Free Finders Keepers by Fern Michaels Page B

morning, then she was off again. She spends all her time these days getting cosmetic surgery in Europe. She looks younger than I do. You wouldn’t recognize her. Hell, I didn’t recognize her, and she’s my mother. The last time she called she said, and this is a direct quote. ‘Darling, youth is fleeting so enjoy it while you have it. Buy what you want, do what you want, and have the bills sent to the attorneys.’ So, I do what she says.” Sophie’s voice turned so fierce her eyes started to water. “I don’t ever, ever want to end up like my mother. Right now as we speak she’s traipsing around Europe with some guy who is only three years older than me. When he works he paints houses. When my mother gets tired of him she’ll settle some money on him and he’ll live out his life in luxury. She’s incredibly generous to the men in her life.”
    It was nothing new to Jessie. She’d heard it all before. The only thing that changed was the name and occupation of the man in Janice Ashwood’s life. “Do you have money of your own, Sophie. Like a savings account or checking account?”
    Sophie hooted. “I have a trust fund that gets replenished every year. Mother sold off a couple of those Greek shipping tankers and put all the money in my fund. I think she has seventy-three more to sell off. It’s disgusting, isn’t it?”
    â€œWhat are you going to do with all that money?”
    â€œSpend it as fast as I can.”
    â€œOn what?”
    â€œSomething will come to me. Do you need money, Jessie?”
    â€œNo. You’ve already put out a lot of money for me. When I’m settled I’ll start to pay you back. Sophie, what would you do if you weren’t rich?”
    â€œLook at me, Jessie. The money has nothing to do with my abilities. I have a brain. I’m a quick learner. I have a wonderful memory that serves me well. I’m fortunate in that respect. I think I will make an excellent architect someday. Who knows, you might want me to design a house for you when you decide to get married. The plans will be my wedding present to you. Spending my mother’s money . . . my money, however you want to look at it is . . . my way of punishing my mother. In the beginning I thought she’d take notice when the bills started rolling in. She didn’t even flutter her artificial eyelashes. I started spending more and more until there wasn’t a damn thing left to buy. She still didn’t notice. To answer your question, I would persevere and then I would prevail. That’s what it is all about, my friend. We’re alike in so many ways and unlike in others. You have persevered in your own way. As of today you are prevailing. I envy you because I don’t know when it will be my time to prevail. It will happen, though.”
    Her voice turned dreamy. “I’m going to build a bridge someday that will be so magnificient the whole world will notice Do you know why I want to build a bridge?” Not waiting for Jessie’s response, she rushed on. “You start with nothing. Then you build a bridge that will take you someplace you wouldn’t have been able to go. When it’s done and you cross it you have the option of going on to that wonderful place or going back. Do you think that’s sad?”
    Jessie nodded. “Swear to me, Sophie, that no matter what road you or I take or whatever happens in our lives, that we will always be friends. I don’t mean that we have to call each other incessantly or write every week. I want to know that you will always be there for me the way I will always be there for you. I want you to swear, Sophie.”
    Sophie’s face turned solemn. “I swear, Jessie. Look, let’s scratch the swim and go to town so we can turn your car in. Are you still planning on leaving in the morning?”
    â€œYes. There will be less traffic on a Sunday. I have to