Sutton Place

By Louise Gaylord

Just When Things Seem to be Going So Well...a horrific incident from Julia Fairchild’s past—one she thought had been buried long ago—comes charging back into her life. Then a promising romantic weekend goes bad, which makes staying at Sutton Place more than Julia can handle. So she flees her home, her family...her life. But apparently, she can’t go far enough.
The Fairchilds were a happy family of wealthy New York stock, with two loving daughters. Until the secrets started to surface.
The first secret was revealed when Julia was told the truth about her father. Her reaction to the revelation sent her spinning out of control.
The second secret concerned the parentage of Julia’s sister, Ariel. How Ariel responded to the revelation astounded the rest of the family.
Now Julia is building a superb reputation at one of New York’s finest hospitals. The future looks bright until a romantic weekend turns into a disaster. Fleeing home and family, she moves to New Mexico and starts to pull her life together.
Just when it looks like things are heading toward happily-ever-after, events in New York draw Julia back to Sutton Place, where she learns of Ariel’s secret life and finds herself facing her worst nightmare.
Sutton Place moves a mile a minute and never lets you see what’s coming around the next turn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little Moose Press
• Release date: Jul 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9780989398831

Louise Gaylord

Louise Gaylord is a national award-winning author who lives in Houston, Texas.

Book preview

Secrets, Obsessions, and Scandal, Oh My!

The Fairchilds were a happy family of wealthy New York stock, with two loving daughters. Until the secrets started to surface.

The first secret was revealed when Julia was told the truth about her father. Her reaction to the revelation sent her spinning out of control.

The second secret concerned the parentage of Julia’s sister, Ariel. How Ariel responded to the revelation astounded the rest of the family.

Now Julia is building a superb reputation at one of New York’s finest hospitals. The future looks bright until a romantic weekend turns into a disaster. Fleeing home and family, she moves to New Mexico and starts to pull her life together.

Just when it looks like things are heading toward happily-ever after, events in New York draw Julia back to Sutton Place, where she learns of Ariel’s secret life and finds herself facing her worst nightmare.

Sutton Place moves a mile a minute and never lets you see what’s coming around the next turn.

ALSO BY LOUISE GAYLORD

Dark Lake, An Allie Armington Mystery

Spa Deadly, An Allie Armington Mystery

Xs, An Allie Armington Mystery

Anacacho, An Allie Armington Mystery

Julia Fairchild, A Novel

Recipes from Camp Trillium

Sutton Place

A NOVEL

LOUISE GAYLORD

Smashwords Edition

Little Moose Press

Beverly Hills, CA

Copyright © 2013 by Louise Gaylord

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews.

Little Moose Press

269 South Beverly Drive, Suite #1065

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

(866-234-0626)

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

First Edition

Book Design by Dotti Albertine

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013939484

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gaylord, Louise.

Sutton Place : a novel / Louise Gaylord. -- 1st ed. -- Beverly Hills, Calif. : Little Moose Press, c2013.

p. ; cm.

ISBN: 978-0-9893988-3-1

Summary: Secrets, obsessions, romance, and scandal. The Fairchild’s were a happy family of wealthy New York stock, with two loving daughters, Julia and Ariel. Until the secrets started to surface.--Publisher.

1. Family secrets--Fiction. 2. Women physicians--Fiction.

3. Sisters--Fiction. 4. New York (N.Y.)--Fiction. 5. New Mexico--Fiction. 6. Mystery fiction. 7. Suspense fiction. 8. Love stories. I. Title.

PS3607.A986 S88 2013       2013939484

813/.6--dc23                       1307

for Dianne

Table of Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

1

MANHATTAN – OCTOBER 1988

DOCTOR FAIRCHILD SPEAKING. Is anyone there? Hello?

There was no response, but Julia knew someone was on the other end of the line. Listening. Breathing.

It was the third such call in the last hour. Was it interoffice or outside? Only one way to find out. She slammed down the receiver, converted fear to anger, and jabbed 0 for the hospital switchboard.

Good morning, Doctor Fairchild.

Julia looked up to see her superior Dr. Edmund Field standing at her door as she cradled the receiver. The compact balding man with the signature bow tie flashed a broad smile. I hear it’s your birthday. Congratulations.

Yes, it is, thank you. Julia stood, pleased that the doctor found his way to her office through the rabbit warren of Payne Whitney’s Annex.

I wanted to remind you to set up your presentation with the boy’s caseworker.

She held up the chart. It’s done. Next Tuesday at three. I checked everything out with your secretary.

Why did I even bother to ask? I should know better by now. Field pulled a chart from the stack he was carrying and waved it in her direction. I think this might be right up your alley. Do you think you could add it to your caseload?

Julia was at the door before he finished the sentence.

You bet.

Somehow I knew you would. He handed her the chart and gave her a broad smile. I don’t mind telling you how impressed we are with your work, Doctor Fairchild. Snaring you was quite a coup. Since you spent the last seven years in Boston we were sure you would intern there at McLean.

Thank you, Doctor Field, but returning to New York has been a double pleasure for me. I’ve missed being near my family, and then to know that Payne Whitney wanted me was such a great honor.

The feeling is mutual, Fairchild. All of us in the department are looking forward to a long and productive relationship.

Julia drowned in his praise. She’d worked twice as hard as any of the other interns and knew she deserved the compliment.

After watching her boss disappear around the corner, she stepped back into her tiny cubicle that featured a grime-covered view across the hum of FDR Drive to the East River and checked her watch. The autistic black child, a charity case that Julia had done wonders with in the past four months, was late again.

She squelched her rising exasperation to concentrate on the better aspects of the case. After reading an article on autism in The Archives of General Psychiatry, she had suggested that Dr. Field, who was head of the Department of Psychology and in charge of her internship, ask the psychiatry resident to put her patient on clomipramine.

The results were staggering. The hand flapping stopped almost immediately, and after several sessions, Julia was able to make eye contact with him.

But, the best piece of news had come only yesterday when Dr. Field invited her to present the case before the entire department.

Julia checked her watch again. The boy and his caseworker were now twenty minutes late, and if they were much later, she would have to reschedule her birthday luncheon with her sister Ariel.

After several more minutes dragged by, Julia couldn’t stand it any longer. She grabbed the chart, rushed into the hall, collided with Chief of Adolescent Psychiatry David Wexler, and watched the file pages flutter to the floor.

Damn! Julia looked into Wexler’s quizzical smile and blushed. Sorry. What a mess!

Don’t be sorry. It was my fault.

The handsome widower’s face was as distinctive as his build. A broad brow sat beneath a shock of prematurely snow-white hair, and full well-shaped eyebrows winged above deep-set soft brown eyes shaded by thick blunt eyelashes.

His mouth, which wasn’t overly generous but ample enough for promise, broke into a wide smile. Let me help you get this back together.

Thank you, but it’s not necessary. Julia dropped to her knees and began gathering the papers.

He ignored her protest and knelt across from her. No trouble at all. Haven’t you heard that ‘many hands make light work’?

Julia nodded mutely, as her pounding heart overrode his next words. After taking a few deep breaths, she finally made out what he was saying.

I’m looking forward to your presentation next week. Field tells me you’ve been dead right on the last two cases he assigned you. We’re all so pleased you’re here at Payne Whitney.

Thank you. She sat back on her knees the same time he did and was keenly aware of how close he was. As he reached out to hand over the rest of the file, their hands met and a tingle traced Julia’s fingertips. She jumped as if she’d received an electrical shock, then busied herself with the chart, sure that if she looked into his eyes she would do or say something stupid.

To save herself any further embarrassment, Julia quickly stood, and before Wexler could rise, she was in her office, behind a closed door.

She collapsed in her chair and began straightening the pages with trembling hands. Julia despised the way she felt when she was in Wexler’s presence. Stupid. Tongue-tied. Silly and inane. How was she ever going to get him to ask her out?

When the telephone’s jarring ring cut through the stuffy silence, Julia stared at the newly menacing object, not wanting to pick up the receiver, not wanting to hear the breathing.

She let it ring one more time before she grabbed the receiver, jammed it to her ear, and said through gritted teeth, Doctor Fairchild.

When the caseworker stammered her apology, Julia almost dropped the handset as she whispered to no one, Thank God.

2

JULIA CHECKED HER watch yet again and muttered, Hurry up, Ariel. Hurry up.

Over half an hour had passed since she ducked beneath the crisp green circular awnings—trademark of La Demimonde.

The bartender leaned toward her. Another Perrier?

No thanks. I’ll wait until my sister gets here.

Ariel was always late. But true to her obsession about being on time, Julia rushed through her small patient’s visit in order to arrive at the restaurant on the dot.

As if there weren’t enough problems to begin her day, the boy arrived sullen and uncooperative. Someone at the home had forgotten to administer his clomipramine. No one cared, not even the overloaded caseworker, and Julia lost her temper.

The signature scent of Ariel’s perfume announced her arrival and Julia looked up to see her sister settle gracefully on the bar stool next to her.

Sorry, I was on an errand cross town when I realized it was almost one. Have you been waiting long?

Julia smiled. Almost forty minutes, a new record for you.

Ariel’s five years abroad had tempered her youthful exuberance with sophistication. Her strawberry blond hair was captured in a sleek chignon which accentuated her heart-shaped face and wide violet eyes, and the lavender tunic she wore gave an illusion of height that made her seem much taller than five-foot-two.

Julia couldn’t help but begrudge the six-inch difference between them. Each time she stood next to Ariel, she felt like the Jolly Green Giant. To her mind her tiny sister was just the kind of woman a man would rush to protect, the same man who would probably shove a spear in Julia’s hand and push her into combat.

Ariel waved at the busy maitre d’, and when he seemed to ignore her, she said, We’ve probably lost our table and it’s all my fault. Want to try the Polo?

Whatever you want, Julia said. I’m yours for the afternoon.

Just as the two stood, a dapper, dark-haired man with just a touch of gray at the temples rushed toward them.

Ah, ma belle!

Ariel smiled. Andre! Thank heavens. Can you help us?

Of course. That’s why I’m here! The restaurant’s owner hooked his arm through each of theirs and jockeyed them through the stylish lunch crowd to a prime table.

Andre turned to Julia. Your sister tells me it’s your birthday. We must have champagne. He kissed her hand, then dissolved into the sea of waiters approaching the table. Once they were seated, Ariel turned to check out the other diners. When she turned back, Julia said, Mother and Ian send their love.

Ariel’s eyes filled with question. Oh?

I’m also supposed to scold you for making yourself so scarce. They haven’t seen you for dinner but once since you moved into your apartment.

Not that again.

Yes, that.

I wish they’d give it a rest. Decorating the apartment has taken all my spare time.

Ariel drained her glass of complimentary champagne, then waved to a waiter. I’m positively parched. Let’s order a real drink.

Julia shook her head. One champagne is plenty for me.

Oh, don’t be such a prude. It’s your birthday. Live it up.

Julia waited until the waiter brought Ariel her Absolut martini, then leaned forward. I do have some news.

Her sister’s sophisticated mask dropped. You know I love gossip. Hurry up and tell!

It’s hardly gossip. I finally made contact with my birth father.

The guy from Juarez? What did Lucia say about that?

Ariel’s refusal to call Lucia Fairchild Mother since her return from abroad rankled Julia. Something was definitely amiss between those two, but now wasn’t the time to get into it. I didn’t tell her. She hasn’t mentioned his name since she first told me I wasn’t Ian’s child.

Well, you can’t really blame her. You practically killed yourself in Uncle Elmore’s Porsche.

Julia’s heart quickened. She hadn’t meant to open that can of worms. That’s all behind me now.

Ariel touched her hand. Of course it is. Now, tell me about the call.

It didn’t go very well. He seemed remote. Julia sighed and looked away.

Maybe he was just stunned to hear from you.

Maybe. But now that I think about it, it was a silly move on my part. I suppose I was looking for some sort of connection.

Ariel’s voice was soft. I’m sorry.

Me too. Julia took another sip of champagne and tried a smile. Even though I’m a part of his past, he obviously isn’t interested in any kind of future with me and I guess I have to respect his wishes.

Ariel drained her drink. "At least you can talk about your father."

Julia saw the longing in her adopted sister’s eyes and her heart lurched with pity. Oh, Ariel, aren’t we enough family for you?

Her sister turned away, waved to the waiter, then raised her empty glass. When she turned back, her mask, complete with a dazzling smile, was back in place. Oh, don’t pay any attention to me. You and Paulie are my rocks.

Thanks, that means a lot to me. Julia stopped when she realized Ariel hadn’t heard a word she was saying. Instead her sister was staring at a lone man seated at a table against the far wall who gave a discreet nod in their direction, and when Ariel nodded back, he rose.

Julia followed him with her eyes, her heart hammering. There was something vaguely familiar about that man. Something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Who’s that?

A new friend. Her sister grabbed her purse. I have to powder my nose. Order me the Gravlax, will you?

Julia watched her sister disappear then shut her eyes. At that, the morning’s ominous phone call replayed. She could hear someone breathing. Someone who wanted her to know they were there.

Julia took several deep breaths and pressed her fingertips to her temples in a vain attempt to push away the throb.

Julia? Are you all right? You’re so pale.

She opened her eyes to see Ariel kneeling next to her chair. How long have you been here?

Only a few seconds. You look weird.

Sit down! You’re causing a scene.

But—

Now! Please, Ariel.

Her sister sat, then leaned forward. This isn’t what I think it is, is it? Oh, Julia, I thought you were over all that.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just hypoglycemic, that’s all. You know how I get when I’m hungry.

Hypo—? No, that’s not it. You look just like you did after the accident. Remember? After you came back from Monteverde?

Julia pushed the rising coil of nausea back to the pit of her stomach, but the name refused to die. Monteverde. So long ago. Why should the thought of Monteverde make her nauseous?

Good heavens, Ariel, why would you bring that up?

Her sister stared openmouthed for a few seconds, then said, I can’t believe you’ve forgotten all those nightmares and upset stomachs you had.

The waiter’s arrival saved the day.

The rest of the lunch was punctuated with sporadic, inane conversation while Julia picked over her salad and Ariel inhaled her Gravlax and a third vodka.

Then, after a hasty espresso, Ariel made an excuse about a forgotten appointment, paid the bill, and headed for the entrance.

Julia carefully folded her napkin, and then looked up to see Ariel and the same man standing at the door to the street. He had his arm around her sister, but his eyes were locked on her.

3

THE FIRST CLAP of thunder echoed through the canyons between the tall buildings just as the cab turned onto Sutton Place and slowed. What’s that address again?

Julia peered out the window. Most of the street was dedicated to cooperatives built in the late 1920s, but dotted in between were a few single-family dwellings. Most had been converted to doctor’s offices or law firms, but the Fairchild’s house, built at the turn of the century by Julia’s grandfather Harold Simmons, remained just that.

Six bucks even. The cabbie turned and grinned through the Plexiglas partition. Better hurry; I can smell the rain.

Edwards, the short, dark-haired Englishman who was in his tenth year as head of the Fairchild’s staff, opened the door just as the first drops of rain began to fall. Good afternoon, Miss Julia. Looks like you’ve just beaten the storm.

She was about to step into the wide entry hall when a furry blur raced past her into the pelting rain followed by Edwards yelling, Findley! Findley, come back here this instant.

Julia let out a wistful sigh. This puppy was the fourth Findley in Julia’s life. Her stepfather Ian Fairchild had once boasted that schnauzers had been his family’s dog-of-choice for generations. But this Findley totally ignored every effort she had made to become his friend.

Seconds later, Edwards, drenched to the bone, returned holding the schnauzer puppy at arm’s length. "Pardon me, Miss Julia. That