Programmed for Peril

handled that, but he was in the mood to get away. When she said she’d like to bring Melody he hesitated a moment before agreeing. That was curious, as he was usually delighted to have the girl join them whenever practical. “I’ll pack a picnic lunch,” she said. “We’ll stop somewhere along the way.”
    On the way up north Foster focused his attention on Melody, asking her about summer plans and her music. Trish noticed he occasionally nibbled at his left thumb knuckle. She had seen him do that only once earlier, just before he had proposed to her. The man was nervous. She already knew him well enough not to pry. That would raise a storm of denials that would postpone revelation. He would Pick his time and moment well enough.
    Along the route home there was a state park just off the interstate. As Foster turned down its main road a lake spread out before the van, pale and smooth under the early afternoon sun. They found a grassy stretch. Trish unpacked lunch. She had borrowed her mother’s champagne flutes. Into Melody’s she poured Cranapple juice, her favorite; into the others Moêt. Cold chicken with mustard crumb coating and pasta salad suited soft breeze and fresh air. Carson had cooked, she had learned.... She savagely kicked away those memories. Italian cookies from Estrella were the finishers. The three ate sprawled on an old quilt. Alcohol usually made her chatty, but today for some reason it did the opposite. Foster, too, seemed distracted. Their normally flowing conversation was halting and choppy. Trish dreaded what was coming.
    Melody had brought along her soprano recorder and penny whistle. She began to tootle on them. Her red hair flamed in the bright sunlight. Foster said, “Why don’t you take those down by the lake and play? I’ll bet you draw a crowd if you take requests.”
    “Okay!” Melody was never one to avoid being the center of attention.
    When she was out of earshot Foster turned to Trish. He picked up her hand and held it. Did she sense caution in his touch, or was the champagne making her stupid?
    “You’ve hurt my feelings quite a bit,” he said softly.
    “I did? How?”
    “By not telling me about the... trouble you’ve been having.”
    Trish’s heart thumped. She was touched that Foster only seemed concerned about what she had been going through. “I’m sorry you know. It’s my problem. I’m trying to solve it myself.”
    “In my opinion you’re not doing very well,” he said. “Flying off in all directions, willy-nilly—”
    “I flew off in just one direction—well, two, maybe. And I had good reasons for doing so, Foster. The first direction didn’t pan out. And I’m sure you know the second was toward Lois and Nicholas—”
    “Trish, your suspicions are absurd!”
    She drew a deep breath and carefully reviewed her next words. She studied Foster’s well-made face, saw the razor nick under his chin, just above the silken rise of his tie. “Do you remember how Lois took word of our engagement? Poorly, right?”
    Foster smiled thinly. “To say the least.”
    “As I recall, she went to you as soon as she heard. And you told me what she said. Do I have to repeat it?”
    He shook his head. “I remember quite well. She told me you had mental problems.”
    Trish fought off the chill those words sent through her chest. “She said other things!” she snapped. “She said if we went ahead, she’d kill me for what I did to her. Do you remember that, Foster?”
    He frowned with discomfort. “I do.”
    “If she was willing to kill me, why don’t you think she’d be willing to put me out of business to try to get me to cancel the wedding?”
    “It was all talk. I know her well enough to know when she’s just talking.”
    Trish drew up her knees and tried to keep the vexation out of her voice as she gave her fiancé a capsule version of Lois Smith-Patton’s motivations. Earlier when she had discussed the woman with Foster she had been diplomatic. It hadn’t seemed wise to be too critical of a former rival. Now plain speaking seemed in order. She told Foster Lois was obsessed with him. She had fully expected to become his wife. His choosing Trish had turned her emotional world upside down. When it came right again she had resolved to win him back. To accomplish that she would stop at nothing. He couldn’t imagine the full extent of her determination. Far from abandoning him as a gracious loser would, she had redoubled her efforts. She would do