The Happiest Day Read online

“No, she had me drop her at the kitchen door. She didn’t want to wake anyone.”

  “So you have no idea what happened when she got inside?”

  “No.”

  “So it’s possible that she and Norris slept together.”

  “No!” Peter rejected the idea.

  “Peter, we know she was trying to initiate an affair with the stable hand. You just told me that she propositioned you. The girl was determined to lose her virginity to someone of her choosing before marrying Stern. We can’t say that it’s not a possibility that she left you, after you rejected her, and went right to Norris’ bed.”

  “She didn’t feel that way about him. I just can’t believe that she willingly ended up in his bed. All I can think is that she’s helping cover—that Norris really did murder them. If he did…God, if he did and she knows it…she’s an accessory to murder. Why would she do this to herself?”

  “She has always felt that she owed an enormous debt to Norris. Their relationship has never been the healthiest. Even before all of this, you ever see the way he stares at her? There’s no love lost for your mother, but honestly I could see how that must have driven her crazy.” Bert shook his head. “Let’s focus on something else. Give me the timeline of what happened that night.”

  “Before midnight, I found Rachel on the terrace and Frederick was attempting to rape her. He had his hand up her dress and she was struggling…I felt like my head was going to explode when I saw them. He told me that there was nothing I could do to stop him, that he would take her virginity right there in front of me. He and I began fighting and Norris came out and stopped us, telling me to take Rachel home. I had trouble getting her away, she kept saying that Frederick knew a secret about Norris, one that would ruin the whole family. I finally got her to leave with me, we went back to my apartment, talked for a while, and then I put her to bed. I woke her and had her home by five. The police were called before eight. They estimate time of death of Helen and Stern to be between four and seven.”

  Bert was staring at Peter with his eyebrows nearly to his hairline. “Well, you certainly know how to condense a story, Mac.” He cleared his throat. “Were there any lights on in the house?”

  “None that I saw. No cars in the drive either. I assumed they were all in the garages. She asked me to drop her in the back so we wouldn’t wake anyone.” He stood, agitation showing in every line of his body. “They are both lying and I need to know why. I have to go out there and confront them.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  “No. I’ll see you tomorrow and let you know what happened.”

  Peter was met at the door, however, but the new butler, Smythe, who informed him that Mr. Thornton and Miss Warner had left on a trip together without an expected return date.

  Chapter 7

  It was almost Christmas when Peter got the call he had been waiting for. Smythe, called the law office, as Peter had requested.

  “Sir, I wanted to inform you that Mr. Thornton and Miss Warner arrived home this evening.”

  “Smythe, thank you.” Peter threw on his overcoat and drove immediately out to the estate. Smythe let him in and directed him to the front parlor.

  “I’ll let Mr. Thornton know you’ve arrived.”

  “Thank you.”

  Peter threw his coat on the sofa and began pacing the floor impatiently. He needed to see Rachel. He had been worried sick for months and the only thing that would settle his mind was to see her with his own eyes.

  “Hello, Peter,” Norris said smoothly, walking into the parlor. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

  “Where have you two been?” Peter demanded.

  Norris studied his step-son. The past months had aged him. There were a few streaks of silver in his hair and he seemed gaunt and tired. “We went on a trip.”

  “Do you know how worried we’ve been?”

  Norris poured himself a drink. “Would you like one, son?”

  “No. I want you to answer the question. How could you just leave like that without telling anyone where you were going?”

  “Geoff and Laurie knew where we were,” Norris said in a placating voice. “We stopped by their school before leaving for Europe. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the day at the courthouse, we were told by you and your sister that you didn’t want to speak to Rachel or to me ever again.”

  “I can’t speak for Maryanne, but I have questions for you and Rachel.”

  “Well, Rachel is upstairs changing, but fire away. What can I answer for you?”

  “Why did Rachel lie on the stand?”

  “Who said she did?”

  “She wasn’t with you that night, she was with me. I didn’t bring her home like you asked, I took her to my place.”

  Norris looked at him over the rim of his glass. “I see.” He took a drink of his brandy. “What exactly was your question?”

  “Why did she lie on the stand? Who was she protecting?”

  “Peter, have you considered that it might be better if you don’t know the answers to some of these questions? The less you know, the better.”

  “Why did you keep her away so long? Did you even think about the additional damage to her reputation?”

  “Frankly, I didn’t give that a second thought.” They heard footsteps and Peter tensed, anxious to see that Rachel was alright. When she entered the room, he was stunned by her appearance. Instead of looking sad and unwell, she was glowing. She looked serene and…content.

  She did, however, draw back in surprise when she saw their guest. “Peter!”

  “Rachel,” he said, suddenly resentful that she looked so well after all the worrying he had done. “Welcome back.”

  “Thank you. I’m quite surprised to see you here.”

  In shock, he watched Rachel walk straight to Norris, kiss him on the cheek, and turn so that he could slip an arm around her waist.

  “What’s going on?” he asked hoarsely.

  “Congratulate us, son. We were married in Boston three months ago and just before our return trip from Europe, we discovered that we’re expecting. You’re going to be an uncle.”

  Rachel’s smile trembled a bit but her voice was clear and steady. “Are you happy for us, Peter?”

  He felt as if he had received a blow to the heart. “You can’t be serious.” His voice sounded strange in his own ears. “This can’t be real.”

  “It is,” Norris assured him with a smile. “We couldn’t be happier.”

  “Won’t you stay to supper with us, Peter?”

  He wanted to say no. He wanted to turn and leave the house and never look back. He had questions, though, that hadn’t been answered and he didn’t intend to leave until he was satisfied. “Yes, I’ll stay.”

  He thought he caught a flare of panic in her eyes but, if so, it quickly disappeared and she smiled graciously. “Wonderful. I’ll go let Cook know that we have one more for supper.”

  He was quiet during the meal, listening to Norris’ tales of Europe and their exploits abroad. Rachel was quiet as well and Peter finally remarked, “You’re awfully quiet, Rachel. Do you have any stories to relate?”

  “I think Norris is doing a fine job. He’s a much better story teller than I am.”

  “How are you feeling? With the baby, I mean?” He was still hoping that she would admit that Norris had been joking; there was no marriage and no baby.

  “A little tired, but otherwise fine. We’re very excited.”

  He shook his head as if in disbelief, staring at her with dark eyes. She flushed, and then paled. She looked suddenly ill.

  Norris was immediately solicitous. “Darling, you look a little peaked. Why don’t you go lay down? I’m sorry, I should have thought that the trip home would be exhausting for you.”

  “Thank you,” she said hoarsely. “I’m sorry, Peter. Sometimes it just hits me. It was terribly good to see you, though.” The men stood as she did and she nodded her head then left the room.

  He and Norris sat
down again and Peter stared at his plate. “She really is expecting.”

  “Of course. Did you think I was lying?”

  “I hoped you were lying,” he shot back. “It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?”

  Norris sighed. “Peter, must you do this? Now? Everything is settled. Rachel and I are married, we’re starting a family. No one can accuse us of living an amoral life.”

  “This is unbelievable,” Peter muttered. “God damn it, I feel like I’m in a nightmare.”

  “Let’s retire to the study,” Norris suggested. “You look like you need a drink.”

  Peter followed him, his head spinning. Rachel really was married to Norris.

  They entered the study and Norris poured him a drink. They drank in silence, each lost in his own thoughts. Finally, Peter stated in a low voice, “Tell me what happened that night, Norris.”

  “We already answered that question that day in court.”

  “Norris, I demand an answer!” Peter exploded. “Did you kill my mother?”

  “You’ll wake Rachel,” Norris said wearily. “What do you want from me, Peter? I’ve already been judged innocent. Do you want me to confess to murders I didn’t commit? Would that make you happy?”

  “Somebody murdered them and there were only two people in this house.”

  “Why do you assume it was me then?”

  Peter laughed incredulously. “What are you saying? Are you honestly trying to make me believe that it was Rachel who killed Frederick and Helen?”

  Norris looked him straight in the eye. “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Peter. And that’s why you’re never going to tell anyone about this ever.”

  Peter fell back in a chair as if Norris had punched him. “It isn’t true,” he said in a hushed voice.

  “It is. I swear it. I don’t blame her, though. After what Stern had done to her that night, I’m glad she did it.”

  “Why my mother, though?”

  “Helen came across them.”

  “How did she get them upstairs?”

  “I helped her and we staged the scene.”

  Peter looked up at him, dazed. “Was she really in bed with you?”

  “Not on that night, no. When she woke me up to tell me what she had done, I was asleep in her bed, waiting for her.”

  “Was it the first time?”

  “No.”

  Peter struggled to his feet. Nothing he had ever known was real anymore. “I’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Will we see you again?”

  Peter looked at him with an incredulous look. “After what you just told me?”

  “We’ll miss you,” Norris said quietly.

  He stumbled to the door of the study and looked back one last time. “This God that you pray to all the time, how does He feel about what you’ve done?”

  Norris lifted one shoulder. “We removed evil from this household. I think God was with us that night.”

  Peter’s hand grabbed the door frame. How could he leave Rachel alone with this man? Then he remembered. She was his wife. He had no more power where she was concerned. “Good-bye, Norris.” He left the house without another word.

  Upstairs, Rachel laid in her bed, tears streaming down her face. She knew Peter was still downstairs and it broke her heart, knowing how disappointed he was in her. The look on his face when Norris had announced their marriage and pregnancy almost brought her to her knees. She had faked feeling ill simply to get away from the look in his eyes.

  “He’s gone.”

  She startled then wiped her face hurriedly. Norris hated to see her sad. “Is he?”

  “How do you feel?” He came over to the bed and sat next to her, stroking her hair.

  “Better. I guess I’m just tired from all the travel.”

  “Me, too.” He began to massage her neck with a gentle touch. “Feel good?”

  “Mm,” she answered, her body beginning to relax. “Was he upset when he left?”

  “No more than when he came. He was asking a lot of questions about what happened the night Helen and Stern died.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I stuck with the story. He’s just going to have to accept it.”

  “I hate living a lie,” she said, her voice trembling a bit. “Everyone is so angry with us and it hurts.”

  “We can’t take the chance of confiding in anyone. This has to stay between us or I’ll be ruined. We’ll lose everything.”

  “I know. I made you a promise, Norris. I’ll never tell.”

  He lowered his body so that he lay behind her and kissed her neck reverently. “I love you,” he said emotionally.

  “I love you, too.” She tried to turn to face him, but he held her in place.

  “No,” he whispered, “stay like this.” He pulled her dress up from the hem, exposing her below the waist. She felt him fumbling with his own pants and willed herself to stay relaxed. It wasn’t that he wasn’t a considerate or skilled lover—he was both. It was that she couldn’t shake the feeling that he every time he touched her, he was pretending she was her mother. From the first night he had made love to her, gently taking her virginity, he never said her name and rarely kept his eyes open. Afterwards, he always looked surprised when he saw who lay beside him in bed.

  He entered her from behind and she lifted her thigh to allow him deeper penetration. She reached behind and hooked her arm around his neck and arched her head against his chest. She enjoyed the intimacy of his lovemaking but wished she felt more of a connection with him. He brought his hand around her body and settled it between her legs.

  “You feel good,” he murmured in her ear. He set a gentle rhythm and their bodies moved together. “Darling, darling…”

  “Norris,” she said in a husky voice, “say my name.” She pressed her body against his gently massaging hand. “Harder….yes….say my name…”

  He easily followed her commands to please her body, but never did say her name. She heard his breathing grow faster and harsher and the tempo of his thrusts increased. She felt herself falling over the precipice into all-consuming pleasure and a scream escaped her lips. He gave two or three final thrusts and a groan was torn from his lips.

  “Julia,” he moaned, emptying himself into her. He laid heavily against her back, waiting for his thumping heart to return to normal. The room was semi-dark and he could only make out the shadowy shape of the woman in his arms. Rachel. Disappointment and regret washed over him as he realized what he had just done. Damn it. He couldn’t apologize to her because then he would be admitting to his mistake. Instead he kissed the crown of her head. “I love you.” That, at least, was the truth.

  Chapter 8

  Winter turned into spring and Bert was working in his office one late morning when he heard the door open. Looking up, he drew back in surprise. “Rachel!”

  She stood in the doorway, unsure of herself. “Hi. May I come in?”

  “Of course.” Belatedly, he stood and ushered her into the office, pulling out a chair for her. “I’m sorry, I’m just so surprised to see you.” His eyes fell on her bulging midriff. She was wearing a peach, long-sleeved dress with a dropped waist, but her advanced condition was apparent. “I heard about the baby. You’re doing well?”

  She shrugged. “As well as can be expected, I suppose. Feeling tired.” She fiddled with her gloves and looked nervously around the room. “I waited across the street until I saw Peter leave. He’ll be gone for a while?”

  “Yes.”

  “How is he?”

  “A bear,” Bert admitted with a laugh. “He’s always been a moody sort but over the past four months, he’s been next to impossible.”

  “And Maryanne?”

  “She’s expecting, too. Looks to be about the same as you I’d say.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “She misses you. She cries all the time. I feel helpless.”

  “I miss her terribly. I guess that’s why I’m here. I feel so lonely, so d
isengaged. When Norris and I were in Europe, everything was wonderful. No one knew us and he and I stayed busy. Then when we first came home, Laurie and Geoff came home for the holidays and I stayed busy with them. They’ve been gone for months, now, and Norris works all the time. If he’s not at work, he’s sitting in the chapel, for hours on end. I am so very alone.” Surprisingly, Norris seemed uncomfortable with her changing body and suggested that they sleep separately until the baby came. She was alone both day and night. Looking at Bert, she tried to smile, but tears trembled on her lashes. “I suppose it will be different when the baby comes.”

  “Sure, sure it will.” He scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Sweetheart, if there was anything I could do to make things right between you and Maryanne or even you and Peter, I would.”

  “I know and that’s not why I came. I just needed to see someone. Reach out. I feel like I’m disappearing.” She looked up at him with pleading in her eyes and his heart contracted in sympathy.

  “Give it another two months or so and you’ll be so busy…and maybe Maryanne will come around. You’ll have motherhood to bond you and I can’t imagine her not wanting to see your baby and vice-versa.”

  “Thanks, Bert. I should go. Norris wouldn’t like it that I was here. I told my driver I would just be a moment.” She stood, pulling her gloves back on her hands.

  He stood with her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Listen, why don’t we have lunch together this Friday? In fact, every Friday?” He suddenly felt the need to not lose the connection she had tentatively forged. His wife may have difficulty dealing with what had happened, but he was sure that she would appreciate the fact that he had reached out to Rachel.

  “I don’t want to make trouble for you and Maryanne. We’d be seen.”

  “Then…how about meeting across the river in Kentucky? There’s a little roadside café off of Route 27, about twenty miles down. No one would ever see us there. Come on, Rae. Is it a date?” He chucked her under the chin, trying to tease a smile out of her.

  For the first time since she’d arrived, there was a ghost of a real smile. “OK, I’d like that.”