Death by Request (Caribbean Murder #11)

I have to get those gifts for mom, Jenna and Hank, was sprawled on top of another page. I don’t want to go to dinner there again, empty handed. Let Owen fuss about it all he wants or say I’m too attached to my family. My family is his family too now. They’re his only family. He’s probably as attached to them as I am, just hides it, like any man.

Cindy didn’t want to read too much into that. It didn’t sound like a major source of contention between Owen and Tara, just something she mentioned in passing. Most couples had to work out how much time they spent with their extended families. Cindy personally never had to go through that struggle with Clint. He’d loved Ann, and Cindy’s mother had never been available. There had been some friction between Ann and Mattheus though, but now Cindy realized to her horror that the friction was over. Ann was gone. Cindy felt a deep pit in her stomach, thinking of who remained in her family and how distant she was from them all. Mattheus had become Cindy’s real family now.

There was no way Cindy could read the entire diary right now, nor did she have to. A great deal of it simply recorded simple events of the day. It was not relevant to what had happened to Tara, showed no sign of danger up ahead. Cindy browsed through the pages looking for some indication of conflict or concern, either with Owen or anyone else. Very little appeared. The only conflict Cindy found was in the exchanges between Tara and Veronica. Their relationship upset Tara and she talked about it quite a lot. When Cindy found mention of it, she stopped and read the entry carefully.

Veronica keeps saying that Owen is taking advantage of me, one page boldly stated. Nonsense, ridiculous! I’m beginning to think Veronica’s jealous of my relationship with Owen, that she can’t stand to see two people so happy together after all these years. I told her she can enjoy playing head games with Bill all she wants. Owen and I aren’t into that. That didn’t go over so well, either. Veronica said all guys need head games to keep things spiced up, that I’m a fool to think otherwise. I’m not sure how long I can keep this friendship going. It’s upsetting to hear Veronica’s stupid remarks. Does she enjoy playing head games with me, too? Why else would she say that if I don’t stop catering to Owen, he’ll find his excitement somewhere else? That’s a terrible thing to say and I told her so.

Cindy took a deep, stabbing breath. That comment was mean and uncalled for, Cindy agreed as she continued reading gingerly.

After Veronica said that, I had trouble sleeping that night. When Owen rolled over in bed and said he was tired, I started thinking all kinds of things. Was he sick of me? Was there someone else he wanted? I would never have thought those things if Veronica hadn’t put them into my head. When I told her never to say it again, she laughed and told me to open my eyes and look. It was obvious to her that Owen needed excitement. I said it was obvious to me that she needed plain common sense.

Cindy read that entry over and over. Was Veronica warning Tara of something that Tara refused to see? Tara obsessed about it for the next few pages.

I have to take what Veronica says with a grain of salt, Tara finally concluded. She’s been a good friend for years, since college. Why should I let this one nuttiness of hers spoil everything? Everyone tells me that Veronica loves me, and that she says this kind of thing about everyone’s husband. It’s Veronica’s problem, not mine, thank God.

There was no further mention of it after that. Obviously Tara worked it through, talking it over in her diary. As Cindy read she felt that Tara was basically kind and looked for the best in everyone. Cindy respected the person she was meeting through the diary. It also sounded as though Tara’s marriage was solid. There was no reason here to believe Owen had any motive to end his wife’s life.

Cindy got up, tucked the diary into her briefcase, and went into the bathroom to change to meet Mattheus at dock four. Rather than putting on slacks and a t-shirt, Cindy chose a lovely, lemon chiffon summer dress, fun earrings and open sandals to be ready for their refreshing dinner cruise.

*

The wind was blowing in Mattheus’s hair as he sat on the bench in front of the cruise ship, waiting for Cindy. She came up from behind, put her hands on his shoulders and planted a kiss on the top of his head, totally taking him by surprise.

He spun around delighted, looked at her and whistled. “Boy, don’t you look scrumptious,” he marveled.

Cindy was delighted by his response. There was still certainly enough excitement in their relationship without head games of any kind, Cindy noted. Veronica’s words had obviously hit a nerve, but Veronica was wrong. Men didn’t need to play games forever to keep things alive. Maybe boys did, but not men.

“Let’s get on the boat,” Mattheus said taking Cindy’s hand. “I’ve bought our tickets already; there were only a few left when I arrived.”