Page 96 of The Family Guest

There was definitely something going on with my parents.

FIFTY-TWO

NATALIE

The ninety-minute deep-tissue massage was just what I needed. As I lay face down on the massage table, my masseuse’s strong fingers kneading my upper back, I could actually feel and see little sparks of stress flying out from my tight, bunched-up muscles. I sighed as she dug deeper with her thumbs, the soothing music and aromatherapy oil helping me relax. I was in a Zen-like state and at some point I must have dozed off after I turned over onto my back. I was startled to hear her voice.

“That’s it.”

My eyes fluttered open. “It’s over?”

The muscular young woman with the magic hands nodded. “I hope you enjoyed it.”

Sitting up, the soft sheet gathered to my chest, I told her it was wonderful and thanked her profusely as she offered me a cup of refreshing cucumber-infused water. I gulped it down greedily.

“Drink a lot of water,” she told me, helping me to my feet. “It’ll help flush out the toxins.”

I told her I would as she helped me into my spa robe while I slid my feet into my open-toe rubber slippers. Reaching into a pocket, I handed her two twenties. A twenty-percent tip. I could tell by her face she was thrilled by my generosity. Thank you, future ex-husband, for making this possible. I quickly shoved him out of my mind. Why let the thought of him ruin my euphoric state?

I met Tanya in the locker room. After her little tiff in the hotel restaurant, she’d returned to apologize and I’d asked if she wanted to have a spa day with me. She’d jumped at the offer, and while I was having my massage, she’d had a facial. Similarly dressed in a spa robe and slippers, her long white-gold hair gathered up in a high ponytail, she looked positively glowing. Her flawless skin radiant, her thick onyx brows, which were included in the treatment, perfectly sculpted.

“How was it?” I asked as if I didn’t already know.

“Sooo divine!” She flung her loving arms around me. “Thank you, Natalie.”

“You’re so welcome. Why don’t we soak in the Jacuzzi and then do the steam room? Then, after we shower and get dressed, go to the bar and have some champagne?”

A smile spread across her shining face. “Perfection.”

So much for drinking water.

We returned to the restaurant and this time sat at a table for two in the bar area. A new server—equally smitten with Tanya—brought us a chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot and filled our flutes to the brim. Some of the bubbly spilled over.

“To a happy New Year,” I toasted, clinking my flute against hers. The upcoming year was going to be a happy one once I was divorced from Matt. It couldn’t happen soon enough, especially since Jason felt I was going to make out like a bandit.

Tanya took a sip of her champagne, keeping her eyes on me. Then bit down on her lip. “Natalie, I’m worried about you.”

I cocked my head to one side. “Why? I’m perfectly fine.”

“It’s Matt.” She twirled the stem of her flute between her fingers. “I think he’s dangerous.”

My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You know, I spent a lot of time in the car with him on the drive up here. He said some really scary things.”

“Like what?”

“For one, he said, ‘If Natalie thinks she’s going to take me to the cleaners, she’s got it coming to her.’ Then, ‘I’m going to kill her if she tries anything stupid.’ And this, ‘She won’t know what hit her when I get through with her.’”

I digested her words over a long sip of champagne and set the flute down. “He’s just saying those kinds of things because he’s so mad at me. He doesn’t really mean them.”

“That’s what I thought, too, at first. Then when we had to stop so I could go to the bathroom, I opened the trunk of his car to get my backpack and saw it…”

“Saw what?” I felt a flutter of apprehension.

“His gun!”

I blinked several times. “Are you sure?”