Free Love With A Stranger by Janelle Taylor Page B

tonight.”
    “Good, because I’m sure you need it.” So do I, to go through Dad’s desk in privacy. “How would you like to go to Sunday brunch at the King and Prince tomorrow about eleven?”
    Cass loved the resort restaurant on neighboring St. Simons Island. “Do you think we should?”
    “Why not?”
    “People might talk, Peter, if they see us out having fun this soon.”
    “They’re going to talk whether we go out or not. We don’t have anything to hide about Dad’s accident, and we are family, friends.”
    “You’re right again. Eleven o’clock it is.”
    “A splendid decision, Cass. Here we are, so I’ll say good night.”
    Cass took the cup from his hand, smiled, and told him good night before she entered her home to shower and get to bed while she was still calm.
    Following what Cass considered to be a pleasant evening and an improvement in her mood and behavior, things changed the next day, or rather returned to their previous state before deteriorating rapidly.
    By Sunday evening, Cass was a bundle of raw nerves. At brunch, either people had actually stared and whispered at the two of them or Cass had imagined they did. Her mood had darkened and her tension had increased by the minute as she tried to force herself to relax and eat and to ignore those around them. Peter had cautioned her to stop frowning and clenching her teeth several times, and she had snapped at him once to leave her alone. Finally, he had suggested they leave before she embarrassed herself.
    At home, she had apologized to him and told him she didn’t know what had gotten into her, though she was still struggling to gain control of herself, then taken his advice about a Valium and a nap.
    Monday was much the same for her, due in part to another visit from the two offensive detectives who came by to see if she had thought of anything helpful. Cass had told them again she didn’t know of anyone who had wanted Thomas Grantham dead, but she wasn’t sure if she was convincing in view of what she had learned about her deceitful husband following their last visit. If the men had pried into Tom’s briefcase andknew she was lying, it wasn’t apparent to her. The men probed for information about Tom’s net worth and will and beneficiaries, but she told them to ask Tom’s lawyer or son about those matters since they had not yet been discussed with her. She told them she would not speak with them again without Simon Johnson being present, and in parting, she demanded they finalize the investigation as soon as possible and stop tormenting her.
    Cass was appeased a little when Killian apologized and told her they would comply just as soon as the serviceman was questioned about the missing air bag and faulty brakes.
    After their departure, Cass told Inez not to allow the men in the house again, not without Tom’s lawyer being present to guide and protect her. Then she took a Tylenol to ease her pounding head.
    On Tuesday, Cass awoke with the determination to stay calm and busy that day. After breakfast and against Inez’s cautions, she went to a nearby spa with hopes a shampoo and blow dry, facial, manicure, pedicure, and body massage would help her drab appearance and turbulent emotions.
    Instead of relaxing her, Cass realized she was getting more and more agitated with each ensuing procedure. The masseuse’s fingers seemed to dig into her flesh, pinch her muscles; the facial seemed to irritate her skin; and the beautician seemed to claw her scalp during the shampoo and pull her hair during the light teasing and comb-out. During the manicure and pedicure, it was as if the girl was shoving her pleading cuticles back with a screwdriver and as painfully as she could manage.
    Cass knew she was grimacing, moaning, and complaining at each stage of discomfort. At first, each woman tried to chat with her, but she made it very clear she wasn’t wasn’t in a mood to talk. Cass saw each woman frown and try to hurry their specialty, no doubt to