Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark Read Free Book Online

possible.
    The night this bed had arrived, they had toasted each other with champagne. Vivian was conceived shortly after that. Sometimes he wondered if from the very beginning she had known that she was unwanted. Was her lifelong hostility to them and insecurity with others triggered in the womb?
    A fanciful notion. Vivian had been a demanding, malcontent child who became a problem teenager and a difficult adult. An underachiever at school, self-pitying, her motto had been, “I do my best.”
    To which his angry response was, “No, damn it, you don’t do your best. You don’t know the meaning of the word.”
    At the boarding school where the older girls had excelled, Vivian was suspended twice, then finally dismissed. For a while she had flirted with drugs, fortunatelysomething she hadn’t continued. And then there was the apparent constant need to annoy Anne. She’d ask her to go shopping for clothes, then refuse to follow any of Anne’s suggestions.
    She didn’t finish college, didn’t ever stay longer than six months on any job. Years ago he had begged his mother not to let her have access to her trust fund until she was thirty. But she’d come into it all at twenty-one, bought that house and afterwards rarely contacted them. It was an absolute shock when in May she had phoned to invite them to her house to a reception. She had gotten married.
    What could he say about Scott Covey? Good looking, well mannered, bright enough, certainly devoted to Vivian. She had literally glowed with happiness. The only sour note had come when one of her friends joked about a prenuptial agreement. She had flared, “No, we don’t have one. In fact, we’re making wills in favor of each other.”
    Graham had wondered what Scott Covey had to leave anyone. Vivian insinuated he had a private income. Maybe.
    About one thing, for once, Vivian had been telling the unvarnished truth. She had changed her will the same day she was married, and now Scott would inherit all the money from her trust fund, along with her house in Chatham. And they had been married twelve week. Twelve weeks.
    â€œGraham.” Anne’s voice was soft.
    He reached for her hand. “I’m awake.”
    â€œGraham, I know Vivy’s body was in very bad shape. What about her right hand?”
    â€œI don’t know, dear. Why?”
    â€œBecause, nobody has said anything about her emerald ring. Maybe her hand was gone. But if it wasn’t, Scott may have the ring, and I’d like to have it back.It’s always been in our family, and I can’t imagine some other woman wearing it.”
    â€œI’ll find out, dear.”
    â€œGraham, why couldn’t I ever reach Vivian? What did I do wrong?”
    He grasped her hand more tightly. There was no answer he could give her.
    *   *   *
    That day he and Anne played golf. It was physical and emotional therapy for both of them. They got home around five, showered, and he fixed them cocktails. Then he said. “Anne, while you were dressing I tried to reach Scott. There’s a message on the machine. He’s on the boat and will be back around six. Let’s swing by and ask him about the ring. Then we’ll go out to dinner.” He paused. “I mean you and I will go out for dinner.”
    â€œIf he has the ring, he doesn’t have to part with it. It was Vivian’s to leave to him.”
    â€œIf he has the ring we’ll offer to buy it at fair market value. If that doesn’t work, we’ll pay him whatever he asks for it.”
    Graham Carpenter’s mouth set in a grim line. Scott’s reaction to this request would allay or verify the suspicion and doubt that was choking his soul.

13
    I t was five-thirty when Menley and Hannah finally got back to Chatham. When they left the parking lot, she had forced herself to drive over the railroad crossing again. Then she had circled the rotary and