“Don’t worry, my husband will tell your partner whatever you need to know.”
“I also want to hear what happened from your point of view. Everyone sees it differently,” Cindy said.
“So, suddenly I matter now?” said Meryl.
“You don’t matter usually?” asked Cindy.
“Not to my husband, not anymore,” Meryl’s jaw jutted out as she raised the cognac glass to her lips.
“He got what he wanted from me, beautiful daughters, a wonderful home. After that, he lost interest, left me alone most of the time.”
“Is there some way this is connected to your daughter’s death?” Cindy asked quietly.
“Of course not,” said Meryl. “It’s just background information. Something the world out there has no idea of. Everyone thinks we’re the perfect couple, a wonderful family. Not one blemish to be found. People scrambled to be invited to the engagement party. An A list event, I’m sure you know.”
“That’s what I heard,” said Cindy.
Despite herself, Meryl smiled, remembering the evening.
“The party was beautiful, fantastic. Everyone was invited,” She seemed breathless at the memory of it. “People came from all over. We brought many of Tiffany’s friends with us down on the yacht. That’s why we did it over Christmas vacation, when everyone would be around. Many of her friends have families with homes down here. They come to St. Bart’s regularly, especially during the Christmas holidays. These kids have grown up together, year after year.”
Cindy got the picture of an entire world gathering to celebrate this glorious event.
Meryl continued, her eyes shining briefly, “this engagement was a long time in coming. We were all hoping for it. Tad’s wonderful, was top in his class in Princeton.”
“What about Tad’s parents?” Cindy suddenly thought of them.
“Tad’s parents have a villa down here as well. Tad came down on the yacht with us, and then he and Tiffany were planning to spend a few days at his parent’s home after the party.”
Cindy made a note to meet and interview them.
“They must be going through hell,” she said to Meryl.
“Definitely high anxiety,” Meryl responded.
“Have you spoken with them? Are you all in touch?” Cindy asked.
“Briefly,” said Meryl. “They’re not exactly the chummy kind. They prefer staying alone with each other and their daughter, Cissy. Of course I can understand that. You don’t share your sorrow with everyone.”
“Of course not,” said Cindy. But something about the relationship between the two families sounded distant.
“Seems your families were not very close?” Cindy probed gently.
“Close enough,” Meryl bristled. “What difference does it make? Tiffany and Tad were marrying each other, not the families. He and Tiffany had an incredible future together. They’d been going together for two years. We were all waiting and hoping. They finally did it, and now, this!”
“What was their relationship like?” asked Cindy.
“In the beginning they were on and off, like most kids. It took Tiffany time to realize how wonderful he was. But I realized it right away. And I always knew that they would get married. I felt it the day they first met. So did her twin sister, Rori.”
“Tell me more,” Cindy said quietly.
“Richard and I have three daughters,” Meryl went on. Tiffany has a twin sister. Did you know that?”
“Yes, I heard it, but I haven’t met her yet,” said Cindy.
“You will. You’ll meet her, you’ll meet everyone. But Rori is nothing like Tiffany. I’ll tell you that up front.”
Meryl stood up. To Cindy’s surprise she was taller than she appeared in the chair. She walked over to the photos on the wall and motioned for Cindy to come look at them.
“This is Tiffany,” she said, pointing to a large photo in the middle.
Cindy saw a dazzlingly beautiful, blonde young woman smiling out at her. She wore a gorgeous Calypso, silk, midnight blue, original gown, with shimmering sequins.
“We shopped for that dress for a long time,” Meryl said. “It made her eyes more blue, if possible.”
In the photo Tiffany’s long hair fell around her shoulders and her eyes shone unsuspectingly. Tiffany stood there at the peak of her beauty, at a day which heralded the beginning of a glorious new chapter in her life. Her piercing blue eyes almost looked alive now.
“She has her father’s eyes,” Meryl went on. “Tiffany was his favorite. Of course I would never say that to anyone else.”
Beside the photo of Tiffany on the wall, hung another photo of an identical twin. Cindy stared at it. It would have been hard to tell the difference between them, except that the other twin was dressed in a short red satin, halter dress. She wore her hair exactly the same way as Tiffany, but her eyes had a different, defiant look.
“That’s Rori,” said Meryl. “As different from Tiffany as night from day. I always told them apart easily, but now everything has changed. When I look at Rori, I see Tiffany.”