The Lake

His voice was low. She could scarcely hear it. Like he was talking to himself.

He turned and made for the door.

Then stopped dead.

They’d both heard the same thing. The muffled sound of an engine; a car pulling up outside.

The sound of a door slamming shut.

Mom.

Thank God.

Mace turned. Put a finger to his lips.

As he looked across at her, he was back to normal. All business. Fierce. Intense. In control.

The old Mace.

“Ssshh. I’m warning you, Deana.”

The finger sliced across his throat.

Deana held still.

She watched him go.

What if Mom found her like this, half-dressed—with Mace hurrying down the hallway? She’s gonna think something fishy’s going on.

Shit. This had to happen tonight, of all nights!

The night Warren was coming to dinner.

The night when she’d prayed everything’d go according to plan.

What the fuck was up with Mace, anyway?

He hadn’t looked as if he were about to rape her.

He’d just stared in that awful creepy sort of way.

Okay. He knew about my sneaking in at two-thirty. But how did he know I’d visited a house with two redwoods in front?

Did he know about Warren?

The thought that he did made shivers run up and down her spine.

How much does the bastard really know?

She heard voices.

Mom saying, “Why hello, Mace. Didn’t expect to see you today…”

“Courtesy call, Leigh. See how you both are, an’ all.”

“My, this is a real treat. So soon after…” Mom’s voice softened into a murmur.

Silence. More murmurs…

Kissing.

How could she?

But of course, she doesn’t know yet.

About Mace’s surprise visit to her darling daughter.

And I can’t tell you about it, Mom.

Can’t warn you about Mace.

Christ, Mom. He’s real bad news, and I can’t tell you. Because he’s blackmailing me!

Deana felt like throwing up. Mace could sneak in, spy on her, scare the shit outa her, and then cozy up to Mom like he meant it.

Christ, what a crud!

Deana was angry. And scared. She’d seen a whole different Mace back there. And it was not a pretty sight.

It sure was spooky, the way he’d gaped at her.

Not exactly like he wanted to rape her, either.

More like he’d never seen a woman half-naked before.

Which is a load of bullshit.

She knew that.

Mace must’ve had scores of women.

Guys like him take women, use ’em, and throw ’em away…

God. Mom!

Coming this way.

Deana straightened her robe, flung her hair over her shoulder, and busied herself putting the pantsuit back in the wardrobe.

“Hi there, honey!”

Mom put her head around the door.

“Hi yourself, Mom. Just deciding what to wear tonight.”

“Yeah. I bet. Take you all afternoon?”

“Something like that…”

“Good of Mace to call on us like that. Although he did know I was working all day. I’ve really spent too much time out of the restaurant lately. Had a lot of catching up to do: ordering, consulting with Carlo…all of that. Carlo’s doing a good job, too. Not like Nelson, of course, but…

“You okay, honey?”

“Why, sure, Mom. Just want to make a good impression tonight, is all. What d’ya think about my final choice?”

She held up the soft jersey top and denim skirt.

“You look great in all your things, dear. I’m sure Warren will think so, too.”

She looked at her wristwatch.

“Must fly, darling. I’ll leave you to it…Must go have a shower; smarten myself up a little, too.”

Leigh stepped into the hallway.

As ever, Deana thought, watching her go, Mom looks wonderful.

She paused. Waiting for Mom to say something about Mace.

Like, how’d he get in?

Or, did you let him in, honey?

Dressed, or should we say undressed, like that?

Or maybe Mace has his own key?

Mom wouldn’t have given him a house key so soon in their relationship.

Would she?

Mom and Mace had been an item for less than two weeks…That’s all. She wouldn’t give him his own key.

But she is pretty well struck on him.

Mom poked her head around the door.

“Mace been here long, honey?”

Here it comes.

Darling daughter does the dirty on Mom.

Again.

“Five, ten minutes, is all.”

“Good thing you were around to let him in.”

“Yeah.”

Bull’s-eye. The twenty-four-thousand-dollar question answered in one go.

Mace hasn’t got a key.

Not yet.

“If I’m in the shower when Tony calls with the food and wine, see to him, will you, darling?”

“Sure, Mom. Leave it with me. Mace gone?”

“Yep. Duty calls, he said. Asked him to join us, but he said he’d gotta ride.”

Gotta ride!

Huh. I’ll bet.

She frowned.

Just what was Mace up to? He’d sure started to act strange. Not his usual self.

Showing a side she and Mom hadn’t seen yet.

Don’t want to see it anymore, either.

Obviously, Mom thinks he’s okay.

And she wouldn’t tolerate a weirdo.

Would she?

She’d gone along with Nelson. And he was a weirdo.

But his meals were something else. That’s what he was there for—to cook good meals. Mom couldn’t really complain about him.