Dead to Her(40)

“Don’t look so worried!” Keisha said. “I was high. It could have been anyone. I didn’t even see her face, it was just the way she moved that reminded me of someone, that’s all.”

“Yeah, of course.” Marcie forced a bright smile on her face. “Let’s go.” She steadied her breathing. It wouldn’t have been Zelda. She knew that. It was coincidence enough that they’d ended up at the same place as the crazy woman from Wright Square, there was no way Zelda could have been there too. And all the stuff that went on—the drinking, the sex—that wasn’t exactly the kind of party you’d take relatives who were visiting to.

But still, pulling her shades on to protect her thumping head from the bright day, just the thought of someone they knew being there had shaken her. This whole thing was madness, she told herself for the thousandth time. It had to stop. Under the lust and the craziness, she was filled with a sense of foreboding. If this didn’t end soon it would wreck everything. Her marriage, Jason’s job, everything she’d worked so hard to have. If this came out it would humiliate William. He would never stand for that and it would be Marcie who took the brunt of the punishment. She’d signed a prenup before marrying Jason—she hadn’t wanted to, but she’d had no choice—and she might not be broke if they divorced but she sure wouldn’t have the fancy life she had now.

She took a deep breath as they slid into the car. It would be fine. She’d talk to Keisha about it later and she’d understand it had to end. She wasn’t going to want to lose everything either. Her phone buzzed, a text coming in as she started the engine. “Okay Elizabeth,” she muttered, irritated. “We’re coming.”

“Well, we would have been if she hadn’t called,” Keisha said, with a laugh. Marcie didn’t join in as she stared at her phone. It wasn’t Elizabeth. It was Jason. All good here, but missing you and looking forward to being home. Sorry I’ve been so moody. J xx

Why did he have to send that now? It was time to get her life back under control. She had to break whatever spell Keisha had cast on her. She had to. She had to.





27.

“Well, looks like someone already had the party,” Pierre purred as Keisha raced up the stairs to get into fresh clothes. Marcie poked him in the ribs, keeping her smile bright.

“She fell over on our way back to the house. We weren’t even drunk. It was a relatively sedate night if you must know. But that is why I don’t wear four-inch heels anymore.”

“I can barely manage two-inch heels these days,” Elizabeth said. Marcie had hoped Keisha would have managed to change before the assistant saw them but as soon as the front door had opened, she and Pierre had appeared.

“Where’s Julian?”

“Stirring the eggs,” Elizabeth said. “I should have known he’d take over. That boy always did like to cook.”

“He’s hell on my waistline,” Pierre added, razor thin as he was.

“You’re a lucky man.” Elizabeth was dressed down for the weekend: high-waisted, sensibly cut jeans with a comfortable blouse tucked in around her thick middle. “And you know it!”

“Oh, I do, I do. Just don’t tell him that.”

Elizabeth’s affection for the men reminded Marcie of what William had said at the club—that Julian had been like family once. It still jarred. Julian and Pierre were so flamboyant she couldn’t imagine William really ever wanting them around.

“If y’all are set now, I’m going to head home.” Elizabeth grabbed her purse from the hall table and swung it over her shoulder. “I’ve got a pot roast on at home and I don’t want it burning.”

“Of course, of course.” Marcie felt a flood of relief. She was in no mood for Elizabeth to be clucking around them like a mother hen. Elizabeth probably didn’t want to be here when William and Jason got back because she would no doubt then suddenly have a few more tasks to complete before bed, despite its being a weekend.

There’d been no mention of Zelda, who must have been back in her apartment or out with her family. It couldn’t have been Zelda whom Keisha had seen the previous night. If it had been, surely she’d be here to gloat or extort money from them or something. Plus, wasn’t she a bit old to be at that type of thing, whatever that thing had been? On the remote chance Zelda had been there, surely she wouldn’t want that known by anyone either?

“Relatively sedate night,” Pierre said quietly as Elizabeth waved goodbye and left, “. . . my perfectly toned ass.”

“Okay, okay. Maybe we drank a little more than we should have. But no need for anyone else to know that.”

“Girl, you don’t have to apologize for partying to a party planner. Speaking of which, while we’re waiting for the new queen to join us, let’s go and see that other queen in the kitchen.”



They were seated at the kitchen island when Keisha reappeared, looking slightly flustered but at least showered and fresh in a summer dress. She’d been upstairs only ten minutes but looked perfect, leaving Marcie all the more aware of the night’s grime still clinging to her own skin.

“I’m so sorry!” Keisha said. “I honestly didn’t mean to be late. I’m embarrassed. And William will be so angry.” She was doing a good job of looking like she meant it. Marcie could see how William would have fallen for the little-girl-lost act if it was anything like the one Keisha was putting on now.