CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
After speaking with Detective Connery about Tasia, Elaine wandered around the house looking for her. A woman who’d suffered as Tasia had for so long had a certain kinship with every other woman in the world. It was a natural and honest connection, a sympathy for those who’d been abused, especially as children, and who were fortunate enough to get past all that and live to talk about it.
During her odyssey, Elaine found almost everybody. Lois Kastenmeier and Sam Giles were speaking together over tea in the parlor, lace napkins resting across their laps. Lois had their meeting done up with the works: a traditional Victorian setting with tea sandwiches, pecan tarts, and bonbons. Sam looked out of place amid the trinkets and finery surrounding him. His burly hand wrapped around that tiny teacup looked bizarre, like John Wayne holding a parasol. All Sam needed was a pair of nickers and a bonnet to complete the picture.
Alex, Nicolette, and Marlon stood inside the study with their heads together, chattering away as if their world was about to change forever. Or perhaps they were discussing how much it already had. Alex leaned against the far wall, listening to what Nicolette had to say while flicking a finger against the right side of his neck. That old bunny killer, who’d moonlighted as a witness to the most important signature in the company’s twenty-year history, had kept mum about Carl’s deception. What else could he have been keeping tight-lipped about?
Nicolette spoke in whispers, a high note occasionally drifting down the long hallway. Marlon stood beside her, hanging on to every word she said, but it was doubtful if he understood the point she was trying to make. He was chewing on a thumbnail and nodding so vigorously, he resembled one of those dogs with the bobbing head that people used to put in the rear window of their car.
Katerina was in the office helping Detective Slye go through each phase of yesterday’s meeting between the managers and the executive officers. A huge fern on a wooden stand behind him made it appear as if spiked horns were sticking out from the top and sides of his head. Betty and Heather were preoccupied with playing pinochle, and Cameron was just coming through the door. Elaine stopped when she saw him walking down the entry hall. Pausing beside an elaborate staircase, he struck a pose as if he were about to have a photograph taken.
“Hi,” he said, his voice easy and playful. His mood seemed gentle and upbeat, like on those days when he was planning to see his children.
“Hello, Cameron.”
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he said, pointing over his shoulder with a smile on his face.
“What?”
“Come over the threshold like a man, instead of sneaking in through the back door like a stray cat. Say, are we still on for Sunday night?” he asked her, standing closer.
“We are unless I get arrested for murder before then.”
Cameron shook his head. “Everybody knows that crazy ass Alex Gordetsky slaughtered the poor bastard, just like he did the squirrel a few months back.”
“It was a rabbit.”
“A squirrel with a smaller tail,” Cameron said, shrugging. “They’re both rodents, so what’s the difference?”
“Rabbits aren’t rodents. They’re a close relative.”
Cameron stared at her. “Man, oh man. You’ve been hanging around Silas too long. You’re starting to sound just like him.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, starting to walk on. He took her by the arm and stood in front of her. Lifting some of her hair, he watched intently as it cascaded down against her cheek.
“I’m really looking forward to Sunday for more than one reason,” he said. “They’ll be reading Kastenmeier’s will, so I’ll find out who my next boss will be. And after that, I’ll be taking you out to dinner.” He rubbed her arms. “A man doesn’t have the right to ask for more than that.”
“Do you think the change in bosses will be something to celebrate?”
“Listen, anybody else will be better to work for than Carl.”
“Who do you think will be taking over the company?”
“That’s easy,” he said, looking down at the light green dress she was wearing as if he found it attractive. “That little punk Silas. I’m taking potshots at him now because come Monday morning, he’ll probably have me shining his shoes.”
“I doubt that. Look, I’ve got to go,” she said.
“Talk to you later,” he said, letting her go and then watching as she continued down the hall past a bust of Carl’s great grandfather Aloisius Kastenmeier, which stood in a built-in wall niche.
Eventually Elaine found Tasia sitting beside Zach in an alcove under the back stairs. Her slender legs were resting on top of his, and they were holding hands. It was appropriate that they’d settled on a love seat bedecked with pink and white cabbage roses and quite estranged from the hustle and bustle of the main house. They were absorbed in conversation and when Elaine looked in, she felt bad for interrupting. Despite the distraction, however, Tasia smiled graciously and made her feel welcome.
“Come in, Elaine,” she said, resting back and holding Zach’s hand tight. Freshly cut Amaryllis belladonna placed in a crystal vase were resting in the center of a table, and the seven long candles burning all around them were a warm, romantic touch. All twelve of the lily-like flowers were in full bloom and had been arranged in a brilliant red and white display. Zach’s handiwork, no doubt. Mauve hexagonal candles perfumed the room with the smell of cinnamon spice. The slender flames flickered incessantly, but they never died out. That was how Elaine always thought love should be.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you two.”
“No, not at all. You might as well be the first to know. Zach’s got a landscaping position in upstate New York. He starts in one week.”
“That’s wonderful, Zach. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Elaine. I’ll also be working with some art museums in New York City. You know, refurbishing old masterpieces, painting reproductions to sell in gift shops, helping to fill up art show space…. That sort of thing.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“If I don’t mind working long hours, I should make a pretty decent living.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Elaine said, smiling at them both.
“There’s more,” Tasia said. “As soon as the police allow us to leave, Zach and I are moving to New York together.” She glanced at Zach, caressing his arm. “Zach has asked me to marry him.”
Elaine’s smile grew as she stepped inside the room. “Oh, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations, both of you.”
“Thanks,” she said as Elaine came closer and gave her a hug. Tasia held out her hand and showed her a modest yet pretty single set diamond engagement ring. “He wanted to give me a big old thing, but I told him that smaller was better.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Elaine said, shaking Zach’s hand. “I’m very happy for you.”
“Anastasia Verena Cutteridge,” she said. “Sounds nice, doesn’t it?”
“Sure does.”
“I’d asked her several times before to marry me,” Zach said. “She finally said yes.”
“I’ve always wanted to say yes,” she said, staring at him, “but I was afraid to. You understand.
“Detective Connery has been very nice about my drug problem,” Tasia continued. “He’s had the drugs and drug paraphernalia taken away, so at least the temptation isn’t here anymore. I hate to admit it, but I need the stuff, especially the heroin. I realize that I need professional help to get off it.”
“I understand.”
“Besides, if I’m going to be a housewife and mother, I’d better clean up my act.”
Zach squeezed her hand a little tighter; despite Tasia’s fragile state, there was no doubt that with his strength and all the love he had to give her, she’d make it.
“Connery said that I wouldn’t have to do any jail time if I kept myself clean and entered a live-in drug treatment center. There are a few good ones in New York state, so he says I must check
into one after I move and stay there for at least six months.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Elaine said, touching her on the shoulder.
“The sixteen hundred hours of community service I volunteered for is to cook dinner at a home for wayward girls five days a week. It’s really close to the place where I’ll be staying.”
“I’m sure they’ll be glad to see you coming once they’ve tasted some of your specialties, like Texas chili, homemade soups in tortilla bowls, baby back ribs bathed in barbecue sauce, and fried green tomatoes with bacon.”
“Yep,” Tasia said, smiling. “Preparing a meal is definitely my forte. I love a strong presentation.” After pausing to enjoy the levity of the moment, she added seriously, “Detective Connery also told me to undergo psychiatric treatment. You know, to talk about my suicidal tendencies and the sexual abuse I endured as a child.”
“I think that’s best, Tasia.”
“Maybe I’ll get rid of some of my childhood gripes, like never forgiving my mother for dying and leaving me all alone. For her not loving my father enough to take care of him when he needed her most.” She sighed. “The guilt I feel over the abortion I had when I was sixteen. There’s a lot I have to talk about.”
“And you will,” Elaine said. “You will.”
Lois barged into the room and silence fell like humid air on a hot, hot day. Tasia wasn’t afraid to look her in the eye, even though the lady of the house was looking quite mean.
“Did you murder my husband?” Lois asked her straight out, glaring at Tasia. Shear stockings covered Tasia’s able legs, and she stretched her toes out and wiggled them a little. Zach took his hand away from her thigh, but she grabbed it and put it right back again.
As Tasia stroked his hand, she said, “No, but I should’ve killed him years ago.”
“Why didn’t you? If you had, you would’ve saved us both a world of grief.”
“It’s difficult for a kid in kindergarten to raise a weapon,” Tasia said. “You could’ve done something, called somebody, but you never did. You just sat back and watched that man assault me time after time.”
“Well, what about your father? He never did anything, either.”
“Daddy’s a drunk and everybody knows that. He can’t even help himself. You could’ve helped me get away from Carl, but you were too busy helping yourself to his money and renovating this house as if it really mattered.”
“Carl ruined my dancing career. I didn’t have anything substantial to fall back on, and I’m sure I still don’t. We both know he didn’t leave me anything in his will.” Lois regarded every piece of furniture in the room fondly. The cabbage rose wallpaper repeating the pattern of the love seat brightened the corner. An antique étagère housed a multitude of her fine collectibles, mementos she’d picked up during her travels across Europe. Discovering another woman in her husband’s life prompted her to travel as a hobby after Silas was born, to run away as it were. Once every noteworthy spot on the globe had been visited, she’d come back home after two years and concentrated on interior decorating. A raft of nannies cared for Silas in the meantime; she never really got to know him at all.
Lois ran her fingers over the ornate lamp beside her; it was carved to resemble an eagle landing on a rock. Four years she’d spent doting on this house so that the pain of a loveless marriage wouldn’t haunt her for the rest of her life. “You and I both know that Carl has given you the power to kick me out of here if you feel like it.” She looked at Tasia again. “I’d like to know now if you want me leave, or if it’s all right for me to stay.”
“I’m sure Carl didn’t leave me anything of importance.”
Putting a hand against her breast, Lois burst into laughter. It was lamentable laughter, nevertheless. “You knew Carl better than anyone else, my dear. He never wanted me to feel comfortable here. This was never my home. That’s what the prenuptial agreement was all about, wasn’t it? I’d gotten myself pregnant and was an embarrassment to my family. I had to sign the papers, or else he never would have married me.”
“This house belongs to you and Silas. I don’t care what the will says. I’d never do anything to keep you out of your rightful place.”
Lois looked relieved to hear her say that, and she bowed her head for a moment. “Thank you,” she said, and then left the room. Zach didn’t look impressed by her noble speech.
“If she were in control, she’d kick you out of here in a heartbeat,” Zach told Tasia. “You know that.”
“Yes, I do.” Tasia took his hand and put it against her cheek. As she held it there, she closed her eyes and said, “That’s the difference between her and me.”