The Devil Has Dimples

by Pepper Phillips

  I feel so alone.

  I can’t tell him the truth, not now.

  It’s too soon after she died.

  It’s all such a mistake.

  But I’m so happy.

  Our baby’s foot is nestled close to my heart. Every now and then I feel that thump and I want to shout it to the world.

  I’m having a baby.

  But I can never tell anyone.

  Ever.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  I grabbed Grant’s arm before we went up the sidewalk.

  “Wait.”

  He turned and looked at me, a question in his eyes.

  I squeezed his hand. “I’m afraid.”

  He smiled at me. “Don’t be. I’m with you all the way on this.”

  Grant started to walk forward and I tugged on his arm again and he stopped.

  He took my hand from his arm and pulled me closer to him. His lips touched my fingertips. A liquid fire raced up my hand and arm clear down to my nether regions.

  What was I going to do with this man?

  “Seriously. This is the last stop. I don’t care what he says, the search stops here,” I said.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive. Too many people have been hurt already, it’s time to stop the search.”

  “Whatever you want, Sara.”

  I gave him a weak grin. His hand squeezed mine. We turned to walk up the front entry.

  “He’s home?” I asked.

  “Yes. Lenny called before we left the house.”

  As we approached the door, it opened.

  A large man came out onto the porch. He didn’t look especially welcoming.

  Grant stuck out his hand. “Mr. Guillot, I’m Grant St. Romain and this is Sara McLaughlin.”

  He stepped closer to me, and I tried to back up a step but Grant was still holding my hand.

  “I’d know you anywhere.” He reached out his hand and touched my hair briefly.

  “Come in.”

  He turned and led us inside. It was a lot different than Sedge’s house. Comfy, well worn, well used. The living room was old-fashioned, with doilies on the sofa, and beads hanging from the lampshade. Bookshelves were on both sides of the fireplace, a small fire burned inside.

  “Excuse me one moment.” He left the room.

  Grant gave me a “what’s up” look and I shrugged. I walked around the room and stopped at the bookshelves. Like Maudie, Claude Guillot liked books. These seemed to be well-read. Mostly history books, from every period.

  “Ah, you discovered my treasures.”

  I turned to see him as he held out a photograph to me.

  I held it in my hands and saw myself. At least it looked like me in a way. The hairstyle was out of date. The make-up wrong, the lips too dark. But it was like looking at myself.

  “My mother, Elizabeth.” Claude explained.

  “Her hair was your color when she was young. I never thought I would see the same shade again.”

  I sat on the sofa, the picture cradled in my hands. My grandmother. Tears formed in my eyes.

  Claude hastily took a hankie out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was white.

  I wiped away my tears.

  “You are my father?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  He looked uncomfortable, shaken.

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  Grant coughed in the background.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m proud that you’re my daughter, it’s just that I’ve been a miserable father.”

  Grant cleared his throat. “Could you tell us why Sara was given up for adoption?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “We have the time.” Grant said.

  Claude pulled up a chair next to me. His long fingers rested on his knees. Slowly he began.

  “Maudie and I fell in love. We didn’t mean to. It just happened. One of those things that you think will never happen to you, yet does.”

  Oh, he’s absolutely gorgeous. I think I fell in love at first sight. He was standing against the wall. Looking out of place, yet, he looked like he knew his place in life. A scholar. He was wearing one of those tweed jackets with the leather elbow patches. But it wasn’t for effect. It was for comfort. The patches were worn. The jacket misshapen, as though it was an old friend and companion.

  “I was married to Roberta. Everyone else called her Bobbie, but I always called her Roberta.”

  He walked over to the fireplace and picked up a pipe. He placed a few pinches of tobacco into the bowl and tamped it down with his forefinger. Then took a match and lit it.

  Puff. Puff. Puff. I don’t know if he was stalling or what, but watching him perform an ordinary task was comforting.

  Once he was prepared, he sat next to me on the sofa.

  “She was a flighty woman. I loved her for a long time, until I found out the truth about her. She cheated on me. Repeatedly.”

  That damn Bobbie. I knew she was married. But never met the poor man. And poor man he was. He didn’t know that she was loose. She went after men like notches on a belt. Always conniving, always trying to ‘better’ herself. As if she could. Naomi slept around. But you could forgive Naomi. She truly enjoyed men, and gave as good as she got. But Bobbie. She was a user. She didn’t care who got hurt, just so she got what she wanted.

  “I decided that a divorce was the only way I could find myself again. And then Maudie came into my life.”

  “The first time I saw her, I stopped whatever I was doing and just stared at her. She was stunning.”

  I was wearing a white dress. Normally, I like bright colors, but I liked this dress for some reason. I felt like a princess in it. When his glance turned in my direction. I noticed. Oh, Lord. I think my heart stopped.

  “We were at a party at the dean’s house, I was a history professor at the university, and she burst in and the room came alive.”

  What a group of fuddy-duddy professors they were. Except for him. The rest of them jostled for positions to meet me. Quite a few wives made haste to collect them and drag them to the bar. As if I would want to be bored the rest of my life like they were with their men. Except for him. He stayed against the wall. I think he might have been afraid of me. I noticed Bobbie giving me the evil eye at the bar and made my way over there.

  “What a dull sort we were, discussing things that happened centuries ago, and freshness walked in the door, and none of it mattered anymore.”

  “She came over and threw her arms around Roberta, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Roberta was livid. She demanded to be treated ‘like a professor’s wife’ in public, though privately she was the worst kind of woman. A traitor.”

  What a stupid scene Bobbie made. “Treat me with respect, Maudie. I’m a professor’s wife.” Respect. Bobbie was a fool. The wall man finally pushed his way through the crowd, and my heart beat faster. I waited for Bobbie to introduce us, but she ignored him completely. Couldn’t she see how wonderful he was?

  “I stood there like a puppy, waiting to be introduced. Roberta must have seen something in my face. She smiled and totally ignored me. She and Maudie talked for a minute, about the whereabouts of their old friends, then she suddenly turned to me. ‘Hi,’ she said, ‘my name is Maudie Cooper, I don’t believe we’ve met.’”

  “I stuck out my hand and introduced myself. Maudie left her hand in mine for a second too long. Then Roberta lashed out at both of us.”

  He’s married to Bobbie. This wonderfully delicious man is married to a viper. Predictable, Bobbie lashed into both of us, I just met the man, and Bobbie was accusing us of being overly “familiar” with each other. I wondered why? For a second there, I thought Bobbie would blow it and hit me. I laughed. Bobbie knew I could kick her butt if I wanted. But her gentle giant took her away. I watched after them. For once in my life, I was jealous.

  “It was embarrassing. I stood there taking her ridicule, then Maudie laughed. Roberta was furious. I honestly think
that she would have struck Maudie, but I grabbed her hand and took her away from the party.”

  It’s strange, after that I kept seeing Bobbie around campus. I was taking some history courses in the evening, but not with her husband, that would have been difficult to explain, even to myself. And when I would come out of class. There was Bobbie. Staring at me. I’d wave, and she’d get angry and stalk off. I wonder what she was doing?

  “Roberta started spying on me, and on Maudie. Which was ridiculous. I was married. Even though our marriage was essentially over. My vows did mean something to me. I’ve never cheated on my wife.”

  “I packed up my belongings and moved back here. To my mother’s house. Then I filed for divorce.”

  “It’s strange. Roberta never wanted me when I lived with her, but once I was out of her range, she decided she had to have me.”

  “She was parked outside when I left for work in the morning, and was waiting when I came back home.”

  “I even saw her several times on campus, lurking about, following me.”

  “She called every night. At least, I thought it was her. The phone would ring, and if my mother answered it, she would hang up immediately. If I answered it, there was a long pause, then the phone would go dead.”

  “It was nerve-racking to say the least. But I knew in my heart that I could never go back to her. The love just wasn’t there.”

  Was I shocked. I went to Hank’s to eat and there he was. He was dining with his mother, a great woman. We used to play bridge together, and Elizabeth invited me to join them. I hesitated, then I saw the look of longing on his face. I was a goner then. I sat.

  “Then I saw Maudie again. It was all quite innocent. Mother and I went out to Hank’s to eat dinner one night, and Maudie was going in at the same time. Alone.”

  “Mother invited her to eat with us.”

  “I was secretly thrilled, and terrified. I knew that if Roberta found out that there would be holy hell to pay. But for some reason, it was worth it to be in Maudie’s company.”

  It was the most wonderful night of my life. Elizabeth and I talked away, dominating the conversation. He seems so shy, but his eyes. It was like looking into his soul.

  “I’m sure that she thought I was a stick-in-the-mud. I don’t think I uttered a word during the whole meal. Mother and she carried on the conversation, and I was more than happy to just be there.”

  “As she left, Mother invited her to dinner after Sunday services and Maudie agreed.”

  “Again, I was thrilled and terrified. Roberta generally left us alone on Sundays, but there was no way I could be sure of her intentions.”

  Elizabeth invited me to Sunday dinner. I always feel at loose ends on Sundays, the shop is closed, and it isn’t proper to go antique hunting. My parents are gone. It’s just so lonely.

  I sat next to him at church. I didn’t mean too, but I was running a little late, and as I walked down the aisle, his pew had an empty seat. I slid in.

  “At Sunday Services, Maudie sat next to me at church.”

  “It was the most agonizing hour I have ever spent.”

  “She smelled like fresh flowers. She sang the hymns with verve and gusto, while I mumbled through the phrases. I felt like all my degrees and knowledge were nothing but sludge next to her.”

  “During the final prayer, she nudged me in the side, and whispered, “Lighten up. God’s watching.”

  ”At that moment, I fell in love with her.”

  “Hopelessly in love.” He paused for several moments. Reflecting on a happier time, as there was a smile on his face.

  “Then what happened?” I asked

  “She came for dinner. Mom loved her. Maudie liked to make Mother laugh, and we were all happy that afternoon. It was the most wonderful afternoon of my life.”

  Dinner was wonderful. Claude was relaxed, his mother was in a great mood. It was an afternoon that I’ll never forget.

  Here was the man I’ve been waiting all my life for, a man I could love with all of my heart.

  Then Bobbie showed up.

  A dark thunderous expression crossed over his face.

  “Then what?” Grant asked.

  “Roberta showed up. She made quite a scene. Maudie graciously left. Mother was in tears and went to her room. I finally told Roberta to leave me alone. The divorce was going to be final in a few weeks, and all I wanted was to be left alone.”

  “Roberta left. She was mad. I should have seen it coming, but I never thought she would try to get even with me. She never wanted me in her life until I told her we were getting a divorce.”

  I knew that they were getting a divorce. Elizabeth told me about it when Claude went into the kitchen to refill our drinks. I felt happy. When Bobbie showed up, I left. I was just a Sunday dinner guest. Nothing more. But, oh, how much I wanted more.

  “Everyone has a right to happiness,” I said.

  He snorted. “Roberta didn’t think that way.”

  “The ice storm came that night. The power went out. Everyone was lighting candles or camping lights in order to see. And Roberta called. She’d been drinking.”

  Bobbie always was a “sloppy” drunk. Give her a drink and she became hostile. She slapped the daylights out of Naomi one night at the roadhouse. She thought that Naomi was moving in on someone she liked and decked her. Bitsy and I had to bring Naomi to the emergency room. Which was funny, as Naomi hooked up with the ER doctor for a few weeks. The next day, Bobbie treated us like it was our fault, instead of hers.

  “I hung up on her. I think that’s what made her truly mad.”

  “She called right back and Mother answered the phone this time. She told Roberta not to call again, that I would never speak to her again.”

  “Then Mother screamed.”

  He dropped his head in his hands, remembering.

  “I can still remember the terror in her voice.”

  “’She’s going to kill herself.’ Mother said.”

  “I told Mother to call the police and I ran out to the car and headed for our house.”

  “Apparently, Roberta threw a kerosene light against the living room wall. The house was blazing by the time I got there. I could hear her screaming and I ran in after her.”

  He slowly undid the buttons on his shirt cuffs and rolled up the sleeves to show us the scars that covered his forearms.

  “I tried to save her. I honestly did.”

  I reached over and touched his arm with my hand.

  “I believe you,” I said. The proof of his heroism was burned into his skin.

  Bobbie had the last laugh. I imagine at times I can still hear her laughing from her grave.

  You can laugh Bobbie. You can laugh all you want in hell.

  It won’t erase your sins.

  “She lasted for a few hours. Then she died. She was pregnant with someone else’s child.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “It was good that she died. She was horribly burned and knowing her, she would have hated to live, to not be noticed for her beauty. She would have hated it and hated everyone for letting her live. I am sorry about the child. The innocent had to pay for her choices in life.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” I said.

  He looked at me. A sadness in his eyes.

  “Neither do I.” He shook his head. “What happened next destroyed my life.”

  I squeezed his arm with my hand. He looked down at it as if not realizing it had been there for a while. He took his other hand and placed it over mine. A warm fuzzy feeling came over me. He really did care about me. I was almost afraid to hear the rest of the story, but it was time.

  “What happened, Father.”

  He looked at me with tears in his eyes.

  “Maudie and I made love.”

  He shook his head again, then removed his hand from mine.

  “If only we had waited.”

  I smiled a little. “If you had waited I wouldn’t be here.”

  He gave me a
weak little smile. “That’s true. And believe me, I’m glad you’re here. I’m truly glad.”

  I moved closer to him, our limbs touching, a gentle warmth easing into both our bodies.

  “After the funeral, we came back here. Mother had refreshments for the mourners. There weren’t many. Roberta had fought with most of her friends at one time or another. There were some colleagues of mine here, but it didn’t take long for everyone to leave. Maudie stayed to help Mother clean up. I went for a walk.”

  “I don’t know where I was walking, I know it was for a good while, when Maudie pulled up in her car. “Need a lift?” She asked.”

  “My arms and hands were still sore, still healing. I was tired and got into her car.”

  “I don’t want to go home right now, I told her.”

  “I can understand that. She said.”

  “She took me to her apartment over the antique shop, and we went upstairs. The thought never crossed my mind that we would make love. I just wanted a safe haven for a moment.”

  “She poured me a small glass of wine. I slowly drank it down. And we talked. We talked for hours, then I finally kissed her, and we made love.”

  “Then she took me home.” He let out a long sigh.

  “When I woke up the next morning, I was thoroughly disgusted with myself.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “What was I thinking?”

  “I packed a suitcase, took a leave of absence and left town.”

  “I didn’t bother to call Maudie. I just told my mother I would be back when I felt ready to get on with my life.”

  He tapped out the few remaining embers from his pipe into the fireplace. Then placed the pipe gently in its holder.

  “That was the biggest mistake of my life.”

  I ruined our future. I should never have let my guard down. We made love.