He named me after Charlie Mccarthy, a dummy that a ventriloquist named Edgar Bergen had. He called my sister Pony, because he said she had a face like a horse. Tyler was called ..

.’ Steve said, uncomfortably, ‘ really don’t think you should -‘ Woody grinned. ”s all right. A billion dollars heals a lot of wounds.’ 216 Steve rose. ‘, if theres nothing else, I think I had better be going.’ He could not wait to get outside, into the fresh air. Kendall found Peggy in the bathroom, putting a cold cloth to her swollen cheek.

"Peggy9 Are you all right?’ Peggy turned. ”m fine. Thank you. I … I’m sorry about what happened down there.’ — ”re apologizing?. You should be furious. How long has he been beating YOUT ‘ doesn’t beat me,’ Peggy said obstinately. 11 bumped into a door.’ Kendall moved closer to her. ‘, why do you put up with this? You don’t have to, you know.’ There was a pause. ‘, I do.’ Kendall looked at her, puzzled. ‘ She tumea. ‘ I love him.’ She went on, the words pouring out. ‘ loves me, too. Believe me, he doesn’t always act like this. The thing is, he – some- times he’s not himself." mean, when he’s on drugs.’ 6NO3 ‘ .. ‘!" .. Peggy hesitated. ‘ suppose so." did it startt ‘ … right after we got married." Peggy’s voice 217 was ragged. ‘ started because of a polo game. Woody fell off his pony and was badly hurt. While he was in the hospital, they gave him drugs to help with the pain. Aey got him started.’ She looked at Kendall, pleadingly. ‘ you see, it wasn’t his fault, was it? After Woody got out of the hospital, he … he kept on using drugs. Whenever I tried to get him to quit, he would … beat me.", for God’s sake!

He needs help! Don’t you see that? You can’t do this alone. He’s a drug addict. What does he take? Cocamet ‘.’ There was a small silence.

"Heroin." God! Can’t you make him get some help?"’ve tried.’ Her voice was a whisper. ‘ don’t know how I’ve tried! He’s gone to three rehabilitation hospitals.’ She shook her head. ”s all right for a while, and then … he starts again. He … he can’t help it.’ Kendall put her arms around Peggy. ”m so sorry,’ she said. Peggy forced a smile. ”m sure Woody will be all tight. He’s trying hard. He really is.’ Her face lit up. ‘ we were first married, he was so much fun to be with. We used to laugh all the time. He would bring me little presents and Her eyes filled with tears. ‘ love him so much!" there’s anything I can do.. ‘ you,’ Peggy whispered. ‘ appreciate that.’ Kendall squeezed her hand. ”ll talk again.’ 218 Kendall started down the stairs to jo . the others. She was thinking, When we were children, bef6re Mother died, we made such wonderful pkms ”re going to be a famous designer, Sis, and rm going to be the world’s greatest athlete!’ And the sad part of it, Kendall thought, is that he could have been. And now this. – Kendall was not sure if she felt-more sorry for Woody or for Peggy. As Kendall reached the bottom of the stairs, Clark approached her, carrying a tray with a letter on, it.

"Excuse me, Miss. Kendall. A messenger just delivered this for you.’ He handed her the envelope. Kendall looked at it in surprise. ‘ … T She nodded. ‘ you, Clark.’ Kendall opened the envelope, and as she began to read the letter, she turned pale. ‘!’ she said, under her breath. Her heart was pounding, and she felt a wave of dizziness. She stood there, bracing herself against a table, trying to catch her breath. After a moment, she turned and walked into the drawing, room, her face pale. The meeting was breaking up. ‘ …’ Kendall forced herself to appear calm. ‘ I see you for a momentt – He looked at her, concerned. ‘, certainly.’ Tyler asked Kendall, ‘ you all right?" She forced a smile. ”m fine, thank you.’ She took Marc’s hand and led-him upstairs. When 219 they entered the bedroom, Kendall closed the door. Marc said, ‘ is iff Kendall handed him the envelope. The letter read: Dear Mrs. [email protected] Congratulations! Our Wild Animal Protection Association was delighted to read of your good fortune. We know how interested you are in the work we are doing, and we are counting on your further support. Therefore, we would appreciate it if you would deposit I million US dollars in our, numbered bank account in Zurich within the next ten days We look forward to hearing from you shortly. As in the other letters, all the Es were broken. ‘ bastards!’ Marc exploded. – ‘ did they know I was heret Kendall asked. Marc said bitterly, ‘ they had to do was pick up a newspaper.’ He read the letter again and shook his head. ‘ aren’t going to quit. We have to go to the police."!’Kendall cried.’Wecan’t! It’s too late! Don’t you see? It would be the end of everything. Everything!’ Marc took her in his arms and held her tightly. ‘ right. We’ll find a way.’ But Kendall knew that there was no way. 220 It had happened a few months earlier, on what had started out to be a glorious spring day. Kendall had gone to a friend’s birthday party in Ridgefield, Connecticut. It had been a wonderful party, and Kendall had chatted with old friends. She had had a glass of champagne. In the middle of a conversation, she had suddenly looked at her watch. ‘, no! I had no idea it was so late.