Part 19 (2/2)
He had a strange expression on his face. Oh G.o.d, was he going to say he had been with Sophia after all? This was too horrible for words. I stared back at him, swallowing anxiously, waiting.
”What?” I finally stammered.
”Hiring that ghastly Sophia. I mentioned to her on that trip to London that I wanted to get you something special, to make up for canceling the honeymoon, and she offered to help me choose something for you. She told me it wouldn't matter if I copied her necklace. I was a fool. I know what she's like. I should have known that she would engineer things to her advantage. I wish I'd never hired her. She's been a man-eater since high school. Always whipping up these affairs around herself that are usually lies-”
”Shush,” I said, holding my hand up to Hunter's lips. ”I never want to hear another thing about that wretched girl.”
Although I was relieved to have Hunter back, I still felt incredibly angry at even the briefest mention of Sophia's name. She had caused so much damage. My only consolation was that I knew she would never escape her Saudi life.
”I promise Sophia will never be allowed anywhere near us again,” said Hunter.
”Really? You really mean that?” I said stiffly.
Much as I wanted to embrace my husband, I still couldn't quite relax after everything that had happened. Hunter noticed my reluctant air. Trying to rea.s.sure me, he said, ”When do I not mean what I say, darling?” with a little twinkle in his eye.
I paused. When I really thought about it, the fact was Hunter didn't go back on his promises. Finally I just said, ”Never, darling.”
Hunter looked relieved and put his hand up to stroke my cheek. Then he said, ”I can't bear that you saw Sophia wearing that gorgeous necklace. I'm going to get you something even more beautiful, my darling.”
”Actually I love it-”
”That's too bad because I have already commissioned something so exquisite you won't believe it.”
I melted faster than an ice cream on a hot Fourth of July. Suddenly I felt a delicious mix of laughter and tears bubbling up inside me. Hunter leaned across the table and kissed me for a long time on the lips. Then he got up and came and sat next to me on the banquette with his arm looped around my neck. With the other hand he dabbed at my tears with a handkerchief. It felt divine, just the way things should be.
”Where have you been these past few days?” I asked, although I wasn't really concerned about it anymore.
”Thinking.”
”Where?”
”It doesn't matter.”
”Darling, I have to ask you something else,” I said. ”No vague answers, please.”
”OK. I will be completely clear and transparent. What do you want to know? Anything.”
”Why are you so secretive? Always disappearing? All those secret phone calls, and all that time you're on the Internet, and you'll never let me know what you are doing. If you weren't having an affair with Sophia, what were you up to?”
Hunter just smiled and opened his briefcase. He took out a flat brown envelope and handed it to me. HONEYMOON #2 was written across the top.
”Eeek!” I cried, delighted. I handed the package back to Hunter.
”Aren't you going to look at where we're going?” he said, pus.h.i.+ng it back toward me.
”No. A new bride never knows where she's going on her honeymoon. It should be a surprise.”
”Absolutely. I'm glad you trust me to take you somewhere nice.”
”I do, darling, I do,” I said. But I couldn't resist needling my husband a little. ”Even after you canceled our last honeymoon.”
”You're very brave,” he said, tearing off a piece of croissant and popping it into my mouth. ”You look like you haven't eaten for a week.”
”I couldn't eat while you were gone,” I said through my mouthful of breakfast. ”By the way, can you believe Lauren got married?”
I pointed to the Post story. Hunter didn't seem surprised at all.
”Didn't I always tell you she'd be married with three kids in no time?” he said.
”But...to Giles Monterey? He was engaged!”
”I told you they'd be the perfect couple, didn't I?”
It was true. Hunter had an uncanny sense for Lauren's love life that even I couldn't fathom.
”Darling, can I just ask one more question, and then I promise that's it?” I said.
”Go ahead,” he replied. ”Anything you want.”
”Who is that lousy college friend you're always running off to visit? It's really been bugging me.”
”Oh, he's...well, can you wait until the honeymoon? Then I promise I'll tell you. Actually, you'll meet him.”
”Even better!” I said. ”But I hope this is not a honeymoon with all your college buddies...OK?”
Hunter came closer. He put his lips close to my ear and whispered, flirtatiously, ”Now, my darling, I haven't seen you for a few days, why don't we go home and...you know what?”
”It's Monday, what about work...,” I said, mildly protesting. But...Hunter looked so cute. He had that sort of slightly rumpled, just-got-off-a-plane look about him this morning that I found irresistibly s.e.xy. And I had missed him so much. I couldn't help but be tempted. ”Actually, I think we should...you know what too.”
25.
Honeymoon-For Real I wrote pretty much the same thing in my diary every day of our honeymoon: Honeymoon. Boat. Husband. Divine.
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