He took her hand and led her into the house. “Did you have any trouble finding it?”
“Not at all. The GPS in my new car is pretty fancy.”
“I don’t know what I ever did before,” he said. “I’m completely without any sense of direction.”
Inside, she took a quick look around. With high ceilings and a blue and white palette, despite traditional wainscoting and a stone fireplace, the rooms felt inviting and informal. A wide staircase led upstairs. To the right, a door to a study was slightly ajar. She spotted a simple desk with stacks of folders and a laptop.
“That’s my office,” he said. “I often work from home, depending on the day.”
She wanted to ask what he did exactly, besides taking clients to clubs. Was there a lot of paperwork in the vodka business?
“This is a beautiful house,” she said.
“Don’t give me any credit for decorating. I hired someone.”
“They did a wonderful job.”
A doorway on the other end of the room led into a modern kitchen with traditional touches, such as white subway tile and burnished steel pendant lights hanging over a granite island. A garage-style sliding glass door looked out to a stone patio with a pizza oven and outdoor kitchen. She imagined how many fun evenings she and her family could have out there. Stevie would whip up homemade pizza dough, and they could all make their own pizzas. “My sister would love the pizza oven.”
“I don’t use it as much as I should,” Jed said. “I’m usually pretty beat at the end of day. The last thing I want to do is cook for myself.”
“Usually, I’ll just open a can of soup or eat a sandwich. It’s no fun to eat alone.” Growing up with Maddie and her sisters, dinner had always been loud and messy.
“I thought we could make pizzas tonight, though, if you like?” Jed took both her hands and brought them to his mouth. “Or we could order in.”
“Let’s do pizza. I love pizza. I mean, who doesn’t?”
“I bought some dough at the grocery. All we have to do is roll it out.” He pointed to a ball of dough near the kitchen sink. “I got way too many toppings because I wasn’t sure what you like.”
“I grew up in a house with three sisters. I like whatever is available.”
He smiled and leaned down to give her a kiss. “You might be the lowest-maintenance girl I know.”
Either the house was warm or his presence made her hot. She shrugged out of her cardigan and dangled it over one arm as she followed him.
The kitchen flowed into a family room. Built-in cabinets, bookshelves and a white brick fireplace lined the southern wall. A sectional sofa faced a large flat-screen television that hung over the mantel.
“I can’t imagine what you must have thought when you saw my apartment.”
His forehead wrinkled as he grabbed her into another embrace. “I love your apartment. It’s beautiful and compact, like you.”
“That’s one way to look at it.” She marveled at how quickly he could put her at ease. This man was dangerous and could break her heart. Right now, she couldn’t bring herself to care. She would take him for however long she could.
Chapter 4
As they walked up to Jed’s parents’ front door, Alissa held her breath and squeezed his hand. They’d been together a month. As their relationship unfolded, easy and wonderful, she’d occasionally wondered if it could really be this easy. Was it as simple as finding the person you fit just right with? Did everything fall into place when it was right?
Last night, as they lay in bed holding hands and talking, he’d asked if she’d like to meet his parents. “My mother’s been asking who I’m spending so much time with,” he’d said.
Although her stomach had turned over at the thought, she’d agreed. “You won’t tell them about the club, right?”
“I’m not ashamed of it,” he’d said. “But if you’d rather they not know then it’s no problem.”
So here they were on a Sunday evening, waiting on the steps of a palatial estate on the shore of Lake Washington. Homes where high-tech moguls lived. Everyone had a boat and a dock, with views of the lake and the city.
“I’m scared,” she said.
“Don’t be. Remember that whatever they think doesn’t mean anything to me. Whatever happens, it’s you and me. No matter what.”
“You and me,” she repeated under her breath. The door opened, and a woman in a traditional black and white maid’s uniform greeted them. “Good evening, Mr. Marsh, Miss Mann. Mrs. Marsh is waiting in the family room.”
“What about my father?” Jed asked, as they entered a sparkling white foyer with marble beams and gleaming tile.
Alissa shivered and pulled her sweater tighter. After a text to her sister Hailey, seeking counsel, she’d chosen a simple sheath dress with a pattern of red poppies and paired with a white cardigan. The weather had turned warm the last few days. Flowers bloomed. The scent of mowed grass filled the air with spring and possibilities. All of which had made Alissa’s allergies arrive with a vengeance. She prayed the allergy medicine would keep her eyes from watering all night.
They followed the maid through the cold hallway. Alissa’s flats made a clickety-clack on the marble floors. They seemed too loud. And ugly. Suddenly, she hated her dress. Mrs. Marsh would know by the cheap fabric that Alissa had bought it from the outlet mall. She’d seen photographs of his mother and knew she dressed in designer everything.
A trickle of sweat dribbled down her spine as they entered a palatial kitchen that smelled of rosemary and olive oil. A trim woman, with tattoos on both her muscular arms, stood over a pot at the cooktop. From outside on the patio, the faint scent of grilled meat wafted through sliding glass doors. A swimming pool with cobalt-blue tiles sparkled under the afternoon sun.
“Hey, Amy,” Jed said.
The woman turned toward them. She was not as young as she’d seemed from the back. Her dyed black hair was cut in short layers, and she had the worn, almost gaunt look of a woman who exercised too much and ate too little. “Well, hello there, stranger.”
“This is Alissa,” Jed said. “Amy’s our caterer. She’s worked for my mom for two decades.”
Caterer? Was this a party?
Amy smiled as she wiped her hands over the front of a forest-green apron. “It’s nice to meet you, Alissa.”
“You as well,” Alissa said. “It smells great in here.”
“Thank you. I’ve made some rosemary bread to go with your steaks.”
“Is your son working with you today?” Jed asked.
“Yes, that’s him manning the grill.” Amy pointed outside to a young man with black hair, pulled back into a ponytail.
“Where’s my mother?” Jed asked.
“I’m not sure,” Amy said. “Your father went down to the cellar for champagne.”
Alissa gulped back a nervous twitter. Be calm and cool, she told herself.
Jed took her hand as they walked out to the patio. “Gary, long time. How’ve you been?” he asked the young man.
“Can’t complain.” Gary held up a pair of tongs in greeting. Several snake tattoos marked his neck. He wore the same apron as his mother, only his was untied and hung loosely over his skinny frame. There was something familiar about him. Had she met him before?
“This is my girlfriend, Alissa,” Jed said. “Gary’s working with his mom after attending culinary school.”
“Nice to meet you, Alissa.” Gary’s eyes were small and set too far back into his face. Alissa shivered as they slid down the length of her body, stopping briefly at her modest breasts. Jed dropped her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Well, good luck with everything,” Jed said, tightly.
“You too, man,” Gary said.
With his arm still draped over her shoulders, Jed steered them across the wide patio to a set of outdoor furniture.
His mother, who she recognized from the photos, stepped out from another set of glass doors.
�
�Hey, Mom,” Jed said.
“Darling, finally.” Mrs. Marsh wore a pair of cropped linen pants and a crisp, white, short-sleeved blouse. “You’re at least thirty minutes later than you said you’d be.” She wore her brown hair just above the collarbones, and her smooth skin had obviously been aided by a surgeon or two. She’s too perfect, Alissa thought. With too many sharp edges.
“We ran into some traffic,” Jed said. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Never mind. This city’s become unbearable that way.” Mrs. Marsh turned to Alissa. “And this must be Alissa.”
“Yes, this is Alissa Mann,” Jed said.
“How do you do?” Alissa asked. Why had she said it like that? Like she was in an old movie or something. Perspiration dampened her nose. Could Mrs. Marsh see the droplets? Alissa kept herself from touching her face, knowing that soon Jed’s mother would shake her hand.
“I’m pleased to meet the woman who seems to have magically made my son disappear.” She reached out a slender, tanned arm. Her nails were painted red. Alissa caught a whiff of expensive perfume.
Mr. Marsh appeared next. He was tall and slender and looked a lot like an older Jed with attractive salt-and-pepper hair. The same blue eyes drifted from Alissa’s head to her toes and back up again. At least he hadn’t stopped at her boobs.
“Good to meet you.” Mr. Marsh shook Alissa’s hand so hard that one of her knuckles cracked.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Marsh.” Her mouth was as dry as the desert. Why hadn’t she thought to drink water on the way over?
Mrs. Marsh’s gaze seemed fixated on Alissa’s shoes, which were scuffed and splattered with paint droppings from her little students.
“Mom,” Jed said. “Should we sit?”
“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Marsh said. “We have champagne to celebrate the warmer weather. And meeting Alissa, of course.”
Jed led Alissa over to the love seat. Mr. Marsh handed them each a glass of champagne, and Alissa took a grateful sip, hoping it would help her dry mouth.
“You’re both so tan,” Jed said. “How was Hawaii?”
“Wonderful, other than the Bleekers bickered the entire time,” Mrs. Marsh said. “We’re almost certain they’ll file for divorce by the end of the summer.”
“That’s too bad,” Jed said. “Isn’t that his second wife?”
“Third,” Mr. Marsh said.
“He’s Dad’s fraternity brother from way back,” Jed explained to Alissa.
“But enough about that,” Mrs. Marsh said, focusing on Alissa. “Jed says you’re a kindergarten teacher?”
“Yes, that’s correct. This is my third year.”
“And you enjoy it?” Mrs. Marsh asked in a tone that sounded like an insult.
“I do. They’re all very cute and sweet at that age. They make me smile and laugh every day.”
Mrs. Marsh nodded, as if she was interested, but her cold, flat eyes told a different story. “Kudos to you, dear. I always found other people’s children to be annoying.”
“Alissa’s special,” Jed said.
Amy came out to the patio with a tray of crackers, each smeared with a pink spread. The spread smelled like bad dog breath.
“Would you like one?” Amy asked her. “They’re Mrs. Marsh’s favorite.”
“Sure, thank you.” Alissa held her breath as she took a cocktail napkin and one of the crackers from the tray. She stared at it for a moment, trying to think of a way of getting out of actually putting in her mouth.
“Pâté, dear.” Mrs. Marsh took several from the tray. “Imported from Europe.”
“Right. Pâté,” Alissa said, before popping it into her mouth. It tasted like it smelled. Terrible. She swallowed quickly, not bothering to chew. A sharp corner of the cracker broke off and lodged in her throat. She started to cough, gripping the arm of the love seat. Coughing turned to hacking, then tears streamed down her throat. She was vaguely aware of Amy backing away, as if Alissa was contagious.
She thumped her chest and finally seemed to dislodge the sliver from her throat. Jed handed her another napkin. She wiped under her eyes.
“Sweetie, are you all right?” Jed placed a warm hand on her knee. “Do you want some water?”
She nodded. “Yes, please, I’m sorry. I think it went down the wrong tube or something.” Alissa stole a glance at Mrs. Marsh. It was only an instant, but she thought she detected a glint of triumph in Jed’s mother’s eyes before she hid behind a mask of concern. She’s like a cat playing with a mouse, Alissa thought.
Jed jumped up to pour her a glass of water from a pitcher sitting on the counter of the outdoor kitchen. She drank greedily, hoping to soothe what she felt sure was an actual cut on the back of her throat.
“I hate pâté, just so you know,” Jed said, close to her ear.
“What’s that, Jed?” Mrs. Marsh asked.
“I said I hate pâté. And you know that.”
“I thought you loved pâté,” Mrs. Marsh said in a grieved tone.
“Tell us, son, how did you two meet?” Mr. Marsh asked.
Alissa wondered if he often broke up tension between mother and son. Amy had disappeared by then, leaving the tray behind on the outdoor coffee table. The scent of grilled steak took the edge off the horrible taste in her mouth.
“At a bar,” Jed said. They’d decided to share the same story that she’d told her family.
“I’m surprised it wasn’t one of those dating apps,” Mrs. Marsh said. “All the kids seem to be on them these days. Did you ever try one?” she asked Alissa.
“Me?” Her voice was still hoarse from all the coughing. “No, not really. I haven’t had a lot of time to date, really.”
“Until now?” Mr. Marsh asked.
“Jed’s different,” Alissa said, flushing. “He’s not like dating.”
Jed squeezed her knee.
“I don’t understand,” Mrs. Marsh said.
“She means because it’s so easy between us,” Jed said. “It’s not work.”
“That’s great, son,” Mr. Marsh said, finishing the last of his champagne. “Alissa, Jed tells us you’re from a big family.”
“That’s correct.” She explained about her parents passing away, and how Maddie took her in, as well as her sisters. “We were a family that didn’t start out together, but we’ll stay together until the end.”
“What a stellar person she must be,” Mrs. Marsh said.
“She is. But also, she lost her husband and daughter in a car accident. She needed us as much as we needed her.”
“How tragic,” Mrs. Marsh said.
“Yes, it was. She knew my parents because her husband was a professor at the same university where my dad taught. When she heard what happened, she asked if she could foster me.” Alissa stopped before she teared up. The last thing she wanted was to get emotional. All she needed after almost choking to death was to start crying.
“A professor?” Mrs. Marsh asked. “In what?”
“English literature,” Alissa said. “My mother worked part-time at the college as an adjunct professor so she could spend time with me.”
“And you’re a kindergarten teacher. I suppose it makes sense,” Mrs. Marsh said.
Alissa had no idea what that meant but wasn’t about to ask for clarification.
“What brought you to Seattle?” Mr. Marsh asked.
“College. Then, I was offered a teaching position. It all worked out for me to stay.”
For the next fifteen minutes, Jed’s parents continued to ask questions. From what she could tell, they wanted to know every detail of her life before now. She felt like she was at a job interview, doing the best to answer, but certain she was failing this test miserably.
After dinner, Alissa grabbed her handbag from where she’d left it on the foyer table and used the bathroom before she and Jed left for home. She looked at herself in the mirror, appalled to see that her makeup had smeared during her coughing fit. Oh well. The night couldn’t have gone any worse. Co
uld it be up from here? Usually people liked her. However, she was pretty sure Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were not on Team Alissa.
She wiped her hands and cleaned her face, then applied lip gloss. It was only eight but felt like midnight. Earlier in the day, Jed had asked if he could stay with her at her apartment. He’d even brought a change of clothes and some toiletries, so he could go to work in the morning. The thought of him there all night cheered her as she moved down the hallway toward the kitchen to say good night to the Marshes.
Voices stopped her just outside the kitchen door.
“Not a kindergarten teacher from the foster care system. A little mouse,” Mrs. Marsh said. “Scared of her own shadow.”
Alissa clutched her purse to her chest as the contents of her stomach lurched. A mouse? She wasn’t a mouse. Simply polite and quiet. Like Jed.
“Not her, Jed. She’s not the woman for my son.”
“I love her and she’s going to be my wife.”
“Your father and I can cut you off. You know that, don’t you? Is she really worth it?”
“I don’t care. I’m done with you controlling my life. She’s my life now.” His footsteps were loud as he headed her direction. When he appeared in the hallway, his face had drained of color and his eyes glittered with rage. He froze when he saw her standing there. “You heard?”
“I heard.”
“Listen to me.” He cupped her face with his hands. “Nothing matters but you.”
“Can we go?” More than anything, she just wanted out of this awful house. How could anything so large be so stifling?
“Yes, let’s go.”
He took her by the hand and led her out of the house and into the car. “Let’s go somewhere to talk,” he said, as he backed out of the driveway. “I’m not ready to go home yet.”
Sensing that he needed a moment to gather his thoughts, she didn’t press him to talk and, instead, looked out the window at the mansions. Were the families that lived in them as dysfunctional as the one she’d just witnessed?
They drove north on 405 and took the exit for downtown Kirkland. The sun had set, leaving behind a pink sky over Lake Washington. He parked on the street in front of a waterfront park. “Take a walk with me?”
Christmas Rings Page 6
