Page 41 of Everyone’s a Liar

“Do you mind driving past Lake Oaks Park on our way out of town?”

Bryce sent her a smile. “I have a better idea. Let’s pick up a couple of sandwiches and have lunch there. It’s a perfect day for a picnic and neither of us is in a hurry to get back to Rushville, are we?”

“Absolutely not.”

Bryce turned onto the main road leading to the lake, detouring into the drive-thru of a small restaurant that was famous for their shrimp po’ boy sandwiches, before they were zooming down Lakeshore Drive and, at last, pulling into the small park.

Slowing to a crawl, Bryce drove along the edge of the picnic areas before rounding the patches of trees and finally along the lane that offered a view of the lake. At last she parked near a wooden table and carried their lunches to take a seat.

“There’s not much to see,” Bryce murmured.

“No,” Livia agreed. It was called a park but it was closer to a rest stop. Which was probably why they were the only visitors despite the beautiful day and the fact that it was noon. The perfect time to take a break from work and get out for some fresh air. “Why would my mother make an appointment to meet someone here? And why bring rice?”

“It had to be some sort of picnic or carry-in dinner.”

Livia reached to open the bag of takeout food, her gaze skimming over the grooves carved into the wooden table. Abruptly she froze.

“Or a name,” she breathed.

“Nice,” Bryce retorted. “You’re absolutely right. Rice is a common name. It could have been the person she was meeting.”

The explanation felt right. The message made much more sense if Rice was a person, not a tasty side dish. But it still left a dozen questions.

“Again, why here?” Livia demanded.

“It’s not very private.” Bryce swiveled her head from side to side. “I can see from one end to the other and anyone driving past would have a clear view. It doesn’t feel like the place to meet up with a secret lover.”

“Or a drug dealer.”

Livia winced. She’d never said the words out loud, but it wasn’t the first time she’d wondered if Giselle had chosen a lifestyle that might have driven her to suicide. It was an obvious explanation. A young mother who’d become addicted might feel the best way to protect her daughter and family from her illness would be by jumping from the balcony. It was one of the reasons she’d never probed too hard for an explanation for her mother’s shocking death.

Bryce glanced around. “You know, this place is strangely familiar.”

“You’ve been here?”

“No, but I drove by it more than once,” Bryce said, her brow furrowed. “I just can’t remember where I was going.”

Livia nodded toward the thick traffic that was zooming past them. “That’s a main road so it wouldn’t be surprising.”

Bryce clicked her tongue. “It’s going to nag at me until I remember.”

Livia sucked in a slow breath, clearing her mind of Jacob Pearson and her mother’s mysterious note. For a couple hours she wanted to enjoy lunch with her friend.

She dug into the bag to pull out a small box that had been packed separately from the sandwiches.

“Until you remember, let’s devour these beignets while they’re still warm,” she announced, flipping open the box to reveal the warm doughy goodness rolled in layers of powdered sugar.

“Dessert first?” Bryce grabbed a beignet and shoved it into her mouth, powdered sugar coating her chin. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”

CHAPTER 11

The Willows

Thursday, July 3rd

Livia was back at the Willows by midafternoon. The heat was oppressive, smothering the estate in a humid layer of haze, but she forced herself to stroll slowly around the edge of the mansion to the back terrace. It was the time of day most of the family were in their rooms, relaxing before the busy evening ahead. If one of them happened to glance out the window, she wanted them to assume she was taking a leisurely walk.

Ignoring the entrance to the private family salon, Livia continued down the terrace to enter through the servants’ doorway. It was left unlocked during the day, allowing her to slip into the empty kitchen. Then, walking through the doorway directly to her right, she tiptoed her way through the back hallway that ran the length of the house.