Mirror Image

by Curry, Edna

  They were soon in a heated argument over the best ways to safeguard the security of the computers at Ken’s bank. Laurie thought she knew quite a bit about computers, but soon felt completely lost as the two men’s conversation got more and more technical.

  “Come on, LaRae,” Denise said with a laugh as a waitress cleared their table. “That’s enough techno-babble. Let’s move inside. I think the band is about to start playing again.” She pressed a button and deftly steered her wheelchair through the sliding glass doors into the large family room. Most of the furniture had been placed against the walls, and the hardwood floor gleamed. Various chairs were lined up around the room, and several couples moved out to dance as the music started. Denise parked her wheelchair along the far wall, and Laurie took a chair beside her.

  “They aren’t really angry with each other, are they?” Laurie asked, with an anxious glance back to the table on the deck where Jass and Ken were still deep in discussion.

  “Of course not,” Denise said with a laugh. “They’ve enjoyed arguing since they learned to walk and talk together. Ken told me their Uncle Bill used to separate them when they got into fights as little boys. Bill claimed he never saw cousins who loved to scrap more than those two.”

  They were cousins? Come to think of it, they did look a lot alike. Both had the same lean, athletic build and dark brown hair and eyes.

  “What are those two arguing about now?” Cathy asked, sliding into a chair beside them.

  “Something to do with bank computer security,” Laurie said vaguely.

  “That figures. Nothing sets off Jass like dishonesty!”

  Laurie swallowed, her stomach tightening until her supper felt like a painful lump. What would Jass say when he learned she was living a lie? That was certainly dishonesty with a capital D!

  “Don’t be too hard on him, Cathy,” Denise put in quietly. “Maybe I never told you this, but Jass has a good reason for hating dishonesty. His mother lied to him when he was little and he’s been extra-sensitive on the subject ever since.”

  Laurie released the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. She listened intently, anxious to learn any new details she could about LaRae or Jass.

  “I didn’t know that,” Cathy was saying to Denise. “What happened?”

  Denise shrugged. “The usual face-saving white lie, really, and I can certainly understand his mother’s motive. She had divorced when he was just a baby and married again soon after. She didn’t want to answer questions about their bitter break-up, so she never told him that his stepfather wasn’t his real father. He found out the truth as a teenager and was really upset.”

  “Ye gods!” Cathy exclaimed.

  “I can imagine,” Laurie murmured. She dared not ask more, since she wasn’t sure how much of this she was supposed to already know. She felt as though she was sinking deeper and deeper into a whirlpool, and there would be hell to pay at the bottom.

  Since Denise was the guest of honor as well as the hostess, everyone stopped by to talk to her.

  Laurie tried to smile and be friendly to them all, since she wasn’t sure which were LaRae’s good friends and which weren’t. Following each person’s lead took a lot of concentration and energy, leaving her soon feeling exhausted. Laurie lost track of the number of times she murmured, “Thank you” to condolences on her sister’s death, and answered questions about her accident. At last, Jass rescued her by coming over and asking for a dance.

  “I’m not sure I can dance while I’m wearing this cast,” she said.

  “It’s a slow waltz. Come on, Honey.”

  “All right.” She rose and took his hand as they moved out onto the floor.

  “I don’t want you to feel left out. I know how much you like to dance,” he said, putting his arms around her.

  “I really don’t mind sitting on the sidelines, Jass. Denise and I were having a good time just talking.”

  “We’ll manage,” he insisted.

  They did manage several dances, with a few awkward moments that made Laurie giggle nervously. Jass wasn’t the best dancer in the world, but he seemed determined to please her.

  She relaxed in his arms and followed his lead, enjoying the delicious warmth of his loving embrace.

  After a while, she dared ask the question that had been bothering her. “You and Ken weren’t really fighting, were you? I mean, you aren’t angry with each other?”

  He laughed. “No, Honey, we’re not angry with each other. We just have different ways of looking at things. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to go to Denver for a few weeks soon, to sort out some problems at a branch there.”

  “Oh,” she said, her voice small.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his arms tightening around her.

  “It’s okay.” But it wasn’t. She hated the thought of being alone for weeks in a strange home. Suddenly she understood some of LaRae’s frustrations with his job. LaRae had been more of a social butterfly than she was, and had had few hobbies. Time alone at home must have dragged for her.

  The band shifted gears again and began a fast number. A fast-moving couple bumped into them making her gasp. Laurie and Jass moved to the sidelines to evade the other dancers and catch their breath.

  “Are you getting tired?” he asked, as she stumbled.

  “A little.”

  “Let’s go home, then.”

  “You don’t mind? It’s still early.”

  “Several couples have left already.”

  She’d had a good time, and was even beginning to feel that these people were really her friends. Like she belonged here. That was such a wonderful feeling.

  “Shouldn’t we help Denise and Ken clean up, or something?”

  He looked at her, then laughed. “They have servants, remember, Honey? Come on, let’s say good-night.”

  She’d goofed again.

  At home, they made love in her bed and he fell asleep beside her. She snuggled under the covers, happy he’d stayed in her bed instead of returning to his own room.

  Laurie lay awake listening to Jass snore. She thought her goof hadn’t been as bad as it could have been. Or as it would be when he found out she wasn’t really his wife, she thought desperately. She remembered what Denise had said about Jass’s hating dishonesty. Would he consider her lie a betrayal, too? Or would he understand her reasons and forgive her?

  And, oh, God, he still didn’t know his wife was dead. He should be grieving LaRae, instead of thinking he was making love to her as he had only minutes ago. What a mess she’d gotten herself into this time.

  She plumped her pillow and turned over to bury her face into it and muffle her tears.

  At last she fell asleep and again dreamed of Emy’s murder. Again the faceless large man was pursuing the little girl. But, now the little girl wasn’t Emy, it was Susie.

  “No! No! Leave her alone. Go away.” she screamed.

  Jass sat up and shook her. “LaRae. Wake up, LaRae.”

  She sat up in bed, wide-eyed and trembling.

  He snapped on the bedside lamp, then cuddled her close in his arms. “It’s all right. It’s only a dream. I’m here, Honey.”

  “Oh.” She closed her arms and leaned into his strong arms for comfort. “I’m sorry to wake you.”

  “Another bad dream?”

  She nodded and shivered. “Susie’s in danger. I just know it.”

  “Susie? I thought your dreams were about Emy.”

  Shaking her head, she insisted, “No, Jass. Now the little girl in the dream is Susie. I just know it’s a warning of some kind. Someone is always chasing her.”

  “Warning? LaRae, that’s nonsense. It was only a dream. Dr. Henry said—”

  She pulled back. “I don’t care what that dumb doctor said. She’s in danger!”

  He regarded her calmly a moment, then asked, “Okay, suppose you’re right. Can you describe this person?”

  She glanced away, then resolutely turned back. “I never see him very clearly, bu
t—like George, I think.”

  “George? That’s ridiculous. He loves Susie and is as kind as can be. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “I don’t believe it. I want you to fire him.”

  “No.”

  “No? You don’t care about us?”

  “LaRae, be reasonable. I know he scared you one day, Agnes told me about it, but that’s no reason to fire him. Someone has to do our yard work.”

  Her voice came out in an indignant squeak. “Get another man.”

  “Honey, you know George has been with other families in this neighborhood for years before we came. If there was any danger, we’d have heard about it long ago.”

  His calm gaze said volumes. She was over-reacting to her nightmare.

  Laurie swallowed and looked away. Perhaps he was right. Maybe she was being unreasonable, giving too much credence to a nightmare. At last she nodded agreement, and he kissed her, then turned off the light. He kept one arm protectively thrown across her as they settled back down to sleep.

  It was late when she awoke. The delicious odor of pancakes and coffee greeted her as she went downstairs.

  Jass stood at the kitchen range turning cakes on the griddle. Susie lay on the floor ‘reading’ the Sunday comic page with Trixie stretched out beside her. Agnes probably had the day off, Laurie realized. Diane was nowhere to be seen either. Evidently Sundays were family-only days. “Good morning.”

  “Morning, Honey. You feeling okay?” Jass asked, a look of concern on his face.

  She smiled at him and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I’m fine, Jass. Sorry to sleep so late.”

  “You needed the rest.”

  She sipped the coffee, then reached into the cupboard for the plates and cups Agnes had used for breakfast other days, taking them down one at a time. This cast is the pits, she thought as she began setting the table.

  Jass might be rescuing her today, but soon her cast would be off and she would be expected to feed her family. She had to learn how, and soon.

  She went to the refrigerator for the pitcher of juice, but it wasn’t there. They’d probably used the last of it yesterday.

  Opening the freezer, she found a frozen carton of concentrate and pulled open the tab, bracing it against the counter with her hip and pulling with her left. Oh, how she hated not being able to do things like this.

  “Here, let me do that.” Jass said, laying down his spatula.

  “I can do it,” she snapped. “I’m not helpless, you know.”

  “Okay, okay.” He lifted his hands in surrender and went back to the stove, pouring more batter on the griddle in neat rounds.

  It was easy to see it wasn’t his first try at making pancakes, she thought enviously. Where the heck would Agnes keep the pitcher? Laurie opened a couple of cabinet doors, found the juice glasses and put them out. But no pitcher.

  She felt Jass watching her, apparently not sure if he dared offer assistance again, after her testy refusal. As she glanced up at him, he asked, “What are you looking for?”

  “The pitcher. I can’t seem to find it.”

  “Bottom cupboard to your left where Agnes always puts it. It’s too tall for the upper cabinets.”

  He sounded puzzled at her temper, and she dared not look at him. She didn’t know why she felt so angry and frustrated herself, let alone how to explain her feelings to him.

  She mixed the juice and poured it, turning to Susie. “Go wash your hands, Susie. Breakfast is almost ready.”

  “I washed them when I got up this morning, Mommy,” Susie objected, getting up from the floor and coming to the table.

  “And you’ve been playing with Trixie since then. So wash them again,” Laurie told her firmly.

  “Daddy—”

  “Do as your mother says,” Jass said piling more pancakes on a plate.

  “I’ll wear out my skin, washing it so much,” Susie grumbled, heading for the downstairs bathroom.

  Her remark struck Laurie as very funny, and she began to giggle as she pulled the butter and syrup from the refrigerator. She set them down on the table quickly and grabbed a glass of water.

  “What’s gotten into you this morning, LaRae?”

  “Wearing out her skin,” she said, catching her breath. She sat down and picked up her juice. “What an imagination she has.”

  “Repetitive, too,” he said dryly, sitting down to eat. “She’s been using that same excuse for months.”

  Her laughter stilled. “Really? I didn't remember it.”

  Susie slid into her chair and helped herself to a pancake and butter.

  Jass picked up the bottle of syrup and frowned. “Cold syrup? You know I hate that, LaRae.” He got up and found the decanter. He poured the syrup into it and heated it in the microwave, then came back to the table.

  Not daring to look at him, she sipped her coffee. When he sat down again, she murmured, “Sorry, I forgot.”

  After they’d eaten, she insisted on helping put things away and loading the dishwasher. He seemed a bit surprised but said no more. Probably didn’t dare, she thought, after she’d snapped at him for not letting her do things earlier.

  Then Jass went to his study, and she read the Sunday comics to Susie. When Susie tired of that and turned on the television, Laurie pulled a couple of cookbooks off the shelf and sat in a soft chair to study them. One book was especially helpful in explaining various cooking terms and methods of preparation. She had little time to waste if she was going to learn to feed her new family before they became suspicious.

  Jass sat down at his desk to deal with the neglected household paperwork. He pulled out his checkbook and began dealing with the stack of waiting bills.

  When he’d first married, he’d hoped LaRae would take care of the household accounts. He, after all, had enough to worry about in sorting out computer problems for various banks and teaching their employees how to run the new programs he installed for them. He didn’t need to worry about paying the utility bills on time as well. But, after LaRae had fouled up and failed to pay several bills, he’d reluctantly taken on the job.

  He was almost finished when he came to their Visa bill. He opened it and couldn’t believe the total.

  Staring at the charges, he read them again, feeling the heat of an angry flush rising up his neck. A dozen large cash charges at an ATM machine in Las Vegas brought the total almost to their large credit limit. The dates of withdrawals began the day after he’d put LaRae on a plane, supposedly to California.

  He shoved back his chair and strode to the family room where she sat curled up in an easy chair, engrossed in a book. Susie lay on her tummy on the floor, her feet swinging up in the air as she watched television.

  He held out the bill to her. “What do you have to say about this, LaRae?”

  They both jumped at his angry words. Susie looked ready to cry.

  LaRae hastily rose and glared at him as she came forward. “You’re scaring Susie.”

  She stopped to reassure the little girl. “Don’t worry, Sweetheart, I’ll take care of it. Daddy’s just upset, but it’s not your fault. Just watch your program and I’ll be right back, okay?”

  Jass belatedly saw Susie’s face, and mumbled, “It’s okay, Susie.” Feeling like a heel, he allowed LaRae to push him ahead of her out into the hall and out of Susie’s hearing.

  They walked back to his office.

  Laurie closed the door, then faced him furiously. “Whatever has gotten into you, Jass? She’s only five. You’re upsetting her. Whatever is wrong, we don’t need to discuss it in front of her.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t think. What’s the meaning of this?” He thrust the bill at her and watched as she took it. She read it, then frowned and stared at it.

  He couldn’t keep the frustration and bitter sarcasm out of his voice. “It shouldn’t take you that long to figure it out, LaRae. You stopped in Las Vegas to hit the slot machines for a few days before you went to see Laurie, didn’t you? All these cash withdrawals were for
gambling, weren’t they? And two nights in a fancy hotel.”

  She said nothing, just raised her eyes and stared at him. The shocked and bewildered look on her face made him even angrier. What kind of game was she playing now? “How could you do this, LaRae? You promised you wouldn’t gamble anymore.”

  Laurie remembered LaRae saying she was having a little fun while she was out from under his thumb. So this was what she had meant.

  Laurie swallowed and folded up the bill. “I’m sorry, Jass. I’ll pay this myself from my stock fund, of course. It shouldn’t come out of the household account. Forget it. It won’t happen again.”

  He reached for the bill. “You don’t need to do that. I’ve told you I don’t want you spending that money. I’ll take care of it.”

  She put it behind her, refusing to give it up. “No.” She raised her chin, her voice adamant.

  Jass sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “You just don’t get it, do you?” he asked. “The money isn’t important, LaRae. It’s the lies. You broke a promise to me.” He sighed and knit his brows. “I don’t know you anymore. I can’t trust you.”

  Pain streaked through her at his words. She bit her lip.

  Laurie remembered what Denise had said about his mother lying to him about his father. How it had scarred him and how much he hated dishonesty because of it. Oh, God, what a mess. “I’m sorry, Jass. I won’t let it happen again.”