Motherhood Is Murder

to myself.

Except, of course, for Jim.

Reflexively my hand reached out to touch Jim?s leg. He placed his hand over mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Officer Lee straightened and pulled out a notebook from his breast pocket. ?I?d like to begin with you,? he said to Margaret. ?Please follow me.?

Margaret gave the napkin in her lap one final wring, then stood up. Her tutu sprang to attention.

Officer Lee seemed momentarily dazed by Margaret?s attire. He gathered himself enough to mumble, ?If everyone can please get their identification cards or driver?s licenses ready, it?ll make this whole process go much smoother.?

Margaret followed Lee toward the lounge area, where they carved out a private space to speak. The rest of us at the table exchanged sympathetic looks and began to gather up purses and wallets to prove our identity.

Evelyn craned to look out the starboard windows. ?Where?s the hospital boat? Why aren?t they shuttling her off the boat??

?Maybe she?s not hurt all that bad,? Sara offered.

?Then why are the police here?? Evelyn shrieked.

Evelyn?s husband put his hand on her shoulder. Evelyn sat up straighter and pushed her belly out.

Sara gave Evelyn the evil eye. ?How should I know why the police are here? Maybe all this has something to do with you!?

?Me!? Evelyn said, pressing her hand to her heart.

Sara?s husband, Howard, looked stunned. ?Sara!? He took hold of her arm.

She shrugged him off. ?Why did you even come on this cruise?? she said to Evelyn. ?You aren?t a member of Roo amp; You anymore. I?m sure Helene made that clear to you!?

Evelyn?s face flushed bright red. A lock of blond hair slipped from her barrette and fell across her face; she fiercely brushed it aside, then jutted her finger out at Sara. ?I saw you and Helene arguing at the top of the stairs. I saw you. I saw you fighting!?

Indignation crossed Sara?s face, but before she could reply, her husband noisily pushed his chair back from the table and stood. ?Come on. We don?t need to sit here and listen to this.?

Sara seemed torn. She looked as though she wanted to stay and fight with Evelyn, but couldn?t find the courage to stand up to her husband.

She pressed her lips together as her husband grabbed her arm. She stood and glared at Evelyn, then walked with him to the lounge area.

Evelyn?s husband, Fred, patted her arm. ?Honey, don?t upset yourself or the baby.?

Evelyn huffed an inaudible response.

Our table fell into silence.

A fight?

I remembered Sara, Miss No-Nonsense, in the bathroom and how disheveled she looked. Why had her dress been wet?

I imagined Helene throwing a drink at her and Sara pushing Helene down the stairs.

No.

Too dramatic.

Jim leaned close to me and whispered, ?I didn?t know we?d get to see fireworks on this cruise.?

I elbowed him.

?And we didn?t even have to pay extra!? he continued.

One agency or other was always advertising firework displays on the San Francisco Bay, whether it was after a ball game or during a dinner cruise. Usually there was an extra charge at those events.

I shook my head at him, conjuring visions of the medical examiner hovering over a pasty Helene.

Poor thing!

Fred leaned in toward Evelyn. ?What did she mean, you aren?t a member of Roo amp; You??

Evelyn flicked her hand about as though to distract us or at the very least indicate to her husband to move off the topic. ?I saw Helene and Sara bickering at the top of the staircase that Helene fell down.?

?Over what?? Fred asked.

Margaret and Officer Lee approached our table. Evelyn fanned her hand at Fred, silencing him.

Margaret reached her chair and seated herself, tucking in her tutu around her. Lee scanned the room. I followed his gaze, which settled on Sara and Howard arguing in a corner of the lounge. I turned back to face Officer Lee, only to see him leave our table and head toward Sara.

Margaret?s lipstick had faded to nothing and her eyes looked drawn. I glanced at my watch. It was well past midnight now and I was feeling sapped. With Margaret?s return, the table had fallen into silence and I longed to be alone with Jim.

Jim wrapped his arm around my shoulder. ?Are you cold, honey? You want me to get you some hot