The Shadow Box(52)

Or wondering about Ellen Fielding, whoever she was.

Or being with herself.

Or being at all.





29





CLAIRE


Wade and Leonora Lockwood’s kindness and good humor got us through those tense moments of Griffin confronting Ford, Alexander wrecking the car, and the aftermath. The ambulance arrived along with a cluster of police cars and volunteer firefighters. Leonora came hurrying over to see what was happening.

I understood why Alexander had resisted my calling 911; once the call went out for an emergency at Griffin Chase’s house, all emergency personnel would mobilize. Griffin was so private about family problems that he wouldn’t want anyone to see that one of his sons had crashed his car, that the other one was halfway between smashed and hungover.

Griffin started to climb into Ben Markham’s car to follow the ambulance to Easterly Hospital. Wade caught him by the arm. “Want company?” he asked.

“I’m fine, Wade,” Griffin said.

“After your son crashes a car? I doubt it. I’m coming with you,” Wade said. He waved to Leonora, then got into the back seat of the squad car. The EMT vehicles pulled away, and a tow truck hauled off the totaled red Porsche.

Ford, Leonora, and I stood in the turnaround.

“I don’t get how Alexander managed to drive into the wall,” Ford said.

“He was worried about you,” I said. “He was going to the Lockwoods’ house to get you.”

“Well, obviously I walked home myself,” Ford said, glaring at me.

“Ford,” Leonora said. “None of that sarcasm, especially to Claire. You need to sober up. Black coffee, two Excedrin, a run along the beach, an ice-cold swim, and a hot shower. Trust me, I know. I’ve got sixty years of experience helping my husband and his band of merry drinking buddies.”

Ford nodded, and Leonora gave him a big hug. Ford disappeared into the house.

“Thanks, Leonora,” I said.

“Of course, sweetheart. Actually, coffee sounds good. May I invite myself in for some?” she asked, giving me a big smile. She was tall and just slightly stooped, with bright-blue eyes and pure-white hair pinned up in a French twist. She wore her customary pearls and a bright-yellow-and-pink caftan. In her seventies, she was still stunning.

“I’d love it,” I said.

We went into the kitchen, and she leaned against the counter while I measured coffee into the percolator. I knew from years of neighborhood brunches and meetings that Leonora liked cream and sugar. When it was ready, I poured two cups, and Leonora poured a third. She picked up one and started for the back stairs.

“Is that for Ford?” I asked. “Leonora, he can get it himself.”

“Dear, let me take it to him, so we can talk alone. I’ll be right down.”

I heard her footsteps on the floorboards overhead, then muffled voices, and then she returned to the kitchen. She walked in chuckling.

“I shouldn’t laugh,” she said. “But he is green around the gills. I haven’t seen that kind of hangover in quite some time. Frankly, he reminds me of his father. Griffin had a few tough mornings along the way.”

“He almost never drinks now,” I said.

“Because of Margot,” Leonora said. “Griffin saw what booze did to her, and he wanted to be a good influence on the boys. I think he’s succeeded with Alexander. Ford’s going to need help. Years ago, Wade suggested military school, but he’s far too old for that now. And he’s too spoiled to join the navy, so I guess it’ll have to be a shrink.”

“Yes,” I said, but I must have sounded doubtful.

“You’re worried that Griffin won’t go for it? I can see that. His position makes him vulnerable—he’s afraid people will talk. Especially with the election coming up.”

I didn’t reply.

“Griffin talks to Wade,” Leonora said. “Not as much as to you, I’m sure. But we’re all family.” She sipped her coffee, watching me over the rim of the cup. “I’m not sure you knew what you were signing on for, my girl.”

“‘Signing on for’?”

“The Catamount Bluff madhouse. Too much money has done a real job out here. Wade was born into it, and the only way he escaped being spoiled rotten was by shaping up in the navy. When I first married him, I looked around and saw everyone having cocktails at noon, sneaking in and out of beds all around town. I wanted to go straight home to Maine—the lovely, innocent little lobster village where I grew up.”

“But you stayed,” I said.

“Yes,” she said. “I adore my husband. And I’ve grown to love it here. When it comes to Catamount Bluff, home is home. Surely you feel it, too, at this point. And I’m sure you know how much we love you. And trust you.”

“Thank you, Leonora.”

“You know, it was Wade who first suggested Griffin run for office. That’s how much he believes in him.”

I didn’t reply and tried to keep my expression neutral. I didn’t want her to guess what I was thinking about Griffin running for office.

“We know he’ll make a marvelous governor,” she said. “Dear, may I have more coffee?”

Leonora was so warm; she and Wade had embraced me as one of their own. I stood up to get the coffee pot, to refill our cups. She obviously didn’t know the truth about Griffin, would never believe what he was really like.