Page 53 of The Wife Stalker

“We’ve talked about this, Joanna. It’s not good for you to be so focused on Piper.” Celeste tapped her pen on her pad for good measure. “You have to accept the fact that Leo has remarried. You have to get on with your life. Regardless of whether Piper is hiding something or not—your marriage is over. Why don’t we try to focus on something positive, like what steps you can take to get at least some visitation with Evie and Stelli?”

“But that’s just it. Leo and Piper have built a case against me. It’s all lies, but the court believes them. How can I fight that?”

“Well, for one thing, you can talk to your lawyer about making some overtures to Leo’s lawyer. Or maybe petitioning the court to allow you visitation, even if those visits have to be monitored. Wouldn’t that be better than not seeing them at all?”

“I have talked to her, and she’s tried. So far, we’re getting nowhere.”

Celeste gave me an encouraging smile. “There’s always a chance. You can’t give up. And if it would help, I’d be glad to speak with your attorney.”

“Maybe I could see them at Christmas. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” I said, trying to change the subject. “But too much could happen between now and then. Will they even be alive in three months? Piper has them all fooled. Today, her center’s blog post was about gratitude.”

“Joanna...”

I put a hand up. “I know, I know. But I can’t help it.”

“Fixating on Piper and these implausible fears is only hurtingyou.” She looked at me with resignation. “How did reading it make you feel?”

I bit my lip. “Furious! She’s making herself sound like a good person, and she’s not! And she’s got no right to lecture about gratitude to others when everything in her life is stolen. I felt like putting that in the comments.”

“I’m glad to hear that you didn’t. What can you do with that anger instead? Is there a way to channel it into something positive?”

“How would you channel your anger and terror if someone was a threat to your husband and children and then wrote upbeat blogs about life?”

She looked at me with pity. “The best thing you can do is to talk to your lawyer and take the steps necessary to make some changes that are within your power. I’m here for you.”

When I got home, there was a large brown envelope sticking out of the mailbox. I pulled it out, and my heart raced when I looked at the California postmark. I opened it, pulling out a handwritten note along with a marriage certificate. The note was from Ava:

Dear Joanna,

I was able to rush a copy of Matthew and Pamela’s marriage certificate. You were right. She was married before. I feel like such a fool for not knowing this sooner. Good luck with your investigation. Let me know what you find.

Best, Ava

God bless her! I put the note down and picked up the certificate. Reading it, I stopped short:

Matthew Dunn,Divorced,and Pamela Rayfield Sherwood,Widowed.

Widowed? Another dead husband? What the hell?

I ran to my bedroom, document in hand, and opened my laptop, typing “Pamela Sherwood” into the search bar. After skimming through the first few entries, I saw a link to an obituary that mentioned a Pamela Sherwood. All of my senses were on high alert as I clicked on it.

Ethan Sherwood of Los Angeles, California, age 21, passed away Wednesday, July 12, 2006, from injuries sustained in a fall during a hiking accident. Sherwood was born on December 19, 1985, in Annapolis, MD. He was a graduate of the Key School and was planning a career in the arts. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Sherwood of Los Angeles, CA; his parents, Donald and Patricia Sherwood of Annapolis, MD; and a brother, Ted Sherwood of Chicago, IL. Funeral services are private.

My mind was racing. Itwasher. She’d buried not one but two husbands? Married twice before and both husbands haddied? My foot was tapping nervously under the table as I thought about my next move. Annapolis, Maryland. Pamela’s hometown, too. It looked like I’d be taking another trip soon.

I next typed “Ethan Sherwood” into the search bar, but there was nothing else on him. Had he been alone on that hike, or had Piper been with him? I went back to the obituary, to the namesof Ethan’s parents, Donald and Patricia Sherwood. It was easy to find an address and phone number for them in Maryland. I sat and looked at that number for at least a half hour. What would I say to them? Their son had died fourteen years ago. How would I feel if a stranger called me out of the blue with questions about my dead child?

37

Piper

Piper had left the office early and looked once more through the items she had laid out. Navy slacks, a long-sleeved white T-shirt, wool blazer, and her black Agent Provocateur kimono, which Leo hadn’t seen yet. She’d bought it especially for this weekend trip to Rhode Island, their first real getaway. They’d finally have some time alone together without the children.

Her plan was to pick Leo up from the office at six and drive the two hours to Newport. They’d check in and have a romantic dinner around eight thirty. The whole night would be theirs, and then they’d have all day and night Saturday, too. Since the October temperatures were still moderate, she’d booked them a cruise around Newport Harbor. Maybe they’d do the touristy thing and go to the Cliff Walk, see a mansion or two, then take their time getting home Sunday morning. She couldn’t wait.

After zipping up her weekend bag, she carried it downstairs and into the kitchen, placing it by the door to the garage. Piper heard a door slam and then the high-pitched voices of the children.

“How was school today?” Piper asked, sitting down at the round table with them.

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