“Good night,” he said from the doorway while he waited for her to reassure their son.
“Good night, Dad. ’Night, Mom.”
He waited for Susan in the hallway. She walked past him to the staircase. He followed.
“What are you going to do now?”
“You said the caterer wants you to phone her in the morning with a list of the things she’ll have to bring. Dishes, glasses and so on. It’ll take me a while to make an inventory of what we have on hand.”
Grady wasn’t about to be put off. “I’ll help you.”
“A little while ago you said you were tired and ready for bed.”
“Not without you.”
“I’m sleeping in the guest bedroom until I move out.”
“Then I’ll join you there, because you haven’t given me the chance to tell you how sorry I am for the way I hurt you at your mother’s house. I’d like to explain what I was feeling and ask your forgiveness. That explanation is likely to require some time.”
She looked directly at him. “It’s all right, Grady. You think I don’t understand the kind of torment you’re in, but I do. There’s nothing to forgive. I’d just feel more comfortable if we slept apart.”
“After everything we’ve been through, are you really prepared to traumatize two members of this family all over again?”
A stricken expression crossed her face. “What do you mean?”
“Brett’s still so fragile, he’s afraid to leave the house for fear you’ll vanish. If he thought you and I were having trouble, it would tear him apart.
“As for me, I need my wife in our bed every night.” He took a deep breath. “While we were in California under separate roofs, I lay awake with the same fear as Brett. What if she’s not there in the morning? It made me break out in a cold sweat.
“Over the last few days I’ve learned something vital. Full memory restored or not, you’re the only woman I’ll ever want. Don’t put me through any more hell by distancing yourself from me. I couldn’t take it.
“Let’s not worry about the physical side of our marriage right now. I understand if you don’t want me to touch you, but I have to know you’re there next to me. Come to bed. I’ll help you sort things out in the morning.”
“You’re not going to work?” She sounded surprised.
He frowned. “No. Whatever gave you that idea?”
“I guess I just assumed that with Brett returning to school, your vacation was over, too.”
He shook his head. “Far from it. I have seven weeks coming. After Jim’s arrested, I thought we’d pull Brett out of school and rent a place at the beach on Maui until the end of May. It’s a trip we’d always planned to take when he was old enough to appreciate Hawaii.”
“What about all the class work he’ll miss?”
“If necessary, he can go to summer school. At the moment, it’s more important for our family to be together.”
She flashed him a troubled look. “That’s the kind of vacation for lovers.”
“I’m not worried about that just now. After our experience in California, I’ve realized how precious life is and I don’t want to waste another second of it. Let’s be thankful for the second chance we’ve been given. Six weeks without worries or pressure should make new people of us and ease Brett back into his normal carefree self.”
Her head was bowed. “The last thing I want to do is upset him more than he already is, so I’ll stay in our bedroom. As for the trip, I don’t know about that yet.”
He sighed inwardly at that much progress. Once Jim Stevens was handcuffed and jailed, Grady would find a way to make her say yes. Perhaps the opportunity to face her would-be killer, knowing he could never hurt her again, would help remove that last barrier in her mind.
But if it didn’t, Grady wasn’t going to fall apart. During those two agonizing hours in Oceanside, when he’d feared she might have gone off for good, he’d found out he wanted her at any cost.
“Fair enough. Come to bed now. I’ve made a couple of decisions about our party.”
She started toward him. “What?”
“First, we’ll make it a garden party. And second, I won’t prepare our guests for the surprise. That’s why we have to decide where we’ll put Jim and Ellen. When you step outside the back door, I want you to know exactly where to look. No one has a greater right to witness his shock firsthand than you.”
“WOW, MOM!”
She whirled around. “Do you like this dress?”
“It’s Dad’s favorite.”
Wear the black. Definitely the black, Grady had said, pulling it from the hanger before he’d gone downstairs. But she’d scarcely been aware of his comment. He’d just finished dressing in a new suit bought expressly for the occasion. In the charcoal weave, toned with a pearl-gray dress shirt and tie, he was so handsome, she felt stunned.
With an ache in her heart, she’d slipped on the black dress and matching heels, wondering if the day would ever come when he’d look at her in the same admiring way.
Since their conversation in the upstairs hall after their return from California, he’d treated her as if everything was normal. For the last three nights he’d given her a peck on the cheek, then proceeded to fall asleep. No pressure. No uncomfortable moments. A state of limbo. But it couldn’t go on forever.
To her relief, this night had finally come. Once it was over, she would carry out her original plan to find work and get an apartment. Some place an easy biking distance from the house.
“You look pretty terrific in that suit yourself, Brett.”
“Thanks.”
“Where’s the family?”
“Downstairs helping themselves to the punch. Mrs. Harmon’s coordinating everything.”
“Have other people come yet?”
“A few neighbors. Captain Willis arrived a little while ago. He’s positioning the men.”
“What about your dad?”
“He’s greeting people at the front door.” Brett’s eyes searched hers. “Are you scared?”
“Yes and no.” Her voice trembled despite herself.
“Don’t be afraid of anything. Dad and I are here to protect you.”
“I know you are. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Mom. Just think—the next time I see you, everybody’s going to know you’re alive and our family’s back together again.”
Oh, Brett, darling… It’s not that simple.
She hugged him hard before letting go. “You’d better hurry downstairs and help your father.”
“I’m going.”
She watched him stride from the room, then went into the bathroom to put on her makeup and brush her hair one more time. Ten minutes later, she was ready, and walked to her assigned post at the window in Brett’s bedroom.
From that vantage point she’d wait for Grady’s signal, which would come after dinner.
For the next forty-five minutes, she stayed in place and looked down on people who, for the most part, were strangers to her. They wandered around the yard, to the banquet table manned by catering staff, and another table that served as a bar, and to visit with other guests. Afterward they’d returned to their places at the decorated tables, where name cards had been arranged.
Seventy people had been invited. A full house if you included her family, which brought the number close to eighty.
It was a warm, beautiful night. Grady had been working in the garden over the past few days. Everything looked perfect and festive. She’d wanted to help him, but for secrecy’s sake she’d been forced to remain indoors.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Susan couldn’t imagine anything going wrong. She’d written personal letters of explanation to Colleen, Paquita, Tina, Father Salazar and the Benns—the six people she’d invited—stressing that her appearance at the party would be a surprise. If people asked, they should say they were old friends of Susan’s and let it go at that.
Suddenly she saw Grady’s dark head as
he made his way over to the end of the banquet table where the prime rib had been served. Her heart almost tripped over itself as she realized the signal had been given.
She left the bedroom and walked to the top of the staircase. Ascertaining that no one was in the foyer, she hurried down the stairs to the kitchen. The catering staff probably thought she was a guest who’d come through the wrong part of the house, but they didn’t say anything.
Susan tiptoed to the open back door and stood behind the screen. Grady was winding up his speech just a few yards away from her.
“So before we left for Florida, Brett and I decided it was long past time to say thank you by giving a party upon our return. We hope you’ll stay and enjoy yourselves this evening.”
Now was the moment to make her move. With a little push of the screen door, Susan walked outside toward Grady.
One second there’d been noise. In the next, shocked silence. The guests clearly didn’t know whether to believe their eyes or not.
Susan couldn’t worry about that right now. She had one goal in mind as she leveled her gaze on the sandy-haired man with the squarish jaw seated at the center table facing her.
Jim Stevens’s reaction was no different from anyone else’s, except for one thing. While she heard the sound of her name being whispered, then cried, then shouted in variations of joy and incredulity, she had the satisfaction of watching the blood drain from his face.
Maybe it was a good thing she had no memory of him. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to look into those cold gray eyes without flinching. This was the man who’d destroyed lives, shattered dreams.
The woman seated next to him just sat there with tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks. In that instant Susan knew Ellen Stevens had played no part in what her husband had done.
She felt deep pain for the agony about to be visited upon his wife and family. Grady must have sensed her distress, because his arm slid around her waist and he pulled her tightly against him.
“In case you were wondering, this is no clone,” he began. His deep voice quieted the din. “My wife has returned from the dead. I’m going to let her explain.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ONCE MORE SHE TRANSFERRED her gaze to Jim Stevens. “Six months ago, a client of mine, Mr. Geoffrey LeBaron, and I were the victims of a vicious crime. On the morning of my disappearance, we were kidnapped from his fireworks plant.
“While bombs went off, blowing it to bits, we were transported miles away to the Moapa Paiute Indian Reservation, where we were struck on the back of the head, our bodies dumped into the wild grass, left for dead.
“I guess it wasn’t my time to die.” Her eyes sought Maureen’s at the next table over. “Nevertheless, if it hadn’t been for the Benn family, who found me barely alive with all traces of my memory gone, I wouldn’t have survived.”
Collective sounds of disbelief rippled through the crowd.
“They took me to the clinic, nursed me in their home, then drove me to the women’s shelter in Las Vegas.”
Susan’s gaze shifted to the woman seated next to Maureen. They smiled at each other.
“It was there I made friends with a volunteer, Colleen Wright. She did everything in her power to find out who I was, but since no one knew I was missing, no one came forward. After watching the TV at the shelter, I named myself Martha Walters.”
Everyone laughed.
“Colleen helped me find a maid’s job at the Etoile Hotel. That was my lucky day for many reasons. First of all, I met Tina and Paquita, who became my roommates at an apartment we rented in the north end of town.” The two of them beamed at her. “They became my dear friends and helped me keep body and soul together.
“Through Paquita, I met Father Salazar at the Catholic church.” Her gaze glided to the priest, who was seated next to Colleen. He nodded to her. “I found out I’m a Protestant, Father.”
He chuckled softly, as did the crowd.
“This wonderful priest urged me to have faith in the future, saying that one day I’d get answers to all my questions. As you can see, Father, your words came true.
“It was at the very hotel where I worked that I passed a young teen on the stairs a week ago last Friday night. He turned out to be my son, Brett, who’d been to dinner with Mike Stevens and his father.”
With one notable exception, all heads turned in her son’s direction.
“I heard him call out Mom? But I thought he must be talking to his mother who’d gone down ahead of him. Later that night, when I returned to the apartment, I had a visitor.
“It was a police detective. A very attractive detective, according to Tina.” Her friend grinned. “He introduced himself and said he was looking for a missing person.
“With him was the boy I’d seen on the stairs. He told the detective—” Susan’s voice broke, and she had to make an effort to regain her composure. “He said, ‘She’s my mom!’ Brett had recognized me, even though my hair had been dyed brown and was shorter than before.”
By now she couldn’t see a dry eye in the crowd, except for Jim’s. He sat rigidly, staring at her as if transfixed.
“I was handed a family photo album. That’s when I realized Detective Corbitt was my husband. He doesn’t know this, but I almost had a heart attack knowing I was married to a man who was that gorgeous.”
At that comment, everyone broke into laughter again.
“He said I’d have to go home with him and stay out of sight because my life was in danger until the person who’d tried to kill me was caught. The rest is history. I was united with my family in California.
“I’ve recovered part of my memory, but not all. Please don’t be offended if I don’t recognize some of you. I’m hoping that will change in the future.”
Otherwise, I’m afraid for my marriage.
“My husband and I decided there was no good way to announce my return to the living. Under the circumstances, we thought it might be better just to get you all together at the same time. You’re a glorious sight.”
Grady’s arm tightened around her. She heard him clear his throat. “Thank you all for coming. And thank you for being there for Brett and me during these empty, desolate months. You reached out to us in the darkest hour of our lives. We’ll never forget.”
One by one the guests jumped to their feet and began clapping. Then Susan was besieged. Ellen Stevens was the first person to reach her.
“I can’t believe it.” She wept as she flung her arms around Susan. “Thank heaven you’re alive! It’s so wonderful to see you again. I’ve missed you so much. I’ll call you first thing in the morning.”
If it hadn’t been for a lot of other women crowding around to hug her, Susan wouldn’t have known how to respond. Not when she knew what was awaiting Ellen and Jim when they left the party.
“Susan Corbitt—you almost gave me a heart attack.”
Susan recognized Jennifer Ross from the photos in her album. The rather cross-sounding brunette gave her a quick hug. “I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll go to lunch. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
“All the women who had hopes of becoming the second Mrs. Grady Corbitt will die of shock when they find out you’re back in the picture.”
For the next hour Susan hugged everyone at the party, but it was Jennifer’s remarks that stayed with her. They’d been intentionally hurtful.
How had the old Susan tolerated a woman like that?
After the crowd had dispersed, she talked at length with the friends she’d met since the accident. Finally she was able to get the priest alone.
“Can I meet with you soon, Father?”
His brown eyes were compassionate. He could tell something was bothering her.
“Of course. Call the church and make an appointment with the secretary.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow.”
As he walked away, she was grabbed from behind.
“That was quite a performance, Susie Q.”
S
he whirled around and hugged her brother. “Have you seen Grady?”
“He walked around the side of the house with the Stevenses.”
Susan shuddered. “Ellen doesn’t know what her husband did.”
“She knows now. It’ll be hell for her for a while. No question about that.”
“Mom?”
Susan turned in the direction of Brett’s voice. He came running over, with the rest of her family following.
“What happened when you looked at Mr. Stevens?”
She put a hand on his shoulder. “He went white, and sat there like a piece of petrified wood.”
“I wanted him to die. But for Dad’s sake, I’m glad he didn’t. He’s been waiting for this moment.”
No one knew what Grady had experienced after the explosion better than Brett. Just now he sounded very grown-up.
“We all have, darling.”
“What we must do is remember Ellen and her family in our prayers,” Muriel said.
“I can see why Grady never liked Jennifer, Mom. She tried to hurt me again tonight.”
“How?”
Susan repeated the conversation to her mother. “She’s really quite cruel. I have no intention of being her friend again.”
“Good for you.”
Bev slipped her arm around Susan’s waist. She whispered, “Now that this is over, you and Grady can really begin to live.”
“I’m not the woman he fell in love with,” Susan whispered back.
“It looked like love from where I was sitting. But if you’re still left with doubts, then find ways to entice him all over again. Believe me, you’ve got what it takes.”
Except the one part of her brain Grady wanted more than anything else.
“Susan?”
She swung around. “Yes, Mrs. Harmon?”
“Your husband’s on the phone. He wants to talk to you. If you’ll get it in the den, I’ll hang up in the kitchen.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right there.”
“Can I come, too, Mom?”
“Of course.”
“Take all the time you need,” Muriel said. “We’ll help the caterer finish up.”
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