...And Never Let HerGo

for a partners’ meeting and he was very concerned about Annie’s health and he wanted to discuss it with me.”
    Kim called Anne Marie and told her that she was having dinner with Tom, and she laughed and said, “That would be great. He will treat you like a queen, it will be fun—definitely go out with him.”
    Tom took Kim to the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia, and they talked about Anne Marie. “He told me that I was going to be shocked when I saw her because she had gotten so skinny,” Kim said, “and that he was very concerned that she was in serious danger.”
    Kim was frightened when she heard that, and listened carefully as Tom spoke of the possibility of doing an intervention with Anne Marie and committing her to a hospital. Kim suggested that it might be better if they went to Robert and told him how worried they were.
    “No,” Tom said quickly. “Don’t call Robert. Let’s think about it some more before we do anything. I’ve talked to a friend who specializesin eating disorders, and she recommended Michelle. I found Michelle, and I’m paying her.”
    Tom told Kim that he had given Anne Marie a slip of paper with Dr. Sullivan’s name and phone number on it, and that he had told Anne Marie that Dr. Sullivan was very highly thought of. In reality, of course, it had been Gary Johnson who had suggested Dr. Sullivan.
    Tom seemed absolutely benign as he described his offer to help Anne Marie pay for the therapy that her insurance didn’t cover. He gave Kim the impression that he was paying for all of her sessions, although it was Robert Fahey who was sending the $1,000 checks—not Tom. Tom had prevailed upon Anne Marie only once to accept $500 to give to Dr. Sullivan.
    Tom said that Anne Marie had given him a book about eating disorders and he had read it. She had given one to Robert, too, but Tom said Robert hadn’t bothered to read it. “I’m the only one who has done anything for her, Kimmie,” he said softly. “I buy her groceries—I’m constantly bringing her Gatorade and bananas to build up her electrolytes, and I try to keep her fed, and make sure she’s eating correctly.” It was all a lie.
    “What about her family?” Kim asked, surprised.
    “Nothing. I’m paying for everything. I’m in love with her. Why won’t she agree to see me again? I have more money than I can spend in a lifetime—I can give Annie anything she wants, the Lexus, the ten-bedroom house. . . . Why is she spending time with that geek when she could be with me?”
    Kim knew that Anne Marie was in love with Mike and that he was anything but a geek, but Tom was adamant. “She doesn’t take him seriously at all, you know,” he said. “It’s all just a front to look good in front of her family. She isn’t in love with him, and I don’t understand why she’s wasting her time with him.”
    Kim simply stared at Tom. She knew Anne Marie and she didn’t know him—but he seemed off the wall.
    “Am I crazy?” he asked, refilling his wineglass. “Should I back away from her?”
    “Yes,” Kim said softly. “I think you should—should back away from her.”
    Kim called Anne Marie the first thing the next morning. She didn’t tell her everything Tom had said or repeat his disparagements of Mike. But she did say that Tom Capano seemed to be crazy in love with her and didn’t understand why she couldn’t love him back.
    There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
    “Do you love him, Annie?” Kim asked.
    “No. No, I don’t.” Anne Marie’s voice was flat, almost dead. She sounded tired and at the end of her rope, as if even discussing it was too much effort.
    Tom asked Kim out for dinner again a week later. He said he was in town again for another meeting, and why didn’t they get together?
    Again, they went to the Ritz-Carlton. They had drinks in the lounge and then moved into the grill to eat. Once more, Tom talked about Anne Marie, warning Kim she would be shocked when she saw her. “He said that when he told Annie he was taking me out to dinner again, she said, ‘That’s fine—but the next time I want to go with you.’ ”
    Kim wondered if he was flirting with her and thought that couldn’t be; he was so crazy about Annie.
    Tom ordered the best on the menu and the finest wine. He talked about his family, explaining that his daughters were going to Europe with one of his brothers during summer vacation. “And he mentioned that his daughter had been sick,” Kim said. “His