by Silke Ming
“Have we turned into a French lady now?”
She related the stories about Jean-Louis, Hoana, and the two beautiful islands.
“When we move there, you can come and visit.”
“Are you planning to do that?” he asked, his voice filled with surprise.
“First, I have an interview at the university. They offered me a position at a campus between Boston and Sloane.”
“What does Seamus have to say about that?”
“At first he hated the idea, but after a couple days, he warmed up to it, or should I say, he relented?”
“Didn’t you say that he was taking a year off, so that the two of you could spend time in the South Pacific?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure he wants you to take the job?”
“No, I’m not sure.”
“So why are you taking it?” a serious Toby asked.
“I want to establish my independence, Toby.”
“He has given you half of everything he owns, Summer. The man loves you. Give something back,” her friend said.
“Because I am going to work, doesn’t mean that I don’t care for him or love him.”
“I know all that, but does he know that you care, Summer? You don’t want to live with three other roommates again, do you?”
“So you think I’m being selfish.”
“Yes, Summer. Take it from a friend who cares. You are being selfish.”
“So what about what I want? Don’t I count?”
“You can’t commit to something and then back out, my friend. Seamus has done his share of shit, but you know he will always be there for you.”
“I want to see what I can find out there, that’s all. I want to know what my chances are and if I can find a good-paying job.”
“I understand all that, but I think Seamus is ready to settle down with a wife.”
“You sound just like Millie. Have you been talking to her?”
“No, I just know a lot about human nature,” he said, staring at her.
“What are you doing on the weekend?” she suddenly asked.
“We haven’t planned anything.”
“Why don’t you and Joshua come over on Friday evening and spend the weekend?”
“That sounds delicious. I know Josh will come.”
“Bring some warm pajamas. The nights out there can be quite cool in the winter.”
Chapter Nine
Summer awoke on Friday morning and turned to look at Seamus. He was wrapped up to his neck in the warm duvet. He looked like an innocent little boy. She lifted the covers back and quietly stepped out of bed. It had snowed during the night, and outside was covered in a sea of white. It was a ninety-minute drive to her appointment at the university, and she thought about calling it off, but a little snow was not an excuse to cancel something so important. She showered, got dressed and looked in on Seamus. He was still in dreamland. Closing the door quietly, she left the house. She chose to drive his SUV because it was the better vehicle for the snow-filled streets, which hadn’t yet been cleaned. Finally getting the GPS programmed, she was on her way. Luckily for her, there was hardly any traffic going into Whitney at that time of the morning, so she turned on the radio and drove slowly until she came to the end of the gravel road. She breathed a sigh of relief when she turned onto the main street, which had already been plowed. The traffic was slow but there was no congestion, so she knew she would make it on time for her nine thirty interview.
* * * *
Seamus turned and stretched out his hand. Feeling nothing, he moved his hand up and down along the bed. It was empty. He opened his eyes, but Summer was not there. He covered his naked body with his terry cloth robe and went in search of her.
Where is she? he wondered. She never gets up this early.
He checked the bathroom and she wasn’t there. He went to the landing and called out.
“Summer.” But there was no answer.
He started to panic. Running down the stairs, he went to the bedroom closet where she kept her clothing. They were all there and her jewelry and cosmetics were still sitting on the dresser. He then remembered that she had an appointment at the university. He walked over to the porthole and saw that it had snowed.
I wish she hadn’t gone out on the snowy streets alone. The Audi is really too close to the ground. I hope she doesn’t run into any problems.
He sent her a text because he didn’t want her driving on treacherous roads and using her cell phone.
B careful. Luv u. Call me.
She picked it up and read it. She smiled. Then she called.
He picked up the phone just as Millie was coming through the door.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” he asked Summer.
“You seemed tired, so I decided to let you sleep.”
“Are you almost there?”
“According to the GPS, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“I wish you had driven the SUV. It’s so much better on these wintry roads.”
“Have you looked outside?” she asked.
“Yes, everything is covered in snow.”
“That’s not what I mean. Have a look outside in the driveway.”
He opened the door and realised the SUV was missing.
“I should’ve known,” he said, relieved she was driving the four-wheel-drive vehicle.
“See you around one o’clock,” she said.
“If you run into any problems, call me,” he said. “Is it still snowing along the highway?”
“No. The roads are clear. Love you. See you later.”
“Call me and let me know about the interview.”
“I will. Bye, Seamus.”
* * * *
“You are making me nervous,” said Millie. “If Summer says she will call, you know she will. Do something to keep yourself busy. Go to the studio. Paint something.”
“I worry about her out there in this bad weather.”
Millie smiled. She knew what the problem was. He was afraid Summer would take the position and he would lose some control over her. She didn’t worry too much about the young lady whom she had grown to admire. She knew she could handle herself, and most of all, she could handle Seamus.
“I’ll be in the studio. Don’t forget to set the table for four. We are having weekend guests and they will arrive later this evening.”
“Everything has been arranged. Summer spoke to me about it yesterday.”
“What’s for dinner?” he asked. “Nothing that would be too much work for Summer. I want her to have a good time this evening.”
“You really love her, don’t you?” Millie asked.
“Of course I love her. Why do you think she is here?” he asked, staring down at her from the upper landing.
“Then don’t scare her away,” she replied.
“Why do you say that?” he asked, climbing back down the stairs.
“I see the way you treat her sometimes.”
“Do you think I mistreat her?”
“I wouldn’t say mistreat,” said the Irishwoman. “You are bossy and selfish, and don’t consider what she wants.”
He stared at her and then walked away. Then he stopped, returned to her, hugged her, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Why are you doing that for?” she asked.
“You always tell me the truth, even if it sometimes is too difficult to hear.”
“I tell you because I look on you like my own flesh and blood. Summer is a lovely lady. Take care of her and she will take care of you. Now get to the studio and do some painting.”
She stared at him until he was out of sight. She shook her head and returned to her work. The phone started to ring, and before she could get to it, Seamus had picked up. He listened to the caller and just kept on listening.
“Do what you want!” he finally shouted. “I really don’t care.”
He hung up the phone and stared at it.
“Damn her!”
; It rang again and he waited before answering it. He picked it up and waited.
“Seamus?” It was Summer.
“Where are you?”
“I’m on my way back. Everything went well. I’ll see you in about an hour.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he replied.
“What’s wrong, Seamus?”
“Everything is fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because there’s a strange tone to your voice. Are you sure you are all right?”
“I just had a very strange phone call a few minutes ago. I’ll tell you about it when you get here.”
“Seamus?”
“Yes, Summer.”
“I’ll see you soon and we can talk about it.”
There had never been another woman in his life who could read him like she could. She knew when he was happy and when he was sad without even seeing his face.
* * * *
“Hello, Millie,” she said, walking in the door.
“I’m glad you’re home,” said the housekeeper. “Go up and see him. He’s in the Sistine Chapel.”
Summer climbed the stairs and opened the door to the studio.
“You’re back,” he said, jumping up and hugging her tightly.
“Remind me to go away more often,” she said.
She looked at his unkempt reddish-brown hair and stared into his sea-green eyes. He was a handsome man and she really loved him. He made her body come alive. A body which she thought had lost all feelings of pleasure and passion.
“I missed you so much,” he said, pushing her against the door and kissing her.
“First things first,” she said. “Tell me about the strange phone call.”
“Do you remember Lana’s friend Monique? She was at the birthday party. She was the lady in the ivory dress who was flirting with every man there.”
“No, I don’t remember. What about her?”
“She and Lana were very good friends. They did everything together when Lana wasn’t with Fred.”
Summer knew where the story was going. Was she the same woman who was now blackmailing Lana?
“Did she call you?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“What did she want?”
“She said something about finding something in Lana’s diary, and is threatening to blackmail me.”
“What did you tell her?”
“To take the information and do what she wants with it, because I don’t really care.”
“Suppose she does do it?”
“I don’t think she will.”
“You seem quite confident. Fred knew about the affair and I know about it, so it doesn’t really matter who else knows. Let her do what she wants with the information.”
“Summer, I’ve done it again.”
“What have you done?”
“I promised I would never again have to say, I’m sorry, but here I am saying it again. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Is there anything that you haven’t told me, before she blurts it into the open? Was Lana pregnant or anything like that?”
He paused before he answered.
“Yes, she became pregnant just after Marianna left me.”
“Was it your child?”
“She said it was and I believed her, simply because she had been married to Fred for a long time and had never become pregnant.”
“Do you think that is the information her friend got her hands on?”
“Most likely.”
“What happened to the child?”
“She said she miscarried in the third month.”
“Are you sure it was yours? Are you sure she wasn’t just saying that to you, to get her claws into you?”
“I can’t be sure of anything, Summer.”
“Well is there anything else she could be using against you?”
“No. Nothing that I can think of.”
“She’s also blackmailing Lana. I found that out from Toby,” she said, waiting for his reply.
“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“I didn’t want to worry you. We had just returned from a fabulous holiday and you seemed happy.”
“I wish you had told me.”
“It wouldn’t have done any good,” she replied. “Anyway I thought she deserved it.”
“Come here,” he said, pulling her onto his lap.
He stared at her, wondering how he could’ve been so lucky. He buried his face in her chest and breathed deeply, while she ran her hand through his hair, comforting him.
“Summer, I don’t deserve you,” he said, glancing up at her. “You are beautiful, intelligent and sensitive, and most of all you are mine. I don’t deserve you, but I am grateful that you are here with me.”
“And I’m not going anywhere.”
“I wouldn’t let you,” he said, running his thumb along her lower lip.
“Would you like to know what happened this morning?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, apologizing for not asking. “With all this nonsense, I completely forgot about your interview. So tell me what happened.”
“Well, I can work from home, but must go in if they need me urgently. However, there are two mandatory days per month when I must be there.”
“That’s not too bad. At least I’ll have you beside me most of the time.”
“The salary is not too bad. They have offered me seventy-five thousand per year.”
“That’s pretty good, but you don’t have to take the job if you really don’t want to.”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“And why not?” he asked. “It’s your decision.”
“That’s a different song you’re singing,” she said, planting a kiss on his forehead.
“I won’t stand in your way, Summer. If it makes you happy, then it also makes me happy. When must you give them your decision?”
“By next Friday.”
“That gives me time,” he said, running his hand along her cheek.
“Time for what?”
“To talk you out of it,” he replied, teasing her.
Chapter Ten
“I was thinking,” Summer said.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“I was wondering if Lana’s friend is blackmailing both you and Lana about the same thing,” she said, twirling the coffee cup around in her hand.
“What do you mean?”
“Suppose she was never really pregnant? I know she told you she was, and that you were the father. In order to keep her facts straight, she had to write it in her diary.”
“Isn’t that a little far-fetched?”
“Maybe, but it makes sense, Seamus. If Lana was cunning enough not to get pregnant by her husband for so many years, why would she be so careless and allow it to happen with you? Lana is not a stupid woman, and she would never want to jeopardize her cushy lifestyle.”
“Then why is her friend trying to blackmail me?”
“You are supposed to be the father. Lana knows the truth, but you don’t. You still think you were the father of the child she miscarried. Maybe her friend found out it was a lie.”
“That’s what Lana told me and I believed her.”
“Suppose she wrote in her diary that she lied to you, that she was never pregnant.”
“Yes?”
“Her friend found that out and told her she will inform you, if she doesn’t pay up.”
“Then why is Monique calling me?”
“She will tell you that she knows you impregnated Lana, hoping you will pay her to keep it quiet. That way she will get money from both you and Lana.”
“Well, she can just go ahead and spread the news, because I will not pay her one cent.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’re not angry with me, so I don’t care who else is,” he said, holding her hand. “What did I get myself into? I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to pack up and leave.”
She looked into his face
and studied it. He looked like a little boy who had just been spanked for being naughty.
“Don’t worry,” she said, hugging him tightly. “Don’t you know that I love you? Life is sharing the good things with the bad.”
“I love you, too, but you seem to be getting more than your share of the bad,” he said, frowning.
“The thing about making mistakes is not to continue making them.”
“What did I do to deserve you? None of the other women who passed through my life would’ve stuck around and taken all this abuse.”
“I don’t see it as abuse. Anyway, let’s change the subject. Have you any idea what Millie is making for dinner?”
“No, I don’t know, but I told her not to make anything that is too much work for you. I want you to enjoy this weekend with our friends.”
“Did you say that to her?”
“I did, and she told me how lucky I was to have you in my life.”
“So you were thinking about me,” she said, her lips covering his. “I must think of a way to thank you.”
“I know of a way,” he said.
“That will have to wait for a while.”
“I can’t wait until tonight,” he said, grinding his body against hers.
“Not only will you have to wait until tonight, but perhaps until Tuesday or Wednesday night.”
“What? Is it that time of the month again?” he shouted.
“Sorry, that’s the way it is,” she said, laughing.
“There are other things we can do.”
“Like what?” she asked, teasing him.
“You love lollipops, and I like playing with this,” he said, easing his hand under her skirt.
“I should go downstairs and see what Millie is preparing.”
“She knows what she’s doing. She doesn’t need you looking over her shoulder,” he said, gripping her hand even tighter. “I need you.”
“I need you, too, but this is not the right time.”
He lifted her off his lap and put her on the chair.
“Seamus,” she protested.
He was not listening. She knew he had an erection, although she couldn’t see it or feel it. The look in his hooded eyes said everything there was to say. It made her hot for him. Desire rushed through her body and their lips met. A long, wet, passionate kiss! He groaned as his hand moved slowly under her blouse to the two volcanic peaks. He teased her nipples, sucking one through her linen blouse and rubbing the other with his thumb and forefinger.