The Wife Stalker

by Liv Constantine

  I was waiting outside their art camp one afternoon, having told Rebecca I’d pick them up and take them for ice cream. My heart lifted, and I opened my arms as they came down the sidewalk toward me. Stelli came crashing into me first, burying his head in my shoulder.

  “Hi, sweetheart. I’ve missed you!”

  “Me, too,” he said, his eyes filling with tears.

  I held my hand out to Evie. “Come on. Let’s make this a fun day. We’re going to get ice cream and then we’ll go to the playground.”

  We drove to Carvel and I ordered them each a cone and then one for myself. Why not, I thought. We sat in chairs outside the small building, and they both looked contented as the vanilla ice cream with chocolate sprinkles dripped onto their hands.

  “So, how was camp today?”

  Evie’s eyes brightened. “We finished our collages.”

  I smiled. “Wonderful! I can’t wait to see them.”

  “Piper says she’s going to frame them when we bring them home,” Evie said, her voice quiet.

  My stomach dropped, and I tried to make my voice sound neutral even though I was furious. “Oh, really? Have you seen much of Piper lately?”

  Stelli’s face scrunched into a frown. “She comes over a lot. I hate her.”

  Evie looked at her brother. “She’s not that bad. She always brings us presents.”

  I felt my stomach knot up. “What kind of presents?”

  Evie shrugged. “She gave me a book on meditation for kids. It has cool pictures in it, too. And remember, Stelli, she gave you that crystal necklace that helps you calm down.”

  Stelli kicked the ground. “I told her boys don’t wear necklaces.”

  What the hell? “Helps you calm down? What do you mean?”

  Evie looked up, thinking. “She said that Stelli is a little overactive and that she might have ways to help him be more calm. I heard her talking to Daddy about it. She said she has some stuff he can take.”

  Now my heart was racing as anger surged through me. Who the hell did she think she was? How dare she have the gall to suggest such things? These were not her children. And what was wrong with Leo that he would let her?

  I kept my voice even. I didn’t want to upset them. “Evie, darling, has she given Stelli any kind of medicine? You know, like pills or something to drink?”

  Evie licked her ice cream as she thought. “No. I don’t think so.”

  “I would spit it in her face,” Stelli said, his face red.

  I leaned in closer to both of them. “Now you listen to me. If Piper gives you any kind of medicine—and remember, she might not call it medicine, so any kind of pills or funny things to drink—I want you to tell me right away. Do you understand?”

  They both nodded, their faces solemn.

  Later, after I drove them home, I repeated what I’d said. “Don’t forget what I said. You tell me right away. I love you.”

  “Love you, too,” they said in unison, and I thought my heart would break. I’d call Leo and straighten this out. After they went inside, I drove downtown, where I had some things to return to the Loft. I had just gotten out of my car when I spotted Piper walking down the crowded sidewalk, looking at her phone, oblivious to everything around her. Before I could think it through, I hurried in her direction, compelled to follow her. I made sure to leave a few people in between us, as the last thing I wanted was for her to see me and report back to Leo that I was following her or something. When she walked into Lululemon, I lingered outside, picturing her grabbing another pair of size zero leggings. I sucked my stomach in, suddenly aware of the pinch of fat over my jeans. Probably shouldn’t have had that ice-cream cone, especially since I’d been too busy and too down to drag myself to the gym. She came back out, a shopping bag in hand, and started walking again. She crossed the street, and as she was about to go into Brooks Brothers, a well-dressed man coming out of the store stopped to talk to her. He was clean-cut, in his mid-forties, and had a friendly face. I walked closer, trying to hear what they were saying while still keeping a few people between us so that she couldn’t see me. I strained to hear their conversation.

  “No, you must be mistaking me for someone else.”

  “I’m sorry. You’re not Pamela D—”

  “No. If you’ll excuse me.” Piper sounded distressed, and she walked away from him quickly, toward the municipal parking lot behind the shops.

  The man stood still, watching her as she went, shaking his head.

  I followed him to the center of the parking lot, where he stopped in front of a blue BMW. Looking behind me to be sure Piper was out of sight, I approached him. “Excuse me, sir?”

  He turned. “Yes?”

  “I couldn’t help overhearing you a few minutes ago. Do you know that woman?”

  He shook his head. “I thought I did. She looks an awful lot like someone I knew back home.”

  “Home?”

  “San Diego.”

  I came up with a story fast. “Forgive me for prying, but I work for a detective who’s been looking into her. He believes she’s lying about her identity. I’d really appreciate anything you can tell me.”

  His eyes widened. “Oh . . . wow. I thought she was Pamela Dunn. She was married to an old friend of mine.”

  “D-U-N-N-E?” I asked, spelling it out.

  “No E. I wonder if it was her. Her hair used to be dark, but her face looked the same.”

  “Do you mind giving me your name and number in case my boss wants to call you?”

  “Of course not,” he said, reaching into his wallet and handing me a business card. “Really strange.”

  I glanced at the card. Brent McDonald. He was an investment broker. “You said she was married. Were they divorced?”

  He shook his head. “No. Matthew died. It was a real tragedy. An accident. Things got pretty awful for Pamela afterward. His ex-wife wouldn’t leave her alone. Blamed her for all of it.”

  “What kind of an accident?”

  “Sailing. Matthew and his daughter both drowned. Pamela was the only one who survived. It was just terrible.”

  My blood ran cold. “Could you tell me his ex-wife’s name?”

  “Ava. Ava Dunn. What does your detective think she’s done?”

  I’d aroused his curiosity now. “I’m not at liberty to say too much . . . but he thinks she’s got a history of swindling men.”

  “Well, she was quite a bit younger than Matthew, but I thought they were in love. I’d see her at the club occasionally, but we didn’t really socialize that much—he told me she wasn’t a big drinker and didn’t care too much for his friends. Ava never trusted her. Maybe she was right. At the time, I thought she was just jealous.”

  “I’d really like to talk to Ava. If you’re still in touch, do you think you could get my number to her? Ask her to call me?”

  “Sure. I’m heading home this afternoon, so I’ll give her a call.”

  I wrote my number down for him. “Thank you so much. If you do happen to run into Pamela in the future, please don’t mention our conversation. I wouldn’t want her to take off again.”

  He gave me a somber look. “Of course. I understand.”

  Though I felt vindicated—I knew there was something off about her—I was also panicked. If she was this Pamela Dunn, then Leo and the kids could be in danger. Why would you change your name and move thousands of miles away unless you had something to hide? I couldn’t wait to get home and google Pamela Dunn. There was no way this woman was going to do anything to hurt Leo or the kids while I had breath in my body.

  19

  Piper

  Though she’d only been seeing him for two months, Piper felt like she’d known Leo for much longer. Their nights of lovemaking were amazing, but equally wonderful were the long hours of conversation that brought them closer. Even Stelli had become a trifle less antagonistic. Their outings on her boat had helped with that, because even though he had scoffed that first day at the idea of sailing, he had actually co
me to like it. The first time she and Leo had taken the kids out, Stelli had given her a look as he stood on the pier near the stern.

  “Coming aboard?” she called to him as Evie scrambled on.

  Stelli looked from her to the transom and then reached for his father, who helped him on.

  “What does it mean?” he asked. “The name of your boat?”

  “Ah,” she said, clutching the line in her hand. “Eos. It’s the name of a Greek goddess.” At this, she smiled at Leo. They’d already talked about how fated it felt, that she had a connection to Greek mythology before she’d even met him. “Eos is the goddess of dawn.”

  When he didn’t say anything, Piper continued. “And she is the sister of Helios, the sun god, and Selene, the moon goddess. She’s a good goddess for sailors.” Piper didn’t think Stelli would be interested, so she didn’t add that Eos was also the goddess of new beginnings or that she was believed to have an insatiable lust for love and adventure.

  And so continued their summer weekends of alternating between Leo’s boat and hers, relaxing by his backyard pool, and kayaking on the Sound. The children were getting used to her, although Stelli still kept his distance most of the time. She was doing her best to wean both of them from the food she believed unhealthy, but whenever she replaced their usual food with nutritious substitutes, Stelli complained of stomachaches. He could really be a pill sometimes.

  Today, they’d spent the day swimming in the pool at Leo’s, and now Piper was putting dinner together while Rebecca helped the children with their baths. She was more than grateful for Rebecca’s presence, although the idea of a live-in nanny had given her pause. After all, Rebecca was only thirty-seven, not much older than Piper. But as soon as Piper had met the nanny, her worries dissolved. Efficient. Rebecca was nothing if not efficient. Minimal makeup, short hair, plain kid-friendly attire, and sturdy shoes. And her manner was to the point, firm but kind—and utterly boring to any red-blooded male. And Leo was nothing if not a red-blooded man.

  She pulled the roasted chicken from the oven and began preparing their plates just as Stelli and Evie came into the kitchen with sun-kissed faces and shiny hair. Leo was a meat eater, and though Piper planned to introduce some healthier vegetarian alternatives slowly, in the meantime, she felt that chicken was at least somewhat better than beef. Though she’d made herself quickly at home in Leo’s kitchen, she had not yet ventured to the second floor of the house. It would not be in her best interest for the children to see her walking out of their father’s bedroom. She knew that all too well. And besides, she wasn’t ready to be confronted with more family photographs, which might be sitting on Leo’s nightstand. She’d already seen too many of them in the downstairs living space.

  “You two look so clean and shiny,” Piper said as the children sat down and she set their plates in front of them. “I made chicken with mashed potatoes and peas. Your dad said you like peas. Is that right?”

  “I love peas,” Stelli said with a sly grin on his face. “They’re good for shooting,” he said, picking up one and flicking it across the table at his sister.

  “Hey,” Evie yelled at him. But the barrage had started, with one pea after another flying in different directions.

  Piper stood over them with her hands on her hips. “Okay, that’s enough.”

  He launched another pea at his sister and then one that hit Piper on the cheek.

  “Stelli!” Piper’s voice rose. “We don’t throw food. That is not acceptable.”

  He stuck his tongue out at her, then slumped down in his chair. “You’re no fun. I don’t want you here.”

  Piper closed her eyes, knowing that if she didn’t calm down, she would say something she’d regret. “You need to clean the peas up from the floor, Stelli,” she said, then walked out and down the hall to Leo’s office, poking her head in. “Hey. The kids are having dinner. I’m going to go home and change. Do you want to keep working?”

  “No, I’m finishing up now. How about I come over a little after eight?”

  “Okay.” She started to leave and then reconsidered. “Leo?”

  He looked up from the file in front of him. “Yes?”

  “Nothing. Never mind. I’ll see you later on.” She’d talk to him about the nonsense with the peas when he came to her house later. She couldn’t stop thinking about it on the drive home and as she showered and slipped into a light silk shift. She really thought Stelli had begun to warm to her a little, but his scene at dinner tonight showed her just how mistaken she was.

  She brushed on a light dusting of blush, a swath of mascara, and some lip gloss, and then put on a pair of gold hoop earrings. She took one last look in the mirror and saw her reflection—tall and bronzed, her hair a silky champagne-gold.

  She heard the door open and close as Leo let himself in with the key she’d given him a few weeks before.

  “I’m in the kitchen,” she called to him.

  He came striding in and enveloped Piper in his strong arms. She breathed in the scent of him, feeling the hard tautness of his powerful body against hers. “I’ve missed you,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

  She pulled away, chuckling. “It’s been two hours.”

  “Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch you all day in that little bikini and keep my hands off you?”

  “I know that patience is not one of your virtues,” she said in a teasing tone.

  “I’m not sure it is a virtue.”

  “Sit.” She pointed to the island stool and poured them each a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. “We’re going to have a simple dinner—cold duck and fresh tomatoes direct from my garden.”

  “Sounds perfect.” He picked up the glass of wine and drank.

  “Leo,” she began, as she served them, “something happened today that we need to talk about.”

  His brow furrowed. “You sound upset. What is it?”

  She pressed her lips together. “It’s Stelli.” She recounted what had happened at dinner with the peas.

  “That’s what’s worrying you? He was just being a boy. I don’t think it’s anything to get upset about. I mean, granted, it’s not great table manners, but—”

  “No, Leo. You’re missing the point. I think he does these things to deliberately upset me.”

  “Now wait a—”

  She put her hand up. “Let me finish, Leo. It’s apparent that he doesn’t want me around. Surely you see that, too, don’t you? He doesn’t like me. And it worries me. I care about him and don’t like to see him upset.” She knew she’d get further couching her complaints in concern for the child.

  “It’s not that he doesn’t like you. It’s just that he’s missing his mother. I guess it can seem like he’s doing things on purpose, but he’s just a kid. He’s not plotting or manipulating. He’s acting out because his mother’s gone. It has nothing to do with you.”

  She deflated slightly. “It feels like he will never accept me as part of your life.”

  “Piper, listen. We need to give him time. He’ll come around eventually. But right now, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Do you think you can do that?”

  Could she? Hadn’t Matthew said the same thing about Mia? Time and patience hadn’t helped at all.

  “He’s young. He’s hurting,” Leo said. “Please. Give him some time.”

  “Of course I will,” she answered, wanting to reassure him.

  They finished their meal in silence, and by the time she cleared their plates, Piper had made up her mind to commit to patience. She wasn’t about to lose Leo over the antics of his overindulged son.

  After dinner, they strolled down to the shoreline. The night air was still, and the light of the full moon shone on the Sound like a Monet. With their arms around each other, they stood, looking at the calm sea.

  “So beautiful out here,” Leo said.

  “Mmm. I love it here. The moment I saw the house, I knew I had to have it.”

  He dropped his arm from her waist and turned to face
her. “Do you think you could be happy somewhere else?”

  “Happiness comes from inside, Leo. It’s not a place.”

  “What I meant was, could you leave this house?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, a slow smile spreading across her face.

  “I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He went down on one knee and took her hands in his. “Will you marry me, Piper Reynard?”

  She was overwhelmed at how quickly it had all happened. She gently tugged his hand, and he stood, so they were face-to-face. “Yes,” she whispered. She put her arms around his neck, pulled him to her, and kissed him.

  He pulled away and caressed her cheek. “I don’t want you to worry. Everything is going to work out. Believe me. We will become a happy, united family. And I will love you forever.”

  “I believe you, Leo,” she said, and buried her head against his shoulder. “And I’ll love you forever, too.”

  20

  Joanna

  When I got home from downtown, my mother was sitting in her favorite chair, her leg propped up, while her aide Molly served her a sandwich. Mom’s insurance paid for this nursing help, but I was so grateful for the break it gave me, I would have gladly paid out of pocket. I gave Molly an apologetic smile as Mom talked nonstop at her, recounting every last detail of her fall and her time in the hospital.

  “You were very lucky, Mrs. Doyle. It could have been much worse,” Molly said.

  “Humph. I wouldn’t exactly call a broken leg lucky.” Mom took a bite of her sandwich and made a face. “This has mustard. I asked for turkey with mayonnaise, not mustard.” She dropped it onto the plate and pushed it away from her.

  “I’ll take care of it,” I said, picking up the offending dish before Molly could. “Are you feeling any better today?”

  She nodded. “A little. The pain is better, but my leg swells up if I stand for too long. Getting old is not for the faint of heart, I’ll tell you that.” She sighed loudly. “I don’t know why I can’t ever seem to catch a break. The only silver lining is that now you spend more time with me.”