“No,” Lea’s voice rose and her words came more quickly. “She was always an independent person, he just made her feel really loved.”
“Sounds like they had a wonderful relationship,” said Mattheus.
“Yes, they did,” Lea’s voice softened. “There’s no question about it, they loved each other a lot. She even once told me she thought her mother’s spirit had brought him to her.”
Cindy felt a chill go all through her body.
“Do you think Tara’s with her mother now?” Lea turned to Cindy.
“I have no idea,” said Cindy.
“Did you see Tara after she and Lynch came back from their swim?” Mattheus went on.
Lea suddenly seemed quite tired and leaned back again on her chair and closed her eyes. “No, I didn’t,” she said in a low voice, covering her eyes from the sun with her hand. “God, how I only wish I had seen her.”
“Were you supposed to?” asked Cindy. “Had you guys planned to meet later on before the rehearsal dinner?”
“We didn’t actually plan to,” said Lea. “Our rooms were next to each other on the floor, and we just popped in and out naturally. The last time I saw her was earlier in the day when she told me that she and Lynch were going to take a swim in the Cove. I told her I thought it was a good thing to do,” Lea’s voice got tight and it was hard for her to speak. “I regret it now, oh how I regret it.”
“Why do you regret it?” Cindy honed in.
“Look what happened?” Lea took her hand down from her face. “She went to the Cove and I never saw her again.”
“She returned though, didn’t she?” Mattheus zeroed in.
“Of course she returned then,” said Lea. “At least that’s what I thought.”
“Somebody saw her come back with Lynch?” Mattheus went on.
“Raina told the police she saw the two of them after they returned,” Lea said.
“Why didn’t you pop into her room and see her?” Cindy asked.
“I should have, I should have,” Lea got upset again. “I was down at the beach, tanning. I thought I’d see her at the dinner.”
“Who else saw her and Lynch come back from the swim?” Mattheus continued.
Lea looked bewildered. “I’m not sure, why?”
“I’m just wondering if she ever returned,” said Mattheus, probing.
“Raina saw them,” Lea repeated, horrified. “Raina said that Lynch and Tara stopped into her room and chatted with her. Lynch and Tara are very close to Raina.”
“What’s Raina like?” Cindy asked then, in an offhanded way.
“She’s fine,” Lea said, “she’s strong, she’s bossy.”
“Tara was close to her?” Cindy continued.
Beads of sweat broke out on Lea’s forehead and she slowly wiped them away. “This is exhausting for me,” she said softly.
“I know it is, and I’m sorry Lea,” said Cindy, “but we need to hear whatever you know about all of this. Tell me more about Tara and Raina’s relationship?”
Lea shrugged lightly again. “A daughter in law and mother in law to be,” she started, “not always milk and honey.”
“Far from it,” Cindy agreed.
“Tara really loved Raina in the beginning. She was a substitute for her own mother. But little by little Raina got more and more power in the relationship and began making all the decisions. Particularly when it came time for the engagement party and wedding. Whatever she wanted, had to go. And more and more Lynch began deferring to her.”
“That couldn’t have been pleasant,” said Cindy.
“It wasn’t,” Lea agreed, “Tara and I talked about it a lot and I told her over and over it was just part of having a mother in law. Everyone went through it.”
“She did buy that?” asked Mattheus.
“Sometimes she did and sometimes not,” Lea said. “I think what upset her as much as Raina, was the fact that Lynch went along with it. She even confronted him about it one time, but he didn’t seem to understand what she was talking about.”
“That wasn’t good,” said Cindy.
“It wasn’t horrible,” Lea retorted. “Lynch was terrific to Tara in every way. He was also very close to his mother. I told Tara to leave it alone, not to make him choose between them.”
“That was good advice,” said Mattheus.
Lea stopped and smiled at Mattheus a moment. “Thank you very much for saying that,” she smiled back. I needed to hear that.”
“You’ve been a good friend, Lea,” Mattheus emphasized.
“Really?” she said, “I keep wondering about that now.”
Cindy could see what a huge strain Lea was under, how she blamed herself for all that had taken place.
“What happened to Tara was nothing to do with you,” Mattheus continued. He obviously liked Lea, felt warmly towards her.
“You can’t know that for sure,” Lea continued. “Sometimes the wrong advice turns a person down a twisted road. I shouldn’t have told her to go swimming with Lynch that afternoon.”
“Why in the world not?” asked Cindy. “How could you have ever imagined that something like this would take place?”