Belinda’s expression was puzzled as she looked from Nick to Meg.
“Meg is my daughter, Belinda.”
“You’re kidding. I had no idea,” said Belinda. She turned to Meg. “I should have made the connection, but I just didn’t. Yet now that I look at you, I can see your mother in your face. She was a lovely woman, Meg. I’m sure she’d be so proud of you.”
“Thank you,” said Meg.
Nick looked a bit crestfallen, thought Caroline. Did it bother him for some reason that Belinda hadn’t connected Meg as his daughter, or was he upset to be reminded of Maggie?
“Well, now that I know you’re here, Nick, you must come to the party at my place tonight. I insist on it.”
“That’s swell of you, Belinda,” said Nick. “Now I won’t spend another minute keeping you from your interview.” He leaned over and gave Meg and Caroline pecks on the cheek. “I’ll see my girls later.”
“Nick, your hair has grown whiter, but don’t tell me that Caroline Enright is your daughter, too,” said Belinda.
Nick laughed. “No, Belinda, Caroline is my new wife. We were married a few months ago.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your taking the time tonight for this interview,” said Caroline.
“My pleasure,” said Belinda. “I’m especially glad I agreed, now that I know you’re married to Nick. He’s a wonderful guy. I’m glad he’s found someone to love again.”
Caroline felt uncomfortable, conscious of the fact that her stepdaughter was listening.
“I think I’ll get this stuff to the laundry,” said Meg, hurrying from the dressing room.
“Did I say something wrong?” asked Belinda as the door clicked shut.
Caroline shook her head. “No, you didn’t. But her mother’s death is still raw for Meg. It’s hard for her to accept a stepmother.”
“It must be hard for you, too,” said Belinda. “A mother is irreplaceable. And how do you possibly fill a ghost’s shoes?”
“Imagine being associated with someone who has no conscience. Victoria Sterling has given us a staggering view of the true terror it must be to be joined to a sociopath. I count myself fortunate to be able to interpret this rich and fabulous material.”
Caroline felt that Belinda was forthcoming with her answers through the entire twenty-minute interview.
“Thank you for giving us your time, when I know you have a party to get to,” she said. “Let me just ask you one last thing.What about taking this role to the screen? Does a Devil in the Details movie interest you?”
Belinda shook her head. “I’d be interested in seeing it, but I have no desire to play Valerie on film.”
“That surprises me,” said Caroline. “It would seem to be a natural for you.”
Belinda smiled. “Let’s just say there are other projects I’d rather take on.”
C H A P T E R
43
The party was already in full swing when the hostess arrived. The guests milling around the torchlit patio broke into applause when Belinda appeared.
“Thank you, everybody, and thank you for coming to Curtains Up tonight.” Belinda beamed as she looked around. “It’s so wonderful to have you all here to celebrate.”
“You’re the best, Belinda,” shouted George Essex, the actor who had played Davis.
“Brava,” shouted another, and the crowd clapped again with enthusiasm.
“Well, all of you, make yourselves at home,” Belinda called. “Let’s eat, drink, and be merry.”
While the waitstaff circulated with trays of canapés, Victoria sought out her hostess and friend.
“It’s a terrific party, Belinda,” she said, “a fitting celebration of your triumph tonight.”
“Our triumph tonight,” said Belinda. “I only interpreted your words, my dear.”
Victoria inhaled on her cigarette. As she exhaled, she smiled. “It is sweet, isn’t it?”
“Like honey.”
The two women toasted each other, softly touching their martini glasses. Victoria speared her olive with a toothpick and slipped it in her mouth. As she chewed, she noticed Gus, beer in hand, surveying the crowd. He looked in her direction and nodded. Victoria lifted her glass.
“You’re always so democratic, Belinda,” Victoria whispered to her friend. “Inviting the help and all.”
Belinda’s eyes followed Victoria’s stare. “Oh, you mean Gus. You know, I invited him the first year he came to work here just to make him feel comfortable. I guess he assumes he’s always invited.” Belinda took a sip of her cocktail. “It’s fine, though. What’s one more body?”
“Especially when it’s as good looking as that one,” said Victoria. “But you know, Belinda, after I saw Gus leave in his truck this afternoon, I took a little trip across the meadow. I was going to tell you tomorrow, but I don’t think it should wait. What I found wasn’t good.”
“What is it?”
“I think he’s running some sort of drug business out there in the woods.”
Belinda frowned as Victoria described what she had seen. “If those boxes down there don’t contain drugs, there has to be something else in them that he doesn’t want anyone to know about,” she finished. “Why else would he go to all the trouble of stashing them in that cave?”
“That’s all I need.” Belinda groaned. “‘Drug Operation at Belinda Winthrop’s House.’” She made imaginary quotation marks in the air. “Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition would be all over that.”
“Don’t forget People and the Star,” added Victoria.
“I’m going to have to call the police,” Belinda said.
“If you turn him in to the police, you risk a lot of negative publicity, Belinda.”
“What else can I do?”
“Well, maybe you could just tell him you’re letting him go. Then he’ll have to pack up and leave.”
The buffet table was laden with platters and chafing dishes filled with two summer pastas, Asian pork with a pungent wasabi, spiced ham, and chicken wings with hot sauce.
“Keith, please go ahead and get yourself a plate,” said Belinda.
The director patted the empty seat next to him. “Sit down and talk to me for a minute, Belinda.”
“All right.” She sat at the round table. With most people in the buffet line, she and Keith had it to themselves. Belinda’s eyes were drawn to Keith’s waist. “I like that tie on you,” she said. “Leave it to you to wear it in a way that nobody else would think of.” The red silk tie that each male guest had been given as a party favor was threaded through the loops of Keith’s khaki trousers.
“Nice belt, huh?” Keith smiled and, lifting the champagne flute to his lips, downed the bubbly. “You were wonderful tonight, Belinda.”
“Devil in the Details is a team effort, Keith. We can all be proud.”
“Yes, usually I’m in knots waiting to see the reviews. Tonight, I know I don’t have to worry. But one thing…” He paused.
“What is it?” asked Belinda.
“One thing that would make the night absolutely perfect would be to hear that you will sign on for the movie version.”
Belinda closed her eyes. “Oh, Keith, please, not now.”
“Why? Why don’t you want to do it, Belinda?”
“I just don’t, that’s all.”
“Is it the money? I’m sure that can be arranged to your satisfaction.”
“No, Keith. It’s not the money.”
“Well, what is it then? You said you would. What’s made you change your mind?”
“Why do you insist on pursuing this, Keith? Can’t you just understand that I don’t want to do the movie and leave it at that?”
The director erupted, letting his glass drop and shatter on the stone patio. “Damn it, Belinda. You owe me a better explanation than that. I’ve gone out on a limb, promising potential investors you’ll do the movie.”
Bending down to pick up the broken glass, she said in a whisper, “You
shouldn’t have done that, Keith, and I don’t owe you anything.” She stood up, with shards of glass in her hands. “Since you insist, I’m going to tell you. If you have to know the truth, it’s you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just can’t work with you again. It’s too hard.”
“So if someone else was directing the movie, you might play the role of Valerie for him?”
“Yes, Keith, maybe I would.” Belinda turned from the table and walked away.
On her way back from the buffet line, Meg overheard the end of the conversation and witnessed Keith’s anger. She was going to have some interesting things to write about in her journal tonight.
C H A P T E R
44
“God, being here brings back memories,” said Nick as he, Caroline, and Meg ate at one of the round tables. Nick stirred his drink with the pitchfork swizzle stick. “Belinda is famous for giving theme parties.”
Caroline held out the red silk scarf each female guest had been given upon arrival and admired it. Even if it hadn’t had the designer’s initials featured in the flame pattern, she would have been able to tell it was expensive just by the feel of it. She draped the scarf over her shoulders.
“Tell us about the last party of Belinda’s you went to,” she said to Nick, changing the subject.
“She was in Treasure Trove that summer, playing a woman who won the lottery, so Belinda had organized a treasure hunt. All the guests were given maps and flashlights and sent out to find the treasure.”
“What was the treasure, Dad?” asked Meg.
“A little chest filled with lottery tickets. But it was a lot of fun following that map. Your mother was so gung ho about it, Meg. You should have seen her scurrying through the woods, trying to be the one to finish first. She was in such a rush she didn’t pay enough attention to the spots that were marked on the map to show where there were holes in the ground. She tripped over one and sprained her ankle. A group of us had to carry her out of the woods.”
“They printed that treasure map in the Vanity Fair article I read,” said Caroline as a waiter wearing horns and a devil’s tail took her plate away.
“There are lots of holes out there,” Nick said. “And apparently some of them lead to underground caves. But Maggie claimed the one that snagged her wasn’t even on the map.”
C H A P T E R
45
Slipping away from the party, Belinda walked over to the carriage house. Light streamed from the windows. Remington was still up.
The front door opened after her first knock. Remington’s face registered surprise and pleasure when he saw Belinda standing in the doorway.
“I wanted to thank you for those beautiful flowers, Remington,” she said. “You always remember that red roses are my favorite.”
“That’s something I could never forget, Belinda.”
“Well, it was a lovely gesture.”
“My pleasure,” he said.
“Remington, won’t you please come over and join us at the party?”
“Thank you, Belinda. But I’m working.”
“Can’t you take a break? It might be good for you. You know what they say, all work and no play …”
She caught a flicker of indecision on his face. “Come have a glass of wine and help yourself to the buffet,” she insisted. “The caterer really outdid himself this year.”
“You know it’s difficult for me to be with lots of people, Belinda, but it’s always been hard to say no to you.”
“Well, don’t start now. You’ve always been at my parties, and it isn’t the same without you.”
Remington looked down at his paint-spattered shirt. “I’ll have to wash up and change,” he said.
“I’ll wait for you,” she said. “Can I come in and see what you’re working on?”
“Of course you can come in, but I’m still working on your portrait. You know I never let you see it until it’s done.”
“Fair enough,” she said. “Go cover it. But I’m going to wait right here for you. I don’t want to give you the chance to change your mind.”
While she waited for Remington to change, Belinda sat on the couch against the studio wall and stared at the cloth-covered canvas that stood in the middle of the room. She was sorely tempted to take just a peek, but if Remington caught her, Belinda knew he would be truly upset. Ever since that first summer, when she’d broken his heart, Belinda had avoided hurting Remington at all costs. She wasn’t going to do it now, no matter how curious she was.
“How you doing up there?” she called to the loft.
“I’ll be down in a minute.”
Thinking she should be getting back to her guests, Belinda got up and paced the floor in front of the couch. A copy of the Devil in the Details script lying on a side table caught her eye. She picked it up and began flipping through the well-turned pages, noticing with increasing interest the passages he had marked.
“Remington,” she called. “I really do have to get back. Can I trust you to hurry up and come over to the party?”
“Yes, Belinda. You can trust me.”
“All right, then. I’ll see you in a little bit,” she said, taking the script with her as she went out the door.
C H A P T E R
46
Gus tapped his foot to the music and followed the blonde with his eyes, unable to place her. She was somehow familiar, but he couldn’t come up with her name.
“Having a good time, Langley?” Gus heard Belinda ask the young woman.
Langley. Yes, that was it. She’d had dark hair when she came to the party two years ago. Gus decided he liked the blond hair better. It was much sexier.
Waiting for Belinda to move on to another guest, he walked up behind Langley. “You’re even more beautiful than the last time I saw you here,” he whispered into her ear.
With a smile on her face, Langley turned around. But her expression turned sour when she saw it was Gus. “I was hoping you wouldn’t recognize me,” she said. “Better yet, I was hoping you didn’t work here anymore.”
“Oh, don’t be like that, Langley. We had a good time, didn’t we?”
“Please,” she answered with sarcasm in her voice. She turned to walk away, but Gus grabbed her arm.
“Hey, wait a minute,” he said.
“Let go of my arm.”
“Ah, come on. Let’s take a few bong rips, for old time’s sake.”
“That was my mistake the last time,” said Langley. “But I don’t do drugs at all anymore. And I guess I can thank you for that. The way you took advantage of me when I was stoned was disgusting. I promised myself never to let anything like that happen again.”
“You didn’t seem to mind at the time, baby. We had a good time out there in the woods.”
“You know what? You’re a pig,” Langley spat. “But let me tell you something, so you’ll have it straight. Two years ago I was different person. I was a nervous extra at a party with the grown-ups. I thought I needed to be stoned to relax. I don’t anymore. Now I told you, let go of my arm,” she said through clenched teeth. “You’re hurting me.”
“Let go of her, Gus!”
Gus dropped Langley’s arm and turned to see Belinda glaring at him.
“Please, come into the study. I want to speak with you.” Belinda spun around and walked across the patio. Gus followed her into the house.
“Come on, Belinda,” he began as soon as they were in the room. “I wasn’t doing any harm.”
Belinda pulled the door partially closed. “Sit down,” she said as she walked over to her desk and sat behind it. She looked him straight in the eye. “It’s not working out, Gus. I’m letting you go.”
She pulled open the desk drawer and took out her checkbook. “I’m giving you two weeks’ severance, but I want you out, tomorrow.”
He stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’re kidding me.”
“No, Gus. I’m not.”
“Just for coming on to Langley?”<
br />
“I don’t want to talk about it any further, Gus,” she said, holding out the check.
“You can’t do this to me, Belinda.” His face reddened as he rose from the chair and stood, resolutely, in front of the desk.
“I can, Gus. And I am. Please don’t go back to the party. You should go to your apartment and start packing.”
C H A P T E R
47
The man in a denim shirt, a pair of wrinkled khaki pants, and worn boat shoes stood alone at the side of the patio, observing the guests. As Caroline watched him, she found herself feeling a bit sorry for him.
“Who is that?” she asked.
Nick looked in the direction of her gaze. “That’s Remington Peters, the artist.”
Oh, so that was the man who was so in love with Belinda Winthrop that he had devoted his adult life to her, trying to capture her essence in his paintings.
“He looks bewildered,” Caroline observed.
“Remington is a strange bird,” said Nick. “If you ask me, his obsession with Belinda is weird.”
“Shouldn’t we go over and talk with him, Nick? He’s standing all by himself.”
“We can if you want, but I think Remington prefers to be by himself. The only reason he’s here is that it’s Belinda’s party. If he can’t be with Belinda, he’d rather be alone.”
Nick made the introductions. Remington shook Caroline’s hand but didn’t smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said. “I admired your work yesterday at the Ambrose Gallery.”
“Thank you,” he mumbled.
“I spoke with the gallery owner,” Caroline said. “She seemed so excited about the exhibition of your new work.”
Remington nodded but didn’t comment.
She tried again. “After seeing Belinda’s performance tonight, I’m eager myself to see how you’ve portrayed her as Valerie.”
“You’re going to have to wait a while for that,” he said.
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