Melanie returned the embrace. “I am too. So glad. Sleep tight.”
She closed the guest room door behind her and went back into the living room. The fire was dying. It wasn’t even ten o’clock, early for her, but she turned out the lights, made sure the doors were locked, and went into her own room. She put on a nightgown, got into bed, and picked up the novel she was reading that Irving had checked out for her at the Los Angeles library.Peyton Place, a book about, she’d gathered so far, all the turmoil that lies beneath the surface in a picture-perfect town, and three women, each with a secret to hide. Irving’s wife had loved it.
Melanie read until midnight and then turned out the light.
In the morning she awoke with a start to the sound of a child’s voice.
A little boy.
She snapped open her eyes and then remembered. She had houseguests: her long-lost brother and her nephew.
Melanie rose, used the master bath toilet, washed her hands, andsplashed water on her face. She ran a quick comb through her hair, grabbed a robe, and then headed out to the main room. Every toy from the canvas bag was out and strewn about. She heard Nicky’s voice in the next room and made for the kitchen.
Her nephew was seated at the table eating scrambled eggs. He smiled at her.
Melanie turned to say good morning to her brother but it wasn’t Alex who was also in the room. It was Eva.
Of course. Eva. Today was a Wednesday and it was after nine in the morning. Of course she’d be there.
“I see you’ve met my nephew,” Melanie said. “Thanks for making him breakfast.”
“It was no trouble. He was hungry.” Eva looked pensive. “I think…I think he had been up for a while.”
“Oh. My brother is still asleep?” Melanie headed for the percolator and a coffee cup.
“I don’t think anyone else is here.”
Melanie turned back around. “Beg your pardon?”
Eva looked from Melanie to the boy to Melanie again. She picked up a folded piece of paper on the kitchen table and handed it to her.
Melanie unfolded the note and read:
Nellie, I’m really sorry to do this to you, but there’s something I need to do. It involves finding Regina and it won’t exactly be safe or enjoyable for the kid to tag along. I will be back for Nicky. I promise. Just not sure when. You’re the only person I trust to care for him while I am gone. It’s obvious he’s already smitten with you, just as I knew he would be. You’ll be fine with him, Iknow it. I’ll call when I am on my way back, scout’s honor.
Wish me luck.
Love, Biscuit
p.s. Nicky hates onions…
Melanie looked up from the note. Eva was staring at her. Nicky was happily eating his eggs.
Tossing the note to the table, Melanie ran to the front door, threw it open, and dashed out to the driveway.
Alex’s car was gone.
December 21,1956
13
Nothing was going as June had planned—if whatever this was could even be called a plan. When something disastrous happens, and one must deal with it right then with no time to consider the consequences of their next steps, what is that action even called?
She didn’t know.
What she did know was that Eva knew something was up. That Elwood wasn’t in the house. She was also sure that Eva, who no doubt had been told to update Melanie on her daily visits to the house, hadn’t said anything to Melanie about what she suspected. If she had, Melanie would have demanded days ago to be let in to see for herself if Elwood was or was not there.
True, Melanie had been a little preoccupied the last few days with the sudden appearance of her nephew and the likewise sudden disappearance of that little boy’s father. But still. If Melanie had been told what Eva had surely figured out, she would’ve beaten the door down to get in, maybe while that kid sat on the grass wide-eyed and watched.
