CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Diana sat comfortably on the plush sectional sofa in Melissa and Terry Goldman's living room, cradling a steaming mug of coffee between her hands.
The Goldman home was everything she had expected from her weeks of surveillance: warm, lived-in, decorated with the careful balance of comfort and style that spoke of a young family making their way in the world.
Family photos lined the mantelpiece above the fireplace, and toys were scattered across the hardwood floor in the organized chaos that came with having a toddler.
"I still can't believe you found my phone and went to all this trouble to return it," Melissa said, settling into the chair across from Diana. "When Terry told me someone had called about it, I was so relieved. I'd been going crazy without it."
Diana laughed, the sound coming easily despite the calculated nature of everything she was doing. "Oh my goodness, I felt so terrible about the whole thing. When I got home and realized I had someone else's phone mixed in with my groceries, I knew exactly how panicked I would be if it were mine."
Terry emerged from the kitchen carrying his own coffee mug and a plate of what appeared to be homemade cookies.
He was tall and lean, with sandy brown hair and the kind of easy smile that suggested someone comfortable with himself and his place in the world.
Diana had observed him during her surveillance, but seeing him up close allowed her to assess his personality more directly.
"Diana was just telling me she's new to the area," Melissa said as Terry settled onto the couch beside her. "She moved here about six months ago."
"Really? Where did you move from?" Terry asked, offering Diana a cookie from the plate.
Diana accepted the cookie gratefully, buying herself a moment to ensure her story remained consistent with what she had already told Melissa.
"North Carolina originally, but I'd been living in Virginia Beach for a few years before coming to Richmond.
After my divorce was finalized, I decided I wanted a fresh start somewhere new. "
"That must have been difficult," Melissa said with genuine sympathy. "Starting over in a place where you don't know anyone."
"It's been challenging," Diana admitted, allowing a note of vulnerability to creep into her voice. "I've been trying to get out and meet people, but it's harder than I expected. Everyone already has their established friend groups and busy lives."
Terry nodded understandingly. "Richmond can feel like a small town sometimes, even though it's actually pretty big. People tend to stick with the friends they made in college or through work."
"That's exactly what I've noticed," Diana said, taking a sip of her coffee. "It's why I was so grateful when our little collision in the parking lot led to this invitation. You both seem so genuinely nice."
"Well, the least we could do was feed you lunch after you went to all the trouble of returning my phone," Melissa said. "Plus, I have to admit, I'm curious about what brings people to Richmond. It's not exactly a destination city like New York or San Francisco."
Diana laughed again, this time with what appeared to be genuine amusement.
"You're right about that. For me, it was mostly practical considerations.
The cost of living is reasonable compared to the coast, and I have some distant family in the area.
Plus, I read that Richmond has a good job market for people in my field. "
"What kind of work do you do?" Terry asked.
"Freelance marketing and social media consulting," Diana replied smoothly. "I help small businesses develop their online presence. It's the kind of work I can do from anywhere, which made the move easier."
The lie rolled off her tongue easily, supported by the basic knowledge she had acquired during her preparation.
She had even created some sample marketing materials and a simple website to support the cover story if anyone decided to investigate her claims. She had gone deep to make sure her fake identity seemed legitimate.
From upstairs came the sound of a child's voice calling out, followed by what sounded like small feet hitting the floor. Melissa immediately stood up, her maternal instincts clearly activated by the familiar sounds.
"That would be Michelle waking up from her nap," she explained to Diana. "She's two, and she has very strong opinions about when naptime should end."
"How sweet," Diana said. "I'd love to meet her, if that's okay."
"Of course," Terry said, standing as well. "Fair warning, though. She's in that phase where she's suspicious of strangers but also incredibly curious about them. It makes for interesting social dynamics."
Melissa disappeared upstairs, and Diana could hear her talking softly to Michelle, coaxing the toddler fully awake and probably changing her diaper. Terry remained in the living room, and Diana took the opportunity to gather more information about the family's routines.
"Do you and Melissa both work from home?" she asked.
"I'm in the office most days, but Melissa works from home when she doesn't have Michelle in daycare. It's a balancing act, trying to manage client calls and deadlines with a two-year-old running around."
"I can imagine. What kind of work do you do?"
"Accounting for a mid-sized firm downtown. Not as glamorous as marketing consulting, but it pays the bills and gives us good benefits." Terry smiled. "Plus, it means I'm home by six most nights, which is important with a little one."
Diana filed away this information about Terry's schedule, adding it to her growing knowledge of the family's daily routines. "That's wonderful that you prioritize family time. Not everyone manages to find that balance."
"We try. It helps that Melissa's mom is so involved with Michelle. Kate watches her sometimes when we both need to work, and she's getting married soon, so Michelle will have a step-grandfather too."
"How nice that you have family support," Diana said, though inwardly she felt the familiar surge of anger at the mention of Kate Wise.
Before Diana could ask more questions, Melissa returned with Michelle in her arms. The little girl had blonde curls similar to her mother's and wide blue eyes that immediately fixed on Diana with the kind of frank curiosity that only small children could manage.
"Michelle, this is Diana," Melissa said gently. "She's the nice lady who found Mommy's phone and brought it back to us."
Michelle studied Diana solemnly for a moment, then buried her face in Melissa's shoulder with typical toddler shyness.
"She's beautiful," Diana said, and for once her compliment was entirely genuine. Whatever her feelings about Kate Wise and this family, the child herself was innocent and lovely.
"Thank you," Melissa said, settling back into her chair with Michelle on her lap. "She'll warm up in a few minutes. She always does."
As if to prove her mother's point, Michelle peeked out from her hiding spot to look at Diana again, this time offering a tentative smile.
"Hi Michelle," Diana said softly, matching the child's tentative energy. "I like your pink shirt."
Michelle looked down at her shirt as if she had forgotten what she was wearing, then looked back at Diana with increased interest.
"She loves pink," Terry said. "Everything has to be pink these days. Pink clothes, pink cups, pink toys."
"Pink is a very good color choice," Diana agreed seriously, speaking directly to Michelle.
The conversation continued for another hour, with Diana carefully gathering information about the family's routines while maintaining her persona as a lonely newcomer seeking friendship.
She learned that Michelle attended daycare three days a week, that Melissa did her grocery shopping on Tuesday mornings, and that the family often spent Saturday afternoons at the park near their house.
Most importantly, she learned that Kate Wise was deeply involved in their daily lives, often babysitting Michelle and joining them for family dinners. The information would be invaluable as Diana refined her plans for getting closer to her ultimate target.
When she finally announced that she should probably head home, both Melissa and Terry seemed genuinely sorry to see her go.
"This has been so nice," Melissa said as she walked Diana to the front door. "I'm so glad we got to meet properly instead of just bumping into each other in parking lots."
"I've really enjoyed it too," Diana replied. "You and Terry are exactly the kind of people I was hoping to meet when I moved here."
Melissa pulled out her phone, which Diana noted with satisfaction was the same device she had held in her hands just days earlier. "Let me get your number so we can set up that coffee date we talked about."
Diana provided her phone number, making sure Melissa entered it correctly into her contacts. "I'm free most afternoons this week if you want to try that new place on Grove Avenue."
"Perfect. I'll text you tomorrow, and we can figure out a day that works."
They exchanged a brief hug on the front porch, and Diana made her way to her car with the satisfaction of a job well done.
She had successfully inserted herself into the Goldman family's social circle, established her cover story, and gathered valuable intelligence about their routines and Kate Wise's involvement in their lives.
As she drove away from the house, Diana allowed herself a small smile. The plan was proceeding better than she had dared to hope. Soon, she would be positioned perfectly to begin the final phase of her carefully orchestrated revenge against Allen and his miracle mate, Kate Wise.
And God, that revenge was going to be so sweet.