His Wife

by Ashley Hastings

  I lowered my voice on that last part because I knew it was imperative we keep our concerns quiet.

  "We will deal with this situation one step at a time, together." I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his worry lines away.

  "At one time you said you wanted to make the garden house, I mean, Orchard House, your art studio. Are you still interested?"

  I threw back my head and laughed, and clapped my hands together like a child.

  "Yes, I think it is the perfect place for painting. It gets the best light of the whole estate. It really is a lovely little building, despite its sordid history. I will get it cleaned out and repainted and then set up my studio. Thanks, Nate."

  "Order a new bed, while you are at it. I think it will make a great love nest for the two of us." He laughed a little. “Just tell Maxwell what you need. He will take care of everything for you.”

  I loved seeing Nathan looking so relaxed and happy. If only this feeling could last forever, but like I had said, we would take each day as it came, and try to tamp down our growing concerns.

  For today at least, I had scored a victory. It looked like the garden house would be completely transformed. That seemed like a happy omen for our future.

  Forty-Two

  The next several weeks were surprisingly peaceful, even though we had a potential murder investigation hanging over our heads. Nathan worked feverishly on his business, and I implemented my changes for Peacock Alley. I also took some time to organize his book collection, something we had talked about long ago. Mother was gone, and we decided to celebrate by taking a trip to Europe.

  We visited Paris for a week, and I fell in love with the food and the architecture. We went from there to Germany, where Nathan met with some business associates for several long, tedious meetings, while I wandered Frankfurt on my own. Finally, we spent two weeks in Italy, traveling the long peninsula, exploring the fantastic delights that country had to offer.

  We were busy, of course, enjoying the sights and taking in the local culture, but anytime I was alone, I was thinking. I thought about my worry of the police investigation, and I thought about Nathan’s actions on that stormy night over a year ago.

  Maybe another woman would have feared my husband after learning all that happened that night. I didn’t. I thought about it a million times, turning his decisions over and over, examining them in detail. I believed him when he said he panicked. I believed my husband.

  Nathan continued to surprise me with his capacity for romance. He bought me a single flower every day. I kept each one, pressed and dried within books.

  "I want to remind you of our time in New York when we first met. I know I don't do a good job of showing you how much I care, and I'm working on that, Darby."

  I was touched by his words. “I’m loving this time with you. It’s nice for it to just be the two of us.”

  It was the honeymoon he had long promised me.

  “If you would like to, we will take many trips together in the future. Tell me where you would like to go. I know I need to go to China soon. Does that interest you?”

  “China sounds amazing. I would love to go with you. I also would like to see Greece, if that’s possible.” I smiled over at him.

  “We will make it happen. I promise.” He turned back to his laptop, and started answering an email.

  I was praying he could make good on his promise. I knew the police were quietly investigating Savannah's death, waiting on the official autopsy results to be reported. They were also waiting for the DNA test to come back. Apparently, these things take time. Nathan called Maxwell daily for updates and tried to keep me from worrying.

  When we heard the autopsy results were in, we immediately got on a plane and headed for home. Nathan wanted to face the situation head-on, and I was going to stand at his side no matter what we were facing. Maxwell met us on the front porch.

  He nodded a greeting to me and seemed surprised when I hugged him. “I’m glad to see you, Maxwell. I really missed you while we were gone.”

  He hugged me back with a huge smile on his face, blushing a little. I don't think he realized that we saw him as an essential part of the Randolph family, and I vowed to make him aware of his favored status. Nathan looked pleased with how I was treating his friend.

  "The detective and the district attorney will be here sometime before lunch." Maxwell looked worried when he shared this information with us. Again, I wondered what he knew.

  I tried not to flinch as we walked into the house together. Nervously, I asked, “Did they give any idea what direction the investigation is going?”

  I knew that was a dumb question, but I was desperate for information.

  “I don't want either of you to worry about this meeting. I was interviewed by the detectives again, and I told the police the same thing I told them last year, that Nathan was with me the whole night. That is what I remember. We played pool and darts and drank some whiskey and smoked cigars until the early morning hours. That's when we realized Savannah was missing, and we searched for her together." Maxwell looked sincere as he said words all three of us knew were lies.

  Maxwell did know the truth. More than ever, I was convinced of it. Nathan didn't say anything in reply, but his eyes were thankful, and he squeezed Maxwell's shoulder with heartfelt gratitude.

  We met with the lead detective and the district attorney in the library at Peacock Alley within hours of our arrival home.

  Preston Parker, the district attorney, shook our hands and introduced the detective, William James. I remembered now that Preston had been at the Halloween party.

  Preston was charming, almost flirtatious, despite the solemn reason for his visit.

  "Mrs. Randolph, the annual Halloween Ball was a huge success. I understand you were a big reason for its success."

  “Thank you so much. That was my first party since I married Nathan. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Even as I graciously accepted his compliment, I was worrying. I was so nervous about his visit that I barely comprehended what he was saying to me. I wasn't interested in social niceties right now.

  “Why don’t we all sit down?” Nathan led the way, sitting in a leather armchair. I sat on the sofa across from him, and our two visitors sat, as well.

  "I'll get right to the point, Nathan. The autopsy was somewhat incomplete due to the condition of Savannah's body. Being submerged in the lake for a year had reduced her remains to a mere skeleton, and an incomplete skeleton at that." The district attorney was solemn as he addressed us.

  I wouldn’t want to play poker with Preston Parker. I was trying to guess what was coming by staring at his facial expressions, or in this case, his lack of expression.

  The detective interjected, looking at me. "I'm sorry, ma'am. There is no easy way to discuss human remains."

  "It's okay, gentlemen. I understand. I'm just relieved we are finally getting some answers."

  I tried to speak as if everything was great, and this was just a routine meeting for us. Nathan looked like he always did, calm and in control, and I was determined to follow his lead.

  The district attorney and the detective took turns speaking to us. Our heads swiveled between the two men as if we were watching a tennis match.

  "The autopsy gave us very little information. We have gathered a few facts, and we have made some educated guesses based on these facts." Preston started off the information sharing.

  Detective James stepped in. "Stop me if I get too technical or too graphic, Mrs. Randolph.”

  I smiled a weak smile in his direction. Would he just get to the point?

  James continued. “There was no evidence of a shooting or stabbing, according to her remains. We looked at the bones to see if there were any chips or obvious damage that could have been caused by a bullet or knife, and we found nothing. There was no sign of strangulation, such as a damaged hyoid bone in the neck."

  No evidence of a shooting? The bullet must have gone through her body without striking a bone, or perhaps the b
ones it hit were no longer present. I schooled my features not to react, but I felt the faint stirrings of hope deep inside.

  "Her doctor shared with us that Savannah was a heavy drinker, to the point that her liver was starting to fail somewhat, and she was rendered infertile. The doctor had been treating her for the liver condition for over a year." Preston looked solemn as he talked.

  This was news. Savannah wasn't even pregnant? Had she known that?

  Detective James cleared his throat. "We can guess that she passed out or was struck by lightning, and drowned. The sailboat was clogged with leaves, and that would have caused it to take on large amounts of water. It could have been easily fixed. However, if she were impaired, as guests at the party claimed, she might not have realized in time to fix the problem."

  Had they not even questioned why the boat, which was kept in a very well-built boathouse, was clogged with leaves in the first place? Were they just assuming the leaves had come up with the storm?

  The detective continued. "It could have even been a suicide, considering the state of her health. It was a very unwise decision, in any case, to take a sailboat out on the lake in a storm while impaired." He shuffled his feet. “In all deaths we have to decide. Was it a natural death? A suicide? Or a homicide.” He looked uncomfortable, and turned to the district attorney.

  Preston spoke up. "After a careful review of all the evidence, we have concluded that Savannah Randolph died as the result of a tragic accident, and we will be closing the investigation at this time. I apologize to you both that we were unable to get better answers for you."

  Nathan nodded, his face grave. He stood and shook hands with both men.

  "We appreciate all of your efforts. We know this has been a difficult situation for the entire community, not just the Randolph family. We knew the report would be incomplete, at best, but we thank you for trying. I will be making a donation in Savannah's name to the Brickner County search and rescue group, as a small token of our appreciation for their relentless efforts to find Savannah and her boat."

  And, just like that, our worries were over. My knees buckled in relief, and I covered up for that by sitting down with as much grace as I could manage. Nathan rested his hand on my shoulder, and I covered his hand with mine.

  Forty-Three

  Nathan walked the two men to the front door, and while they talked about how great it was that it finally rained, and the prospects of different SEC football teams, I curled up in Nathan's leather desk chair. I was trying to take it all in, and thinking about the facts of the case.

  That is where Nathan found me about twenty minutes later. He closed the door to his library and poured a large glass of whiskey. I stood up, and Nathan took my place in the chair, promptly pulling me back down into his lap. He offered me a sip of his drink, and I could feel its bracing warmth down to my toes.

  "I can't believe it's finally over, Nate. Just like that. Months of torment filed away with a fifteen-minute conversation." I felt light headed with relief.

  "I know. Nothing is hanging over us now. Mother has her own place and seems happy enough. The case is closed. We are free to act like the happy newlyweds we are." He smiled and looked much younger than his years.

  Nathan tickled my ribs lightly when he said that last part. I giggled. We kissed briefly, yet with great passion. I loved tasting the whiskey on his lips and tongue.

  "Let's take a walk, baby. Just you and me."

  We headed out of the house, and took the first path we saw.

  And so we walked for miles, all over the grounds of Peacock Alley. We talked about the trees and the flowers and laughed at the antics of the squirrels. Even though it was now early December, and most of the leaves were on the ground, we could still see patches of green grass in sheltered areas. We spotted several peacocks, and Nathan shared more of the history of the place with me. We made plans for our first Christmas, and we talked about getting a Christmas tree over the weekend. We avoided all serious subjects, and just enjoyed our peaceful walk together.

  I looked up suddenly and realized we were at the cemetery. I hadn't recognized it at first because we came upon it from a different direction. We went in the gate and walked over to Savannah's grave.

  "We didn't ask when we can claim her body. It probably looks weird that we didn’t." Uh oh.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll call tomorrow. We just heard shocking information, and they know we need time to absorb it all. Plus, they probably wouldn’t expect me to ask in front of you.” He took my hand firmly in his. "You really don't want her here, do you?"

  He looked sideways at me, waiting for my answer.

  "I think she belongs here. It's a good place for her to rest, and the grave has been waiting for her over a year now. I'm fine with burying her here, but you and I should be on the other end of the cemetery when we die. Mother can have this spot next to her."

  Nathan threw his head back and laughed up to the sky. He looked ten years younger.

  "Sounds like a plan."

  We walked a few steps farther and sat down on a bench under an oak with branches that almost stretched down to the ground.

  "Are you afraid of me? Now that you know what I'm capable of?" His light mood had vanished, and the worry lines were back.

  Surprised, I turned to him, worried.

  "Nate, no! I could never be afraid of you. Put that out of your head, Mr. Randolph." I squeezed his hand in mine.

  "Tell me again you can still love me, even knowing all that you know about me." He was demanding and sweet, all at the same time. This was the Nathan I fell in love with in New York all those months ago.

  "I love you, passionately and madly, Nathan."

  He nuzzled me, and we comforted each other all over again.

  I took him to the new Orchard House to show him the remodeling I had ordered. The work had been completed while we were in Europe. Outside, it looked similar to before, although I had made a few changes. It smelled of fresh paint, and the bricks had been power washed. The weeds were gone, replaced by a small flowerbed full of gardenias and pansies. New apple and plum trees had been planted to increase the size of the little orchard, and hazelnut trees were in transit. I already knew where we would plant them, too.

  The inside was where Nathan found the significant difference. It was transformed. Painted a bright white to emphasize the marvelous light that entered the tiny building, the room was stunning. Even the floor beneath us had been refinished. Savannah had preferred the black painted floorboards, but I had them stripped and sanded, and now the boards were a soft honey color that positively glowed in the light.

  All of Savannah's furniture and personal items were gone. In their place, I had chosen a dark gray-slipcovered sofa and chair, and an old iron bed that had been in storage in the attic of the main house. A new mattress set and linens completed a place for resting or lovemaking. Another attic find, an old trunk held additional blankets. The remainder of the space was devoted to my art hobby, with an easel already in place. My paintings from Silver Falls were still in crates leaned against the wall. I couldn't wait to unpack those and start painting new canvases.

  I turned to my beloved husband.

  "You have talked a lot about the power Savannah held over you, in life and in death. I want you to understand that her power is gone now." I spoke in a strong, clear voice because I wanted him to really feel it.

  Savannah was gone, and I was standing by his side. He would never need to feel alone again.

  He looked at me in wonder and growing gratitude.

  I wasn’t done. "Savannah can't hurt us anymore. She can't hurt me because now I know you never loved her. She can't hurt you because now you know how much I love you. It's just that simple, Nate."

  He look at me with gratitude shining from his eyes. “I just knew somehow, when I saw you twirling on that dirty New York City street all those months ago, that you had what I needed. And I was right.”

  I smiled and wrapped my arms around his wai
st.

  "I'm reclaiming all the spaces she stole from us at Peacock Alley. Our bedroom is full of our memories now, and so is your library. Now Orchard House will be our special place, our love nest. It no longer belongs to her. And I know you said she met men in the maze sometimes, so I have a plan for that, too."

  “I don’t know what you have in mind, but I can’t wait to find out.” Nathan kissed me hard, and my heart was so full of love for him, I thought it might burst.

  Forty-Four

  Mother dropped by for tea that afternoon. I was making an effort to create some kind of relationship with her because I thought that would make Nathan happy. I knew he supported me entirely when it came to Mother's meddling, so I didn't worry that she would be able to hurt us again.

  We talked about many subjects, easily and without rancor. At first it was awkward, of course, but when we realized neither of us was trying to start a fight, it got better. I even walked Mother out to Orchard House, so she could see the changes for herself. I was surprised that she seemed to approve. It hadn't been that long ago that we had a big fight about me wanting to make changes to the building.

  "You've transformed this room, and it's absolutely beautiful, Darby." She turned in slow circles as she took in all the changes.

  Mother spoke so quietly I had to strain to hear her, but I made note of the fact that she called me by my first name.

  "Thank you, Mother. I appreciate that."

  "I know I haven't been easy at all to deal with. I've had some long conversations with my son recently, and I'm starting to understand Savannah didn't treat him well." Her tone was thawing, and she almost smiled. Her face twitched a little, anyway.

  Where was the icy chill she usually reserved for me?

  Surprised, I raised my eyebrows at her.

  "In fact, I'm starting to think that the investigation's conclusion that Savannah's death was an accident might truly be a gift to this family."

  I remained mute. No way would I respond to that.