She was friendly, of course, but a certain distance was in her manner. A coolness. Invisible to the others; but I felt it.
I went up to my room and unpacked. I was very fond of that room. It had faded green wallpaper, pine furniture, a four-poster bed. It smelled of old wood, stone, and fresh linen. Over the years, I made it my own, intentionally leaving parts of myself behind—favorite books of mine on the shelves, my aftershave, suntan lotion, swimming goggles and trunks, all waiting faithfully for me.
As I unpacked, I wondered what my next move should be. I decided the best way to deal with the situation was to confront Lana and remind her why we were here. I rehearsed a little speech, designed to bring her out of denial and back to reality.
I tried to talk to her all evening but couldn't get her alone. I felt convinced she was trying to avoid me. I watched her carefully over dinner. I studied her, trying to read her mind.
I marveled it was the same woman who—just three days ago—had been hysterical on my couch. Now she was expertly wielding a knife, not to thrust into her worthless husband’s heart, but to serve him another slice of steak. And with such a convincing smile on her face, so sincere, such a relaxed and happy expression, that even I was almost taken in.
Lana’s capacity for denial was simply breathtaking, I thought. In all likelihood, unless I intervened, she would sail through the entire weekend as if nothing had happened.
Kate, on the other hand, seemed to be doing everything she could to be provocative. She was being even less discreet than usual.
The business with the crystal, for instance.
After dinner, we were sitting outside by the firepit, and Kate leaped up with a sudden request. “Agathi’s crystal. Where is it?”
Lana hesitated. “I’m sure Agathi’s asleep by now. Can it wait?”
“No. It’s incredibly urgent. I’ll sneak in and get it from her room. I won’t wake her.”
“Darling, you won’t find it. It’s probably at the back of a drawer somewhere.”
This was a lie. Lana knew perfectly well that the crystal was never far from Agathi’s person; always on the bedside table next to her as she slept.
“Agathi’s still awake.” Leo nodded at the house. “Her light’s on.”
Kate bounded into the house, a little unsteady on her feet but clearly quite determined. She returned a few minutes later—holding up the crystal triumphantly.
“Got it.”
Kate sat by the firepit, the flames lighting up her face. She dangled the crystal over her left palm. It sparkled in the firelight. Her lips moved as she whispered a silent question.
I guessed what Kate was asking. No doubt some variant of Will he leave her for me? or Should I end it with him?
Unbelievable, isn’t it? Such callousness—flaunting her affair with Jason in Lana’s face like that. How stupid of her to feel so secure, so above suspicion.
Or am I being unfair? Was Kate just too drunk to filter her thoughts—unaware what she was saying, how close she was coming to revealing her secret?
Or was this display for Jason’s benefit—as a veiled threat? A warning to him that she was at the end of her rope? If so, she was wasting her breath. Jason wasn’t affected in the slightest. He seemed more concerned about Leo beating him at backgammon.
Kate watched as the crystal began to twitch in the air. It swung back and forth, back and forth, back and forth—like a metronome, in a sharp, straight line.
The answer to her question was a firm no.
Kate’s face clouded over. She looked pained. Then she grabbed the crystal with her fist and stopped its swinging. She thrust it at Leo. “Here—you have a go.”
Leo looked up from the backgammon set, shaking his head. “No. I’m totally over it. I figured out how it works.”
“Did you? How is that?”
“It’s you. You don’t even know you’re doing it. Your hand makes it move the way you want.”
“No, love.” Kate sighed. “You’re wrong. Or I would have got a different answer.”
* * *
What was the question Kate asked the crystal?
I have often wondered, over the years. I have wondered to what extent it affected the next twenty-four hours. And all the wicked things Kate did.
Was everything that happened at the crystal’s command? Did Kate simply surrender to its decision—wherever it led?
Even if she did, you know, I don’t believe Kate had any idea where it would end. How could she?
It went so much further than any of us could ever possibly have imagined.