Veiled Revenge (26 page)

“Yes.”

“Think you could stay home and stay put?”

“I could sleep all day if I put my mind to it.” That was part of Lacey’s plan, to take some time for herself before the wedding, after her maid-of-honor chores were done. She mentally ticked off the list. The reception was booked, the menu was settled, the flowers were confirmed, the cake was being baked, the bridesmaids had their pink dresses, Alma Lopez was hard at work on the dress, and God bless Brooke, the favors were all assembled. The only thing in doubt was the bride.

Lacey looked at her nails. They were a mess, as usual.
Real reporters don’t have great nails.
“I need to call Alma and check on Stella’s dress, but with any luck Stella can pick it up. And I suppose I could put off my mani-pedi until Friday.”

“You do that. And I’ll be your bodyguard tonight.” Vic grinned at her. She smiled back and squeezed his hand.

It’s like he can read my mind.

 * * * 

“Lacey, the dress is finished,” Alma was saying on Lacey’s answering machine. “I only did it for the challenge, you know, and because it’s for you. It looks like—well, it doesn’t look off-the-rack anymore.”

“That’s good,” Lacey said aloud over Alma’s message as Vic checked under her bed, in the closet, and on the balcony for monsters named Natalija.

“This dress is like something out of a fairy tale. Pink and white and fluffy,” Alma’s phone message continued with a chuckle. “And I’m not sure that’s a good thing. But you or Stella or someone can pick it up here tomorrow. I’ll be home all day.” Alma hung up.

“What’s good?” Vic asked, as Lacey clicked off the answering machine.

“Stella’s dress is done. At least one thing today is going right.”
Bo Peep will be ready to find her sheep after all.

Chapter 30

Lacey brought her morning coffee out to her balcony, overlooking the Potomac River. Her old and shabby-though-built-to-be-bombproof building had a million-dollar view of the river. The view from her balcony would be her attempt to start Thursday on a serene note.

After last night’s rain, the morning was crisp and the trees fresh and spring green. The pavement far beneath her seventh-floor balcony was drying out and the pink and white azaleas around the building were blooming early. Lacey spotted an osprey swooping down through the air and then flapping its way back up, with a big fish in its mouth. It landed on its nest, built on pilings in the river.

Her south-facing balcony would be lovely until about noon, when the sun would heat the bricks like an oven and force her back inside. It would be livable again in the late afternoon, when the sun dipped behind the south wing of the building.

Lacey loved mornings like this, when she didn’t have to be at the office, when she could take a moment to breathe. When she forgot about the potential menace of Natalija Krumina, life was good. She watched sailboats launch from Belle Haven Park.

And then she saw the pink car pull into the parking lot.

There could be only one bright pink 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz like this one. It was a classic land yacht with fins and it belonged to Vic’s mother, Nadine Donovan. The vintage pink Caddy was Nadine’s pride and joy and only eighteen hundred of them had been made, she’d told Lacey. Today the top was down, the better for the world to admire her big bold car.

Nadine grew up a cowgirl in Nevada. She rode horses and roped calves before meeting Sean Daniel Donovan, Vic’s dad, and following him around the country, throughout his military and Pentagon career, before eventually becoming a McLean, Virginia, matron. Nadine was equal to any situation: Piloting a giant pink Caddy was no challenge for her. Lacey watched her get out of the car, which she patted lovingly on one fin. Nadine’s favorite toy emerged from its climate-controlled garage only on lovely days like today. For more mundane purposes she drove a big Mercedes sedan.

She must be in a fine mood
, Lacey thought.
This can only mean trouble
.

In her early sixties, Nadine wore the glossy patina of the well-bred, well-groomed Washington woman. Her soft brown short pageboy veered awfully close to the classic Washington Helmet-Head, but Lacey would never have breathed that sentiment aloud. Vic’s slim and fit mother could still wrangle a horse, as well as her husband and son. Not to mention the way she wrangled Lacey, who at Nadine’s command had dutifully concocted ridiculously labor-intensive homemade desserts for family holiday dinners.

Today, Nadine wore bright green slacks with a green and white cardigan set and designer sunglasses. Stepping out of her vintage Caddy, she belonged in a retro car ad. She took that moment to look up, and spotted Lacey on her balcony. She smiled and waved, and pulled her phone out of her purse. Lacey’s phone rang.

“Hey, girl, you got some coffee up there?”

 * * * 

It was the first time Nadine had seen Lacey’s apartment, and Lacey could only hope it, and she, would pass muster. Nadine had missed seeing her son. He had just left only an hour before.

Lacey peered in the mirror to smooth her hair and inspect her casual vintage dress. She could have thrown on jeans, but the day was too pretty and fresh for that. The violet polished-cotton dress with the wide belt and purple detailing around the neck was softer and cooler to wear, particularly with the flared skirt and short cuffed and buttoned sleeves. Her vintage mood from the previous evening had extended to the morning and she wanted to wear something with style.

“Isn’t this cozy,” Nadine remarked, moving past the trunk and the blue velvet sofa Aunt Mimi had bequeathed to Lacey. She walked straight through the living room and out to the balcony. “What a view! I can see why you wanted to be out here this morning.”

Lacey brought a tray with coffee, cream, and sugar. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything special to offer you.” It was the kind of moment that called for coffee cake or a slice of homemade nut bread.

“Nonsense, you’ve got other things on your mind. I know you only whip up one of those fabulous desserts at my request.” Nadine’s eyes were twinkling. “They’re not for every day.”

“Having you visit is an unexpected surprise.”

Nadine found that amusing. “I imagine so. I wanted to make sure you’re doing all right. I understand there’s trouble brewing over this wedding of your friend’s.”

“You’ve been talking to Vic.” Lacey topped off her coffee.

“Interrogating him, you mean? As his mother, it’s only natural to take advantage of the privilege now and then.”

It was Lacey’s turn to be amused. “Only natural.”

“God knows I try not to pry, but I do get curious. And concerned.”

“I understand.”

Lacey was glad her own mother was back in Denver. Rose Smithsonian had a certain something in common with Nadine Donovan and Lady Gwendolyn Griffin. It wasn’t merely that these women wanted to protect their children. They wanted to be
front and center
protecting their cubs.

“I cannot tolerate people who use cars as weapons. First trying to run you down, and then messing with Vic’s brakes! Shocking.”

“No one would dare touch your Eldorado,” Lacey said.

“If anyone lays a hand on my pink baby, I’ll run them down myself. Justifiable homicide.” Nadine smiled and sipped. “Where do you think all this is heading?”

“I’m not sure, but we finally think we know who’s behind it.” Lacey briefly described their theory about the return of Natalija Krumina, hell-bent on revenge.

“Quite a story! The more you know about this woman, the safer everyone will be. Knowledge is power. And Lacey, that brings me to what I wanted to talk to you about.” Nadine narrowed her eyes. “What’s up with you and my Sean Victor Donovan?” she said, using Vic’s full name. “He’s been—
twitchy
ever since you two came back from Colorado.”

“Twitchy? Are we in trouble?”

“You will be if you up and elope on me,” Nadine said. “Like he did with his practice wife, Montana.
Hussy
is an old-fashioned word, but in this case it fits. And in Las Vegas, of all places. Of course, I am thankful they didn’t do it in a church, so he’s free to marry in the church
this
time. Now, I can understand, under the circumstances, what with your friend’s wedding gone wild, why an elopement might suddenly look rather alluring.”

Uh oh.
“What has Vic told you?”

“Not a thing.” Nadine laughed at Lacey’s discomfort. “That man is a stone wall. Why would he tell his mother anything? I came here to tell you that there are a number of—well, it sounds silly to call them family jewels. But there are a few old rings with some lovely biggish diamonds that would be nice to keep in the family. That is,
if
you were actually engaged, and
if
you were planning an actual wedding, as opposed to an elopement, and
if
you thought you might like a wedding ring with a Donovan family diamond. The settings aren’t much, they’re rather gaudy old-fashioned things, but the stones are quite nice, and you could always have them reset. Just something to think about.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Lacey’s face registered shock.

“Don’t say anything for now. I wanted you to know that option is available.”

Lacey’s cell phone rang in the nick of time. “Excuse me, Nadine. I really have to take this.”

“Hey, Lacey!” It was Stella. “Look in your parking lot.” Lacey stood up, scanned the back parking lot, and spotted Stella’s red Mini Cooper, the one with the American flag on the roof.

“What do you know? There you are.” She turned and whispered to Nadine. “It’s the bride-maybe-to-be.” Nadine peered down over the balcony.

“Is someone else up there, Lace?”

“Vic’s mom, Nadine. You sound happy, Stel. Anything I should know?”

“I am happy!” Stella popped out of the Mini and Lady Gwendolyn Griffin extracted herself from the passenger side. They both waved at Lacey from below.

“Would you like to come up for some coffee?” She didn’t know what else to say.

“I thought you would never ask!”

Stella and Lady Gwendolyn were soon at her door. Stella came with a small bag of chocolate caramels from Co Co. Sala, the restaurant where Nigel had taken her the night before.
Must have been a successful evening
, Lacey concluded, overseeing a fresh pot of coffee in her vintage electric percolator. She didn’t need any more coffee.

“Wow, that thing is old,” Stella said, barely through the door. “Same one you’ve always had?”

“Sue me, it makes great coffee,” Lacey said.

“I totally love it, it so goes with the décor. And your dress.”

Lacey led them out onto the sunny balcony. “Let me introduce Nadine Donovan, Vic’s mother. And Nadine, my friend Stella and Lady Gwendolyn Griffin, Stella’s mother-in-law-to-be.”

Lacey busied herself pouring coffee while eyeing her friend’s look and demeanor. Stella had changed out of the ugly T-shirt and old leggings and into a navy miniskirt and red and white striped knit top. Topping her pink-tipped curls, she wore a navy beret with a red heart pin. She looked fresh and adorable and rather French.
Alternate universe French, but French.

Clad in yet another tweed combo was Lady Gwendolyn, who today wore a gloomy moss green with flecks of mud brown. Lacey wondered if perhaps she secretly had her own designer line of tweeds:
Tweeds R Us! If we don’t carry it, IT’S NOT TWEED!

“We came to inform you that your, let us say,
timely
suggestions to my Nigel are greatly appreciated,” Gwendolyn said.

“Do you have news?” Lacey asked.

“Yes!” Stella hugged her and squealed. “I’m getting married on Saturday!”

“Hurray!” Lacey hugged her back.

“It was touch and go for a while,” Gwendolyn said. “I wanted to thank you for your part in bringing our two lovebirds back together.”

“Oh, yeah,” Stella continued. “Nigel fessed up about your suggestions over dinner, which was fabulous by the way. Nothing like chocolate endorphin overload. But when he showed up in a brand-new pink shirt and tie, with that exact copy of my bridal bouquet—oh, my God. I burst into tears, Lace
.
How could I say no? Have one of these chocolate thingies, they’re great.”

“That’s wonderful, Stella.” Lacey sighed with relief and helped herself to a chocolate caramel.

“I mean, I love him to death! What kind of coward would I be if I was afraid of killers with random limos?”

Nadine smiled, and Gwendolyn said, “Yes, my daughter-in-law-to-be is an exuberant girl. So refreshing, isn’t she?”

“Very,” Nadine agreed with a grin. “And you’ll always know what she’s
really
thinking.”

“Wait a minute!” Stella said. “Vic’s mom! You’re the one!”

“The one?” Nadine asked. “Which one?”

“The one with the pink Valentine’s Day party that Lacey made the pink cake for,” Stella said.

“
That
cake?” Gwendolyn said. “Oh, my. I remember when you made the practice cake and we all ate it.”

It wasn’t supposed to be practice
, Lacey thought.
And I had to make it twice
.

“It was delicious,” Nadine said. “Lacey, I had no idea you made a practice cake too.”

“Practice makes perfect, they say. You don’t want to let your boyfriend’s mother down.”

“And Nadine, you’re also the one with that fabulous pink Caddy, right?” Stella squeaked. “O.M.G., Lady G! That’s the Caddy I pointed out in the parking lot.”

“Spectacular,” Gwendolyn said. “Nothing quite like that in the UK. Wouldn’t fit down half the streets.”

Stella leaned over the balcony wall to admire it again. “Wow! Look at those fins! What a car! We have a white stretch limousine booked for the wedding. Had to go with white. I just couldn’t find anything big and beautiful and
pink
—” Stella was struck with a brainstorm, but didn’t know exactly how to finesse what she wanted to say.

It didn’t matter—Nadine was already there. Nevertheless, she wanted to hear the audiobook version. “Nothing in pink? What a shame.”

“Well, there was one, but it was already reserved. I mean, I’m having a
pink
wedding. Under pink cherry blossoms. And a pink reception, and a pink cake.”

“Not to mention the pink tent,” Gwendolyn offered. “And pink balloons.”

“How great would it be to have a fabulous pink wedding car too.” Stella sighed meaningfully.

Nadine put her cup down on Lacey’s wicker table. “Stella. I know this has never crossed your mind, but would you and your groom like to be chauffeured in my pink Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz? And did I mention it’s pink?”

Stella lit up. “I know it would be too much to ask, but Vic’s coming to the wedding and maybe he could drive—”

“Not Vic. He’ll have his hands full with the maid of honor, I expect,” Nadine replied. “But if, say,
I
were a guest, and my husband, we would be happy to drive you and the groom around the Tidal Basin. It would make quite a show.”

Stella jumped up and hugged Nadine. “You’re invited! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“It’s a deal.” Nadine beamed. “One way to see my son, after all. He seems so preoccupied these days.” She sent a knowing look Lacey’s way.

“Wedding photos of Nigel and me in a vintage pink Cadillac! I can’t believe it. Yesterday was all gloomy and gray, and today it’s all
La Vie en Rose
.”

What a difference a day makes
. Nadine winked at Lacey and smiled.

“Stella, before I forget,” Lacey said, “your dress is ready to be picked up.”

“Everything is coming together. Just like a miracle,” Stella said.

“Do you want Alma’s address? She’s my seamstress,” Lacey explained to the others. “She’s up in Arlington. It’s a little tricky to find.”

“Gee, Lacey, we’re kind of on our way somewhere. Could you pick it up for me? Pretty please? Lady G and I are heading down to Mount Vernon.”

“A little together time,” Gwendolyn said. “You understand.”