A Good Yarn Page 0,59

advice, maybe arrange for Annie to see her, too.

"Having all that crap sent to the apartment is mail fraud, and it isn't a laughing matter. But that's not the half of it. She's gone way over the line this time."

"How unfortunate you have to deal with more junk mail than usual," Bethanne said sarcastically, knowing it was a childish response. "My sympathies to you both."

Grant scowled at her. "I can't thank you enough for your support," he muttered. "Especially since I've spent the last hour dealing with Tiff who's hysterical because someone poured sugar down her gas tank."

"No," Bethanne gasped.

"One guess who's at the top of the suspect list."

"Oh, no." This was much worse than Bethanne had expected. Grant was probably right, too - it was a step up from requesting nuisance mail, but exactly the type of revenge Annie could wreak.

"That's a serious offense," he said. "We haven't talked to the cops yet, but - "

"Would you really prosecute your own daughter?" Grant had sunk lower than she'd ever thought he would, but she'd never dreamed he'd turn Annie over to the authorities.

"It isn't me she's doing this to, it's Tiff."

Tiff, it was. Poor, poor Tiff. "Then perhaps you should have Tiff discuss the matter with Annie and work this out."

"That's not all," he shouted. "Annie's done her best to make Tiffany's life and mine a living hell. You don't even want to know about the horrible garbage she's sent via the Internet. Why can't you control your daughter?"

"Listen. Annie's your daughter, too, and her secure and happy life was uprooted because her father's brains are located below his belt buckle."

"Damn it, Bethanne, I don't have to put up with that kind of verbal abuse from you. We're divorced."

"Fine, then," she said, gesturing at the front door. "Get out of my house."

"The only reason you have this house is because I gave it to you."

"Gave it to me?" she cried, outraged he'd even suggest such a thing. "Gave it to me mortgaged to the hilt. There's not a penny's equity in this place, thanks to you."

"But who's making the payments?" he challenged. "Don't forget I'm the one signing those alimony checks - which allow you to keep this house. And that reminds me, do you have a job yet?" This was asked with such blatant sarcasm, Bethanne cringed.

She closed her eyes and tried to control her anger. She didn't want to argue with Grant. There was no point.

"All right, all right," he said, apparently reaching the same conclusion. "I didn't come here to fight. We need to develop some sort of plan to deal with Annie's problem. This can't go on."

"She isn't angry with me. You deal with her." She wasn't being flippant. Annie's pain was caused by her father. Bethanne was making an effort to help, but anything she could do seemed more like damage control. Grant had to take some responsibility here.

Grant splayed his fingers through his hair. "I'm afraid Annie might do something to physically hurt Tiff," he mumbled and shook his head. "I can't believe this is happening."

"You're worried about Tiffany?" Bethanne exploded.

"Damn straight I am. Someone who'd deliberately sabotage her car is one step from doing something physically aggressive."

"What about Annie?" Bethanne asked, shocked that he could be so self-absorbed. "Aren't you worried about her? Doesn't she deserve any concern?"

"Of course I'm worried, but I can't deal with her. She hates me. At least that's the impression she's given me. If you know something I don't, then I'd appreciate being filled in."

"That's the problem," Bethanne said in a shaky voice. "She desperately loves you and believe it or not, Annie needs her father. It was one thing to divorce me, but you weren't supposed to divorce your children. When was the last time you talked to your daughter? You used to at least call her every week or two. I understand that's stopped. Why? When did you last have a conversation with her - or Andrew, for that matter? Need I remind you these are your children, too?"

He looked down at his shoes. "I've been busy and - "

"Busy?" she cried. "Do you honestly expect me to consider that a valid excuse?"

"I don't need you as my conscience. Besides, Annie and Andrew refuse to have anything to do with Tiff. They won't even come to the condo because she might be there."

"Talk to Annie," she advised, setting her pride aside long enough to plead with him. "Call her up and take her to lunch.