It needs a piece of jewelry, she reflected. Rummaging through the drawers in the dressing room didn’t produce anything suitable and then she remembered seeing something in the drawer of the dresser in the bedroom. Among the bits and pieces, she found a small, ornately jeweled pin. Only costume jewelry, she was sure, but it was a nice brooch from years gone by, a circle of silver swirls and leaves, set with pink, ruby, and clear stones.
Satisfied at last with her outfit, she added a touch of lipstick and went downstairs. The big grandfather clock standing in the foyer was chiming six when she reached the last step. David was pulling out a chair for his mother as she entered the dining room.
“Good evening,” she greeted them.
“Good evening,” David said as he rounded the table. She thought his eyes lit up at the sight of her. “You look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you.”
“Good evening, Ruth.” She was determined to be pleasant to her mother-in-law, though she was in agreement that Ruth had every right to be angry with her.
The older woman remained silent.
“Mother, let’s do our best to get along tonight.”
“I don’t know why you are bending over backwards to be nice to a woman who cuckolded you and stole from you—from us. What she did endangers not only your future, but your son’s and mine as well. She ought to be in jail like the criminal she is, not sitting down to dinner with us.”
“I asked Marnie to join us for dinner tonight. She’s not going to remember anything sitting in her room alone for meals. I’m hopeful that something we say, some conversation, will trigger her memory, bring back what she’s lost.”
“And you believe this—this ridiculous story of hers? You believe she can’t remember anything before the day she came stumbling back here?”
“Yes, I do believe it, and so does Doctor Means. If you were around her for long and were open-minded enough, you’d believe it, too. She simply doesn’t behave like she used to.”
At that moment Mrs. Grady came through the swinging door from the kitchen bearing a platter, which she sat at the end of the large table where David, Ruth, and Marnie were seated.
“A glorious roast, if I do say so meself. ‘Twere a good cut and roasted up nicely, it did.”
With this pronouncement she left the dining room and returned with a bowl of potatoes and carrots, Mary following along with fragrant rolls and a bowl of salad.
Marnie spread her napkin in her lap.
“This looks absolutely delicious, Mrs. Grady. I didn’t think I was hungry until I smelled your cooking.”
“Well, now. Everyone enjoy. Is there anything else you need before I leave for the night?”
“No, nothing, Mrs. Grady,” Ruth said. “Mary can take care of our needs.”
“There’s raspberry mousse for dessert,” she said as she turned toward the kitchen. “Mary will fetch it when you’re ready.”
“You’re lucky to have such an excellent cook,” Marnie said.
“She’s too familiar,” Ruth grumbled. “When I have a formal affair, I have to tell her to stay in the kitchen. She would be chatting with the guests if I didn’t put my foot down.”
“She’s been here since I was young,” David said. “She’s like one of the family.”
Ruth sniffed at that statement.
“Everything I’ve eaten has been delicious: blueberry muffins, soup, this roast, and all the meals she sent up to me. Every meal is perfect.” She was wondering how many hours the older woman worked every day, but she didn’t think she could ask such a thing. David spoke up, though, and seemed to read her thoughts.
“Mrs. Grady lives over what we call the carriage house in the back of this house. She has a nice apartment there. She says she likes just walking across the yard and not having to worry about getting to and from work. She fixes breakfast for everyone, and sometimes she fixes lunch. It depends on whether anyone is going to be home or not. If it’s just Jonathan and Mrs. Tucker, she may leave soup or simple leftovers for them to warm up. Most afternoons Mrs. Grady goes to her apartment and takes a nap then returns to finish preparing dinner. She has Saturday and Sunday off, and we eat what there is or go out. Mother likes to eat at the country club with her friends.”
“It sounds like that works out well for everyone,” Marnie agreed.
Ruth ate silently, not adding anything further to the conversation.
“I see you found your mother’s brooch,” David commented, looking at the ornament pinned to her dress.
Marnie’s hand went to the silver circle, and her fingers traced the leaves. “My mother’s? This was my mother’s?”
Ruth paused her eating, her hand frozen in place. She looked as if the bite of food she had just taken was rotten. As she stared at the jeweled adornment, her mouth twisted into a sneer.
“Yes,” David answered. “She wore it to work often. I complimented her on it once, and she told me it was precious to her. She said it had been her mother’s,” he said, glancing at his mother.
“I found it in a drawer. I had no idea.”
Ruth took the napkin from her lap and placed it beside her plate.
“I can’t eat any more. I’m going to my room,” she pronounced, and before David could get up and help her with her chair, she had risen and marched from the room.
Marnie looked helplessly at David.
“It wasn’t anything you said or did”—he laid his hand atop hers and squeezed it—“I shouldn’t have brought up your mother. I told you she was sensitive about Pamela.”
He withdrew his hand and started eating again. “I appreciate your dressing appropriately and being on time tonight.”
“I take it that is something unusual for me, since you’re mentioning it?”
“You might say that. It was hard for you to be anywhere on time, and it drives my mother crazy for people to be late for anything, especially dinner. I sometimes think you do it just to aggravate her. And when she complains about the way you dress, you’ll wear an even more provocative outfit the next time.”
Marnie didn’t know what to say about the actions she couldn’t remember.
“I have something to confess,” David said, glancing up at her.
“Something to confess?”
“Yes. This was a test, of sorts. I wanted to see if you would be late, as usual, and what you would choose to wear.”
“I see. Well, it almost got me. I was almost late because I had to try on so many dresses to find one that wasn’t too short or too low cut, much less too tight.”
He laughed. “I imagine that’s right.”
Mary entered the room from the kitchen. “Is there anything you need, Mr. David?”
“We’re ready for dessert now, Mary.” He turned to Marnie. “Am I rushing you?”
“No. If I don’t stop now I won’t have room for raspberry mousse. It sounds delicious. And”—she laughed—“all my dresses will be too tight for sure.”
David laughed with her. “Well, you’ve never shied away from shopping for new dresses.”
Suddenly, she became serious. “David, that’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Shopping?” he asked.
He thinks I want to shop for myself, she thought.
“Yes, for Jonathan. He doesn’t seem to have many games and puzzles. The books he has look well worn. Does Mrs. Tucker shop for him? Or do you?”
David’s face cleared and then a sheepish look came over him.
“To tell the truth, I am the one who is supposed to. Mrs. Tucker can barely be persuaded to buy clothing for him. I’ve been so busy at work I haven’t lived up to my obligations in that regard. What with your disappearance and all the trouble surrounding it, I haven’t thought about shopping for Jonathan. Mrs. Tucker t
old me several weeks ago he was outgrowing his clothes.”
“Yes, I noticed how short his pants are. They grow fast at that age.”
“How do you know?”
She shot him a puzzled look. “I don’t know how I know. Do I know anyone who has a child his age?” She dropped her head, shamefaced. “Anyone besides me—us, I mean?”
“Not that I know of. Maybe one of your friends from the Roadhouse?”
“I can’t remember, David. I just can’t remember. I just know little children grow fast.”
“I’ll have to do something about it,” he said. “I’ll have to take some time and do it.”
“I’d like to do it, if you’ll let me, but I don’t know how to manage it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean do I drive? Do I have a car? Where do I go to shop? What do I use for money?”
“Oh, all that.”
“Yes, all that.”
“I hadn’t thought about it, but now that you mention it, since you came back without your wallet, you don’t have any of your usual necessities. I’ll tell you what. I’ll go tomorrow and see about getting you a new driver’s license. I’ll give you some money and a credit card. But”—he paused and looked sternly at her—“it will have a limit on it.”
“Fair enough.”
“You have a car in the garage.” He took her left hand in his. “But you are missing something far more important than your driver’s license and credit cards.”
“What? What else am I missing?”
Instead of squeezing her hand as he had before, he turned it and traced her ring finger from the tip to the base. “Where, my dear, is your wedding ring and the three carat so-called engagement ring you insisted I buy you after we eloped?”
Chapter 23
Marnie rubbed the spot on her left ring finger. How could I have overlooked a missing wedding ring? I guess I forgot about it the same way I forgot about my marriage, my son, and my entire life, she thought. An engagement ring that size must be worth a lot of money. Did I sell it? Give it to my lover?
She sighed. She was so tired of being confronted with yet another situation that revealed what an appalling person she was. Yet David had not accused her of anything, only asked if she remembered what had happened to the rings
Marnie clung to the hope that when she did recall what had happened to her there would be a legitimate reason she had acted the way she did—a reason that made sense to her. Until then, she was going to have to do the best she could to regain her life and make amends to her son and husband.
She tossed and turned during the night, unable to fall asleep because of all the things swirling around in her head. As a result, she slept late, and Jonathan and Mrs. Tucker had already eaten breakfast and returned to the nursery when Marnie stopped in. When she entered the room, Jonathan was busy telling Mrs. Tucker the sounds the various letters made and sounding out words.
Jonathan surprised her by rushing to hug her around the knees as he had done to his father the day before. It was the first time her son had hugged her or shown any affection toward her, and as she bent to put her arms around him, tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
After hearing him read several words and praising his progress, Marnie excused herself.
“I’d better go eat some breakfast myself. I’ll see you later in the day,” she said. “You can finish your lessons while I’m gone.”
When she entered the kitchen, she found Mrs. Grady sitting at the granite island looking through a notebook. “Good mornin’, luv,” she said. “You slept in, I see. What can I fix you for breakfast? Some nice eggs?”
“No, don’t get up, Mrs. Grady. I just want some toast and juice, and I can get it myself.”
“Then I’ll let you. I’m trying to come up with something to cook for supper—er, dinner, Mrs. Ruth calls it—something we haven’t had a hundred times before. What do you fancy?”
“I don’t know,” Marnie answered as she poured her orange juice. She retrieved her toast and sat across from the cook at the wide bar. “Chicken, maybe? I think I like chicken.”
“Chicken, you say? Yes, that does sound just right for today. Maybe a nice fricassee.”
As Marnie was eating her second piece of toast, David’s head and shoulders peaked through the swinging door.
“Ah, there you are. When you’re through eating, Marnie, come down to the library, please.” With no more than that, he withdrew, leaving the door swinging in his wake.
What did I do now? Every day it seems like I find out another of my misdeeds.
When she entered the library a few minutes later, she found David sitting behind the massive desk, making notes and putting papers into a folder.
“I’ve been getting you squared away this morning.” He shoved a card across the desk. “Here’s a new driver’s license. I went to the courthouse and told them you had lost yours and needed a new one. Since everything was on the computer, it was easy enough for them to pull up your record and print a new card for you. Of course, it has a different number than the old one. If anyone tries to use the old one, it will alert authorities immediately.”
Marnie felt awkward standing in front of the desk like a wayward school child in front of the principal, so she sat down in one of the chairs facing the desk. David pushed another card toward her.
“Here’s a credit card in your name. Since the bill comes to me, I’ll know where you charge things, Marnie, and how much. It has a limit on it, so you can’t go wild buying things.”
“I wasn’t going to go wild,” she told him stiffly. “I was only going to buy Jonathan some things, some toys and books.”
He ignored her comment and continued, “I canceled your old credit cards after you and Ray had been gone a few days. I left them active for that long on the recommendation of the detective I hired to find you.”
“You hired someone to find me? It sounds like you thought you were better off without me.”
“Maybe. But I wanted my project back. It’s worth a lot more than you were,” he answered sarcastically.
She remained silent, absorbing that statement as he continued.
“You two were smart enough to know I could find out where you were if you used your credit card. Ray had closed out his bank account before you took off, so I assume you were using his cash so you wouldn’t leave a paper trail.”
He reached into his back pocket and took out his wallet. Taking several bills from it, he tossed them onto the desk. “Here’s some cash, too. Take care how you spend it. I’m not going to be as generous as I have been in the past. Or maybe I should say I’m not going to be the pushover I once was.”
“Thank you, David. It really is kind of you to do this, since evidently I’ve been a poor wife and mother. I promise you I won’t spend any on myself. This is for Jonathan.”
“And finally,” he said, pushing a cell phone toward her, “here’s a new cell phone. I’ve programmed three numbers into it: my cell phone, my office phone, and the house phone.”
She picked it up and flipped it open.
“If you call the office number, you’ll get my secretary, Virginia. She knows your voice, and she knows about your amnesia. If you need me when I’m at work, it’s probably best if you call me through that number. That way you won’t interrupt a meeting or another phone call.”
“Thank you,” she said. These few things gave her the feeling she was getting back to a normal life, although she still had no idea what a normal life for her felt like.
He stood up behind the desk. “Go get a coat on. I want to see if you remember how to drive before I give you the keys to your car.”
A few minutes later they slid into the seats of the red Mustang. She adjusted the driver’s seat forward a bit and moved the rearview mirror so
she could use it.
“We messed up your seating when we retrieved it from the mall parking lot,” David explained.
She started the engine, backed out, and drove around the house toward the street.
“Take a right. You’ll always take a right coming out of the drive to go anywhere in town,” he instructed.
He directed her through town, at first taking the same route they had driven to the Roadhouse, then branching off on a different street. After a couple of miles, they came to an intersection adjacent to an interstate highway.
“There’s the mall on your right. Pull in there.”
Marnie did as he said and drove about halfway along the expanse of the large building. She pulled into a parking place but didn’t turn off the motor.
“I think I can find this place again,” she said. “It’s easy enough to get here.”
David was looking out the car window, looking grim but saying nothing.
“What’s the matter? Did I do something wrong?”
“You just happened to park in the same spot you used when you abandoned the car and left with Ray. Coming back to the scene of your crime, perhaps?”
“Oh, David . . .”
“Don’t say it! Don’t say ‘I don’t remember’ one more time. I’m sick and tired of hearing it!”
“Well I’m sick and tired of saying it!” she lashed out.
Frustrated, she closed her eyes and held her mouth tightly closed to avoid saying something she would be sorry for. At last she opened them and said, “Thank you, David. You’re being very generous considering my past behavior.”
The Memory of All That Page 11