The old man’s eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion. “Lou can get them by herself. I want to have a little talk with you.”
Susan squashed down her sudden feeling of panic. She had absolutely no idea where the patio was, and if there was anyone out there besides Elda and Neddie she was going to be up a creek without a paddle.
“Not now, Daddy,” Mary said. “You can yell at me after dinner. I’m too hungry right now.”
“And whose fault is that? Your sister’s, that’s who. And now we’ve got that nosey, parker here as well, which doesn’t improve my disposition, let me tell you.”
“Which nosey parker?”
“You know who I mean,” Ridley said, pouring himself another glass of whisky. Straight. “I can’t wait till this damned wedding is over.”
“Neither can I,” Susan murmured. But the old man had already dismissed her, concentrating on the dark amber of his drink.
She had no memory of her grandmother Elda—she’d left her husband sometime in the fifties and died a decade later, but Susan had always pictured a frail, white-haired old lady. The woman laughing with Neddie Marsden was a far cry from that image, with thick dark hair and a cocktail dress that was surprisingly daring for a mature woman. She threw a glance toward her elder daughter, and Susan was shocked to see the veiled dislike in her blue eyes.
“There’s the little sleepyhead,” she cooed in a deceptively cheery voice. “We were afraid you were going to sleep straight through dinner. Look who’s decided to join us.”
Neddie Marsden had changed very little in almost fifty years. She would have known him anywhere—the heavy-lidded eyes, the wide, thick-lipped mouth, the faint air of menacing charm. He was a hearty man, bluff and friendly, and he’d always been more than kind to Mary Abbott and her daughter. But looking at the younger version of Ned Marsden, she couldn’t help but notice his solid, be-ringed fingers, and remember the fading bruises on Tallulah’s upper arm.
“Hi, Ned,” she said in her husky voice, making no effort to move closer.
“Is that any way to greet your fianc6?” Neddie chided her. He reached out and put that heavy hand on her arm, and Susan flinched, instinctively. Enough of Tallulah remained inside her to be wary.
She averted her face in time for Ned’s wet mouth to land on her cheek, and if the fingers on her arm tightened slightly she couldn’t be certain. “How nice to see you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Tallulah,” her mother snapped. “You know Neddie comes for supper every night. But you haven’t noticed who else is here. Say hello to your old friend Jack.” There was no missing the trace of malice in Elda’s arch voice.
Susan controlled the sinking feeling that hit her as she realized there was a third person on the flagstone patio. “Hello, Jack,” she murmured.
“Long time, no see,” Jack replied. “I came by to drop off a wedding present, and Elda was kind enough to invite me for dinner.”
“How...lovely,” Susan said in a faint voice. In the fading sunlight of an early-June evening Jack McGowan looked even more overwhelming. Compared to Jake Wyczynski’s mode of dress McGowan looked positively formal, with his suit and white shirt and loosened tie. But compared to Ned and Ridley’s pristine neatness it was clear that Jack McGowan was a vagabond.
“Do you want me to go tell Hattie we’re ready to eat?” Mary piped up.
“Not quite, dear,” Elda replied. “Why don’t we go inside and let Tallulah and Jack have some time together to renew their acquaintance.”
“I don’t think so,” Neddie rumbled, but Elda sidled up to him, frankly flirtatious, and put her hand on his arm.
“Now, Neddie, you’re going to have to learn to listen to your mother-in-law’s wishes. You don’t have to be so possessive—Tallulah knows what’s best for her. And you’ve seen how docile she’s become in the past year. Why, you’d hardly recognize the flighty, passionate creature she used to be. Thank heavens.”
“Thank heavens,” Neddie echoed, clearly unconvinced. “I don’t see why?—”
“I need you to make me another drink, Neddie darling,” Elda cooed. “Ridley always makes mine too weak, and I’m afraid I have a naughty little habit of making mine too strong. Come along.”
Susan waited, holding her breath. Young Ned Marsden didn’t seem like the kind of man who’d do anybody’s bidding, much less that of his slightly inebriated future mother-in-law, but she’d underestimated Elda’s charm. After a moment Neddie shrugged his massive shoulders and managed a tight smile.
“Behave yourself, Lou,” he said in what was obviously supposed to be a playful tone of voice, chucking her under the chin. For some reason it sounded vaguely threatening.
Elda waited until Neddie preceded her into the house, then turned back. “Come along, Mary.”
“I thought I’d keep them company?—”
“I said come along. I’m sure Tallulah doesn’t need you around helping her out.”
That’s exactly what I need, Susan thought desperately. “I don’t mind, Mummy,” she said.
Elda’s smile was frosty. “I do.”
