Death by Engagement (11 page)

“Do
we really have to go into this now, just when Shari’s died?” Doug was becoming
flustered. “Isn’t this the time to speak well of her, remember her kindly?”

“Doug’s
just like my mom in many ways,” Kate couldn’t help but speak up. “He always
thinks deeply about what’s right for all.”

“Thank
you, Kate.” Andrea took that as a compliment, turned to her daughter and
managed a taut smile.

“I’m
not as tactful as my mother, though,” Kate couldn’t help but add. “And I’m not
as forgiving. I like to say what’s on my mind at all times.”

“Was
there something you had to forgive Shari for?” Cindy was right on it. It was
her job to discover hidden dissension, and she was good at it.

“I
didn’t mean it that way,” Kate replied. “Shari never did anything to me or
anyone. But since we’re talking about it honestly, let me just say I was always
worried about her mood swings.”

“She
had mood swings or depression?” Mattheus intervened then.

“Both,
I guess,” said Kate. “They’re the same, aren’t they?”

“Not
exactly, but go on,” Mattheus was becoming more engaged.

Kate
jumped on it, obviously needing to talk. “You’d make an appointment with Shari
and she wouldn’t show. Everyone thought it was cute, but not me. I thought she
just didn’t care enough. And I wondered how could someone like that make a good
wife for my brother?” Kate seemed to feel victorious at having finally said
what was on her mind.

“Shari’s
mood swings were handled by her medication,” Doug responded flatly, suddenly
sounding a great deal like his mother.

“But
why would you marry someone who always needed medication?” Kate flushed as she
confronted Doug again now.

“Pipe
down, Kate, pipe down,” her father insisted again. “It’s a moot question now,
anyway, isn’t it? Shari is gone.”

The
shock of that statement, and the reality of what had just taken place, silenced
everyone and hung heavily in the air.

In
a little while Kate willfully broke the silence. “It wasn’t only Shari,” she
went on, “it was the whole family. Shari’s twin sister, Deidre, is also
strange, nobody will deny that.”

Again
a harsh silence fell down upon them.

“What
does the fact that Deidre was strange have to do with Doug marrying Shari?”
Mattheus pursued it. “There’s always some strange family members that people
have to contend with.”

“Not
strange like Deidre, though.” Kate ‘s voice got louder. “She only has a few friends,
never dates, spends hours alone hiking on weird trails. I mean that is strange.
Did Doug really want that gene pool for his children?”

At
that Doug stood up briskly, pushed himself away from the table, and stared at
Kate.

“Why
are you talking this way now? What’s wrong with you?” he practically shouted at
her.

“Shari’s
gone! There’s no reason to tear down her family now.”

“There’s
never a reason to tear anyone down,” Doug’s father pronounced formally. “We
accepted the family, we accepted the situation. In fact, Andrea and Marla,
Shari’s mother, seemed to get on fairly well. Isn’t that so, Andrea?”

“Yes,
of course it is. We had lunch together from time and time and it was entirely
pleasant.”

Kate
spun around in her chair then and looked out the back of the gazebo. “I’m
sorry, I don’t mean to talk against the dead,” she piped up. “I just wanted to
help the investigation.”

“Thank
you, Kate.” Cindy stood up and put her hand on Kate’s shoulder. “You helped us
a lot.”

“I
did?” Kate spun back around then. “How?”

“Yes,
how?” asked Andrea, surprised by Cindy’s comment as well.

“It’s
important to get a full picture when you’re trying to determine how a person
really died,” Cindy responded.

“I
beg your pardon?” Doug’s father stood up and spoke loudly. “What is there to
determine, exactly? I was told it was clear that the cause of death was
suicide.”

Doug
turned to his father then. “Shari’s father hired Cindy and Mattheus to find out
if that’s how Shari really died. He doesn’t believe it was suicide, he thinks
it was foul play.”

Doug’s
father seemed totally stunned. “I thought Cindy and Mattheus were simply here
to help the families deal with the news and adjust to the situation,” he said,
unbelievingly.

“We’re
here to investigate a possible crime,” Cindy informed him.

“Why,
that’s preposterous, it’s ridiculous!” Doug’s father insisted. “If I’d known
that I’d never have spent this time with you.”

Andrea
got up as well then, and brushed her hair off the edge of her forehead.

“That
does seem like wild speculation,” she concurred. “But, as I recall, Doug did
mention to me that Shari’s father was prone to being suspicious of every little
thing. Isn’t that so, Doug?”

“Yes,
that’s exactly right,” Doug replied.

“Don’t
worry about it.” Mattheus got up and stood beside Andrea then. “We’re spending
a little time going over things to help Shari’s father accept the loss of his
daughter.”

“You
don’t actually believe a murder took place, do you?” Doug’s father swiftly
intercepted.

“No,
of course, I don’t,” said Mattheus quietly, calming all of them down.

“But
I’m not so sure,” Cindy piped up, determined to hold to her reality and not get
involved in a whitewash of any kind.

“Not
so sure?” Kate’s eyes shot open. “Tell me more, I’m fascinated.”

“Kate,
it’s enough!” her father demanded.

“Tell
me later, then,” Kate whispered to Cindy as the little group moved away from
one another and started to disband.

“Lovely
family,” Mattheus commented after they’d all gone and he and Cindy were headed
back to their room. “Except for Kate, who’s a little rough around the edges, if
you ask me. But otherwise they’re a great support for Doug. It’s good to see
that.”

Cindy
didn’t agree. Except for Kate, she actually didn’t much like any of them, Doug
included.

“I
think they’re basically stiff and formal,” Cindy replied. “I can’t warm up to
any of them, except for Kate, that is. “

“Really?”
Mattheus was surprised. “Can’t warm up to Doug? He’s a good person.”

“I’m
sure he is,” Cindy agreed, “there’s just something cold about him.”

“I
don’t see that at all,” Mattheus countered, “and what do you like about Kate?”

“She’s
spirited,” said Cindy. “She’ll say what she feels, no matter what her family
thinks.”

Mattheus
smiled. “You always like the rebels, Cindy, I knew that from the first day I
met you.”

“I
like all different kinds of people,” said Cindy, “but mostly the
straightforward ones!”

Mattheus
put his arms around Cindy’s shoulders and pulled her to him then. “I hope that
includes me? I hope I’m straightforward enough for you.”

Cindy
laughed. “Why in the world would you ever doubt that?” she said.

“I
don’t know,” he grumbled playfully, “sometimes I doubt everything. Sometimes I
even wonder what an incredible, gorgeous woman like you could possibly see in
me?”

Cindy
was stopped short. Mattheus wasn’t joking, he meant it.

“I
see the whole world in you, Mattheus,” Cindy responded. “I see a fantastic man
with high principles, a real friend, a great lover, a loyal and deep partner,
an adventurer. I see a happy life for us together.”

Mattheus
closed his eyes. “Thank God,” he murmured slowly.

Cindy
shook him by the shoulders. “What do you mean, thank God? Do you truly doubt
that I love you, and want us to have a life together?”

Mattheus
opened his eyes slowly. “Sometimes doubts do arise,” he confessed. “There are
so many other things that take you away from me, grab your attention, and
you’re off.”

Cindy
was amazed. “Like what?”

“Like
work,” Mattheus repeated. “Sometimes I feel I’m actually competing with your
investigations. They engage you so completely. You jump right in, you adore
it.”

“I
adore you, too,” said Cindy.

“Not
as much as work,” he joked.

“Do
I have to choose between the two?” Cindy felt uneasy. “It was the work that
brought us together, Mattheus. It’s the work we both love to do. We’re partners
in it. What more could we ask?”

“Yes,
of course,” Mattheus relented. “But I’m human, after all.” Then his nose
crinkled as he smiled the smile that always melted Cindy’s heart. ‘“Do you want
to take time together or alone when we get back?” Cindy asked. “I’ll leave the
plans for the rest of the day to you.”

“Did
you forget already?” Mattheus was surprised. “Your mother and Frank will be
down this afternoon. We’re taking them to the Flanders, for an early dinner and
then an evening sail.”

“We
are?” Cindy was flabbergasted. The fact that her family was coming had
completely escaped her mind. “I guess I knew they were coming,” she mumbled,
“just not when exactly.” Then she turned to Mattheus, who was grinning. “And
when did we make those plans?”

“We
didn’t,” Mattheus laughed, “I made them as a surprise for you. Do you like the
idea of the Flanders for dinner and then a moonlight sail?”

The
Flanders was one of the most expensive and exotic clubs on the island. Cindy
and Mattheus had planned to go to it together to celebrate after they’d found
their wedding venue.

“It’s
a wonderful plan,” said Cindy. “It’s kind of you to want to share that place
with them.”

“Kind?
They’re your family,” Mattheus responded. “And now, any family of yours is also
a family of mine.”

*

Even
though Cindy’s mother and Frank were going to stay at the same hotel, the plan
was to meet them at the Flanders that night for dinner. Her mother and Frank
wanted to go out shopping almost as soon as they got to Aruba and said it would
be more convenient to meet there.

Before
Cindy dressed for the Flanders, she and Mattheus decided to go to the beach in
the late afternoon and take a long swim together. It was soothing and wonderful
to be relaxing alone with him and even more fun to be swimming together in the
ocean, playing in the waves. As Cindy and Mattheus splashed together in the
warm, rippling water, all kinds of thoughts tumbled through her mind. Cindy
appreciated Mattheus’s sharing his insecurities about their relationship with
her. She wanted to let him know she’d heard him and give him what he needed. He
obviously needed to know that he was the most important thing in Cindy’s life.
That was a tall order, Cindy thought, as she turned and floated on a rolling
wave. Of course Mattheus was deeply important to her, she loved and cherished
him, but was he the
most
important thing in her life? Was he supposed to
be? That was actually a fascinating question that Cindy had not given much
thought to before. Why couldn’t several things be deeply important, like work,
values, friends and family? Did your life have to revolve around one person,
was that realistic? Would it stay that way their whole life long?

A
large wave came from behind suddenly, lifting both Cindy and Mattheus with it.
Mattheus swam closer, caught Cindy in his arms, pulled her to him, and as the
wave tossed them to and fro, kissed her for a long while. When they parted, as
if he’d been reading her thoughts, Mattheus whispered, “You’re the most
important thing in the world to me, Cindy. And you always will be, as long as
we live.”

Cindy
trembled as another wave swirled around them. She wished she could say the same
back to him, but all she could answer was, “I love you, too.”

*

Cindy
dressed for the evening at the Flanders club carefully. Not only was it a
high-end spot, with glittering lights, gorgeous décor and wonderful food, but
her mother and Frank would look her over carefully. As she stepped out of the
bathroom in a tight silver macramé dress, Mattheus stepped back and whistled.

“Am
I really this lucky to have someone like you?” He grinned broadly.

“You
don’t look so bad yourself,” Cindy played along. And, actually, he did look
gorgeous, suntanned and toned, dressed in an expensive dinner suit. “In fact,
we could be going to our wedding dressed like this,” Cindy went on.

“Might
not be such a bad idea,” said Mattheus. “Just go and get it done with.”

“That’s
a good way to bypass the jitters,” Cindy joked along.

“Are
you up for it?” Mattheus suddenly became excited. “Your family’s here now, and
we could take a day to get the papers, and then have the ceremony on the
beach.”

Cindy
was totally taken aback, not sure he was kidding.

 “I
thought you wanted a big, fancy wedding,” she replied. “You said that over and
over, told me you wanted to invite everyone you knew.”

“Yes,
I do,” Mattheus grinned. “But I also want to make sure my bride shows up at
it.”

Cindy
shivered unexpectedly. “What makes you think I won’t show up?” She felt
irritated.

“How
do I know another big case won’t come along just as our guests are starting the
cocktail hour?” Mattheus was playing with her. “A body found at the wedding
site and you’re off chasing the killer.”

None
of this was really funny by now, and Cindy didn’t respond.

“Are
you up for getting married fast?” Mattheus pushed the idea once again.

“Definitely
not,” Cindy spoke emphatically. “I want you to have the wedding of your dreams,
Mattheus. And I want you to let go of the idea that I’m not fully on board.”

“Okay,
okay, just joking,” Mattheus quipped.

But
there were too many jokes about it by now and they made Cindy uneasy.

*

When
Cindy and Mattheus arrived at the star-studded club situated on the edge of the
water, music was playing, posh crowds were circulating and they felt fortunate
to have gotten a table right up near the front. As they walked to their table,
Cindy saw her mother and Frank seated already. Her mother was dressed in a
stunning black dress, with her beautiful hair pulled back severely. Perfectly
groomed, as always, she sat tall and straight with an air of defiance about
her. Frank looked the same as usual, except for a sense of sadness he now
carried with him.

“Mom,
Frank.” Cindy smiled and reached out for them as they got to the table.

Frank
stood up and gave Cindy a hug and her mother looked up at her, blankly. Cindy
realized how hard it must be for her mother to be in such a festive setting so
soon after Ann had died.

Cindy
leaned down to her mother and gave her a quick hug.

“You
picked a great place.” Frank tried his best to be jovial and extended his hand
to Mattheus.

“We
got the best table in the house,” Mattheus responded warmly, “and to top it
off, we’ve planned a moonlight sail for us all after dinner’s over.”

Mattheus’s
words didn’t go over well, though. “That sounds like a very long evening.”
Cindy’s mother raised her hand to her forehead as if exhausted.

“We’ve
had a long day,” Frank explained for her. “Could be the sail would be a bit too
much.”