The Wife Stalker

by Liv Constantine

  It took everything I had to keep from losing it with her. I knew she was selfish, but her unwillingness to see that her accident had cost me everything was beyond comprehension.

  “Well, Molly is still here for a few hours, so I’m going to go do some work on my computer for a while.”

  “What work?”

  “Just updating my résumé,” I lied.

  “I hope you realize that you can’t take a job yet. I’m not ready to be on my own.”

  I left her there without answering and went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. As it brewed, I typed “Pamela and Matthew Dunn San Diego” into the search bar of my laptop. The page filled with item after item on Matthew: a 5K run on the Bay to fund-raise for literacy, real estate transactions, a father-daughter dance. Then I saw a page with both their names for the Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach. I enlarged one of the photos. They were on the dance floor, and though the woman in the picture had dark brown hair, not blond, her figure looked like Piper’s, and from the little I could see of her face, it could definitely be her.

  I searched for his obituary next and clicked on it. Matthew Dunn was society with a capital S. He’d come from a pedigreed family with generations of wealth and standing. I studied the picture of him. He was good-looking in a bland sort of way—watery blue eyes, sandy-colored hair, tall, and thin. He had his arm around a beautiful young girl. According to the article, both he and his daughter, Mia, had drowned while sailing in Mission Bay. There wasn’t much detail about the accident, though, as the article focused more on his philanthropy and contributions to his community.

  I tried to find a number for Ava Dunn, but not surprisingly, it was unlisted. She had no Facebook or Instagram presence, either. I still hoped that Brent would give Ava my phone number and she’d get in touch, but if I didn’t hear anything tomorrow, I’d call him. In the meantime, I decided to see if Matthew’s daughter had had a Facebook account and typed in “Mia Dunn.” I felt a pinch in my heart at all the messages of condolence on what had been turned into a memorial page, post after post saying how much they’d miss her, filled with little teddy bear emojis and hearts and angels. I clicked through to look at her photos. She looked like a lovely girl. She’d sailed, played tennis and chess, and also played the violin. I pressed Play on a video of her giving a school concert, and realized that she’d been good. Very good. What a tragedy that her life had been cut so short. There were also pictures of a younger Mia with Matthew and a woman I assumed to be Ava, her mother. They looked happy. How had Piper managed to lure him away?

  There were hundreds of photos to go through, mostly of Mia with friends and a number with her dad, but I didn’t see any of her stepmother. Just when I was about to give up, I came across a photo that had been taken in a parking lot, perhaps after another school concert. Mia was standing between Matthew and Pamela but leaning toward her father, so it looked more like a picture of the two of them with Pamela awkwardly standing on the other side. Matthew was looking at his daughter adoringly, but large sunglasses hid Pamela’s eyes. Again, it was hard to be certain, but she looked an awful lot like Piper. I examined it again and realized I’d almost missed a telling detail—Pamela’s hands were clenched into tight fists.

  I sat there, staring at the screen for a long while, before taking a few screenshots and emailing them to myself.

  Walking back into the living room, I pulled Molly aside. “Is it possible for you to stay a few more hours? I can pay you for the extra time.”

  She nodded. “Yes, how long do you need me?”

  “Just until around six?”

  “Okay.”

  “Mom, I’ll be back,” I told her. “I have another errand to run. But Molly will be here.”

  My mother shook her head. “You just got home. Fine, pick me up some Oreos while you’re out, will you?”

  The half-hour drive to Leo’s office gave me time to think about my phone call with Stelli yesterday. Crying, he’d told me that Piper was now having dinner with them every night. She’d even started cooking for them, giving Rebecca some evenings off. Leo was doing everything possible to cut me out of his life and “move on,” as he put it, but as far as I was concerned, as long as the children were affected, then it was still my business. And until I knew what Piper was up to and why she’d hidden who she was, I couldn’t be sure any of them were going to be okay.

  My thoughts were churning, and I became more certain with each passing minute that Piper was indeed the mysterious Pamela. But why? Why would she have needed to lie about her past or change her name after an accident? It didn’t add up . . . unless it wasn’t an accident.

  When I got off the elevator on his floor, I strode quickly down the hall and stopped at the desk where his assistant sat.

  “Hi, Missy. Is Leo alone? I really need to speak with him.”

  She smiled at me. “Hi, Joanna. How are you?”

  “I’m okay, thanks.”

  “Go on in, he’s not in a meeting.”

  He looked up as the door opened, and his expression soured. “What are you doing here?”

  “I need to speak with you. It’s important.”

  He shook his head. “Shut the door, and sit down.”

  I took a seat in front of his desk. “Has Piper moved in with you and the kids?”

  “What business is that of yours?”

  “If they’re upset enough to tell me about it, it’s my business. Stelli told me she’s there every night. He doesn’t like it.”

  Leo’s face darkened. “He’ll adjust.” He leaned back in his chair, seeming to consider something, then exhaled. “Look, I may as well tell you, though the children don’t even know yet. I’ve asked her to marry me, and she’s said yes.”

  My mouth dropped open, and I broke out into a cold sweat. “You can’t marry her. You just met her.”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes you just know.”

  How had she fooled him so completely? “No. Listen. I learned something. She’s not who she says she is.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  I told him about the man I’d seen downtown. “I can show you.” I fumbled as I tried to pick up my phone, tapping on the first of the two screenshots I’d taken. I handed the phone to Leo. “See? Her name is Pamela Dunn, and she was married before. Her husband and her stepdaughter died under suspicious circumstances. Stelli and Evie are not safe. You’re not safe!”

  He looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Joanna, you need to get some help. I’m not interested in your crazy conspiracy theories.”

  “She’s lying about her background. Do you even know where she’s from?”

  He stood up. “I know everything about her background, and I don’t intend to discuss it with you. I want you to leave.”

  “I won’t allow you to put Stelli and Evie in danger.”

  His face turned bright red. “I want you out of here now. If you come here again, I’ll file a harassment complaint. You won’t like the consequences.”

  Tears blinded my eyes as I rose and ran from the office, grateful that Missy wasn’t at her desk to witness my humiliation. I knew how ruthless Leo could be when there was any obstacle in his way—and right now, that’s how he saw me.

  21

  Piper

  Piper walked along the short finger pier that jutted out from the main deck to Leo’s boat, a trickle of perspiration running down her back. It was a hot and muggy August day, the air heavy and still, without even the slightest hint of a breeze. She had forgotten how oppressive the summers were on the East Coast. California weather had spoiled her.

  “Good morning! We’re all set to go,” Leo called from the deck.

  Evie stood next to him and waved at her. “Hi, Piper. I have my bathing suit on. Look.” Evie unzipped her terry-cloth cover-up to reveal a turquoise bathing suit with a mermaid on the front.

  “Evie! What a pretty suit. I have mine on, too, underneath my shorts. We’ll go swimming together later.” Piper held out the bag
in which she’d packed food for them to Leo. “Lunch,” she said, as she stepped on board.

  Leo put his arm around her, kissing her lightly on the cheek. “I missed you last night,” he whispered.

  Piper had stayed late at the center the night before, overseeing another mindfulness retreat. By the time she’d left the office, she’d decided to go home and try to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for their outing with the children. Today was the day they were going to tell Evie and Stelli that she and Leo were getting married.

  Stelli sat in the swivel seat at the helm, moving the wheel back and forth and making vroom noises.

  Piper walked over to him. “Hi, Stelli. Are you the captain today?” She ruffled his hair, and he jerked his head away from her. She counted to ten, determined to remain calm. Why couldn’t he be more like Evie?

  “Okay, time to cast off,” Leo called out. “I’m going to need that seat after we’re untied, buddy.” He gave Stelli a tap on his knee. “You can sit on my lap, okay?”

  “I’m your mate, right?”

  “Right. My number-one helper.”

  Stelli’s lips parted into a wide grin. “No girls allowed, right?”

  “Well . . .”

  “You promised.”

  “Just for now. Evie will be my mate on the way back. And then Piper the next time.”

  “No fair,” the boy whined.

  “Completely fair, buddy,” Leo said as they pulled away from the dock.

  Piper took Evie’s hand. “Let’s go sit on the sundeck together.”

  As they passed the no-wake zone and were able to pick up speed, the air felt cooler. Piper and Evie sat side by side as the wind whipped through their hair. She still hadn’t gotten used to the noise, and even though the Sabre boasted a quiet ride, it couldn’t compare to the silence of a sailboat gliding sleekly through the water. Piper turned to the young girl. “Are you looking forward to going back to school?”

  Evie was silent for a minute, her lips pursed. “I guess.” She looked down and made invisible designs on the deck with her finger. “I don’t know who’s going to take my picture on the first day,” she said, continuing to trace a shape.

  Piper wasn’t sure what to tell her. Before she could, Evie spoke again. “On the first day of school, Mom takes a picture . . .”

  Piper could tell that Evie was trying not to cry. “I bet your dad will take your picture, honey. And it will go with all the other first-day-of-school pictures. Will you show it to me afterward?”

  “Sure.” Evie gave her a tentative smile, and Piper put her arm around the child’s shoulders. She was so easy to like. She didn’t know how many times she’d wished that Evie were Leo’s only child. It would make things so much easier.

  As the boat came to a stop, they sat up straight and looked around.

  “How about we anchor here and have some lunch?” Leo called to them.

  “Sounds good,” she said, rising along with Evie and heading to the galley for plates and cold drinks.

  “I’ll help you.” Evie followed and stood behind her, taking the cans Piper handed to her.

  Piper spread a red-and-blue-paisley cloth on the deck and emptied the canvas bag. “Come sit, everyone. Peanut butter and jelly for the first mate,” she said, handing a sandwich to Stelli. “This time, no lumps in the jelly.”

  He took it from her wordlessly.

  “Thank you?” Leo reminded him.

  “Thank you,” Stelli repeated.

  “Do I have turkey?” Evie asked.

  “You do indeed.” Piper handed one of the wrapped sandwiches to Evie and the other one to Leo. “Turkey and Swiss on rye for the captain,” she said, then picked up a plastic container of salad and removed the lid. She took a forkful as Stelli watched her.

  “How come you always eat salad?” he asked, taking a bite of his food.

  “Because I like salad. And it’s good for you.”

  He shrugged, taking another bite. “I don’t like salad.”

  “Well, that’s okay. We all like different things.”

  “Can we go swimming when we finish eating?” Evie asked her father.

  “Absolutely. Can’t have a boat ride without a swim. But we’ll wait a little before we go in the water. How about if I read a story before we do?” Leo reached a hand under her life vest, tickling her, and Evie squealed with delight.

  When they finished lunch, Stelli scrambled into Leo’s lap. “Story, Daddy.”

  Piper leaned back against the cushions, looking at the cozy family picture—Leo’s arms around Stelli and, as he held The Swiss Family Robinson, Evie next to him, leaning against his arm. She closed her eyes as Leo read, listening to the sonorous voice that she had come to love so much.

  Afterward, they swam for over an hour, the children jumping from the steps into the water over and over again, until both of them were exhausted. Piper took them below, and Stelli nodded off instantly. Evie didn’t take much longer, and once they were both sleeping soundly, she took two beers from the refrigerator and went back on deck to join Leo.

  “They both went out like a light,” she said, handing him the can of Dale’s Pale Ale.

  “Thanks.” He flipped the top. “Nothing like the sea and the salt air to tire them out.”

  “How do you think they’re going to react when we tell them?”

  “It might take a little while for them to get used to the idea, but they’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”

  “I hope so. Stelli still doesn’t seem to be too happy to have me at the house.”

  “Don’t worry. He’ll come around.”

  By the time they were ready for dinner, it was still light, but this time the four of them ate at the table. Leo made a big to-do about the apple pie Piper had made, and she dished out vanilla ice cream to go on top of it.

  “Yum,” Stelli said, as he spooned it into his mouth.

  Leo smiled across the table at Piper and gave her a reassuring smile. “So,” he began, “Piper and I have some wonderful news to tell you.”

  Evie and Stelli looked up from their desserts.

  “Piper and I have been good friends for a while now. And I know you’ve liked having her as your friend, too. I really like it when she’s with us, and I’d like her to be with us all the time. I think you’d like that, too. So . . . I asked her if she would marry me.” He reached across the table and took Piper’s hand. “And she said yes.”

  No one said anything. Piper looked from Stelli to Evie, whose eyes were as big as saucers.

  Still, neither of the children spoke.

  Leo cleared his throat. “I hope you’ll tell Piper that you want her to be part of our family. And we want you both to be in the wedding. Evie, you and Piper can pick out a special bridesmaid dress, and I’ll take you to get your first suit, buddy,” he said, turning to Stelli.

  “I don’t want a dumb suit,” Stelli said, pouting.

  “Come on, you’ll look so sharp. And Yiayia and Papou will come and stay with you when we go on our honeymoon.”

  “Where are you going?” Evie asked in a quiet voice.

  “Paris,” Leo told her.

  “We’ll bring you back lots of presents,” Piper said.

  “Why can’t we go with you?” Stelli asked.

  Leo looked at Piper and smiled. “Next time, Stel.”

  Stelli jumped up from the table and ran up on deck. Leo started to follow, but Piper put a hand up to stop him. “No, let me,” she said, and went up after Stelli.

  He sat huddled on one of the cushioned benches, his head in his hands. Piper sat down next to him, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Leo standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry you’re upset, Stelli. I know that your mom hasn’t been gone for very long and that you miss her. I’m not going to try to be your mother, but do you think we could be friends?”

  There was no answer.

  “Please? Could we try? I love your daddy very much, and I want all of us to be happy.”

  He lifted
his head slowly and looked at her with sad eyes. “Do you know there are tiger sharks in the Sound?”

  “No, I didn’t know that.”

  “I wish one ate you.”

  Piper didn’t say anything for a minute, just looked at the small figure next to her, with his head down again, huddled as if he wanted to disappear into himself.

  “It’s okay, Stelli. I understand you’re upset.” She spoke so Leo could hear her, but then she leaned in and whispered to the boy. “But be careful what you wish for. Often, when we wish others harm, it comes back onto us.”

  22

  Joanna

  I needed to prove that Piper was the mysterious Pamela, but I still hadn’t heard from Ava Dunn. When I’d called Brent this morning, he told me he’d found out from a mutual friend that Ava was traveling over the Labor Day weekend but would be returning in four days, on Monday. I impressed my urgency upon him, and he relented and gave me her cell phone number. There was no way I could verify that the woman in those photos was Piper until I could ask Ava for some clearer pictures.

  My Google search had revealed that Ava Dunn was very rich—her maiden name was Forrester, which was one of San Diego’s oldest families and worth a few hundreds of millions. Their name was all over California—hospital wings, university libraries and classroom buildings, concert halls, art museums, charitable foundations. They had the kind of money most of us only dream about. She was educated, too. She’d gone to the best private schools in California and then to Wellesley, spending her junior year abroad at Oxford. When she married Matthew Dunn, her fortunes increased even more. From what I could find, she’d never worked at a real job, but, judging by the articles and pictures, she seemed to be involved in every charity that existed in Southern California.

  My phone rang, and I saw that someone was calling me from the house.

  I picked up immediately, concerned. “Hello?”

  “Daddy’s getting married!”