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Deadly Memories

Page 9

by Joanne Fluke


  “I did.” Nita nodded and rushed off toward the kitchen, but she stopped at the doorway with a grin. “I know you have eaten much, Mr. Steve . . . but do you have room for my pineapple flan?”

  Steve laughed. “You’re a devil, Nita. You know I can’t resist your pineapple flan. Just cut me a small piece. That way, I can have seconds. And let’s have it in the living room where we can be more comfortable.”

  “Nita makes the best pineapple flan in the world.” Jan hurried to explain. “And Uncle Steve always says he’s too full for dessert, but he usually has two pieces.”

  Maura nodded. The time had passed to ask any questions about the strange comment that Jan had made, but she’d add it to her mental list of questions to ask Steve.

  “Would it be rude if I took my dessert up to my room?” Jan didn’t quite meet her mother’s eyes, “There’s a movie going on that I really want to watch.”

  Steve nodded. “Go ahead, honey. Your mother and I’ll manage without you. Right, Maura?”

  “Oh. Yes . . . of course.” Maura frowned slightly. From the emotionally laden looks that Steve and Jan had exchanged, it was clear they’d worked this out in advance.

  “Take your time, Maura.” Steve grinned at her. “I love to see you eat. You hardly touched your food when you were in the hospital.”

  “That’s because it wasn’t worth touching!” Maura gave him a dirty look. “All I got the first couple of days was Jell-O and broth.”

  Steve raised his eyebrows, and Maura drew in her breath. One eyebrow was a little higher than the other, giving him a rakish, devil-may-care look.

  “Now look, luv. You might not know it, but I was doing you a big favor. There’s no way the hospital kitchen can ruin Jell-O and broth. Regular hospital food isn’t exactly gourmet fare. It’s a lot like airplane food.”

  “Domestic, yes,” Maura nodded “But have you ever flown on SAS?”

  Steve leaned forward to stare at her, and Maura began to feel very uncomfortable, especially when he reached out to touch her arm.

  “Have you flown on SAS, luv?”

  “I . . . I’m not sure.” Maura sighed deeply. “For a second there, I thought I remembered. But I watched a lot of television while I was in the hospital. I could be remembering a commercial.”

  Steve laughed. “That’s probably it. SAS just launched a huge ad campaign. Finish up your tamale, Maura, and we’ll have coffee and dessert in the living room.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Maura had finished every bite of her tamale, just to prove that she could. And she’d also eaten a full serving of Nita’s pineapple flan, accompanied by a cup of strong, Mexican coffee. Nita had cleared away the dishes, and now she and Steve were sitting on the couch, enjoying the blaze he’d made in the river rock fireplace.

  “I’m glad you started a fire, Steve.” Maura turned to him with a smile. “There’s something very comforting about hearth and home.”

  “I know. Watching a fire makes most people relax. It also encourages intimate conversation.”

  “Intimate?” Maura felt her heart beat hard. “I don’t understand. Are we . . . intimate?”

  “Not in the traditional sense of the word. But we are good friends.”

  Maura took a deep gulp of air. She hadn’t realized that she’d been holding her breath, waiting for Steve’s answer to her question. Thank goodness they weren’t intimate! Although she didn’t remember any part of her life with Keith, she hoped that she’d been a loyal wife.

  “Maura?”

  “Yes, Steve?”

  “I know you need a friend now. And I want you to feel free to discuss every aspect of your life with me.”

  Maura nodded. This was the opportunity she’d been searching for. “All right, then, I’d like to ask you some questions. I’m warning you right now . . . some of them might be personal.”

  “Go ahead, luv.” Steve smiled at her. “I’ll tell you everything I know.”

  Maura took a deep breath and reminded herself that honesty was the best policy. And then she started to speak. “I know that you called Nita this morning. I’m not exactly proud of snooping, but I overheard part of the conversation. That’s what I’d like to ask you about.”

  “Fair enough.” Steve nodded. “Ask me.”

  “Why did Nita speak to you in Spanish?”

  “Because I took Spanish in college, and I don’t want to lose my skill. Nita helps me brush up, whenever she can.”

  Maura nodded. That explanation sounded reasonable to her. “Okay. Now tell me who he is.”

  “He?” Steve looked puzzled. “Which he are you talking about?”

  “The he on the phone. Nita said I had to be ready before he came home. I assumed she meant Keith, and I want to know what I’m supposed to be ready for.”

  Steve laughed. “That’s easy, luv. There’s a benefit dance at the Biltmore next month. Keith was hoping you’d be what he calls ‘up to speed’ before the big event.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Absolutely.” Steve grinned at her. “Anything else?”

  “What is it that Jan doesn’t know?”

  This time Steve looked completely bewildered. “Sorry, luv. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Nita said that Jan knew nothing. She told you not to worry, and she promised to call you immediately if there was any concern.”

  “Oh, that!” Steve sighed. “Lord, Maura. I was hoping to break it to you gently, but . . .”

  “What is it?” Maura felt her adrenaline race. “Tell me, Steve!”

  “We arranged it all before the accident, but it’s clear you don’t remember. And I didn’t want to spring it on you without any warning.”

  “Spring what on me?”

  “The dog.”

  “What dog?”

  “The one I bought for Jan. She’s always wanted a dog. You said it was all right with you, so I put down a deposit on a puppy.”

  “A puppy?” Maura began to smile. “That’s wonderful, Steve! I’ve always loved dogs . . . at least I think I have. What kind of puppy is it?”

  “He’s an Australian sheepdog. Wait until you see him. . . . He’s three different colors, and he’s got the cutest little face. The breeder says he’s very smart, and he’ll make an excellent watchdog.”

  “He sounds wonderful!” Maura clapped her hands in delight. “When can you pick him up?”

  “I’ll call to arrange it. If the puppy’s ready to be adopted, I’ll pick him up tomorrow. But don’t tell Jan. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

  “I won’t breathe a word.” Maura grinned. Having a puppy in the house would be fun. But how would Keith feel about a puppy? Wasn’t that something wives were supposed to discuss with their husbands?

  “What is it, luv? You look worried.” Steve reached out to drape his arm around her shoulders again.

  “Did I . . . uh . . . do you know if I discussed this with Keith?”

  “I have no idea. But I really don’t think it’ll be a problem. Bonnie and Clyde were staying here when you married Keith, and he got along just fine with them?”

  “Bonnie and Clyde? Who are they?”

  “The Emmersons’ dogs. They’re the two black labs that live next door. The Emmersons went to Europe for six months, and Nita agreed to look after their dogs. They were supposed to stay in their own yard, but . . .” Steve shook his head and began to laugh. “Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t remember.”

  “Why? What happened?” Maura began to smile.

  “Well . . . the first night after the Emmersons left, Bonnie and Clyde got lonesome. They jumped the fence into your backyard, and chewed right through the back door. When you woke up the next morning, you found them both sleeping at the foot of your bed.”

  “What did I do?”

  “You called a carpenter to put in a doggy door, and you bought two outrageously priced dog beds. Bonnie and Clyde lived with you until the Emmersons came home.”

  “And Keith didn
’t mind?” Maura still looked a little anxious.

  “Not at all. He told me he was glad that Bonnie and Clyde were here to protect you when he was out of town.”

  Maura nodded. Keith had told her that he ran an import-export business, but she really didn’t know much about it. “Does Keith have to go out of town very often?”

  “Every couple of weeks or so. But you travel frequently, too. You try to arrange your schedules so you’re home at the same time.”

  Maura began to frown. If they both traveled frequently, it didn’t sound like much of a marriage. “Steve?”

  “Yes, luv?”

  “Do I . . . uh . . . love Keith?”

  Steve raised his eyebrows. “I assume you do. After all, you married him.”

  “Do you like him?”

  That question seemed to take Steve by surprise. He took a deep breath and winced a little. “To be perfectly honest, he’s not exactly the man I would have chosen for you, but I like him well enough. I’d like anyone who made you happy, Maura. You’re very important to me.”

  “Thank you.” Maura felt tears come to her eyes, and she turned away quickly to blink them back. It was clear that Steve loved her . . . as a sister-in-law, of course.

  Steve poured a little more coffee from the silver carafe that Nita had left, and leaned back against the couch cushions again. “Any more questions?”

  “Yes. I loved your brother, didn’t I?”

  Steve nodded quickly. “Yes, you did. And his death was a terrible blow to you. I think the only thing that kept you going was the fact that you were pregnant.”

  “She’s wonderful, isn’t she?”

  It was more of a statement than a question, and Steve grinned as he nodded. “Jan is what we aging hippies like to call ‘good people.’ You did an excellent job as a mother, luv. And hiring Nita was part of it.”

  “Jan told me that you and Donna found her for me. I’ll always be grateful for that. I don’t exactly remember, but I have a strong feeling that Nita was one of the people who kept me sane.”

  Steve nodded, again. “That’s true. And Donna was another. I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing her.”

  “I feel the same way.” Maura sighed. “I just wish I could really remember her. From the things Jan’s told me, she must have been a saint.”

  Steve started to laugh. “I wouldn’t go quite that far. Donna was Irish. Her last name was O’Mally. And she had a temper that could make grown men quake in their boots.”

  “You?”

  “Even me.” Steve grinned, and looked a little sheepish. “I’ll never forget the day you moved here. I suggested that you put Jan in a good, professional day care center while you started your boutique. The moment the words were out of my mouth, Donna hit the roof.”

  “Donna didn’t approve of day care?”

  “Oh, that wasn’t it.” Steve was still grinning. “She thought I was casting aspersions on her ability as a substitute mother. She was just a little thing, five feet two inches tall; she stood there with her eyes flashing, and she faced me down. She said, ‘I’ll take care of this dear, sweet baby! And if you don’t like it, you can just find another place to hang your hat!’”

  Maura was surprised. From the things Jan had told her, she’d assumed that they’d hired Nita immediately. “Donna took care of Jan?”

  “For the first six months. Bottles, formula, toys, cribs and playpens; she turned our house into a nursery. And all this from the woman who said she didn’t think career women could be good mothers.”

  Maura frowned slightly. “Donna had a career?”

  “Oh, yes. She was a very talented illustrator. Book, magazines, you name it. She worked at home, and you two took turns with the baby. You were living with us at the time.”

  Maura couldn’t help feeling guilty. It sounded as if Steve’s life had been severely disrupted. “I’m sorry, Steve. It must have been hard on you.”

  “Are you kidding? It was one of the happiest times of my life! You see, Donna couldn’t have children. This was our one chance to spoil a baby outrageously, and we made the most of it.”

  Maura giggled. “Well, Jan doesn’t seem to be the worse for it. And she certainly loves you. I’d say you did a pretty good job as substitute parents.”

  “We enjoyed it. And we were pretty upset when you decided to move out to a place of your own. But the boutique was on its feet by then, and we realized that you needed your own life.”

  Maura nodded. “That’s when I hired Nita? After I moved?”

  “That’s right. Nita was working for a friend of Donna’s at the time, but their youngest had just started school. Donna convinced them they didn’t need a nanny any longer, and Nita went to work for you.”

  “But Nita’s still here. And Jan’s in college. I’m glad she decided to stay with us all these years . . . but why?”

  “You wouldn’t let her go.” Steve started to chuckle. “When Jan was growing up, you worked long hours at the boutique. You really needed Nita to live in. And then, when Jan was old enough to get along without supervision, you convinced Nita to stay on as your housekeeper.”

  “It sounds as if I manipulated her. Tell me honestly. . . does Nita want to leave?”

  Steve shook his head. “I’m sure she doesn’t. You’ve always told her she’s part of your family and this is her home for life.”

  Maura gave a huge sigh of relief. “Thank goodness! I don’t know what I’d do without her . . . especially now. Nita knows more about me than I do!”

  “True.” Steve began to smile. “Come to think about it, even I know more about you than you do!”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Positive. Ask me a question about your life, and I’ll prove it.”

  Maura felt her breathing quicken. This was the perfect opportunity to ask about some of the strange inconsistencies in her dreams. “Did I marry again, after Paul was killed?”

  Steve frowned slightly. “Of course. You married Keith two years ago.”

  “I didn’t mean Keith. I meant . . . did I marry anyone else in between?”

  “Not that I know of.” Steve still looked concerned. “Do you think you remember someone else?”

  “Not really. Do I know anyone named Nick?”

  “Nick?” Steve took a moment to think about it. “I don’t think so. Of course, I’m not familiar with all your business contacts. Why do you want to know?”

  “I had a weird dream last night, about a man named Nick.”

  “Oh?” Steve moved closer. “Tell me about it, luv.”

  Maura swallowed hard. For some strange reason, she was reluctant to tell Steve about her dream. “It’s not really that important. I just dreamed I was married to a man named Nick, that’s all.”

  “Have you been having other dreams?”

  “A few.” Maura hesitated again. She really wanted to describe the scene in the airport, and the way she’d hidden under the hotel room bed and escaped down a pipe, but she didn’t want Steve to think she was crazy. It was better if she asked the questions. That way she could control the situation.

  “I do have a question.” Maura tried to look perfectly innocent. “I know I’ve worked at the boutique for the past twenty years, but have I ever held any other jobs?”

  “I’m sure you have, but I might not know about all of them. You were working as a secretary when Paul met you. And you mentioned being a waitress once at a small café in your hometown.”

  “Was I ever a maid in a big hotel?”

  Steve shrugged. “Not that I know of, but I know you worked your way through college. I don’t think you would have been a maid, though. With your skills, you would have found something that paid much better.”

  “How about my education . . . do I speak any foreign languages?”

  “Spanish. You remember that, since you understood our telephone conversation this morning. And I think you know enough French to get by on your buying trips.”

  Maura began to fr
own. She was sure that the language she’d heard in her dream hadn’t been Spanish or French. Perhaps she’d rent some foreign movies, to see if she could identify the language of her dream.

  “Anything else you want to know?”

  Maura nodded. “Just a couple more things. I want to know more about Grant, and why he was taking me to the airport.”

  “That’s easy.” Steve smiled. “Grant was your accountant. He’d been with you from the very beginning, and he handled all the books for Fille Janelle. He called you to say he had some business to discuss, and you told him you’d have a few minutes if he took you to the airport.”

  Maura shivered slightly. She didn’t remember Grant at all, but she wished he hadn’t offered to give her a ride. “Tell me about him, Steve. Was he married?”

  “No. Grant was a confirmed bachelor. He was a really nice guy, but he was married to his work. I met him when he came into my office for what he thought was a heart problem. It wasn’t, and he was so relieved he invited me out to lunch.”

  “And that’s how he became my accountant?” Maura was puzzled.

  “No, that’s how Grant and I became friends. He ran his own firm, and he had the reputation of being the best tax man around. He handled all sorts of big accounts; Lorimar Pictures, the Hilton chain, even some overseas corporations. Fille Janelle was really too small for Grant to handle, but he met you at one of our dinner parties, and you impressed him so much, he took you on.”

  “Did I like him?”

  Steve smiled. “He was your friend, luv. You went out to dinner together at least once a month. And he was crazy about Janelle.”

  “I’m really sorry about what happened.” Maura sighed deeply. “Do you happen to know what he wanted to discuss with me?”

  “I don’t know, but it must have been important. Grant hated the drive to the airport. He usually took a limo when he had to fly out.”

  “I wonder if I’ll ever remember.” Maura’s voice was wistful. “Not just the thing with Grant, but the rest of those missing years. I was hoping my memory would come back by now, but everything’s still blank.”

  Steve nodded, and reached out to take her hand. “You’re trying too hard, luv. Just relax and let nature take its course. One day, when you least expect it . . .”

 

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