Ella James - Unmaking Marchant

MARCHANT

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2007

The casket is gold. The color of the sun. The color of Marissas long, straight hair. I have the urge to open its lid, but that would be pointless. Theres nothing inside. Because theres nothing left.

Its my fault. I know that just as surely as I know my goddamned name, even though I didnt kill her with my own two hands. I look down at them. Theyre bloody hands. Blood is seeping from the broken knuckles.

Wonder how long before the cops catch up with me.

I run a fingertip over the lid of the sunshine casket. The crimson smear gleams in the lamplight like something precious. And all of a sudden, I want to see more of it. So much more of it.

I look around the small mortuary viewing room for something sharp. My hands are shaking with the need for itthe need to end it all right now. I could do it. The funeral director is in his office. I can hear him pecking on a keyboard.

I could do it right now. No one would know.

Im in the perfect place for death, after alland I deserve to die. Just ask Marissa.

I turn around slowly and stare at the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on the left side of the room. So many books, and all the books so pointless. Like the casket, everything is pointless. Has always been pointless. Will always be pointless.

I try to push past the fuzziness inside my mind and think. Maybe I could use the glass on a frame to cut my wrists. I could even find the room where they embalm the bodies and use one of the knives. Whatever the way, I like the thought of dying here.

Right then, as if the gods ordain my thoughts, a letter opener pops out at me from among the books and trinkets. Its long and brassy, pointed at the tip just like a dagger. Its resting near the bottom of the bookshelf, right in front of a staunch, burgundy hardback called RESPECTING LIFE.

Even in my current state, I can appreciate the irony.

I step across the foot-worn rug and lift the cool brass gently off of its perch. Im looking down at it, thinking how much duller it looks than the ones they use in movies to stab the villain, when the pecking stops.

The sweaty hair on the back of my neck tingles, like I just did a line of coke.

A second later, the double-doors burst open, and the cops pour in.

SURI

NAPA, CALIFORNIA

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013

Dancing.

The last two hours of the Heels for Heaven charity gala are nothing but dancing.

Thats why Adams drinking tonight. At least, I guess thats why. Since dinner ended and the dancing started, Ive stuck to one side of the ballroom, while Adam has been burning up the other.

It wasnt like this at galas past. Adam used to be a fabulous date. We would dance for hours, often commemorating our fun night by purchasing one of those cheesy dance floor snapshots: my head against his shoulder, Adams round face lit up in a huge grin as he spun me.

And then we would go home. My house. Adams condo. Maybe a hotel, if Adam was feeling dramatic and fun.

Where ever we landed, more often than not these last few years, trouble would start. Id take care of Adam for hours as he lay on the bathroom floor, moaning and sweating. And in between bouts of being sick, hed turn into someone mean; sometimes even cruel.

So, when he asked me to marry him a month ago, in a beautiful little ice cream shop in SOHO, I said yeswith a single stipulation: no more drinking.

Adam knows the extent of his issueat least, I thought he didbecause he didnt even bat an eye before agreeing.

I was on cloud nine that night. Adam, my sweetheart since our high school days at Hargrove Day School, told me he was moving back from New York. Opening his own one-man literary agency in San Francisco so I can continue to grow my interior design business. And the ring he gave me

A three-carat diamond surrounded by itty bitty fire opals. Its some. Adam knows that. He knows everything about me.

So why is he on his sixth drink?

You should just stop counting, Charlene says.

Charlene is my cousin. Our moms are sisters. Weve traded secrets since toddlerhood, and we enjoy one of those comfortable relationships where were able to pick back up after almost any length of time apart. Since Ive chosen to keep Adams drinking a secret from everyone else I knowI dont want people in our circle to judge himI broke down tonight and told Charlene.

Shes a watercolor artist, and shes jetting off to Sidney tomorrow afternoon for an extended showing, which is probably why I feel like I can confide in her. Unlike with my BFF, Lizzy DeVillewhos currently in Vegasor my other BFF, Cross, whos in rehab after a major motorcycle accident, I wont have to talk about the situation with Charlene again for months.

Im not counting, I lie. I was justglancing over there.

Charlene scrunches her long, straight nose. He must know youre pissed; he hasnt looked at you once in the last half-hour.

Thanks, Char.

She slaps my back, bared by the low dip of my black, Swarovski-accented Atelier Versace gown. Just stating the facts, cuz.

Maybe it isnt six drinks. Maybe its only four or five. I tried very hard to not pay attention when he first started, so I could be off.

I glance at Charlene, whos waving her arm around in front of my face. What did you just say?

I said, whens the wedding? She tosses back some pinot grigio while wiggling her pale eyebrows.

Oh, that. Im not sure yet. Ill let you know when we decide.

I will be flying home for it, wherever I happen to be, she says, leaning against the wall behind her.

I wrap my arm around her tall, lean form, hugging lightly. Thanks, Char. That really means a lot to me.

She flashes me a thumbs-up, and seconds later, James Renfroe, from Charlenes class at Hargrovetwo years ahead of mestruts over and jerks her into a funky waltz.

He winks at me and says, Youre next, Dalton, and then theyre off, crisscrossing the shiny hardwood floor, weaving between more mild-mannered couples.

As I follow them with my eyes, I catch a glimpse of Adam. Regardless of how many drinks hes had so far, hes definitely tossing back another one just now.

I lean against the wall and grit my teeth. I dont get it. I picked him up from his townhouse tonight, and we had a nice time together on the ride here. True, we havent seen each other for a week and a halfAdam isnt moving back to Cali for five weeksbut that seemed to make our time together better. Lots of snuggling and kissing. He seemed into it. I know I was.

Dinner was good, too: chicken breast saltimbocca, served with Anson Mills farro verde, organic bloomsdale spinach, La Quercia prosciutto, artichoke "chips" and a caper jus. We sat with the Davidsons and the Blancs, and it was easy-going and fun. I told a funny story about a San Francisco zoo fundraiser where a baby elephant knocked an aging socialite on her butt, and Adam seemed amused. He rested his hand on my knee under the table and gave me several just-for-Suri smiles.

And then the dancing started. I went to the ladies room to adjust my tape-on bra cups, and when I got back, Adam was chatting up one of his college buddies and holding a glass of wine. I stuck around for a few minutes, saying hi to his friend, assuming Adam was only holding the drink for appearances. But then two more of Adams buddies showed up, and he downed the first drink and a second in the space of five minutes. That was an hour and a half ago. Shortly thereafter, Charlene popped up, and Ive been on this side of the room ever since.