Part 224 (2/2)

”I want a bottle of Grand Marnier, two cheeseburgers, medium, a basket

of fries, and a liter of Pepsi in a bucket of ice. I got twenty bucks

for the guy who gets up here in fifteen minutes.” Satisfied, she swept

her running shoes off another chair and sat. ”Okay, Emma, what the

h.e.l.l's going on?”

”I've left Drew.”

Not quite ready to forgive, she stretched out her legs. ”Yes, I think I

picked up on that, but why? I thought you were deliriously happy.”

”Yes, I'm very happy. He's wonderful. He takes such good care ...”

She heard her own voice and trailed off with a kind of panicked disgust.

”Oh G.o.d, sometimes I actually believe it.”

”Believe what?”

”What he's trained me to say. Marianne, I don't know who else I can

talk to. And I think if I don't say it right here and right now I never

will. I wanted to tell Johnno. I started to, but I just couldn't.”

”All right.” Because Emma looked much too pale, Marianne rose and opened

the balcony doors. Sea air fluttered in. ”Take your time. Is

it another woman?” Marianne said nothing, just watched as Emma began to

rock back and forth and laugh.

”Oh Christ, sweet Christ.” Before she could stop, the laughter had

turned to sobs, great wrenching sobs. Moving quickly, Marianne knelt

beside her to take her hands.

”Easy, Emma. You're going to make yourself sick. Hey, hey. We all

know most men are b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. If Drew's been unfaithful, you just kick

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