Chapter 4
A s they walked up to Jed’s parents’ front door, Alissa held her breath and squeezed his hand.
They’d been together a month. As their relationship unfolded, easy and wonderful, she’d occasionally wondered if it could really be this easy.
Was it as simple as finding the person you fit just right with?
Did everything fall into place when it was right?
Last night, as they lay in bed holding hands and talking, he’d asked if she’d like to meet his parents. “My mother’s been asking who I’m spending so much time with,” he’d said.
Although her stomach had turned over at the thought, she’d agreed. “You won’t tell them about the club, right?”
“I’m not ashamed of it,” he’d said. “But if you’d rather they not know then it’s no problem.”
So here they were on a Sunday evening, waiting on the steps of a palatial estate on the shore of Lake Washington. Homes where high-tech moguls lived. Everyone had a boat and a dock, with views of the lake and the city.
“I’m scared,” she said.
“Don’t be. Remember that whatever they think doesn’t mean anything to me. Whatever happens, it’s you and me. No matter what.”
“You and me,” she repeated under her breath. The door opened, and a woman in a traditional black and white maid’s uniform greeted them. “Good evening, Mr. Marsh, Miss Mann. Mrs. Marsh is waiting in the family room.”
“What about my father?” Jed asked, as they entered a sparkling white foyer with marble beams and gleaming tile.
Alissa shivered and pulled her sweater tighter.
After a text to her sister Hailey, seeking counsel, she’d chosen a simple sheath dress with a pattern of red poppies and paired with a white cardigan.
The weather had turned warm the last few days.
Flowers bloomed. The scent of mowed grass filled the air with spring and possibilities.
All of which had made Alissa’s allergies arrive with a vengeance.
She prayed the allergy medicine would keep her eyes from watering all night.
They followed the maid through the cold hallway.
Alissa’s flats made a clickety-clack on the marble floors.
They seemed too loud. And ugly. Suddenly, she hated her dress.
Mrs. Marsh would know by the cheap fabric that Alissa had bought it from the outlet mall.
She’d seen photographs of his mother and knew she dressed in designer everything.
A trickle of sweat dribbled down her spine as they entered a palatial kitchen that smelled of rosemary and olive oil.
A trim woman, with tattoos on both her muscular arms, stood over a pot at the cooktop.
From outside on the patio, the faint scent of grilled meat wafted through sliding glass doors.
A swimming pool with cobalt-blue tiles sparkled under the afternoon sun.
“Hey, Amy,” Jed said.
The woman turned toward them. She was not as young as she’d seemed from the back. Her dyed black hair was cut in short layers, and she had the worn, almost gaunt look of a woman who exercised too much and ate too little. “Well, hello there, stranger. ”
“This is Alissa,” Jed said. “Amy’s our caterer. She’s worked for my mom for two decades.”
Caterer? Was this a party?
Amy smiled as she wiped her hands over the front of a forest-green apron. “It’s nice to meet you, Alissa.”
“You as well,” Alissa said. “It smells great in here.”
“Thank you. I’ve made some rosemary bread to go with your steaks.”
“Is your son working with you today?” Jed asked.
“Yes, that’s him manning the grill.” Amy pointed outside to a young man with black hair, pulled back into a ponytail.
“Where’s my mother?” Jed asked.
“I’m not sure,” Amy said. “Your father went down to the cellar for champagne.”
Alissa gulped back a nervous twitter. Be calm and cool , she told herself.
Jed took her hand as they walked out to the patio. “Gary, long time. How’ve you been?” he asked the young man.
“Can’t complain.” Gary held up a pair of tongs in greeting. Several snake tattoos marked his neck. He wore the same apron as his mother, only his was untied and hung loosely over his skinny frame. There was something familiar about him. Had she met him before?
“This is my girlfriend, Alissa,” Jed said. “Gary’s working with his mom after attending culinary school.”
“Nice to meet you, Alissa.” Gary’s eyes were small and set too far back into his face. Alissa shivered as they slid down the length of her body, stopping briefly at her modest breasts. Jed dropped her hand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Well, good luck with everything,” Jed said, tightly.
“You too, man,” Gary said.
With his arm still draped over her shoulders, Jed steered them across the wide patio to a set of outdoor furniture .
His mother, who she recognized from the photos, stepped out from another set of glass doors.
“Hey, Mom,” Jed said.
“Darling, finally.” Mrs. Marsh wore a pair of cropped linen pants and a crisp, white, short-sleeved blouse.
“You’re at least thirty minutes later than you said you’d be.
” She wore her brown hair just above the collarbones, and her smooth skin had obviously been aided by a surgeon or two.
She’s too perfect , Alissa thought. With too many sharp edges.
“We ran into some traffic,” Jed said. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Never mind. This city’s become unbearable that way.” Mrs. Marsh turned to Alissa. “And this must be Alissa.”
“Yes, this is Alissa Mann,” Jed said.
“How do you do?” Alissa asked. Why had she said it like that? Like she was in an old movie or something. Perspiration dampened her nose. Could Mrs. Marsh see the droplets? Alissa kept herself from touching her face, knowing that soon Jed’s mother would shake her hand.
“I’m pleased to meet the woman who seems to have magically made my son disappear.” She reached out a slender, tanned arm. Her nails were painted red. Alissa caught a whiff of expensive perfume.
Mr. Marsh appeared next. He was tall and slender and looked a lot like an older Jed with attractive salt-and-pepper hair. The same blue eyes drifted from Alissa’s head to her toes and back up again. At least he hadn’t stopped at her boobs.
“Good to meet you.” Mr. Marsh shook Alissa’s hand so hard that one of her knuckles cracked.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Marsh.” Her mouth was as dry as the desert. Why hadn’t she thought to drink water on the way over?
Mrs. Marsh’s gaze seemed fixated on Alissa’s shoes, which were scuffed and splattered with paint droppings from her little students .
“Mom,” Jed said. “Should we sit?”
“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Marsh said. “We have champagne to celebrate the warmer weather. And meeting Alissa, of course.”
Jed led Alissa over to the love seat. Mr. Marsh handed them each a glass of champagne, and Alissa took a grateful sip, hoping it would help her dry mouth.
“You’re both so tan,” Jed said. “How was Hawaii?”
“Wonderful, other than the Bleekers bickered the entire time,” Mrs. Marsh said. “We’re almost certain they’ll file for divorce by the end of the summer.”
“That’s too bad,” Jed said. “Isn’t that his second wife?”
“Third,” Mr. Marsh said.
“He’s Dad’s fraternity brother from way back,” Jed explained to Alissa.
“But enough about that,” Mrs. Marsh said, focusing on Alissa. “Jed says you’re a kindergarten teacher?”
“Yes, that’s correct. This is my third year.”
“And you enjoy it?” Mrs. Marsh asked in a tone that sounded like an insult.
“I do. They’re all very cute and sweet at that age. They make me smile and laugh every day.”
Mrs. Marsh nodded, as if she was interested, but her cold, flat eyes told a different story. “Kudos to you, dear. I always found other people’s children to be annoying.”
“Alissa’s special,” Jed said.
Amy came out to the patio with a tray of crackers, each smeared with a pink spread. The spread smelled like bad dog breath.
“Would you like one?” Amy asked her. “They’re Mrs. Marsh’s favorite.”
“Sure, thank you.” Alissa held her breath as she took a cocktail napkin and one of the crackers from the tray. She stared at it for a moment, trying to think of a way of getting out of actually putting in her mouth .
“Paté, dear.” Mrs. Marsh took several from the tray. “Imported from Europe.”
“Right. Paté,” Alissa said, before popping it into her mouth.
It tasted like it smelled. Terrible. She swallowed quickly, not bothering to chew.
A sharp corner of the cracker broke off and lodged in her throat.
She started to cough, gripping the arm of the love seat.
Coughing turned to hacking, then tears streamed down her throat.
She was vaguely aware of Amy backing away, as if Alissa was contagious.
She thumped her chest and finally seemed to dislodge the sliver from her throat. Jed handed her another napkin. She wiped under her eyes.
“Sweetie, are you all right?” Jed placed a warm hand on her knee. “Do you want some water?”
She nodded. “Yes, please, I’m sorry. I think it went down the wrong tube or something.
” Alissa stole a glance at Mrs. Marsh. It was only an instant, but she thought she detected a glint of triumph in Jed’s mother’s eyes before she hid behind a mask of concern.
She’s l ike a cat playing with a mouse , Alissa thought.
Jed jumped up to pour her a glass of water from a pitcher sitting on the counter of the outdoor kitchen. She drank greedily, hoping to soothe what she felt sure was an actual cut on the back of her throat.
“I hate paté, just so you know,” Jed said, close to her ear.
“What’s that, Jed?” Mrs. Marsh asked.
“I said I hate paté. And you know that.”
“I thought you loved paté,” Mrs. Marsh said in a grieved tone.
“Tell us, son, how did you two meet?” Mr. Marsh asked.
Alissa wondered if he often broke up tension between mother and son. Amy had disappeared by then, leaving the tray behind on the outdoor coffee table. The scent of grilled steak took the edge off the horrible taste in her mouth .