The Wife Stalker(49)

“You said Leo’s family came over later in the day, but you didn’t mention your own mother. Was she there?”

I shook my head. “No. I invited her, but she backed out. I wasn’t surprised, really. I didn’t think she would come.”

“Why is that?”

“Mom never liked Christmas much. I guess I can understand in a way.” I sat there as silence filled the space between us.

Celeste finally spoke. “Tell me about that.”

“The Christmases of my childhood were very different. You wouldn’t understand. You probably had a dad who was around and who cared about you. I never did.”

Celeste tilted her head at me. “We’re talking about you. What I had or didn’t have has no bearing on my understanding of your hurt or your painful memories. You realize that, don’t you?”

I wasn’t sure about that, but I continued anyway. “I would characterize my father as a sort of ghost spirit who came and went like the wind. When he was with us, it was so obvious that he wanted to be anywhere else. Even on holidays, he spent just a few hours with us and then left, supposedly for business, but like I told you before, it all turned out to be a lie. Always claiming he was seeing clients, but half the time, his trips were to see his girlfriend. Another woman that he cared about more than us. He was just putting in his time, I guess, waiting for me to finish high school so he could appease his conscience.”

“And you told me that your mother never knew.”

“Yes. She knew he’d been unfaithful, but not that he was with one particular woman all that time. They didn’t have a good marriage. When he was home, she was constantly on his case, complaining that he was gone too much, that she was sick and needed him. But even when he tried to do things for her, she was never happy. But still, what he did . . .”

“If I remember correctly, you told me he was lying to them as well as to you?”

“Yeah. Great guy, huh? Who knows what he was telling his girlfriend until he could leave us for good, since she never knew he was married or had a kid.”

“He’s never told his new wife the truth?”

“He still pays my mother alimony, so she keeps her mouth shut. She can’t work, so she needs his money to live on. Her disability isn’t enough.”

“Do you and your mother ever talk about what happened and how it made you feel?”

“My mother only talks about how ill-treated she was. It’s always only about her. I have to admit that I was glad when she didn’t show up last Christmas. Leo’s family is so loving and full of fun. My mother would have changed the whole dynamic of the day, turning it into a gloom-fest.” I shifted in my chair. “I don’t want to talk about my parents anymore. I want to tell you what I found out in San Diego.”

“Okay.”

“When I met the ex-wife of Piper’s dead husband, she had a lot to say about Piper. Or Pamela, depending on who you ask.” I gave her a long look so that my words could fully register.

“Go on.”

I recounted to Celeste everything Ava had told me. “Ava Dunn is convinced that Piper deliberately killed Mia. It would certainly explain why she changed her name and why she seems to be in hiding here.”

Celeste frowned. “Joanna, sometimes an accident is just an accident. It’s not uncommon for a grieving mother to need to place blame somewhere. If Piper were a murderer, she would be in jail.”

“Why are you defending her?” I asked. “She’s dangerous. She has a sailboat here, too. What if the same thing happens to Evie and Stelli as happened to Mia?”

“First of all, you are jumping to conclusions. You’ve told me yourself Leo has a boat and that Evie and Stelli have been taught water safety and wear life jackets. I know it’s concerning, but it’s out of your control for the time being. And you’re working to get joint custody, so hopefully your fears will be alleviated soon.”

“As long as Piper is around my children, my fear is going nowhere.” I leveled a look of determination at her, and I could tell she was becoming exasperated with me. “I know that might sound irrational to you—I know that—but I just . . . I can’t leave the children with that woman when I know in my bones something is going to happen. Maybe I need to start following her when she’s out with the kids.”

“You can’t do that, Joanna. What if someone sees you? You could jeopardize your chances for custody.”

“I’d stay far enough back. I wouldn’t be breaking any laws. But I could take pictures. Build a case against her.”

She seemed to ponder this. “I’m worried that this is turning into an obsession.”

“You cannot possibly understand what I’m going through. Maybe I should see a therapist who has children . . .”

A tight look crossed her face. “Of course, that’s your prerogative. But I hope you won’t. I think we’ve established a good rapport. It’s not necessary for me to have children in order to empathize with you. I’m on your side, remember?”

I took a sip of my water. “Let me ask you something. If you found out that your husband had a disease, would you leave him?”

She squinted at me and pursed her lips. “I don’t see the similarities between a genuine disease and your ex-husband marrying another woman.”