A Searing Acquaintance by J.L. Ashton

Author:J.L. Ashton [Ashton, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781681310053
Publisher: Meryton Press
Published: 2016-02-13T16:00:00+00:00

“Oh my…he told you about that?” Catherine gasped. “Well, well, well.” She sat back in her chair, rubbing her temple and looking even more closely at Elizabeth. “I believe his trust in your character goes even deeper than I’d imagined.”

“He’s a good man, but he shouldn’t have done that for me,” Elizabeth said quietly.

“Fitzwilliam obviously thinks otherwise. How long have you two known each other?”

“We met last fall at a football game.”

Elizabeth’s response drew a smile from the other woman. “I see. The Yankees must have already been out of the playoffs.” Catherine cleared her throat and gestured at the photographs on the table. “You’re writing the sports heroes book, correct?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“I suspect he likely placed a call or two to an old family friend.” She gestured to a photo of a smiling Reggie Jackson. “He mentioned Reggie and Derek are in your book.”

Elizabeth sank further into the chair and nodded. She should have known. She should have put it all together when that call came in asking about marketing opportunities for retired athletes. Mr. Phillips had enthusiastically passed it on to her, proudly telling her he had set up a meeting with Reggie Jackson, and that had led to a meeting with Derek Jeter.

“It isn’t just box seats, is it?” she managed to say. “Your nephew said his mother knew one of the Steinbrenners.”

“Yes, she did. Our family remains friendly with them.”

It was him. It was all him. The younger woman looked up. “I don’t understand why he did this, why he took such a risk of the blackmail becoming known. He would never do anything to hurt his mother.”

Catherine didn’t acknowledge her. “I’ve spoken with the attorneys. The story will go no further; the files will remain closed. No one beyond this small circle—you and I, Richard, Fitzwilliam, and two attorneys—will know. Your name—and my sister’s—will remain pristine. May she rest in peace.”

Elizabeth mustered a sad smile. “From what your nephews have said, your sister was a wonderful person.”

The older woman raised a hand to her chest and gently rubbed her pearls. “She was. But she was human, and she made mistakes.”

“But those mistakes should remain private,” Elizabeth said urgently. “They shouldn’t influence how you see a person or how you remember them.” She blanched as she spoke the words. I couldn’t have figured this out months ago?

She looked up and saw the older woman staring at her almost warmly. “As I said, Ms. Bennet, this knowledge stays within our small circle.”

Elizabeth smiled weakly and nodded her head. “Of course.”

“Your book looks quite interesting. I’ll have to pick up a few copies for my employees. It’s out soon?”

“Right after Labor Day.”

“I see.” Catherine stood up and walked to the door. She grasped the doorknob and, pausing, turned around and looked at Elizabeth. “He did this for you. Remember that.”

***

Elizabeth took a final sip of her iced coffee and tucked her phone back into her purse. Shifting her position on the hard bench, she watched the Saturday crowd stream past her toward the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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