All Summer Long: A Novel Part 35

"I'd like a very generous pour of Grey Goose on the rocks, and please bring it to my office as fast as you can," Bob said.

"Yes, sir!"

"And bring the bottle," Olivia said, knowing Bob well enough to know if he was drinking vodka to deal with his mother-in-law, he was going to need additional reinforcement.

As quickly as it was humanly possible, Bob looked up Maritza's mother's phone number and dialed it from his satellite phone, because it gave him a superior and clearer connection than his smartphone. He put the call on speakerphone so that Olivia could help if needed.

"h.e.l.lo?"

"Martha Ann? It's your son-in-law, Bob. I'm here with Olivia Ritchie."

"Bob Vasile. Well, what do you all know? Oh, h.e.l.lo, Olivia! I hope you're well?"

"I'm okay, all things considered. You?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

Bob was getting antsy and said, "Martha Ann? Do you have a moment?"

"Bob? Should I try and take a wild guess why you're calling me? I've got a kitchen full of ca.s.seroles and every woman I know in this town is in my living room. Do you think we don't watch the news down here in Mississippi? I almost had a heart attack! I turned on Anderson Cooper and there you were running your mouth like a teenage boy!"

"I'm so sorry I didn't call you first, Martha Ann. Please accept my deepest apology."

"Your deepest apology ain't worth diddly-squat to me. The one you owe the apologies to is Maritza! Tell her!"

"Believe me! That's exactly what I want to do!"

"How's my granddaughter, Bob?"

"She's fine, but she really misses her mother. I've been such a fool!"

"Hmmm. Yes, you certainly are! About the biggest fool I ever met in all my days. Let me see if she'll talk to you."

"What? She's there?"

"Where else would she be? I'm her mother! Who else should she go to for solace and succor? Some stupid shrink that would charge her a thousand dollars a minute? That's probably what you do! Like it would ever do you a lick of good. You'd probably lie like a cheap rug to them too! Hang on."

Martha Ann slammed the phone on something, probably a wooden table, and walked away calling Maritza's name at the top of her lungs.

"Thank G.o.d she's safe!" Olivia said and burst into tears. "Oh! What a relief!"

"Oh G.o.d yes! But I'm astonished that she's there! How in the h.e.l.l did she get back into the country?"

"Bob?" Olivia s.n.a.t.c.hed a tissue from a box on the side table, blotted her eyes, and cleared her throat. Then she chuckled, thinking about Maritza and how clever she was. "Maritza is a lot smarter than everyone thinks. Don't let the magnolia-speak fool you."

"True. I know. But boy, Martha Ann's p.i.s.sed," Bob said to Olivia.

"Which means Maritza is beyond p.i.s.sed. That's her only child, you know." Olivia sank into a chair, thinking about how she was back in the money hole again. But there was just no way she could've worked with Colette. She could work with tough clients, but Colette was too horrible. "You can't blame her for taking her side."

Bob's drink was delivered then.

"Thanks," Bob said and had a sip. "I don't. Did you like the way I played the guilt card?"

"About Gladdie? I hate to admit it, but that was a stroke of genius." Olivia looked at the crew member and said, "You know what? I think I'd like a big fat vodka on the rocks as well." Bob had said he would find her work, but where and how soon?

There was a lot of noise coming from the background in Martha Ann's house as though troops were marching through the rooms, but through all the racket, there was no Maritza coming to the phone to speak to Bob. Then it got quiet.

"Just how in the h.e.l.l did she get the whole way to Mississippi? Was she a stowaway?"

"I have no earthly idea," Olivia said. "I am just as surprised as you are!"

They heard footsteps again through the telephone receiver and the phone was picked up.

"Bob?"

"Martha Ann?"

"She says she doesn't want to talk to you. And I don't blame her."

"What do you mean? She has to talk to me! I'm her husband!"

"Only on paper, sonny boy! Only on paper! Maybe you should call another time."

The next thing they heard was the dial tone.

"That old b.i.t.c.h hung up on me!" Bob said.

"I know. Bob, let's not lose sight of the fact that Maritza is alive," Olivia said. "That's what really matters."

"You're right, of course, but can you believe what just happened?" Bob said. "She actually hung up on me!"

"Bob, n.o.body behaves like they're supposed to behave anymore. People are rude and horrible. Now, drain your gla.s.s and let's go tell everyone the good news, especially Gladdie."

"I guess I'll call her back later?"

"After you call the florist down there and fill her mother's house with flowers!"

"Right! She called me sonny boy!"

"It could've been a lot worse!"

"You're right. I'm surprised she didn't call me every curse word she knows. Come on. Let's go tell everyone," Bob said. "Thank you, G.o.d! I am so relieved!"

"I am too!" Olivia said and meant it.

"I'll tell you one thing, Olivia."

"What's that?"

"If I can get this mess sorted out? I'm going to be a changed man."

"That's good, Bob," Olivia said and hoped it was true. "Maritza is worth changing for. She really is."

"It would be a lot less complicated to just devote myself to her and Gladdie and of course now Daniel and Kitty."

"Yep. It sure would be easier and I'm going to tell you something. Marriage is a lot more rewarding and satisfying when you have someone you can rely on. But it has to go both ways."

Bob stopped and looked at Olivia, staring into her eyes as though there was an answer there.

"When did you get so smart?"

"I'm not. Nick is. A good marriage can open your eyes to a lot of things."

They stopped by Ellen and Gladdie's room. There was Maritza's little girl, sitting in her child-sized chair, wearing a ruffled nightgown, rocking a baby doll. She was quiet and very clearly sad. Ellen was reclining on her bed, reading a magazine. There was no interaction between them. Even though Olivia was not a huge fan of Gladdie's undisciplined behavior, she didn't like what she was seeing either. And it was bad enough that Ellen had come so close to ruining Bob's marriage, but she obviously wasn't good for Gladdie either.

"Great news, Gladdie! Mommy is at Grandmomma's house in Mississippi!"

Gladdie jumped up and clapped her hands.

"Really?" Her face lit up with surprise and happiness. "Yay! When's she coming home?"

"I don't know," Bob said. "I think it might be a good idea to go down there and get her! Do you want to come with me?"

"Yes, I sure do!" Gladdie said, sounding like a very determined adult.

Olivia was very nearly brought to tears by the transformation from despair to joy in Gladdie.

"Okay, come give your daddy a hug!"

He leaned down and she all but jumped into his arms, hugging him tight.

"I love you, Daddy!"

"I love you too, princess! I'll see you later. Okay? Sleep tight!" Bob kissed her on top of her head and put her down.

"Well, it's good that you found her," Ellen said. "I'm glad she's safe."

"Thanks," Bob said and turned to Olivia. "All done here."

"Okay," Olivia said, "let's go. Nick is going to love this story."

They started walking toward the deck to tell the others.

"I want you to come to Mississippi with me," Bob said.

"Why? I mean, I will, of course, but why?"

"To hedge my bet because she likes you. I don't think she likes me much right now, and I wouldn't blame her if she didn't. I just think I need help with this one. You're my best shot."

"You know what? You just might be right. But I'm not so sure she still likes me."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that."

When Bob told the story to his guests, they clapped and hooted. The wives were more restrained, but everyone, including Ernest and Betty, was visibly relieved. The horrible thought that Maritza might have been kidnapped and murdered wasn't ever too far from anyone's mind. And the reality was that life could be that fragile. Especially with Bob's net worth.

"This calls for champagne!" Mich.e.l.le said.

"Yes, it does! Get Jack," Bob said to one of the crew, "and tell him to notify all the authorities. Ask him to say that she is safely at home. It's not a lie, but at least it won't send film crews to her mother's house. Martha Ann's angry enough as it is. I'm sure they'll think she's in New York."

"Yes, sir! Mr. Vasile?"

"Yes?"

"When I tell the crew, they're going to be so happy that Mrs. Vasile is safe and sound. I know I am. She was always so sweet to me."

"Thanks," Bob said. "Well, folks? I think this vacation is finally coming to an end."

"Wait until I tell Roni this one," Olivia said to Nick.

"Boy, no kidding!" He said. "Who would believe it?"

The plan was to return to Palma and fly back to Teterboro the next day.

"What about Daniel and Kitty?" Olivia asked.

"They can fly home commercial," Bob said. "It won't kill them."

"Have you heard from them?" Nick asked.

"No," Bob said. "They're on the water and probably not watching television, if you get my drift."

Ernest cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, don't be such an old p.o.o.p, Ernest," Betty said. "You were young once."

"I imagine so, but young seems like a long time ago," he said.

The flight back to New Jersey was uneventful. There was such a sense of relief among them just knowing Maritza was alive. Bob couldn't wait to get to Mississippi and talked of nothing else.

"I called her twenty-two times at least. She still won't talk to me. But she'll have a harder time refusing to see all three of us. I'd fly straight there, but I need half a day in New York. You good with tomorrow, Olivia?"

"Of course! I need to spend a little time in my office anyway. Nick and I can have dinner in the city tonight and stay over."

"Yeah, how's that little pied--terre working out?"

"Little is the operative word. It's fine, really. Anyway, Bob, thanks for an interesting few days, even though it feels like we've been gone for a month!"

"It certainly was interesting," Nick said. "Thanks again."