Page 32 of The Six Murders of Daphne St Clair

“I’d like that,” Geoffrey said and drained his glass.

It was the best day of my life. A terminally ill rich man wanted to marry me and adopt my son. All I had to do was give him a few happy memories and a baby.

EPISODE FIVE: 1960–1963

RUTH:I don’t understand. Before you met Geoffrey, you seemed almost happy, when you were talking about working in the department store, going on dates, and spending time with James.

DAPHNE:Happy might be overstating it. I was working my ass off and schtupping a lot of schlubs on the side. But I did like the independence. It was the first time in my life I was really standing on my own two feet, with no one else controlling me.

RUTH:You could have stayed with that. Maybe you would have even met a real partner eventually. Instead, you just chucked it all away to marry a drunk you didn’t even love.

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DAPHNE:You think I should have done what your mother did? Just keep working my tail off as a single mother?

RUTH:Is that so bad?

DAPHNE:Wouldn’t you have preferred to grow up rich, with a mother who was never worried about money? A mother who could give you a future?

RUTH:Maybe. But I wouldn’t have wanted her to marry some drunk asshole to make it happen. And I would have liked her to be happy too.

DAPHNE:What can I say? I don’t think I ever knew how to make myself happy. Are you happy?

RUTH:Uh, well, not totally. . . things have been kind of tough for me recently.

DAPHNE:And you’re telling me a little money wouldn’t make you happier?

RUTH:Well, it probably would. . .

DAPHNE:Why don’t you ask your dad for help? What does he do for work?

RUTH:Well, he was a plastic surgeon before he retired, and he had a family business. But that’s not an option. He. . . he’s not in a position to help.

DAPHNE:Plastic surgeons make a lot of dough, especially here. Are you at least in the will?

RUTH:Uh, that’s really quite complicated. . . I can’t talk about that for legal reasons. But short answer. . . no.

DAPHNE:Christ, you really got the shit end of the stick, didn’t you? Maybe you should be the one marrying a terminally ill rich guy. Now, should I tell you about my wedding to Geoffrey?

RUTH:Yeah.

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DAPHNE:We eloped quickly, before he had time to start thinking reasonably. It was easy to get married back then, before anyone had computers to check up on your identity. I wore a lace mini dress with bell sleeves. Of all the wedding dresses I’ve worn, that was my favorite. I really was stunning back when I was young. I don’t think I could have gotten away with half the stuff I did if I was unattractive. Ruth, people will forgive a beautiful woman of almost anything. I wish you could experience that just once. It’s intoxicating.

RUTH (irritated):Thanks. So, what happened after the wedding?

DAPHNE:I got pregnant almost immediately. Apparently, Geoffrey was extremely fertile despite being an alcoholic with a terminal disease! But I guess God gives with one hand and takes with the other. Geoffrey was excited about the baby, talking about how he wanted to name him Geoffrey Jr. and how he could send his son to his old prep school.

RUTH:He was certain it was a boy?

DAPHNE:He wanted a boy. Mostly so his son could live the exact same life Geoffrey had lived, like he was trying to copy himself. I found it bizarre. Rich people want nothing to change for their children, while poor people wanteverythingto be different.

RUTH:Where were you living?

DAPHNE:The apartment Geoffrey grew up in on the Upper East Side. It was huge and full of antiques. I’d never seen an apartment like that in New York; there were whole rooms we never used, full of stuff we never touched, everything from his father’s papers to his mother’s old medications. James got his bedroom full of toys, although I actually missed sharing a bed with him. I spent my days shopping, taking James to the zoo, and having martinis with the other rich wives.

RUTH:But you were pregnant.

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