Don't Close Your Eyes (23 page)

Natalie drew a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Exciting day?”

“Appendectomy and gall bladder.”

“Sounds thrilling. Tamara’s visitation is from six to eight. You will be free by then, won’t you?”

“I can be there by seven.” He carried his plate to the sink, unobtrusively dropping a piece of bacon in Blaine’s bowl. “I hate visitations.”

“So do I, but it’s a tradition. Of course it will be a closed coffin.”

Andrew shook his head. “My God. That poor girl.” He looked at Natalie. “You were at the sheriff’s house until late last night.”

“The housekeeper had to leave so I stayed with Paige while he worked late. A double homicide makes for a busy day.”

“First Tamara, then Warren.”

“And don’t forget Charlotte.”

“I took her tonsils out when she was ten. She was a most dislikable little girl.”

“She was a most dislikable big girl. Except to Warren, apparently.”

“Does the sheriff have any idea who the killer is?”

“No,” she said, remembering that Nick had said perhaps Lily or Oliver killed Warren because they thought he had murdered Tamara. “Of course, I barely talked with him when he came in,” she added.

“Hmmm.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. I simply thought it was very considerate of you to go out of your way to babysit last night.”

“I went over to see about Paige’s cat. Then this situation came up and she is a cute kid and—Dad, what are you smirking about?”

“Nothing except that Nick Meredith is single and good looking. I think he’s a fine sheriff. Probably an excellent young man—”

“Dad.”

“As you told me, dear, there’s always hope.”

Andrew had just left when the phone rang. “Good morning, Nat. Feeling better about things?”

Kenny Davis. With everything that had been going on, she had barely thought about him the last couple of days. Well, more than barely. Less than constantly.

“By ‘feeling better,’ I assume you’re asking if I’ve stopped being angry. I haven’t.”

“Come home. We can talk it out.”

“I don’t think we can talk this out, Kenny. You slept with another woman and it wasn’t the first time.”

“I’m not denying what I did. The reason why I did it is what we need to talk about.”

“We already have. You said you panicked at the thought of commitment.”

“But I’m over it.”

To her surprise, Natalie laughed. “It took less than a week for you to overcome this deep-seated fear? Kenny, I’m not a fool.”

“But I’ve done a lot of thinking since you left, Nat. I’ve missed you and I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“And after I’ve been back for a while and you’ve stopped missing me? What then?”

“You’re not giving me a chance.”

“Kenny, I told you I need time to think. Time doesn’t mean five days—”

“Six.”

“Okay, six. Whatever. Besides, a lot has been going on around here.”

“I read in the newspaper about the murder of a Tamara Hunt in Port Ariel. Did you know her?”

“Did I know her?” Natalie burst out. “Kenny, she was Lily’s sister. You’ve met Lily.”

“Hey, don’t get so mad because I didn’t recognize the name of the married sister of someone I’ve met.”

“You make it all sound so casual.” Cold anger filled her. “Lily is my best friend. Tamara was her twin. I’ve known them since I was a child and I’ve talked about them so much since we’ve been together, but you don’t remember. You weren’t even listening to me.”

“Of course I was listening. I’m just not good with names.”

“Another lie.”

“Why are you so mad?”

She sighed. “I repeat that I asked for time. Considering what you did, I think you might have the decency to grant it. Instead, this is the second time in less than a week you’ve called. I am not ready to talk.”

“So I gather.” He paused. “You only have one more week of vacation time. You’ll come home then and we’ll talk.”

Home. Home was the condo she shared with Kenny. Could she possibly go back there and pick up where they left off?

I left off seeing Kenny in our bed with another woman, Natalie thought after hanging up the phone. Is that what he wants me to come home to?

A dull headache was forming at the back of her head. Tension. She could not take another round with Kenny. She turned on the answering machine to screen calls.

The doorbell rang. Natalie sighed. Now what? At least it couldn’t be Kenny.

She opened the door. Ruth Meadows stood smiling at her and holding a pie dish covered with aluminum foil. “I couldn’t sleep last night so I baked a few pies. Your father told me once that your favorite is cherry, so I brought one over.”

“How nice of you!” Natalie was genuinely pleased. “I

haven’t had cherry pie for years.” She stepped back. “Come in. Dad isn’t here.”

“Oh, I knew he wouldn’t be,” Ruth said. “Shall I put this in the kitchen?”

“Yes, please.”

She followed Ruth into the kitchen. Ruth opened a drawer, pulled out a dishtowel, laid it on the counter, and set the pie on it. “It’s still warm from the oven and I wouldn’t want to damage this Formica. Such a lovely leaf pattern in these autumn colors.”

“Dad had the kitchen remodeled last year. Nothing had been replaced since the house was built thirty years ago, but I was still surprised by the renovation.”

“Your father is happiest when he’s working. When he came to my house for dinner, he immediately decided the railing on my deck isn’t strong enough and he plans to replace it soon. I told him I could hire a handyman, but he insisted.”

“As you said, he’s happiest when he’s working.” Natalie smiled. “And he likes you.”

A slight flush came to Ruth’s cheeks. “Do you really think so?” Then she laughed. “My goodness, I sound like I’m twelve.”

“Well I shouldn’t offer coffee to a twelve-year-old, but I put on a fresh pot not too long ago. Would you like some?”

“Please. I hate these nights when I can’t sleep. I get up and do any work I can think of. The next day I feel dragged out. I could use some caffeine.”

“Coming right up. Cream? Sugar?”

“Just cream. I gave up sugar a couple of years ago along with some pounds.”

Natalie glanced at Ruth’s trim body dressed today in aqua slacks that matched her eyes and a V-necked white knit top. At her throat hung a cameo on a gold chain.

Ruth reached up and touched the pendent. “My husband Walter gave this to me for our anniversary. He died four years ago. Cancer.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ruth accepted the coffee cup from Natalie. “It was a prolonged illness. That was in Virginia, right outside of D.C. Walter had a government job. After his death I stayed for a while, but I just couldn’t enjoy our house or my old life.”

“Why did you decide to move to Port Ariel?”

“Walter and I toured the Great Lakes in the early sixties shortly after we were married. We spent a couple of nights here. I liked it. As a matter of fact, we stayed at that lovely old hotel The Blue Lady. Such a shame it burned down.”

“The dance pavilion is still standing.”

“But it’s closed and terribly unsafe, according to Andrew. I’d like to see it again, but I wouldn’t take the risk, even if it weren’t locked up. Besides, I’ve heard about those awful murders that happened at the hotel just a few years after my honeymoon. So frightening!” She shivered. “No, you wouldn’t get me near that place “

A scary history and unsafe construction didn’t stop me from going to the old place at night, Natalie thought uncomfortably. Not me and a nut claiming to be a dead woman.

“Anyway,” Ruth went on, “I came to Port Ariel for a quick visit after Walter’s death and I made an impulse move five months ago.”

“So you’re just getting used to the town.”

“Yes. I’ve made quite a few friends through church and the suicide hotline—that’s how I met Tamara, you know— but I’m ashamed to say I haven’t unpacked all my boxes yet.” They sat at the kitchen table and Ruth looked out the big window. “This is such a spectacular view.”

“Yes, although today is overcast. The lake looks bleak.”

Ruth’s smile wavered, “A couple of weeks after I moved here I took a walk by the lake. It was late February and such a dismal day. The lake looked so vast and gray and lonely I felt overwhelmed by it. I gave serious thought that night to moving back home. The next day the sun came out and I felt better. I knew this was where I was meant to be.”

Blaine padded into the kitchen. Ruth beamed and reached out a hand to the dog. “Here’s the pretty girl! You’ve settled right in, haven’t you?” The dog licked her hand and panted

happily. Ruth looked at Natalie. “I saw your ad in the newspaper. Has anyone called about her?”

“No, thank goodness.”

“You want to keep her, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Your father says you live in a condominium complex. Do they allow pets?”

Natalie hadn’t given the problem a thought. Pets were not allowed at Kenny’s place and she had no intention of giving up Blaine except to her owners. If I really intended to go back to the condo, wouldn’t I have considered what I would do with the dog? she asked herself.

“I’m moving,” she said abruptly.

“I didn’t know. Are you planning to buy a house?”

“I’m not sure.” Natalie took a sip of coffee. “My father has probably told you about my romantic relationship and living arrangement.”

“No, dear, he hasn’t,” Ruth said mildly. “He’s mentioned that you see a doctor from the veterinary clinic where you work and I get the impression Andrew doesn’t care for him, but he’s never said much.”

“Oh,” Natalie said in surprise.

“It’s your personal business, dear. Andrew respects your privacy.”

So her father might have something to say to her about every aspect of her life, but apparently he didn’t broadcast his disapproval to everyone he knew. She had always assumed the worst, certain nothing she said to him was held in confidence. That hadn’t been fair, she thought, especially because he never told her personal things about anyone he knew.

The phone rang again. “The machine will get it,” Natalie said. She and Ruth sat in silence until after the second ring when Kenny’s disembodied voice floated into the kitchen. “Nat, it’s me again. I didn’t like the way we left things. We need to talk more. If you’re there, please pick up.” Natalie sat perfectly still. “Okay, call me back later. I’ll be home all day. Love you.”

Natalie’s gaze met Ruth’s. “The reason I’m here.”

“So I thought. Love can be wonderful. It can also be unbearably painful.”

“Lately more painful than wonderful.” Her headache was getting worse. She rubbed her neck.

“Tension headache?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Ruth gave her a sympathetic smile. “I barged in on you before you even had a chance to get dressed. Why don’t you take a couple of aspirins and a hot shower? You’ll feel like a new woman. I’ll be on my way.”

“Oh, don’t go,” Natalie said, suddenly hating the idea of being alone with Kenny’s calls fresh in her mind. “I’d love to talk with you more. I’ll make the shower quick.”

“Well, if you’re sure you’d like for me to stay …”

“I am.”

“Then take as long in the shower as you like. I’ll have another cup of coffee.”

Natalie went into the small bathroom beside her bedroom. She stood in the shower stall letting the hot water massage her stiff neck muscles for at least five minutes. She was rinsing shampoo out of her hair when Ruth tapped on the bathroom door.

“Natalie!”

She turned off the water. “Yes?”

“You just got a call from your friend Lily. She wants you to meet her. She says it’s urgent.”

In two minutes Natalie stood in the hall wearing an old terry cloth robe she’d found in the depths of her closet and a towel on her wet hair. “I was standing on the terrace with Blaine,” Ruth explained. “The phone rang twice and of course I knew the machine would pick up. Lily left her message. When I heard her say urgent I rushed in, but she’d already hung up.”

The light on the answering machine blinked twice. Natalie pushed the play button. The first message was Kenny’s. Then a breathless female voice began. “Natalie, it’s Lily. Are you there? I’m at Tamara’s. Meet me here. It’s urgent.”

“My goodness, she sounds half frantic,” Ruth said.

“Yes. She didn’t even wait for me to answer if I’d heard the call. I’d better hurry.”

Ruth frowned. “Dear, do you think it’s safe for you to go to Tamara’s?”

“Safe?”

“Yes. The two people who lived in that house were murdered and Lily doesn’t say what’s wrong.”

“Tamara and Warren weren’t murdered in the house and Lily wouldn’t ask me to come to a dangerous place.”

Ruth looked concerned. “I’m not sure your father would want you to go.”

“Dad would like for me to sit in the house and watch TV. But Lily needs me, Ruth. I have to go.”

“I see I can’t stop you,” she said unhappily. “I want you to be careful, though. With all these awful murders, no one is safe.” She paused. “I do wish you would give this a second thought. A lovely young woman wandering around by herself. Anything could happen. The world has turned into a dangerous place …”

Ruth continued to warn and fret until Natalie handed the woman her purse and nearly pushed her out the door. Then she rushed back to her room, slipped on a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, ran a wide-toothed comb through her wet hair, and pulled it back with a large clasp. She grabbed her shoulder bag and headed for the front door.

Blaine sat in the hall looking at her expectantly. “I’m sorry, girl. I promised you a walk this morning but something has come up.” She opened the door, surprised by the cool air that wafted over her. A gray sky hung low like the lid on a box. She reached for a denim jacket hanging on the coat tree. Then she looked at Blaine again.

“I don’t know why Lily wants me to go to Tamara’s,” she said. “You might be in the way, but I have this odd feeling …” The dog turned in excited circles as Natalie picked up her leash. “I don’t want to go out there alone. It’s your lucky day.”

Blaine sat quiet and poised on the front seat, looking with