rumors Rory was alluding to. He would not win any points with Chloe by bringing them up.
“Some people are saying that Father Macy’s accident might actually have been a suicide,” he said.
“Had either of you heard anything like that?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Where did you hear that?” Daria asked.
“Zack said he heard some kids talking about it,” Rory said.
“It’s ridiculous, Rory,” Chloe said.
“And it’s not helpful to give any credence to that sort of gossip.”
“I don’t know,” Rory said.
“I think it’s kind of suspicious. I mean, he died just a few days after I spoke with him, and he’d been very upset during his conversation with me. Maybe he knew something about Shelly’s background,
and that’s why he killed himself. He wanted to take that information with him to the grave. “
Daria noticed that the tops of Chloe’s ears were red, a sure sign of anger that she had not seen in her sister in many, many years.
“I’m certain your conversation with him had nothing whatsoever to do with it,” Chloe said coldly. Her hands were on her hips, her eyes blazing. “You think everything revolves around you and your damn TV program. Probably now you’ll decide to do one of your shows on this new mystery, huh?
“The Secret Agony of Sean Macy.” ” She turned abruptly to Daria.
“I need to get over to the church,” she said.
“I
hope none of the parishioners has heard any of this slander. “
Turning on her heel, Chloe marched out the front door, slamming it shut behind her.
“Whoa,” Rory said.
“Why do I get the feeling she’s not pleased with me?”
Daria sighed, leaning against the back of the sofa. “We had a conversation with Shelly last night about the same thing,” Daria said.
“I think hearing about the rumors again was just too much for her.”
“Maybe I should go after her,” Rory said, looking toward the front door.
“Apologize.”
“I’d leave her alone right now.” Chloe’s anger was so out of character that Daria could not predict how her sister would react to Rory’s apology.
“Maybe in a few days, when the wounds aren’t so fresh, she’ll be more receptive. Right now, though, I want to hear about your visit with Grace last night.” She drew her bare feet onto the sofa and turned to face him.
“Well,” Rory began, “she’s screwed up, I’ll grant you that, but I don’t think she had a clue about Shelly being involved in her daughter’s death.” He went on to tell Daria about his conversation with Grace, and Daria listened quietly. She didn’t feel as trusting of Grace as he did.
“I felt really sorry for her,” Rory said.
“I think she just got caught up in the lies about the separation and having no kids. She told me those things the first time I met her, and she didn’t know that we were going to end up having a relationship. Once we did, I guess she figured it was easier to stick with her original story. She didn’t have a mastectomy, like we thought. She had heart surgery. She has a disease called Marian’s syndrome.”
“Pamela—the pilot—had that.”
“Yeah, Grace said it’s hereditary. She’s in a lot of pain over her daughter. I think that’s why she’s drawn to Shelly. Shelly’s close in age to her daughter. I don’t think it’s any more complicated than that.”
“I hope you’re right,” Daria said.
“It still seems like a pretty amazing coincidence that she stumbled into our little cul-de-sac.” She heard the callous tone of her words and wished she could take them back. It was obvious that Rory felt sympathy for Grace. She had not wanted that, or expected it. Why couldn’t he see that, for whatever reason, Grace was manipulating him?
“If you could have seen her last night, I think you would stop worrying about it,” Rory said.
“So,” Daria said, “where do things stand now with the two of you?”
Rory laughed.
“Funny you should ask,” he said.
“I was thinking to myself that I was an adulterer for having had an affair with a married woman. But there was no affair. Grace had made sure of that. It was only an affair in my fantasies. So, to answer your question, I don’t know.” He locked his hands together and stretched his arms out in front of him.
“I still want to see her. I’m not angry with her. I just” — A sudden noise came from upstairs, and Daria cocked her head to listen.
“I didn’t think Shelly was home,” she said in a near whisper, her heart beating a little faster.
There was a thud, followed by the sound of voices. One of them was a man’s, and Daria was instantly alarmed.
