Twice Kissed - Lisa Jackson [145]
“Maggie,” he said without a trace of warmth. “It’s been a long time. Come in, come in. I was just watching the news.” He walked them down a marbled hallway toward the back of the house and a private atrium that overlooked the golf course. “A shame about Marquise. God, I wonder what happened to her—Annie, would you bring us drinks? What’ll it be?” He motioned toward his guests.
“Anything—tea, if you have it,” Maggie said.
“Scotch straight up.” Thane didn’t crack a smile, just leaned a shoulder against one wall as Maggie, upon Syd’s urging, sat on the edge of a wicker couch beneath a skylight. Broad-leafed plants grew around a fountain that splashed noisily as the maid carried in hot water and coffee. Syd mixed drinks from a bar around the corner.
Once they were all settled, she sipping tea on a soft cushion, Thane nursing his drink while staring through the glass windows to a snow-covered fairway, and Syd taking up residence in a recliner, he finally asked, “What do you know about Marquise’s disappearance?”
“We were hoping you could shed some light.”
Syd scowled. “Don’t know how. She and I weren’t on the best of terms, didn’t see much of each other.” He looked pointedly at Thane. “You know how that goes.”
“Enlighten us.” Obviously Thane wasn’t going to pull any punches. Sitting in a club chair, he turned his eagle-sharp gaze on Gillette.
“She and I were civil.”
Why was he talking in the past tense? As if Mary Theresa was already dead?
“But that was about it. I was just getting over Ellie when I met your sister. In retrospect, it was probably just a rebound thing on my part. Hell, who could resist that woman?” He threw a knowing glance at Thane, who didn’t comment, just sipped his drink. Maggie gritted her teeth. He was right, of course. No one, not even Thane had been immune to M.T.’s charms.
“Anyway,” he continued, “we got married, and about the time Marquise finished saying ‘I do,’ she was already into ‘I don’t.’” He took a long swallow from his gin and tonic, and his face clouded. “We didn’t get along, and there were some…other issues.”
“She got involved with your son-in-law.”
Gillette froze. His expression turned thunderous. “I didn’t know that was common knowledge, but yeah. She and Robby got together.” He scowled into his drink. “Ruined my daughter’s marriage.” Thick eyebrows lifted. “Well, it’s all over and done with now, and there’s no love lost between me and Marquise, but I don’t wish her ill. Don’t believe in dwelling on the past.”
“What about your daughter?” Maggie plunged on.
“Tanya? She’ll get over it. In time.” But the corners of his mouth tightened, and his jaw clenched, showing a muscle that twitched.
“She had a baby.”
Gillette swore under his breath. “A boy. Chad. And he gets to grow up without his dad. Thanks to Marquise. Jesus Christ, what a mess.” Syd tossed back his drink and ran a hand over his face. Clean-shaven and robust, he hardly looked his age. “The divorce was hard on my daughter, and it will be for a long time. She loved Robby, probably still does. Hell, he turned out to be a prick, didn’t he? And Marquise was just playing with him. Didn’t even care for him.” Syd sighed.
“You think she did it to get back at you?” Thane asked, as if he understood his ex-wife’s motives.
“Definitely. Sounds egocentric, I know, but I’m sure Marquise was making a point.”
“Because—?” Maggie asked.
“The prenup I had her sign. She wanted to change it from the git-go.” Ice cubes rattled in his empty glass. “Oh, well, time will take care of everything, I suppose. Tanya and I will get over it. Chad…well, it’s tough for a kid to grow up not knowing his dad.” Syd ran a hand over his jaw. “I should know. I never knew my old man.”
Thane’s jaw slid to the side, and his fingers drummed impatiently on the arm of his chair, but he didn’t comment.
“But your grandson has a father,” Maggie ventured.
“You think so?” Gillette threw her a look that silently called her