My triumph over my father was short lived. While I had flashes of rage, always seemingly directed at him, he had the expertise and thrust to watch pain flash across his prey's face. The next afternoon, as I lay sunning myself on the lounge chair he'd been reclining in while I told him the darkest fantasy I'd ever entertained, I could hear him talking to Bel as his barber trimmed his hair.
I heard them mention 'Doug' and 'Judi Silver', but nothing really caught me as all that interesting. He waxed on about some television program 'Queen for a Day' and why the woman playing some game wouldn't win, even though she had a traumatic and heart rending backstory. Her dental work was lacking. So insightful, I thought, flipping to the next page.
He had other visitors, men who came and went. Some handing him envelopes, some chatting for a moment or two and rushing away. I paid no mind. It wasn't my business and I didn't feel like participating.
I felt too warm to be comfortable after hours in the sun, but as I stood up, he called me to him. I knew that he would goad me about something I didn't know, but I had no idea that he was planning on planting the largest seed of doubt inside of me yet.
"Elizabeth, you're looking very parched." He gestured to an uncomfortable looking Bel, and the cigar chomping man stood to grab me a drink. "Seltzer water, Bel, my daughter hasn't been feeling well. Have a seat, sweetheart, something just arrived that I think you need to see."
I sat down with a sigh, but was pleased that I was in the shade now. I felt even better when Bel handed me an iced glass of the bubbly water that I was forced to drink, if only to be able to keep it down a little longer than anything else. He dismissed Bel, who shot me a look of regret as he left.
"Now, I want you to know, Liz, that I didn't set out to catch Ike in this position." I waited, taking a sip of my drink, thinking that his act of contrition was getting a tad better. "Here," he handed me a manila envelope. "These were taken earlier, and processed fast because of what my guy witnessed. I'm sorry you have to see this, Elizabeth." So sorry that you look like you're ready to burst into giggles, I thought.
Flipping open the flap, I pulled out the snapshots and felt my world spinning. It wasn't because he was meeting with Meg Bannock. I knew he'd made a deal with her, so being in her company was to be expected, but one snapshot in particular cut me like a knife. It was Ike, holding open a towel, as the consecutive shots showed just like he had for me at the Miramar pool.
"I never imagined that Isaac used the same bait for every woman he wanted to catch." Was he impressed? "You have to admit, Liz, that looks very familiar."
I swallowed down the feeling of my water coming up for as long as I could, but tossing the photos down, I had to rush to the nearest washroom. And as the last soda crackers and the seltzer water burned its way back out, I felt like I couldn't trust anyone.
It felt like I'd only been on my bed for minutes, but I could hear the rain pattering on the window when I opened my eyes and realized it was hours later. Thinking the rain woke me, I rolled over and realized it was the knocking on my door that yanked me from the only peace I had. I considered ignoring it, I did, but then Lily's voice called for me and she sounded desperate.
"Liz?" I wanted to know what she'd offer before I opened the door. "It's about Ike." Oh, is that all? I started to settle back into my pillow, but her next words chilled me to the bone. "He's been taken into custody."
When I came down the stairs, Lily hot on my heels, I could hear my father in his office. He was celebrating, because of course he was. I steeled myself against the onslaught that he was undoubtedly ready to launch at me and walked in with my head high and my back straight.
"Ah, there she is, my darling daughter Elizabeth." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk and I realized we were alone again. No Lily, no henchmen, just the two of us. A private torture session then.
"Lily tells me Ike was arrested," said as though I was tearing off a bandage. "I guess you're ready to gloat now?"
He nodded, smiling bright. "The King is dead, sweetheart, long live the King." I raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "They handcuffed your darling Isaac and read the charge of first degree murder out in front of a team from CBS before his pitch even began, but never fear Liz, because his wonderful wife was there to save the day." Another slice, more internal bleeding. "Are you alright, sweetheart?" He was studying me, looking for a crack, but I said nothing. "I realized, Elizabeth, a tiny flaw in my plan for you and Ike." I waited, my eyes never leaving him. "Our last name. You see, Vera was a showgirl,which is a hard enough sell for the upper crust. But you? You're a DIAMOND. That last name, the implications of your 'associations', you're not as perfect as I thought. Our name is infamous, clearly NOT good enough to marry and act as the queen to his tiny kingdom.' Slice, cut, stab. "If you want, I can find someone to take care of your 'little' problem." His eyes glanced at my still flat abdomen. "No man wants spoiled goods, Liz."
I stood up and turned to go. I didn't have to sit through any more. And I refused to let him see how deeply he'd cut me.
"You'll let me know," he called at my retreating back. "The world doesn't need another Evans."
Lily wasn't far off, probably eavesdropping. "You." I pointed at her and gestured for her to follow me upstairs where I grabbed my purse and a pad of paper. "Write down Sy Berman's number on this." I thrust it into her hands and tossed her a pen. "It's time I spoke to my bubbe."