Betrayal - Fern Michaels [25]
Alex laughed. “I think you’ll be okay, hon. It’s not like you drink all the time.”
Alex was right, hence her inability to handle a couple of glasses of champagne.
“I’m gonna go upstairs and shower ’fore Gert ’n Jay get here.” Kate stood on wobbly legs.
“Need some help?” Alex asked.
“I’ll be jus’ fine. Back in a flash.” Kate whirled out of the room, waving her arms like a bird.
Alex just laughed at her. She rarely drank. He was happy today. Bella and the pups had survived. Gertie was the best damned employee there was. Jay took excellent care of the animals. Marriage to Kate was beyond his wildest dreams in every way. Nothing in his life was bad. He thought that was good.
Heck, I’m a tad on the sloppy side of drunk myself.
He was about to go upstairs to join Kate in the shower when the phone rang. He hoped it wasn’t Jay or Gertie calling from the kennel to say something had happened to Bella or her pups.
“Hello,” Alex said into the receiver. Again, he said hello. Nothing. The phone went dead. “Well, make up your mind.” He placed the phone back in its cradle. It rang again.
“Yes, hello.” Alex raised his voice. If it was a phone solicitor, he hoped they would hang up on him when they heard his unfriendly tone.
“It’s me, Alex.”
“Why the heck didn’t you speak up? I’ve been wondering why you haven’t called, old buddy. Think you’re too good to call your best friend? You down there in Florida with all those swanky houses you’re working on, huh? All those rich folks,” Alex teased. “I’m glad you called. I have some good news. I was going to call you tomorrow anyway.”
“Alex, wait. I have something I need to talk to you about. It’s very serious. Do you have a few minutes?” Don asked.
“I always have time for my best bud,” Alex replied, wondering what Don could mean.
“Have you been drinking, Alex? You don’t sound so good.”
“We had a bottle of champagne. I might’ve had one too many slurps.” Alex burped into the phone. “I did have one too many. But hey, I’m a big boy. I can handle it. Why so serious, my friend?”
“I’ve . . . I’m not sure how to say this,” Don stated seriously.
“Like I always say, ‘say it the way you’re supposed to.’ Hit me, old man. What’s up?”
“It’s Sara.”
“Is she okay? She didn’t get hurt or anything, did she?” Alex asked, all traces of his liquor wit gone.
“Physically, she’s fine. Or at least she says she is. I would think you’d know more about this than I, Alex.”
Alarm bells rang loudly in Alex’s ears. “Why would I know this, Don? I haven’t seen or spoken to Sara since you all left.”
“I know that,” Don said, his voice even more somber.
“Then get to the point. Is Sara all right or what?”
“No, she’s not, Alex. She’s in a very bad way. Deb has had to take her to the hospital twice in the past two weeks. She’s been having anxiety attacks since she left your house. The doctor gave her sedatives to calm her.”
Alex shook his head, hoping to clear the alcohol fog in his brain. He still couldn’t understand why Don was telling him all of this. Maybe he needed money? That had to be it. Maybe Sara needed to be hospitalized, and he couldn’t come up with the cash.
“Listen, Don, you know if you need money for hospital bills, just say the word, and it’s yours. I’ll have my bank wire it first thing in the morning.”
“I don’t need your damn money, Alex. I need you to shut up and listen to what I have to say. Just one time, I wish you wouldn’t mention money.”
Alex was puzzled. Don had never had trouble accepting loans from him in the past. Had his pride kicked in all of a sudden? Alex didn’t care if Don paid him back or not. They’d been best friends since elementary school, they were as close as brothers. Maybe even more. Money was beside the point as far as Alex was concerned. He had plenty of it to share with his friend. He’d always made sure Don knew that, too.
“Hey, I’m sorry. What’s wrong, Don?”
Alex could hear Don’s intake of breath. “This isn’t easy for me, Alex.”
“Okay. Just spit it out. We can deal with it, no matter what it is.”
“Sara . . . she says the last time you guys came to Florida