The bad news is I’ve left four messages with my lawyer and she’s failed to get back to me. Time is running out.
When she finally calls, I drop the lamp I’ve been working on. Glue and cloth splat all over the floor as the lamp frame bends and bounces down my hall. The Open House is in five minutes. I plan to leave them there, in the hallway. It’s a magnificent mess. I should have thought of it earlier.
“Yes, yes, yes?” I stab at the phone and she’s there, my lawyer, charging me by the second.
“We have a settlement offer from your former husband, Lucy,” says Tonkerson. “Bart wants to keep the house and buy you out.”
“Is it a fair price?”
She names it and I nod. It’s more than I thought; enough to give Phoebe a head start in life, and secure my apartment.
“Tell Bart’s lawyers ‘yes’ but that I’ll only accept it if the money clears by the end of this week,” I say. “If it’s not in my account by Friday, tell him I’ll see him in court and take him for everything he’s got, and more.” I have no idea how to do that, and whether I can afford it, but it sounds tough. Bart understands tough. “Thank you, Felicia.”
I call Hilary immediately and tell her the good news. I ask her to make my formal offer to the seller’s agent.
When Donna phones me for our usual loud and fake discussion about the downsides of Brighton Court. I whisper to her the good news about the imminent settlement.
And then I phone Phoebe. It goes to voicemail, as usual.
“Phone me, darling. Please. I have good news.”
For once, she phones straight back, but is unimpressed when she asks me if Bart and I are getting back together, and I have to tell her the truth.
“But don’t hang up on me, my darling. We’re close to a settlement, and there’ll be enough for you to have a good share of it. You won’t be starting out in life with nothing.”
“I already told you, you don’t have to buy my love. I have to go, Mom.”
“Of course I can’t buy your love, darling. I accept that. I just want to make sure you’ll be okay. I love you.”
Chapter 44
Dirk
As I drive back tothe city, I phone Jamison to share the news and see if he’s okay.
“I didn’t know Lucy Beston was your housekeeper, Dad.”
