Tonya’s big hazel eyes looked pleading, her mouth trembled slightly, and a shallow crease appeared between her eyebrows. Marissa couldn’t remember Tonya Ward ever acting anxious and pleading. The change in her manner struck Marissa as not only odd but also suspect, as if Tonya wasn’t telling the whole truth.
Marissa teetered on the edge of maintaining the shield that had existed between them since Gretchen’s death. If she was polite but cold, Tonya wouldn’t persist. She would leave, and maybe that was best.
Then Marissa remembered how important she’d felt when she was young and this pretty, popular girl
two
years Marissa’s senior treated her has if she were an equal, as much a part of the friendship as Catherine. Suddenly Marissa felt a wave of affection for the Tonya with whom she’d spent so many happy days on the boat, trailed along with her and Catherine to movies, traded so many secrets.
Traded so many secrets.
“You’re right.” Marissa felt slightly guilty. She felt too doubtful about Tonya to yearn for comradeship. At the same time, Marissa couldn’t help wanting time to scrutinize this woman who hadn’t spoken to her for years and now suddenly, almost desperately, wanted closeness. Marissa managed to speak warmly: “We shouldn’t let ourselves drift apart. Have a seat on the couch. I have a nice fire going and the room is cozy. I’ll turn off the music—”
“No, I like the music,” Tonya said quickly. “It reminds me of your mother.”
“Good. Me, too. Would you like a glass of wine, a soft drink, coffee, hot chocolate—?”
“Hot chocolate sounds good on a cold evening.” Tonya smiled. “With lots of marshmallows if you have them!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call after your car wreck,” Tonya said later as she and Marissa sat down in the family room with their hot chocolate.
“Andrew did.”
“But it seemed as if
I
didn’t care. Andrew tells me everything he knows that’s going on with you, but still I feel cut off.”
“We’ve been out of touch since Gretchen died, Tonya. We haven’t spoken since then except to say ‘hello’ and that was ages ago.” Marissa paused. “I tried to talk to you when I saw you around town, but you always seemed to dodge me.”
Tonya looked cornered for a moment, shifted her gaze to the fire, and then said without conviction, “I didn’t know how to handle matters after Gretchen’s…accident. Our versions of what we’d seen differed so much.”
“They really differed very little—just enough to make Dillon someone trying to save her or purposely kill her.”
“Is that still what you remember?” Tonya asked hesitantly. “That Dillon pushed Gretchen?”
Marissa waited a moment and then nodded. “I can see him push her thigh as if it were yesterday, Tonya.”
Tonya continued to look into the fire while she sipped her hot chocolate. Finally she said, “We saw things differently. The light was so bad, we were all scared, but I was closer to Dillon than you.”
“And you didn’t see his hand
push
against her right thigh?”
“I saw him reaching around both thighs, or trying to, and one arm was around her, but the other arm hadn’t reached it and Gretchen started tottering and slipping—her feet were sweating—and then she…she just fell.”
Marissa’s gaze searched Tonya. She looked truthful, yet something in her voice sounded false, flat. Marissa’s defenses went up, but she tried not to let them show. “Tonya, while we were still on Gray’s Island, we each told the police what we’d seen in the church. Andrew claimed he was too far back in the shadows to see much of anything. Eric was on the main floor and could hardly see anything in that bad light. You and I were the eyewitnesses and our stories didn’t jibe. There was an investigation, but with Dillon gone the investigation didn’t lead to his arrest.”
Tonya finally looked at her. “Why are you telling me all of this when I already know? I was
there
.”
“Just to make certain that this time we’re on the same page, not arguing over what happened after…the fall.”
“We are.”
“Okay.” Marissa took a deep breath. “Let’s agree that the lighting was bad, we were standing at different angles, and we saw things differently. Let’s forget the last four and a half years, act like there’s never been a rift in our friendship, and you tell me
why
you really came to see me tonight.”
Tonya flushed, seemed to fumble for something to say, and finally blurted, “Marissa, I thought you were glad to see me.”
“I
am
glad to see you.”
“Then why do you sound so hostile?”
“I’m not hostile. I just want you to be honest with me. I’ve known you a long time, Tonya, and I know when you’re not being completely truthful. You want to renew our friendship, but there’s more to this visit.”
Tonya set her mug on an end table. “I should go.”
“No!” The volume of Marissa’s voice startled both of them. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.” Marissa closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at Tonya repentantly. “This has been a bad day for me.” She hesitated. Should she say something about the postcard? The fire?
Marissa made up her mind in an instant. No. She hadn’t even talked to Tonya for years. The last time they were together was when Dillon had pushed Gretchen to her death, only Tonya told the police he’d tried to save her. Tonya would no doubt hear about the fire tomorrow, but Marissa intended to keep the postcard and the “Tyger” note confidential. “I’m sorry if I haven’t made you feel welcome, Tonya. Your visit surprised me and it was only natural that the awful night on Gray’s Island came up. We’ve talked about it, though, so now we can move on to something else.”
Tonya’s face had lost color and she ran her right hand through her hair the way she’d always done when she was agitated. “You’re right. Gray’s Island was the elephant in the room. And I admit that I was nervous about dropping in on you.” She glanced at her watch. “Are you expecting Catherine and James soon? Or does she sleep at his house?”
“Tonya, this is only their second date. Catherine does
not
sleep at James’s house.”
“You don’t have to sound so prickly, like you’re talking to someone who’d spend the night with any man who’d buy her dinner!”
The venom in Tonya’s voice stunned Marissa. “Tonya, that’s not what I was implying. I wasn’t implying anything, really, except…well, you know Catherine.”
“Oh yes. A lady to the end of her days. She’s probably still a virgin. I wonder how James is handling
that
after being married to Renée?”
Marissa fought for composure. “Tonya, are you angry with Catherine about something?”
“No. Well, just for being with James, I guess. I had a couple of dates with him a lifetime ago. I wasn’t good enough, though. He married Renée.” She laughed harshly. “If he thought he was getting a lady, he made a big mistake. A big
humiliating
mistake. Luckily for James, Renée seemed to vanish into thin air just like Dillon.” Her gaze drifted past Marissa. “But I don’t think Aurora Falls has gotten rid of either of them.”
Chapter 10
1
“What makes you think Aurora Falls hasn’t gotten rid of Dillon?” Marissa asked, trying to sound artless. After all, Tonya was married to Dillon’s brother. She might know more about Dillon than anyone besides Andrew.
Tonya seemed to shudder slightly and then smiled unconvincingly. “I don’t know. I guess it’s because he was born in this town and he’ll always be part of it. I mean look at us—we haven’t seen him for almost five years, but he’s dominating our thoughts at our big reunion. Dillon seems like a part of this place and he’s causing trouble, just like now, whether he’s dead or alive.”
“Do
you
think Dillon is dead?” Marissa finally asked gently.
Tonya blinked twice, then seemed to shake herself back into the moment and began speaking with airy unconcern: “Oh, I have no idea. Andrew hasn’t heard from him since Dillon left town, but of course he wouldn’t. Dillon used to make fun of Andrew for being such a straight arrow, and he is.”
“Does Andrew think Dillon caused Gretchen’s death?”
“He refuses to talk about that subject. He talks about Dillon sometimes—how mean their father was to both of them but especially Dillon, how much worse things got after their mother died, the good times they had on the
Annemarie
. He mentions how much they both liked Mitch Farrell playing ‘big brother’ to them, taking them places occasionally, showing them how to do some woodworking. You remember Sheriff Farrell had that whole building full of woodworking equipment. He made all kinds of stuff like cedar chests and…oh, I don’t know what all.
“Old Mr. Archer probably wouldn’t have let anyone else take the boys places, but Sheriff Farrell could be intimidating. And he could have put the word out and ruined Archer Auto Repair.” Tonya’s voice had grown vague, almost maundering. “Old Mr. Archer was furious when Andrew left for college. Andrew worked his way through school.”
“I know, Tonya. He’d already graduated summa cum laude when I went to Chicago.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Tonya waved her hand absently. “I’m getting time mixed up. Andrew loved college. Can you imagine loving college? I knew it wasn’t for me. I know Catherine
really
loved it. How about you?”
“It was all right,” Marissa answered tersely. She didn’t want to say anything that would disrupt Tonya’s train of thought and possibly reveal something about her state of mind, because at the moment she was still trying to get a fix on the woman sitting across from her, a Tonya whom Marissa felt she’d never met.
Tonya seemed to be rambling as she gazed into the fire: “I was friendly with Dillon when I was around seventeen. We were
friends,
that’s all, but Andrew doesn’t want to hear a word about it, not that there’s anything to tell. He always felt inferior to Dillon and I guess he had a crush on me even back then, but I didn’t know it. I’m glad I didn’t, because I thought he definitely wasn’t for me and I might have tried to discourage him by saying something to hurt his feelings.” She drew a deep breath and continued, “So I don’t know a thing about Dillon. I never want to see him again. He’s Trouble with a capital
T
.”
“I’m sure Andrew understands you were friendly to Dillon—you were friendly to everybody.” Tonya’s gaze jerked from the fire to Marissa. “When I said you were friendly to everyone, I just meant you were always pleasant, not flirtatious, with every guy in school, Tonya.”
“Some men can’t differentiate between pleasant and flirtatious. That was the problem.”
Marissa glanced at Tonya, who seemed to be growing stiffer by the moment. Marissa decided to keep babbling. “Frankly, I didn’t think about Dillon much during the years I was gone. School kept me busy and I thought I’d be getting married when I graduated. Then things changed and I went to Chicago instead of getting married. But the last month, Dillon has been on my mind. I suppose it’s just natural to wonder where he is after almost five years.”
Tonya’s voice suddenly hardened. “Look, Marissa, I know you’re trying to patch up things with Eric, and maybe you think feeding him information about Dillon will help, but you might as well stop questioning me. I don’t have any information about Dillon.”
Surprise overtook Marissa, and for a moment she could think of nothing to say. Finally, she came out with, “What makes you think I’m trying to patch up things with Eric?”
“I think half the town has heard about him coming here after your wreck and you going to see him two days later—”
“I had to give a statement, Tonya.”
“He’s been here quite a bit.”
“He has not! I don’t know who’s been telling you all of this, but your source is unreliable. He hasn’t ‘been here quite a bit,’ as you put it. There is
nothing
between Eric and me.”
“I guess that’s why you’re getting so snippy with me.”
“I’m not—”
“You are and I think it’s time for me to go.” Tonya stood, her hair shining like copper in the light of the fire. “I hope we can renew our friendship, Marissa, but I can see it’s going to take some time. And I have no interest in whether or not you’re seeing Eric again. I don’t know why you got so upset when I brought up the subject.”
“I didn’t get upset.”
“Yes, well, whatever you want to call it.” Tonya abruptly turned from annoyed to casual. “It’s been…interesting seeing you again, Marissa. Maybe the next time we talk, we can find a more cheerful topic than Dillon Archer or the love life you’re claiming you don’t have.” She was halfway to the door with Marissa trailing after her and Lindsay bringing up the rear. “Andrew told me not to ‘spring’ myself on you this way. He said you’d be defensive and it would probably be best if I just let things drift for a while. I see that he was right.”
“Tonya, I didn’t mean to upset you or make you angry or interrogate you or offend you in any way,” Marissa said as Tonya put on her coat. “I told you I’ve had a rotten day. It’s my fault tonight didn’t turn out so well. Can’t we try again?”
“Perhaps someday.” Tonya had put on a haughty air along with her coat. “I did enjoy seeing you before things got uncomfortable. And Marissa, I hope you won’t go whining to Andrew about our less-than-successful visit.”
“Whining?”
Marissa’s emotions abruptly swept from regretful to indignant. “Do you think I’d run to your husband and
whine
like a twelve-year-old?”
Tonya gave her a long look. “Honey, I have no idea what you might do. I never did.”
2
Andrew had been right, Tonya thought as she started the drive home. He had said she shouldn’t spring a visit on Marissa. She should arrange something casual, maybe invite Marissa out to lunch and keep the conversation light before having a serious talk with her. But Andrew didn’t know all of the reasons Tonya had wanted to talk to Marissa. He didn’t know how upset she was, how sleepless, how many disastrous scenarios she’d imagined. Tonight she had gotten so agitated she’d decided time was desperately short and she needed to talk with Marissa
now
. So Tonya had made the mistake of going to the Grays’ house on impulse and she’d been so nervous she’d made a mess of the visit. Worse—a disaster. Marissa no doubt thought she was crazy and would start talking about Tonya to everyone she knew.