The Memory of All That - Nancy Smith Gibson Page 0,32

I figured that was what you two were aiming for, lots of money for buying out his contract, lots more for relinquishing your rights to Jonathan, maybe even more just to get a divorce.”

“I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe it,” Marnie said as she leaned forward, resting her face in her hands. After a few moments she stood up and started pacing the room, finally stopping and wrapping her arms around the massive bedpost.

“I don’t like this person I was—am. I don’t like me at all!”

“You weren’t very likeable. Sweet and friendly at times, yes. Manipulative, yes. Charming, you bet. But when a person really got to know you, no, you weren’t very likeable.”

“I can see now why your mother doesn’t like me.”

“She has lots of reasons not to like you.”

“Yes, I agree.”

Marnie returned to her chair. “Maybe this is some sort of heavenly retribution, this memory loss. A way to start over.”

David gave a snort of disbelief. “You’ve tried that one too many times for me to believe it again.”

“What do you mean?”

“You constantly tell me you’re going to be good and not do those things again. You promise. It only lasts until the next time.”

“Like what?”

“Staying out until two or three in the morning with no phone call, or even staying out all night. ‘I was with the girls,’ you would say. And ‘I promise I won’t do it again.’ Until the next time.”

Marnie gaped at him, astonished. “I did that?”

“Several times.”

She was marveling at her audacity when David spoke again.

“And promising to do something with Jonathan, to take him somewhere, and never showing up.”

“Oh, no.” She wilted, falling back into the comfort of the chair. “How could I do that to my son?”

“That is why I don’t want Jonathan to become close to you and have you disappoint him another time. That’s why we have to have Mrs. Tucker, someone who is dependable, care for him,” David said angrily. “We sure can’t depend on you, and I’m trying to keep his heart from being broken another time.” He stood in front of her.

“But I—”

“But you what? Won’t do it again? You promise? Your promises aren’t worth anything, Marnie. Not anything.” He ran his fingers through his hair and walked over to look out the window.

Marnie wanted to say, “I don’t remember,” but she had uttered those words too many times already. “I thought I wanted to remember my past, but now, after hearing all that, I’d just as soon it never comes back to me.”

David turned back to her. “And I’m just waiting until you turn back into the old Marnie. I’ve come to believe you really do have amnesia. You’re not a good enough actress to be putting on this show without losing your temper or giving it away in some manner. But the truth is, when you finally recall your old life, you’ll go back to being that way again, and none of us can take that anymore. I can’t take it anymore.”

She sat silently. She reckoned he meant they would be divorced and she would lose Jonathan. That would break her heart, for she had grown to love him in the few short days she had known him. She almost laughed aloud at the thought. She had known him since he was born, but it felt like she had only just met him.

Then another thought occurred, and she raised her eyes to David.

“That first night when I found my way home, Ruth was in the downstairs hall, and she said I wouldn’t get away with something. She said I would go to jail. And you have said you need to find something I took. What is that? What else did I do?”

David looked exhausted when he returned to his chair, sinking into it and leaning his head against the back. His eyes looked bleak and sad when he spoke.

“Ray stole the plans and prototype of a secret component the Air Force wants in a newly developed spy drone. He had access to all of it, and he took it. We’ve spent a lot of time and money in developing the technology. Without it, Barrett’s will go under eventually. He was taking it to one of our competitors where he could sell it for millions. Or maybe he was going to sell it to a foreign government. You were, are, with him in the deal.”

Chapter 18

“He . . . we . . . stole it?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Ray put the information—drawings, plans, algorithms, and so forth—on