I’d wager that most paid little or no attention. People are more concerned with what’s happening in their own lives than with what they read about somebody else’s in a scandal sheet. Try not to worry about this, Eliza.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“You’re right. It is easy for me to say. But I happen to believe it.”
Eliza considered his words. “You’re probably right. I hope you’re right. It really bugs me, though. I keep wondering who the KEY News source was who so nobly proclaimed that, quote, the public depends on the mental stability of those entrusted with reporting the news, end quote. That backstabber threw my ability to do my job into question! What a low blow! Can you imagine anyone being that vicious?”
“Yes, Pollyanna, I can.”
Eliza ignored him, continuing on. “I’m going to find out who is behind that article. I’ve already called The Mole , but of course they won’t reveal their source. Journalistic privilege and all that. But don’t worry, I’m going to find out who did this.”
Mack couldn’t help but grin. “I have no doubt.”
Eliza smiled back, the first genuine smile of the past several days. “Forget it. Let’s not waste this glorious day!”
They continued on their way deeper into the park. Mack turned to Eliza. “Okay, where does ‘Eliza’ come from? A family name?”
Eliza looked at him, a half smile on her lips. “Ready? The first Broadway show my mother ever saw was My Fair Lady . She vowed that if she ever had a little girl, she’d name her Eliza. How do you like that?”
“On you, it somehow fits.”
“It gets better. Guess what the middle name is?”
“What was the Professor’s name . . . ‘Higgins’?”
“Funny, very funny. Nope. Scarlett.”
“She was a Gone with the Wind freak, too?”
“You got it.”
They laughed.
“And Blake? Is that your real last name?”
Mack watched Eliza’s happy grin fade and he thought he saw her blue eyes cloud over. The Eliza that America saw every morning was beautiful, bright and in control. The Eliza that he stood with in Central Park today was beautiful, bright and vulnerable.
“Blake is my married name. I was already using Blake professionally when John died. My maiden name was Gallagher.”
Though tempted to ask more about the marriage, Mack sensed that Eliza was not interested in talking about it at that moment. She was watching Janie hop up and down, pointing excitedly to the jumbo merry-go-round up ahead.
“You game?” Mack asked when they reached the carousel.
“Why not?”
As the three of them rode up and down on the gaily painted horses, Eliza Scarlett Gallagher Blake closed her eyes and felt the refreshing spring breeze blow across her face. It felt good. She thought of Bill, still unbelieving that the man she had admired so much would have taken his own life. She wished she had reached out to him more, wondered if it would have made any difference. But she hadn’t even had any idea that anything was really wrong. Bill’s suicide was so sad, such a waste of a wonderful human being. His death squeezed her heart and she wagered that just about everyone who knew Bill felt bruised.
Eliza looked over at her glowing, healthy Janie gleefully riding her wooden horse with the flowing mane and the big white teeth. She was more keenly aware than ever of the fragility of life and was extremely grateful to be there, with her precious little girl, alive.
Chapter 24
Daddy .
William had a sad feeling when he thought of his dad. He missed his father. Mom said today was Dad’s funeral.
William went to his dresser, opened the top drawer and began rummaging through the computer diskettes inside until he found the one he was looking for.
He turned on his computer, and put the diskette in the opening where it was supposed to go, and pushed the buttons he knew he had to push to make the letter appear on the screen.
Dear William,
You are a very good person.
You are a very good son.
I am
“Easy for you to say.”
“You’re right. It is easy for me to say. But I happen to believe it.”
Eliza considered his words. “You’re probably right. I hope you’re right. It really bugs me, though. I keep wondering who the KEY News source was who so nobly proclaimed that, quote, the public depends on the mental stability of those entrusted with reporting the news, end quote. That backstabber threw my ability to do my job into question! What a low blow! Can you imagine anyone being that vicious?”
“Yes, Pollyanna, I can.”
Eliza ignored him, continuing on. “I’m going to find out who is behind that article. I’ve already called The Mole , but of course they won’t reveal their source. Journalistic privilege and all that. But don’t worry, I’m going to find out who did this.”
Mack couldn’t help but grin. “I have no doubt.”
Eliza smiled back, the first genuine smile of the past several days. “Forget it. Let’s not waste this glorious day!”
They continued on their way deeper into the park. Mack turned to Eliza. “Okay, where does ‘Eliza’ come from? A family name?”
Eliza looked at him, a half smile on her lips. “Ready? The first Broadway show my mother ever saw was My Fair Lady . She vowed that if she ever had a little girl, she’d name her Eliza. How do you like that?”
“On you, it somehow fits.”
“It gets better. Guess what the middle name is?”
“What was the Professor’s name . . . ‘Higgins’?”
“Funny, very funny. Nope. Scarlett.”
“She was a Gone with the Wind freak, too?”
“You got it.”
They laughed.
“And Blake? Is that your real last name?”
Mack watched Eliza’s happy grin fade and he thought he saw her blue eyes cloud over. The Eliza that America saw every morning was beautiful, bright and in control. The Eliza that he stood with in Central Park today was beautiful, bright and vulnerable.
“Blake is my married name. I was already using Blake professionally when John died. My maiden name was Gallagher.”
Though tempted to ask more about the marriage, Mack sensed that Eliza was not interested in talking about it at that moment. She was watching Janie hop up and down, pointing excitedly to the jumbo merry-go-round up ahead.
“You game?” Mack asked when they reached the carousel.
“Why not?”
As the three of them rode up and down on the gaily painted horses, Eliza Scarlett Gallagher Blake closed her eyes and felt the refreshing spring breeze blow across her face. It felt good. She thought of Bill, still unbelieving that the man she had admired so much would have taken his own life. She wished she had reached out to him more, wondered if it would have made any difference. But she hadn’t even had any idea that anything was really wrong. Bill’s suicide was so sad, such a waste of a wonderful human being. His death squeezed her heart and she wagered that just about everyone who knew Bill felt bruised.
Eliza looked over at her glowing, healthy Janie gleefully riding her wooden horse with the flowing mane and the big white teeth. She was more keenly aware than ever of the fragility of life and was extremely grateful to be there, with her precious little girl, alive.
Chapter 24
Daddy .
William had a sad feeling when he thought of his dad. He missed his father. Mom said today was Dad’s funeral.
William went to his dresser, opened the top drawer and began rummaging through the computer diskettes inside until he found the one he was looking for.
He turned on his computer, and put the diskette in the opening where it was supposed to go, and pushed the buttons he knew he had to push to make the letter appear on the screen.
Dear William,
You are a very good person.
You are a very good son.
I am
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