Free Nephew's Wife, The by Barbara Kaylor Page B

smiled. “You have to admit it was a pleasant evening, those silly women aside. The caterers did a nice job, the food was delicious, and seeing Dolly so perky was worth all the trouble.”
    “Not enough to repeat it every month,” Rand sighed. He gazed at Ellen with love stirring in his heart.  Soft light spilled on her from above, creating a halo affect around her silky hair.  He’d had a tough time keeping his eyes off her all evening. She outshined the others without much ado. Her natural beauty needed no help, but the light coat of makeup enhanced her feminine features.  The dark blue dress she’d worn had just enough sequins in it to be labeled a party dress, but its simple, sleek style gave her a classy look.  She was worlds apart from the other women who were overdressed, overly made up, and overly self-absorbed.
    While Ellen sat quietly and listened, the others tried to out one each other in the achievement department, bragging about all their accomplishments.  Not one asked Ellen about the recent death of her fiancé or mentioned her nine years spent working at the care center just to be near him.  Rand suspected Ellen didn’t mind the slight. She preferred not to be the center of attention. 
    Rand and Ellen talked a little more about nothing then strolled back to the house, each with thoughts of the other.
     
    The Monday following the dinner party, Rand came home, carrying the mail as usual. Ellen was waiting in the entrance hall for Dolly’s.
    “Umm, you have a letter, Ellen.” Rand handed her a white business-sized envelope. “Aunt Dolly doesn’t have anything today.”
    Ellen examined her letter with dread.  There was no return address, but the post mark indicated it was mailed in Tampa.  Fear erupted from a dark hiding place inside her.  Thankfully, Rand was too busy studying his own mail to notice her nerves unraveling.
    “Aren’t you going to open it?” Rand asked moments later when Ellen hadn’t moved.
    Ellen shrugged. “It’s probably nothing.”
    They both headed upstairs.  Rand always visited his aunt whenever he returned home.  When they reached outside Ellen’s door, she turned to Rand with her hand on her head.
    “I’m not feeling well, Rand,” she said.  “Would you tell Dolly I’m going to lie down for a while?”
    “Of course, Ellen,” he said with concern in his eyes.  Alarm bells went off inside him when she disappeared inside her room without another word.  Rand wondered if the letter had anything to do with her sudden sickness.  He didn’t like seeing her so troubled.
                  Ellen waited until she heard Rand shut Dolly’s bedroom door before glancing at the letter in her hand.  It looked menacing. Her heart pounded inside her chest.  No one other than her insurance company knew her address.  Dread overwhelmed her.
    Both her hands trembled as Ellen took several deep breaths then ripped open the envelope.  She pulled out a neatly folded sheet of typing paper.  Slowly, she unfolded it and read the feminine writing. 
                                Ellen,
                            I know what you’ve done! You can fool everyone else, but I know you were not in love with Paul when he died.  You’re masquerade as the suffering fiancée is over! Paul called me after you broke up with him. He was devastated and too upset to drive. You can pretend all you want that you stayed by his side because you loved him, but I know better.  It’s your fault he’s dead. You killed him!
                            I’m prepared to tell the press the whole truth.  If you don’t want me to go to Robin Davenport with what really happened the night of the accident then meet me in the parking lot on the west side of the public library, next Monday evening at six. Be there or I’ll call Robin at 6:15 PM. 
    It was signed, from someone who knows about your