The Truest of Words

by Georgina Guthrie

  I didn’t have the chance to ask him what he was thinking because, at that moment, Gavin appeared beside us.

  “May I?” he asked, tapping Daniel’s shoulder.

  Daniel scowled at his friend’s intrusion. “Must you?”

  “Don’t be a greedy sod.” Gavin elbowed Daniel out of the way. “Go get a drink.”

  Daniel retreated, but not without raising a warning finger at his friend.

  “Bloody hell,” Gavin said, swinging me into the crowd as Daniel strolled off to the bar, looking over his shoulder as he walked. “Possessive bastard.”

  “He knows you too well.” I laughed.

  “Yeah, no flies on him.” He grinned. “So, you and Lewis, huh?”

  “It would appear that way, yes.”

  “Can’t imagine what you see in him. Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer a dashing English fellow with nimble fingers and unrivalled linguistic abilities?”

  At two in the morning, Daniel and I went back to the room, both of us wiped and desperate for our pillows. Daniel tossed his tuxedo jacket onto the back of a chair, popped open the top buttons on his shirt, and sank onto the bed with a grateful groan. He held out his arms to me, and I flaked out beside him.

  “What a stellar day,” he said.

  “It was amazing.”

  I rested my chin on his chest. He radiated heat, not surprising considering his dance floor escapades.

  “How come I didn’t know you were such a good dancer, sailor?”

  “I don’t like to boast.”

  “You love to boast. I never dreamed you’d have those moves. I thought Penny’s aunt Flora was going to shove a five pound note down your pants when that Justin Timberlake song came on.”

  “I guess I wanted to surprise you,” he said.

  “In that case, mission accomplished. You certainly brought shmexy back.”

  He chuckled, and I rubbed my cheek against his chest as I pictured him popping and gliding in time to the music while Gavin hooted and clapped beside him.

  “Speaking of surprises, what’s that all about?” I gestured to the gift bag Daniel had dropped beside him on the bed. “Brad and Penny already gave you cufflinks as a thank-you gift, right?”

  “Penny said it was an impulse. Brad wrote the card about an hour ago.”

  He propped himself on his elbow, reached into the bag, and found an envelope. His bemused expression became serious as he looked inside the card.

  “‘Hey, D,” Daniel read, glancing at me briefly. “‘I’m not usually the corny type, but I wanted to thank you for everything you did today, and for bringing Penny and me together in the first place. When we started planning the wedding, we knew we wanted you to emcee. Who else would take the job so seriously? When you were born, Mom and Dad told me I had to watch out for you and be a good big brother. I guess I did okay because what comes around goes around, right? Having Penny at my side today was one thing, but knowing you had my back was a great feeling. Anyway, thanks. Love you, bro. Brad.’”

  Daniel closed the card and placed it on the bed between us.

  “Wow.” I reached for his hand. “Do you suppose marriage has stirred up Brad’s sentimental side?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t believe he went on the record with this. If I gave him a card like this, I’d never hear the end of it.”

  “He had a lot to drink. Maybe he wasn’t thinking straight.”

  “Maybe,” Daniel mused.

  “Are you going to open the gift?”

  He reached into the bag, ripping out reams of multi-colored tissue paper. Then he peeked inside and started laughing.

  “What?”

  Daniel turned the bag upside down, tipping its contents onto the comforter. A French manicure kit, a bottle of nail polish remover, a small bag of cotton balls, and two nail files tumbled onto the bed. On a sticky note attached to the nail polish kit, Brad had written:

  Not judging.

  Whatever turns your crank, bro.

  (Consider this collateral.)

  Chapter 31

  The Tower

  …thou laid’st a trap to take my life

  As well at London bridge as at the Tower?

  (Henry VI, Part I, Act III, Scene i)

  WEDNESDAY MORNING, I woke up alone and disoriented. Where was Daniel? And for that matter, where the hell was I? As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I reflected on the events of the day before. We’d toured a cathedral in the morning and spent the afternoon exploring Stonehenge. Right—I was in Salisbury, which meant we were leaving for London today.

  I dragged myself to the bathroom where I found a note tented over the taps.

  Morning, poppet,

  The fresh air yesterday must have taken it out of you. I could have paraded a marching band through here this morning and you wouldn’t have woken up. I had a restless night. When I couldn’t get back to sleep at six, I figured I’d pop out to fill up the car and grab some coffee and breakfast. I might try to find a car wash too. See you soon, lovely. -D

  Amid thoughts of fresh coffee and food, I couldn’t help reading between the lines. Daniel hadn’t slept well and now he was out washing the car. Six months into our relationship, I was able to connect the dots. Daniel was anxious.

  As I showered, I wondered if I was reading too much into things. Maybe Daniel’s inability to sleep was a side effect of hotel bed syndrome. And the car was dirty. I stopped obsessing. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I was greeted with the aroma of coffee. Daniel was sitting at the desk, staring into space as he sipped a Starbucks. He snapped out of his trance and spun around in the chair, handing me my cup.

  I kissed him. “You were up early.”

  “You got my note?”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  I took a sip of my coffee and perched on his lap. He tugged on my towel and peered down at my cleavage.

  “What’s going on under there?”

  “I just got out of the shower.” I giggled. “So nothing’s going on under here.”

  He ran his lips along my shoulder, capturing a few errant beads of water with his tongue. I sighed as he tickled my thigh.

  “Would you like to have something going on under there?”

  “Don’t we have to leave soon?”

  His fingers wandered farther up my leg, and his lips found that sweet spot under my ear. I shivered.

  “London can wait an extra fifteen minutes, don’t you think?”

  “Fifteen minutes?” I dropped my head back. “Is that all I get?”

  “And that, crazy legs, is called a challenge.”

  Daniel carried me across the room, tossing my towel on the floor as he lowered me to the bed, not once breaking eye contact while he stood above me undressing. He then proceeded to rise to the challenge brilliantly.

  London, it turned out, was going to have to wait an extra twenty-five minutes.

  The closer our proximity to London, the quieter Daniel became and the whiter his knuckles got. When his jaw started to twitch, I rubbed his thigh comfortingly.

  “You okay?”

  “Sorry if I seem distracted. It’s been a long time since I’ve driven in London. The nearer we get to the hotel, the crazier the traffic will be.”

  “Take your time. It’s not like we have a deadline.” I flinched as a car passed with what seemed like a hair’s breadth between us. “I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t drive over here.”

  He smiled and squeezed my fingers briefly before gripping the steering wheel again.

  “So, when are you going to tell me where we’re staying?”

  “I told you, it’s a surprise.”

  His mysterious smile fueled my curiosity. I kept quiet, though. If there was one thing I’d learned, it was that Daniel’s surprises were always worth waiting for. Twenty minutes later, Daniel heaved a sigh of relief as he carefully steered through traffic. Pulling up to the curb, he pointed out the window.

  “There she is. Your humble abode for the next two night
s.”

  Holy mother of pearl! We were staying at The Ritz!

  “Daniel, you’ve got to be kidding…”

  I hugged him, both of us smiling widely through our kisses. We climbed out, moving out of the way as bellhops and a valet flew into action. Daniel rolled his shoulders and tilted his head from side to side.

  “I think I need a stiff one after that drive.”

  “I might need a stiff one too,” I said, wrapping my arms around him and nestling into his neck. “Then maybe I’ll have a strong drink.”

  “You are a dirty girl.” He chuckled.

  “What a great way to cap off our vacation. This is amazing, Daniel. Thank you.”

  “It was hard keeping this a secret. It’s kind of an anniversary treat. Tomorrow’s the thirteenth, remember.”

  “I hadn’t forgotten. I might have a surprise or two hidden in my luggage.” My heart filled as his eyes sparkled back at me.

  “In that case, I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  Daniel was a wonderful tour guide. He’d carefully planned an afternoon walking tour, but after hitting several of the highlights on foot, we started hopping in and out of London taxis to save our feet. As the afternoon wore on and we were finishing our time at Trafalgar Square, I cajoled Daniel into a subway ride. We descended into the Underground, emerging a few stops later at Waterloo station.

  “So, what’s here?” I asked, spinning around on the street corner.

  Daniel pointed between two buildings. “How would you like to go on that?”

  I held my hand to my eyes, blocking out the late afternoon sun. “The London Eye! Can we? That would be so cool!”

  Daniel produced two tickets from his back pocket. “I pre-ordered these online. I didn’t want to risk getting here and having to wait.”

  My enthusiasm trumped the complaints of my aching feet, and I dragged Daniel along the sidewalk toward the entrance to the riverside attraction. He laughed as I bobbed around in the line, impatient for our turn on the giant wheel that would take us into the sky over London. We were finally shepherded into our pod with fifteen or so other enthusiastic tourists. Daniel stood with his hands on my hips and his chin resting on my head as we rose skyward.

  I scanned the horizon. “Hey, that’s Tower Bridge, right?” I asked.

  “Exactly.”

  I peered out the window, snapping a couple of pictures.

  “And that’s the Tower of London on the other side of the bridge?”

  “That’s it.”

  “Maybe we can check out the Tower tomorrow,” I suggested.

  “We’ll see,” he said, with a non-committal shrug.

  I continued scanning the city. “There’s a great view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben from here.”

  I reached for his arm, but Daniel had stepped away, blowing gusts of air upward and wiping his forehead with his sleeve.

  “Hey, are you all right?”

  He grimaced and pushed his sleeves up to his elbows. “Is it warm in here?”

  I pressed my hand to his forehead. The color had drained from his face.

  “You’re clammy. You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”

  He shook his head and tried to smile. “Maybe it’s a touch of claustrophobia. I probably need some air.”

  “You’re worn out. Your bad night’s sleep is catching up with you. Why don’t we chill at the hotel tonight? Maybe grab room service and rent a movie?”

  “If you wouldn’t mind, that sounds perfect. I do need some sleep. Plus, I want to be in top form for tomorrow.”

  “That’s right,” I whispered. “You’ll definitely need some reserves for what I have planned for tomorrow night.”

  At brunch the next morning, Daniel was chatty and cheerful, but his eyes betrayed his weariness.

  “Would you like another mimosa?” he asked, gesturing to my champagne glass.

  “No thanks. I’m stuffed.” I reached for his hand. “Are you sure you’re feeling better?”

  “Much better. You were right. I needed a good sleep.”

  I gave his fingers a quick squeeze, not altogether convinced that the rolling and tossing he’d done the night before constituted “good.”

  “So, what’s the plan?” I asked him.

  “How do you know I have one?” His wink revealed the truth. Not only did he have a plan, but he was eager to share it. He retrieved a business card from his wallet and slid it across the table.

  I examined the logo: The Ritz Salon.

  “Turn it over,” Daniel prompted.

  I flipped the card. My name was written at the top, and underneath were two appointment times:

  =

  430 minute pedicure E 11:455

  450 minute facial treatment E 12:155

  =

  “This is for me?”

  “You said it’s been a long time since you’ve visited a spa. What better place to get spoiled than the Ritz?” Daniel looked at his watch. “You need to be on the seventh floor ready to be pampered in forty-five minutes.”

  “I’ve never had a facial.”

  “The receptionist said something about a scalp massage.”

  “That sounds amazing.” I sighed. “Are you joining me? Is there a treatment for men? Or are you power napping while I bask in the lap of luxury?”

  “Neither. There’s something I need to look into—and no, I can’t tell you what it is. I’m heading out for a bit. I’ll be back by the time you’re done, and we’ll go from there.”

  “Another surprise? Don’t you think you’ve done enough, sailor?”

  “It’s not just our anniversary; it’s our last day in England.” He brought my hand to his lips and traced a line of kisses across my knuckles. “I want to make it a day neither one of us will forget.”

  Forty-five minutes later, I was slipping my feet into my flip flops, ready to dash to the elevator, when my phone rang. I smiled as I answered, assuming Daniel would be on the other end, calling to wish me a lovely time at my spa appointments. But the voice on the other end of the line wasn’t Daniel’s.

  “Hey, Aubrey?”

  “Jeremy? Hi! Is everything okay?”

  “Um, I’m not exactly sure. Are you guys in London?”

  “We arrived yesterday.” I glanced at my watch. I didn’t have time to talk. I was already running late. “What’s going on?”

  “Is Daniel with you?”

  “No, he’s gone out for a bit.”

  “Shit.”

  “What’s happened? Do you need help?”

  “We’re fine. It’s him I’m worried about. Do you know where he is?”

  “He wouldn’t tell me. He said it was a surprise. What’s this all about? You’re freaking me out.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to scare you, but he just texted me. I replied and tried to call him, but he’s not answering. Normally I wouldn’t worry, but his message was weird.”

  “Why? What did he say?”

  “He told me I was right all along and that it was his turn to spit out the stone.”

  “Am I supposed to know what that means?”

  “It’s a long story. We talked at the airport before I left for France. Basically, the stone thing has to do with dealing with shit that’s haunting you. I think he’s gone to find Nicola.”

  “What?” I sank onto the bed. “Find her? What do you mean?”

  “She’s in London. He knows where she works. I think maybe he’s got it in his head to track her down.”

  “Oh no…”

  “I don’t mean to be dramatic, but I’m worried there’s this little piece of him that’s not all there when it comes to this chick after what she did to him.”

  “Jeremy, did he tell you that?”

  “Not exactly. He said he thinks his nightmares have to do with her. Look, I’m not trying to tell you what to do…”

  “But you think I should try to find him?”

  “I’d do it myself if we weren’t four hundred miles away.”<
br />
  “No, of course, I’ll call him.”

  “He’s not answering my calls. He might not answer yours either.”

  “Then how am I supposed to find him? I wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “Nicola works at the Tower of London in one of the gift shops.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Daniel’s been watching her activities on Facebook for a couple of months.”

  “You’re kidding…”

  “I wish I was. I looked her up myself. She definitely works there.”

  As soon as I’d mentioned touring the Tower the day before, Daniel had gone pale and broken into a cold sweat. Had he been thinking about Nicola? Had his so-called claustrophobia been the precursor to an anxiety attack?

  I kicked off my flip flops and slipped on a pair of shoes.

  “I’m on it, Jeremy. Don’t worry, okay?”

  “I might be overreacting, but I hate the thought of him being somewhere alone and having—”

  “No, you’re right. God knows how he’ll react to seeing her.”

  I assured him I’d keep him in the loop, and then I hung up and sprang into action. First, I called the hotel spa and canceled my appointments. Then I dropped my phone into my purse and headed for the lobby. I needed a taxi, and I needed it now.

  The Tower of London loomed in the distance, and I was stuck in traffic. There was nothing the driver could do to circumvent the gridlock, short of driving on the sidewalk. I considered getting out and running the rest of the way, but the Tower was probably a lot farther away than it looked. I tried to think rationally.

  Daniel wouldn’t do something like this unless he thought he could cope, would he? But Jeremy had gone out of his way to call and warn me. If he’d believed Daniel was fine, would he have interfered?

  Oh God, hurry up!

  Sitting helplessly in the back of the cab, I tried to phone Daniel again, and once more the call went to voice mail. I left another straightforward message, asking him to call me. When the taxi finally pulled up to the curb outside the Tower of London, I tossed some money through the front seats and clambered out. At the ticket counter, I paid and then bolted to the entrance, tourist brochure in hand as I contemplated my next move.