The Wife Stalker(55)
My mind was racing. It was her. She’d buried not one but two husbands? Married twice before and both husbands had died? My foot was tapping nervously under the table as I thought about my next move. Annapolis, Maryland. Pamela’s hometown, too. It looked like I’d be taking another trip soon.
I next typed “Ethan Sherwood” into the search bar, but there was nothing else on him. Had he been alone on that hike, or had Piper been with him? I went back to the obituary, to the names of Ethan’s parents, Donald and Patricia Sherwood. It was easy to find an address and phone number for them in Maryland. I sat and looked at that number for at least a half hour. What would I say to them? Their son had died fourteen years ago. How would I feel if a stranger called me out of the blue with questions about my dead child?
37
Piper
Piper had left the office early and looked once more through the items she had laid out. Navy slacks, a long-sleeved white T-shirt, wool blazer, and her black Agent Provocateur kimono, which Leo hadn’t seen yet. She’d bought it especially for this weekend trip to Rhode Island, their first real getaway. They’d finally have some time alone together without the children.
Her plan was to pick Leo up from the office at six and drive the two hours to Newport. They’d check in and have a romantic dinner around eight thirty. The whole night would be theirs, and then they’d have all day and night Saturday, too. Since the October temperatures were still moderate, she’d booked them a cruise around Newport Harbor. Maybe they’d do the touristy thing and go to the Cliff Walk, see a mansion or two, then take their time getting home Sunday morning. She couldn’t wait.
After zipping up her weekend bag, she carried it downstairs and into the kitchen, placing it by the door to the garage. Piper heard a door slam and then the high-pitched voices of the children.
“How was school today?” Piper asked, sitting down at the round table with them.
“We got to go to the media center and pick any books we liked. I brought home The Hidden Staircase and Black Beauty.” Evie’s eyes were filled with excitement, her smile wide.
“That’s wonderful.”
“Can we read together tonight?” Evie asked.
Piper hesitated. “Well . . . your father and I are going away for a few days. Remember?” She saw Evie’s face fall and hurried on. “But we’ll be back on Sunday. We can read them together as soon as we get back.”
Stelli glared at her. “I have a sore throat. I want Daddy to look at it.” He scowled. “And my stomach hurts, too.”
Great, thought Piper, rising from her seat and going over to Stelli. “Open your mouth,” she said, leaning toward him.
He opened it obediently and stuck out his tongue. His throat didn’t look red or inflamed, and he seemed to have no trouble swallowing the cookie. “When did it start to hurt?” she asked.
“Just now,” he said, then cocked his head. “I think it was hurting this morning, too.”
“Did you tell the nurse at school?” Piper asked.
“It stopped hurting at school.”
“When did your stomach start bothering you?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
This was ridiculous. Piper stood up straight. “I guess you’d better go to bed then. You should rest if you’re getting sick. We’ll take your temperature. Go on upstairs, and I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay,” he mumbled as he shuffled toward the stairs.
After he left, Piper walked down the hallway to Rebecca’s suite and knocked on her door. She had just gone off duty for the rest of the day, but Piper wanted to get something off her chest.
Rebecca opened it right away. “Do you need me?”
“I just wanted a quick word.”
“Yes?”
“The kids are having too much sugar. It’s not good for them. Stelli’s complaining of a stomachache. Starting next week, I’m going to take over making their lunches and preparing their afternoon snack.”
“Oh, okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
Piper put a hand up. “I know. It’s just, sugar lowers the immune system, and that’s the last thing they need. I’ll give you some recipes and options for healthier breakfasts as well.”
She walked away before Rebecca could respond.
Piper and Leo strolled hand in hand back to their suite after their candlelit dinner. The night was cool and clear, with thousands of stars glittering in the dark sky. She leaned her head against Leo’s shoulder as they stopped so he could unlock the door. Soft light from a bedside lamp bathed the room in a golden glow; the bed had been turned down for the night. She put her arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him. “This is perfect.” She dropped her arms. “I’m going to take a bath. Why don’t you join me?”
He grinned at her. “I will. I’m just going to call home and make sure everything’s okay. I’ll be right in.”
Piper sighed, went into the bathroom, and sat on the edge of the tub as it filled, feeling guilty for being annoyed. Of course he would want to call home—any parent would—but Stelli was a smart kid and knew exactly how to manipulate his father. She’d done the right thing to show him he couldn’t get away with that kind of thing with her. Maybe this would set a precedent and he’d stop trying to control Leo with invented ailments.