Название: Obsession, Deceit And Really Dark Chocolate
Автор: Kyra Davis
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Зарубежные любовные романы
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“If you’re worried about your babysitter why didn’t you leave Jack with his grandma?” Mary Ann asked.
“Mama’s on a three-week cruise to Baja with her Jewish seniors’ group,” I explained.
“Baja?” Mary Ann repeated. “Wow, that sounds like a fun vacation.”
“Yes,” Leah confirmed. “Sophie and I have been enjoying it immensely. Now, let’s get our coats, shall we?”
“Did I just overhear that you were leaving?”
We all turned at the sound of Rick’s voice.
“We have to get back to the city,” Mary Ann explained.
“I see, well it was good to meet you.” He looked deep into Mary Ann’s eyes. “Thank you so much for talking to me. You made today a little more bearable.”
“It was good to meet you, too,” I said, although it was exceedingly obvious that he wasn’t talking to me. “I know this isn’t the place to ask for a professional favor, but I recently pitched an idea to…um…the National Review for an article dealing with the inner workings of political campaigns,” I lied. “I’d love to interview you for it…and Flynn Fitzgerald, of course.”
“The National Review?” Rick shifted his weight back on his heels. “That’s a fairly conservative periodical.”
“Yes, I guess it is.” And Microsoft is a fairly big computer company.
“Forgive me if I’m out of line, but Johnny was just telling me about your books. He said they were quite good, but he also said that your protagonist is a committed Democrat. I had assumed that you were a Democrat, as well.”
“Um…yes, I am, but a very conservative one.”
Rick cocked his head. “You must be if you’re writing for the National Review.”
“I’m like the John McCain of the Democratic party.”
“Really?” Rick sounded incredibly skeptical.
“Yes, I really think we should lower the income tax and I just love the idea of…school vouchers.”
“Is that so? Do you have children?”
“No, she has a nephew, my son Jack,” Leah said, eyeing the door longingly. “He’ll be attending Adda Clevenger Junior Preparatory and then I plan on sending him to the Bay School of San Francisco. I’ve spoken to people in the admissions offices of Harvard and Yale and everyone agrees that a Bay School education will be beneficial.”
Rick nodded appreciatively. “How old is your son?”
“Two. I’m truly sorry, Rick, but I have to pick him up now. Do you think you could give my sister your card so she can contact you later to set up an interview?”
“An interview?” Johnny had just popped up from nowhere. “Are you going to interview somebody? Are you researching one of your books? Can I help? I would love to help you research an Alicia Bright novel!”
“I’m actually writing an article for the National Review,” I muttered. I should have said that I was researching a book. That would have been a much easier lie to pull off.
“So you’re a journalist, too? That’s so cool!” Johnny gushed. “Who do you want to interview? Can I help?”
“This article is about the campaign process, so I’d love to talk to any of the top people on Fitzgerald’s team. You know, the people Eugene worked with.”
“I suppose I could help you with that,” Rick said, pulling out his card and pressing it into my hand. “Even when I’m out of the office I always check my messages.”
“Good to know.” I smiled at my companions. “Shall we?”
“Bye!” Johnny called after us.
When we got out to the car I threw my arms around Leah’s neck. “Thank you so much for coming to my rescue. All that stuff about making college plans for your two-year-old was perfect.”
Leah broke away and looked at me. “I didn’t make that up. My son’s going to Harvard. Yale’s just his backup.”
“Oh…right, of course.” I bit my lip as I got behind the wheel of my car and waited for Mary Ann and Leah to get themselves settled. I love my nephew, but I didn’t see him going to Harvard so much as I saw him going on Ritalin.
I dropped Mary Ann off first and then started toward Leah’s babysitter’s family home, which was conveniently located across the street from Leah’s. “How’s work?” I asked as I idled my car at a stoplight.
Not long ago Leah had been a stay-at-home mom married to Bob Miller. Now Bob was dead, which should have been sad except he had been such an incredibly awful and emotionally abusive man that pretending to be mournful over his early demise was kind of like shedding tears over the retirement of stone-washed jeans. So no one blinked an eye when Leah quickly pulled herself together, sold her large Forest Hill home for $3.4 million dollars, along with most of Bob’s things and bought a $1.6 million two-bedroom in Laurel Heights. She used some of her excess cash to get herself set up as a freelance special-events coordinator. Her Junior League friends helped out by funneling business her way, and it quickly became apparent that Leah was born for the job. Whether it was a corporate retreat or an elaborate birthday celebration for a debutante’s shih tzu, my sister managed to make the event an elegant affair to remember.
“Work’s fine,” Leah said as she adjusted the clasp of the new Tiffany charm bracelet she had recently bought herself. “I’m currently planning the retirement dinner for Delcoe’s CEO. I’ve convinced them to have it at the Marines’ Memorial to honor the years he spent in the service.” She paused a moment before changing subjects. “Do you realize that today was the first time I’ve seen Melanie since Dad’s funeral? Odd that it would take another death for our paths to cross again.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t like thinking about Dad’s funeral.
“You almost never talk about Melanie anymore,” Leah added.
“Melanie and I have both been busy living our lives in different towns and in different social circles. We still talk on the phone every once in a while and she’s still important to me.” I opened the moon roof to give us a little more fresh air. “You’re probably wondering why I agreed to investigate Eugene’s death for her.”
“I know why you’re doing it,” Leah said, “although I seriously doubt you know why you’re doing it.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that the reasons that you have allowed your relationship with Melanie to fade into the background of your life are the exact same reasons why you continue to care about her so much. But of course you can’t examine any of that because that would require you to revisit painful memories that you’ve pushed into your subconscious.”
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