The Lake

TWENTY-NINE

Deana went to the kitchen in search of coffee. It was eight a.m., just six hours since she’d left Warren’s place. All she needed was a mug of hot coffee and maybe, just maybe, she’d crawl back to bed…

The flowers were standing in the sink.

“Wow, Mom. Who sent those? Don’t tell me. Your new friend, ta-dah: Detective Mace Harrison!”

“Right the first time, hon,” Leigh said, ignoring Deana’s last remark. “They’re from Mace. Aren’t they just beautiful?”

Deana stared at the bunch of flowers. Exotic pink orchids mixed with sprays of white freesias. Still encased in their cellophane wrapper and tied with a pink satin bow.

Some bouquet.

Puzzled, she looked at Leigh.

“I had no idea things had gotten so far. So soon.”

Leigh smiled dreamily. “You better believe it, hon. Mace and I are getting along very well. He’s so kind and thoughtful. It’s been ages since anyone gave me flowers like these.”

Leigh disappeared into the utility room, busying around finding a vase large enough to hold the flowers. Moments later, she reappeared with a tall, elegant one, decorated with a blue and white Chinese design.

Removing the bow and cellophane, she began arranging the blooms to her liking. She hummed a tune to herself.

Deana couldn’t remember seeing her this happy—so bright-eyed and her cheeks all flushed like those of a teenager in love.

Warning bells rang.

Mom’s got it bad.

Worse than bad, she had this sinking feeling that Mom was more than “getting along very well” with Mace.

Leigh stepped back to admire her display and caught Deana’s expression. A worried frown clouded her face.

“Deana, honey. Smile, please. Be happy for me.”

“Sure thing, Mom. I’m thrilled for you. Really.”

Choked, Deana turned away. She went to her bedroom and closed the door.

So Mace had been here again last night.

Jeez. What an asshole. Bringing flowers, like that. He probably stayed the night.

A thought occurred.

If he was here overnight, did he hear me come in this morning?

Count on it.

Mace is a cop. A real pro. And they say cops on a case never sleep. Right?

And from what Mattie said, Mace was pretty much joined at the hip to his job.

Maybe he heard me come in this morning and decided not to tell Mom. Like he’s saving the news to blackmail me later…

I should tell Mom about Warren.

Before Mace does…

She’d be real worried, knowing about my midnight trysts.

She’d worry herself sick…

God. That’s the last thing she needs, what with Nelson still on the loose and everything.

After I’d promised I wouldn’t leave the house, wander off without her knowing.

I’ll have to tell her about Warren.

Before Mace gets there first.

She’d never forgive me if that happened.

Her mind in a turmoil, Deana returned to the kitchen.

Leigh was still lingering over the flowers.

Deana cleared her throat.

“Mom. I have something to tell you. You’re not going to like it…”

“Oh? What is it, honey?”

Mom looks so radiant. So happy.

I can’t spoil it for her.

“Mom,” she began. Hating herself. Knowing she was about to chicken out of telling the truth. “I’m really happy for you. If this is what you want, I hope it works out for you and Mace.”

Christ.

I’m such a liar.

A deceitful, scheming bitch lying her way out of a seriously tricky situation.

I could say I met Warren accidentally. That might take her mind off Mace for a while.

She pictured what would happen when she told Mom about Warren.

“And where did you meet him, honey? We both agreed you should stay in the house, not go out unless I was with you… Yes, I know it’s hard, Deana… Oh. You met him when you were out running…”

A pregnant pause.

Then: “AT NIGHT???”

Yeah.

Can you just imagine it?

Finito. No more midnight runs.

Door key confiscated.

Chained to the bed—till Mace nails Nelson…

Yeah. Great.

Like sometime, never—that’s when Mace’ll nail Nelson. Just so he can hang around Mom some more. If Nelson’s still around to nail, that is.

“Mom. Was Mace here last night?”

“I told you he was, dear.”

“Yeah, I know he visited last night, Mom. Like late. But when did he leave? Did he spend the night here?”

Leigh blushed.

Deana cringed. She hated embarrassing her mom like this.

“Okay, Deana. Yes. He called me after you’d gone to bed. And we talked…

“In the end, as we had so much to discuss, I asked him to come on over.”

“Mom!”

Her hunch was right, then.

Mace had been in the house when she came back from seeing Warren.

Could be they were both awake when I arrived home.

In the early hours.

Two twenty-five, to be precise.

Christ!

So Mace could’ve heard me come in!

But Mom hadn’t?

If she had, she’d have asked me about it first thing this morning.

“Where did he get the flowers from?” Deana demanded, borrowing time, not quite knowing what to say next. “That time of night?”

“Woke up old Fess Winters, the florist on Main Street. Told him he wanted the biggest bunch of the most expensive flowers he’d got. And here they are. Mace is so romantic, isn’t he?”

Yeah. A pretty impulsive guy.

Bet Old Man Winters thought so, too.

Nice going, Mace.

No wonder Mom looks so dreamy, so starry-eyed this morning.

Orchids for the lady.

I think I’m gonna throw up.