“Nikki, dear, I had no idea that your hair had gotten this long,” Catherine said, fingering her dark tresses as they waited their turn in the salon.
“Be right with you, Ms. Nikki,” the stylist called over her shoulder as she placed an elderly lady under the dryer.
Nikki looked at her warily, taken aback by the deep maroon color of the woman’s hair. Catherine caught her gaze and laughed.
“Don’t worry, Nikki. Selma is a little…eccentric, but she’s a magician on other people’s hair. Trust me.”
Nikki smiled. She did trust her mother-in-law.
“Eccentric, hell. Selma’s weird,” Darcy whispered, “but she can cut hair. Leslie’s better with color, though.”
“Darcy, you’re up,” the assistant called and soon the woman was brushing highlights in Darcy’s dark blonde hair.
“Goodness gracious, Ms. Nikki, but your hair has grown since last month. Did those doctors put Miracle Gro in your I.V.?” Selma exclaimed.
“It’s not grown enough,” Nikki said with a rueful smile. “It looks like it’s been cut by a four-year-old.”
“Don’t you worry, baby. Selma will fix you right up. Besides, you’re so pretty, you could go bald and still look good.”
“No thanks.” Nikki laughed, then added, “But other than bald, do what you want to it.”
Selma’s maroon hair, pale skin and bright blue eyes reminded her suspiciously of Bozo the clown and Nikki wondered if she’d regret her words.
Selma worked like a whirlwind. She whisked through Nikki’s hair so quickly Nikki was afraid of what the end result would look like, especially after Selma admonished, “You know, you’ve always worn your hair too long. It’s so thick that all that weight just pulls it flat.”
Nikki closed her eyes as long strands of hair kept falling around her. She was afraid of what she’d look like when Selma was through.
She kept them closed until Selma crowed, “Okay, take a look!”
The transformation astounded her. Selma had managed to camouflage the little shaven spot on Nikki’s scalp with strategically placed layers. The layers formed a soft frame around her face, emphasizing her delicate features. Her hair, which had fallen almost past her shoulders, now barely brushed the tops of them. She had to admit; Selma had been right about the length. The shorter cut made her hair look more sophisticated and bouncy.
“I love it,” she managed, as Selma grinned.
“Nikki, you look beautiful!” Catherine said. “Jake’s going to be knocked off his feet.”
“I hope so,” Nikki said with a smile.
Catherine found the gown she wanted almost immediately. The icy blue gown brought out the incredible blue of her eyes, but both girls teased her for its modesty. It was long-sleeved and fell all the way to her ankles. Thousands of tiny pearls decorated the bodice.
“Come on, Catherine,” Darcy protested, “You need to show a little leg, a little cleavage, or something. That looks like a grandma dress!”
“Dear,” Catherine said with a patient smile. “I’m over twice your age. My days of a little leg and a little cleavage are behind me, thank God. I’m too old to worry about whether I’m flashing someone every time I lean over the punch bowl. Besides,” she added with a grin, “Maybe one of these days, Nikki and Jake will make me a grandmother. The thought is quite appealing, actually.”
Nikki gave her an amused smile. The thought was somewhat appealing to her, too.
Darcy found her dress next, a short, fire engine red number guaranteed to stop traffic.
“You look great,” Nikki said, as Darcy strutted around, pretending to be on a runway.
She winked at Catherine. “Now if I can find some handsome guy to flash over the punch bowl.”
Nikki had yet to see anything that caught her eye. She was beginning to think she would rather wear one of the gowns in her closet when a girl came bursting out of the door of the shop they were about to enter and grabbed her hand.
“Mrs. Hawthorne, I was going to call you,” she said. “I heard about your accident and I’m so glad to see you up and about.”
“Thank you…”
“Joleigh,” she said apologetically. “So it’s true about the amnesia?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Your gown’s ready and it is lovely!” Joleigh clapped her hands together.
“My gown?” Nikki asked.
“Oh, sorry. I guess you don’t remember ordering it.”
Nikki shook her head, and Joleigh continued, “You brought in a color swatch three months ago, and a design that you’d sketched out, and asked if Ramon could make it for you. He was thrilled with it and asked me to thank you again for choosing him to fix it. He thinks it will get him a lot of orders after the party.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see it,” Nikki said, and shrugged at Catherine and Darcy. Joleigh took her hand and practically dragged her into the backroom of the shop while Darcy and Catherine waited outside.
The gown took Nikki’s breath away.
“Can I try it on?” she gasped.
“Mrs. Hawthorne, it’s yours. You can do whatever you like with it,” Joleigh grinned, looking pleased by Nikki’s reaction. She pointed to a door in the back. “Dressing room.”
Nikki felt like Cinderella as she slipped the bronze silk top on. The color was perfect against her skin, and it made her green eyes seemed to glow in the mirror. The ballroom skirt was the same color, but overlain with a nearly transparent layer of shimmering fabric that caught the light. She giggled and spun once just to watch the skirt swirl around her ankles. She felt like a princess and wondered what Jake’s reaction would be.
Catherine and Darcy were chatting with Joleigh when Nikki came out of the backroom. Whatever Catherine was saying died on her lips as Nikki entered the room.
“Oh, Nikki! You look stunning,” Catherine gasped.
“I told you,” Joleigh said. “That dress is perfect for her.”
“You like?” Nikki smiled and turned a slow circle.
“I love!” Darcy exclaimed. “That color is gorgeous on you.”
Nikki just hoped her husband would think so. Sometimes it was even hard to breathe when Jake was around. Even though she knew that he needed time, she wanted him. She yearned for him to make love to her, for them to truly live as husband and wife again.
“Give me your keys, Catherine,” Darcy said. “I’ll go put our gowns in the car so we won’t have to lug them to the makeup counter.”
“Today has been fun.” Catherine patted Nikki’s hand as they waited on Darcy. “Who would’ve ever thought that you and I would be shopping together?”
Nikki laughed. “Certainly not Jake. I think he’s still a little nervous about us.”
Catherine laughed. “I’ll bet.” She touched Nikki’s arm. “Look. There’s Elaine.”
Nikki glanced up and Elaine glared back at her from the escalators.
Without a word, she turned and started walking up the escalator she’d been riding down.
“How rude,” Catherine murmured. “I don’t know what to do about that girl. She believes Zeke and I had an affair when he was still married to her mother, and nothing I say or do will convince her otherwise.”
Nikki frowned. Maybe Elaine had half the equation right.
They chatted for a few minutes and Catherine glanced at her watch. “I should’ve helped Darcy with those bags. She had quite a load.”
“There she is.” Nikki pointed toward the entrance. Darcy reappeared through the throng of people.
“Whew,” she said. “This place is getting packed. It took me forever to even find the damn car. After the makeup counter, let’s get some lunch. I’m starving.”
After her visit to the makeup counter, Nikki felt like a new creature. She hadn’t worn any makeup since the accident and the glamorous reflection in the saleslady’s mirror startled her. She couldn’t wait to see what Jake thought of her new look.
They stopped for lunch at Hannigan’
s Garden.
“Is Carlos working today?” Darcy asked the greeter.
“Nope.” He grinned. “But he’ll wish he was when I tell him a beautiful woman was asking about him.”
Winking at him, Darcy asked, “Trying to get a fat tip?”
“I’d settle for a date.”
“We’ll see,” she teased and Nikki rolled her eyes.
Darcy smiled as he walked off, then said, “Damn! From now on, this red lipstick is like my credit card. Won’t leave home without it.”
“Who’s Carlos?” Nikki asked.
Darcy sighed. “Hot Latin guy who lives in my building. He taught me how to salsa—” she sipped her water. “—among other things.”
Nikki laughed. “You’re terrible.”
Sipping her water, Darcy winked. “Not what Carlos says.”
Snapping her fingers, Nikki said, “Oh, I meant to ask you. Have you ever heard anyone call me ‘MP’? When my mother came over, I had this flash, I guess.”
They both shook their heads and Nikki sighed. “Jake didn’t know, either.”
“I don’t remember anyone calling you that.” Darcy speared a tomato and grinned. “But if it was a nickname Sara gave you, I’m not sure you want to know.”
Nikki lifted an eyebrow. “I’m sure you’re right.”
After they ate, Catherine excused herself to call Zeke.
“Want to split a hot fudge cake with me?” Nikki asked Darcy.
Darcy leaned back and patted her stomach. “No, thanks. I want to actually be able to zip my dress at the ball.”
“Well,” Catherine said as she slipped her phone back in her purse. “I wonder where Zeke is. He doesn’t have court today.”
“I’ve got to run to the little girl’s room,” Darcy said. “When the waiter comes back around, get him to refill my iced tea.”
Nikki nodded and looked at Catherine. She was torn between telling Catherine what she’d seen at Patty’s and protecting her.
What if you’re wrong? she kept asking herself.
The waiter took her order and Nikki excused herself to the restroom. She wouldn’t talk to Catherine about it until she had a chance to talk to Zeke.
Darcy was checking her hair in the mirror when Nikki came in.
“Something wrong, Nik?” she asked. “You look worried.”
“I’m okay,” she said. “Just a little tired.”
She started to ask Darcy what she knew about Zeke, but decided against it. It seemed disloyal to Catherine to question other people about her marriage.
Catherine insisted on picking up the tab. As they stepped out into the sunlight, Nikki shielded her eyes from the glare as Catherine dug for her keys.
She reached for the door as Catherine pressed the remote to unlock the Cadillac.
Nikki opened the passenger door and gave a startled cry. Covering her mouth with her hand, she lurched backward into Darcy.
“What’s wrong?” Darcy asked as Catherine hurried around the side of the car to her.
Nikki didn’t answer. She stared down at the passenger seat at what was left of her wedding photo.
Jake’s picture had been neatly cut away from hers, and then shredded into a thousand tiny pieces. It was scattered across the leather upholstery like confetti. A note lay beside her smiling photo.
The ring on your finger means nothing.
You belong to me.
Catherine gasped behind her. “That picture—”
Nikki nodded, her mouth suddenly gone dry. “It’s the picture that sat on my bedroom dresser.”
Chapter 11
Matt met them in the parking lot and carefully collected the evidence as Janney dusted the car for prints. Catherine was nearly in tears as she answered Matt’s questions. Nikki watched them in numb detachment.
“How does this keep happening, Matt?” Catherine demanded. She dangled her keys in front of his face. “It was a locked car. My car.”
“One more time, Cat. Are you absolutely sure the door was locked?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I always lock my car doors. Are you going to tell me he’s been in my house, too? Maybe gotten to my spare set of keys? I have an alarm system.”
Catherine sounded slightly hysterical and Matt wrapped his arms around her.
“Professional thieves have electronic picks. He could’ve used one of those.” Matt released her and looked at Nikki. “I talked to your mother today. She asked me who I’d recommend as a security guard. I gave her the name of a guy I know in Dunlap. He’s top of the line, but he’s out of town this week. I told her I’d have my men make regular patrols until he gets back. I apologize to you, and to Jake. I’m doing everything I can, but this guy isn’t leaving me much to go on. The security guard is a good idea.”
Matt frowned and jerked his head upward. “Security cameras!” he barked. “Janney, did you ask the manager for the security tapes of the parking lot?”
Janney’s eyes lit up. “No, sir! I’ll do it right now.”
He emerged a few minutes later with a dejected look on his face. “Security cameras are down. Some kids shot them out on Halloween and they’re still waiting for the insurance company to replace them.”
Matt cursed under his breath and Nikki hugged herself.
When was this nightmare going to end?
***
Jake was just finishing up his surprise when he heard Catherine’s car pull up in the drive. He hurried out to help Nikki with her bags and was brought up short when she stepped out of the car. She was so beautiful that, for a moment, all he could do was stare.
“I love the hair,” he said.
She smiled, but as he got closer, he noticed how pale she was. Before he could ask what was wrong, she kissed him. Jake wrapped his arms around her.
“Umm, you smell good, too,” he murmured, nearly forgetting that they weren’t alone. It was getting harder and harder for him to hold to his decision to take things slow.
When she pulled back, he was shocked to see tears in her eyes.
“Jake, he’s been in our house again.”
Matt Garrettson’s Blazer swung into the driveway behind them.
***
The tense look on Nikki’s face clenched Jake’s gut. He had no idea how to keep his own wife safe in his own house. Who was this man who traveled in and out of their lives like a ghost? For a moment, Jake thought of Derek, and then impatiently pushed the idea from his mind. This man was alive, flesh and blood, and Jake was going to find him.
“We’re going to get him, Jake.”
“When, Matt? After he kills me or Nikki?” Jake asked.
He regretted his words when he glanced at Nikki’s pale face. Darcy perched on the chair arm beside her, also looking shaken. He saw Matt gesture surreptitiously at Catherine and she nodded.
“Come on, girls. Help me unload our things.”
Jake was a little surprised when Nikki allowed them to lead her from the room, but maybe she didn’t want to hear any more.
“Matt, he’s following her. Whoever this psycho is, he’s following my wife.”
“I know.” Matt frowned at the empty doorway and started pacing. He stared at the ceiling and mumbled, “Something’s wrong, with all of this. I feel like we’re being force-fed all this stalker crap. The MO’s not right. All the notes, the trinkets, and the poison – that’s what the penicillin was to you – it doesn’t fit.”
“What are you trying to say, Matt?” Jake asked. “Because I’m not understanding any of this.”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know, but I swear to you, I’m going to find out.”
***
After everyone left, Nikki turned to Jake, who surprised her with a crooked smile and an announcement that he had a surprise for her.
“Don’t worry, nothing traumatic,” he joked. “Just an early anniversary present.”
He retrieved a videotape from the bookshelf and popped it in the VCR. “Eliot’s pretty good with all this camera stuff and he helped me spli
ce together some moments from our past.”
Jake pushed the tape in and sat beside her on the sofa. Nikki felt his gaze on her as the first scene began.
It was a group of people at a roller skating rink. Nikki scanned the crowd, picking out herself and then Jake.
“This was our first date,” Jake commented as he sank onto the couch beside her. “We met the day before. “One of your friend’s was having a birthday party and you invited me along. In a minute, you’ll see our first kiss. Someone actually caught it on tape.”
The on-screen Jake took Nikki in his arms and kissed her in the middle of the floor as the skaters whizzed around them. She wished with all her heart that she could remember that moment, not just watch it like a spectator. She felt an eerie sense of disassociation, watching herself on the screen and remembering none of it. It was hard to believe that she had ever been that confident, bold girl and even harder to believe the girl on that tape had even noticed another man.
There were several clips: she and Jake dancing, talking about each other, even parasailing together. They seemed so passionate, so in love. She watched her happy tears as she presented the engagement ring to her friends and saw the adoration in Jake’s eyes.
The next scenes were from their wedding: Jake, so handsome in his tuxedo, and a beaming Doug walking her down the aisle. Nikki’s eyes misted as the couple on the screen exchanged their vows. Jake held her a little tighter and she could tell he was affected, too.
The tape flickered as Jake repeated his vows and Nikki frowned.
Something had been cut away.
The camera zoomed in to her face, which was now tear-streaked where it hadn’t been moments before. She smiled at Jake, but her eyes were puffy and red.
“What happened, Jake? What did Eliot cut out?”
Jake gave her a wan smile. “He cut out our surprise guest. Derek crashed the party. He was messed up on something, crying and pleading with you to leave with him. We paused the service and you tried to calm him down, to talk to him, but he ran out. Elaine and Darcy chased after him.”
Nikki shook her head. “Why did you ever love me, Jake? When all I’ve done is cause you trouble?”
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