Newlywed Games

by Mary Davis

  He dropped his hands to his sides, arching his brows, letting her see in his expression how tedious her display was. “Charmaine, I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for your games.” He slid his hands into his pants pockets. “Or interest, for that matter.”

  Anger flickered in her beautiful eyes at that, and Bruce felt a surge of triumph. Thank heaven, he was getting through. He’d had to go to ridiculous lengths to do it, but if it ended this woman’s assault on him—and on Meg—it would be worth it.

  Meghann pulled open the door to the hotel offices hallway, walking across the carpet with a spring in her step. Everything was coming together so perfectly for the ball. Surprisingly, there had been no major hitches. In fact, things were going better than she’d ever hoped.

  This was going to be an extravaganza, a fairy tale come true. The news she’d just received was the crowning touch and too good to deliver over the phone. She wanted to see the look on Bruce’s face when she told him Cora and Bennet Jones—one of the couples from the old hotel registry—were alive and well.

  And that they were coming to the ball.

  They had been at the masquerade ball fifty years ago. They’d been young and in love—and from vastly different families, both of whom had managed to separate them. But Cora and Bennet had found each other again the night of Cinderella’s Masquerade Ball and had been together ever since.

  Meghann sighed at the romantic tale. This time Cora and Bennet would have no trouble finding each other—they were going to be the guests of honor. The night would be special indeed.

  Meghann rounded the corner, then came to an abrupt halt.

  Bruce’s office door was open, and what Meg saw as she stared, dumbfounded, almost stopped her heart.

  Bruce holding Charmaine in his arms. He didn’t see Meg, but Charmaine did. And a triumphant smile oiled the woman’s face as she nestled her cheek on Bruce’s chest.

  As though sensing Meghann’s presence, Bruce turned and saw her. His expression was one of utter horror. Evidently he was stunned he had gotten caught. Caught red-handed!

  Or, more appropriately, blond-handed.

  Her head spinning, Meg put her hands on her warm cheeks, then spun and dashed from the scene. She couldn’t bear to see them together. Her shock gave way to hurt, then anger. Rage burned in her at the thought of Bruce using her to make that woman jealous. That was what he must have been doing all along.

  How could she have been so stupid as to let herself be manipulated like that? She was a first-rate fool. And Bruce was a first-rate cad. I guess a leopard can’t change his spots.

  She had believed him when he said there was nothing between him and Charmaine anymore. She guessed that was accurate; from what she’d seen, there wasn’t even room for air to separate them! How could she have been so foolish as to think he could possibly have harbored feelings for her when that woman was so obviously available?

  She rubbed her eyes, trying to erase the sight of them in each other’s arms. But she knew that image—and the picture of Charmaine’s victorious grin—would haunt her for the rest of her life.

  “Meg!”

  Bruce pushed Charmaine away, but he was too late. Meghann was gone.

  “Meghann!” he called out again, moving to chase after her, but Charmaine grasped his arm. He stared in disbelief at the doorway for a moment.

  “Let her go. You don’t need her. You have me.”

  He yanked free of her hand, spinning to face his tormentor. “I don’t want you! Why can’t you understand that? Stay away from me. Stay away from Meghann and stay away from this hotel. Haven’t you done enough damage?” He saw again the horrified look on Meg’s face and despair flowed over him.

  He had never struck a woman before, but as he stared down at Charmaine, he was tempted. Oh, how he was tempted.

  She must have sensed his rage, for uncertainty filled her face and she took a step back from him.

  Clenching his fists at his sides, he spoke to her in a firm, even voice. “If you ever come near me or Meghann or this hotel again, I will have you brought up on harassment charges.” With that, he turned and marched out to find Meghann.

  He first ran out in the parking lot to see if he could catch her and was relieved to see her cream Honda snugly parked in its usual space. As he opened the door to go back inside, Charmaine was exiting. He gladly held the door for her permanent departure. “Don’t come back.”

  She stopped directly in front of him and brushed her hand down his coat lapel. “You don’t really mean that,” she said with a flutter of her lashes.

  He grabbed her hand. “Hands off, Charmaine. For good.” He released her hand with a jerk. “Stay out of my life.”

  “You don’t have to get nasty about it.” She sashayed a few steps, then stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Don’t think you’ve seen the last of me.”

  “For both our sakes, you’d better be wrong. I meant what I said.”

  She shrugged and strolled away, as though unimpressed with his ultimatums.

  He tightened his hands into fists, then turned to head back into the hotel. Charmaine Altman didn’t matter. What mattered was finding Meghann.

  But where could she be? He checked in the employee lounge, then in the offices and workrooms, but to no avail. Meghann, where are you? Let me explain, please!

  After a half an hour of searching, he checked the parking lot again. Gone! Her car had vanished. He should have waited out here by her car until she left, then he wouldn’t have missed her. He jumped in his car and raced to the only haven he could think of: her home.

  At her place, he knocked a third time on her front door. Pounded, would be more like it. “Meghann, open up. I need to talk to you.” Still no answer. Lucky waited patiently beside him. If Meghann were here, wouldn’t she have let Lucky in with her? He pulled out his keys, tempted to burst in on her, but thought better of it and pocketed them again. He had to admit the place seemed deserted.

  But if she didn’t come here, then where would she go?

  Please, Lord, let me find her.

  Twenty minutes later, Bruce stormed into his apartment but halted at the sullen faces. By the silent stares he was receiving, he guessed Meghann had been this way.

  Please, let her still be here.

  “Your wife is pretty upset.” Brock’s accusing tone shattered the silence.

  Bruce met his brother’s reproachful gaze without flinching. “Where is she?”

  Brock pointed to the guest bedroom that she shared with her mother. “She’s packing.”

  The words took Bruce’s breath away as effectively as if Brock had punched him. Hard. Drawing in a deep breath, Bruce gave his brother a curt nod and went to knock on the bedroom door. Meg’s mother opened it. She shook her head, throwing up her hands.

  “Bruce, thank heaven. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

  Gayle walked past him and he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

  Meghann didn’t even look at him. Her focus was on the clothes she was cramming into her suitcase.

  “Meg, it’s not what you think.”

  She glared at him and snapped her suitcase shut. If that look had had substance, he would be mortally wounded. But he wasn’t dead yet.

  “Give me a chance to explain.”

  She pushed past him to yank the door open and marched out, suitcase in tow. He couldn’t believe she wasn’t even going to give him a chance to explain.

  “What happened to ‘innocent until proven guilty’?” he called as he followed after her.

  She set down the suitcase and turned on him. “You can hardly claim innocence. Don’t forget, I’m an eyewitness. And believe me, I have already seen all the proof I care to.” Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. They were greener today, and he wanted to kiss her tears away.

  “But—”

  “You were holding her in your arms!”

  “Not quite true. She held me. My hands were at my sides.”

  This bit of informa
tion only served to further anger her. She sputtered, as though she wanted to say something, then clamped her mouth shut. Bruce shook his head. They’d been through so much together. How could Meg believe he’d do such a thing to her? “It sounds like your mind is made up and there is nothing I can say—not even the truth—to change it.”

  “You wouldn’t know the truth if it came up and hit you on the nose!”

  His eyes widened at that jab, and he felt the burn of anger in response. “Bit of the pot calling the kettle, don’t you think, Meg?”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she looked away. “It doesn’t matter anymore, does it? I’m leaving.” Her voice was choked with tears. “This marriage is over!”

  Her declaration was met with stunned stares from the others in the room.

  “Meg, honey, you can’t be serious,” her mother said. “All couples have problems. You’ll work this out.”

  “I’ve never been more serious!”

  “She’s right.”

  Meg looked at Bruce sharply, clearly startled by his agreement. He met her gaze firmly. “If Meg can’t trust me, then what hope do we have?”

  “But you’re so right for each other,” his mother said, jumping in to smooth ruffled feathers. “Your marriage is so perfec—”

  “Our marriage? There is no marriage!” Meghann was nearly shouting now. “There never has been! It’s all been one big, fat lie after another.”

  The stunned silence that met Meg’s words lasted for all of a minute. Then the room exploded into chaos.

  “You two are living together?”

  Bruce wouldn’t have believed anything could make him laugh right then, but the stunned expression on his brother’s face almost did just that.

  Almost.

  Gayle gasped as the color drained from her face, and Bruce waited for Meghann to cave in to one of Gayle’s well-timed spells and try to backpedal. But she didn’t get the chance.

  Brock stepped toward them. “What happened to your high Christian ideals? Or do you only hold to them when it’s convenient?”

  “Give it a rest, Brock. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Bruce knew his words were harsh, but he couldn’t deal with his brother’s outrage right now.

  Meghann shook her head. “No, no, no! We are not living together. We aren’t even dating! Bruce—” she rolled her eyes—“Mr. Halloway is only my boss. I made it up…I told Mom we were dating to placate her. Then, when she was so ill, there was a misunderstanding. Suddenly she was looking at me, all excited about my marriage, and I didn’t have the courage to tell her it wasn’t so.”

  Bruce watched Meg with mixed emotions. He was proud of her for finally setting things right, but he was also afraid. The lie had kept them together. Now…

  Now there was nothing.

  “So…what? Were you blackmailing Bruce to play along?”

  Bruce almost slugged his father for that comment, but Meg glanced at him, and the sorrow in her face cut him to the quick. “Of course not. He just got involved. I never intended for it to happen, but he was in the right place at the wrong time and took pity on me and played along with this farce.”

  She held her hands out in entreaty. “We didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It just kept growing, and then you all came, and we were suddenly caught even deeper in the deception. But it’s over now. I’m so sorry for all of this, but it’s over. And everyone can go back to their own lives.”

  So saying, Meghann snatched up her purse and grabbed her suitcase. Bruce didn’t want her to walk out like this. He caught her arm. “I can explain about Charmaine. If you’d just listen—”

  A single, lonely tear rolled down her cheek, then she pulled free of him. “I’ve had enough lies to last a lifetime and then some.”

  His hand fell away, and she turned to walk out the door.

  Pain filled Bruce…a pain more intense than he’d ever known. She wouldn’t listen. Wouldn’t even give him the courtesy of hearing what he had to say. She had to be the most unreasonable woman he had ever met.

  “Fine! Go! See if I care!” But they were hollow words, and he knew it. He did care. More than he’d ever cared about anything in his life.

  He stared at the closed door she had slammed and thought he’d go mad.

  What should he do? He could go after her, even force her to listen, but doubted it would accomplish anything.

  But if he let her go, he’d be saying good-bye to more than just Meg. He’d be saying good-bye to his heart.

  He raked a hand through his hair and turned around. Four faces stared blankly at him. “What are all you looking at?” He threw up his hands, marched off to his room, slamming the door behind him.

  And so help him, if anyone came in and tried to talk to him, he would not be responsible for his actions.

  Gayle’s gaze went from the door Bruce had slammed to the one her daughter had just gone through, brokenhearted. Had she pushed too hard? Was she the cause of this? Her anguish was disturbed by laughter. Turning, she stared at Brock, who was sitting in one of the living room chairs.

  “What is wrong with you?” Olivia scolded.

  With an effort, Brock reined in his merriment. “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “Isn’t what obvious?” Olivia looked as though she wanted to throw something at him. Gayle thought she might join her.

  “They’re in love.”

  Olivia huffed. “Of course they are! We know that.”

  Gayle nodded slowly. She was beginning to understand. “But they don’t know it.”

  “Bingo,” Brock said, smiling at her. And Gayle was surprised to find herself smiling back. Her daughter had certainly married into a charming family. No, not married—her smile broadened—not yet.

  “So I guess it’s up to us to make them see it.” Brock stretched out his arms and tucked his hands behind his head.

  Gayle turned to Olivia and the woman’s conspiratorial smile made her laugh. “Indeed,” Olivia said.

  “I think you are all insane.”

  Gayle fixed Ivan Halloway with a hard look. She’d had just about enough of this man. “Fortunately, Ivan, what you think is irrelevant.”

  His mouth clamped shut, and Gayle looked to Olivia, then indicated the couch. “Shall we?”

  Olivia didn’t even glance at her husband. She just nodded. “Absolutely. We have plans to make.”

  Indeed, they did.

  Meghann slouched on Jennifer’s couch, her arm over her eyes. “Thanks for letting me stay with you for a day or two.” She had intended to go to her place at first, then realized someone would come looking for her there. She just couldn’t face any of them, not yet anyway.

  “Hey, what are friends for? I’m sorry it all blew up like that. I can’t believe Bruce was with another woman. He seemed so perfect.”

  Yeah. He seemed a lot of things. He was good at appearances.

  Meghann sat up. “Would you do one more favor for me? Call Bruce’s and see if my mom is all right? She looked kind of pale when I left.”

  “Sure.” Jennifer dialed and she heard her asking about her mother, then she covered the phone with her palm and said, “Your mom is fine. She’s being taken to your place.”

  It was a relief to know her mother hadn’t collapsed again because of her foolishness. And what had she gained by all of it? Nothing but heartache and humiliation.

  And the truth shall set you free.

  She bowed her head, tears threatening again. I’m sorry, Lord. So sorry for being weak, for getting everyone mixed up in this in the first place. If I’d just trusted you…just held my ground with Mom…

  The tears made their way down her cheeks, as the Scripture verse washed over her again: “The truth shall set you free.”

  Strangely, she did feel freer and an undeniable peace that made no sense at all wrapped around her. In spite of herself, though she had disappointed her mother, hurt all of the Halloways, and lost the man she loved, she knew God was pleased. And that he forgave her for the lies�
�for the foolishness…for her lack of trust…for everything.

  She had finally told the truth, even if it was at a loud, impatient volume.

  Rest in Me, child. I am with you. All things work together for good…

  She drank in the thought…and the sense of God’s presence. She could feel it for the first time in a long time. Though not happy, a quietness existed in her soul.

  “Thank you, Lord,” she whispered.

  Jennifer raised the phone a little, but didn’t cover the mouthpiece. “The lecherous snake wants to talk to you.”

  Meg frowned. “The…?”

  “Bruce. Mr. Trustworthy. The jerk who used and abused your trust, the rat who made you cry…”

  She was saying it all loud enough for Bruce to hear her clearly over the phone. Meg shook her head adamantly. She couldn’t talk to him now. Maybe not ever. How could he have betrayed her that way…with that woman? Was everything he said and did a lie, too? Could she trust anything he said? His past, his money, his ownership of the hotel.

  She dropped her head in her hands. Who was he anyway? She didn’t even know who he was anymore. Had she ever? For a few, fleeting moments she’d let herself believe he cared about her. But he hadn’t cared enough to come after her when she left. Nor did he try very hard to explain.

  Maybe there was nothing to explain.

  Jennifer plopped down on the couch next to her. “He hung up on me. Do you think it was something I said?”

  Meg gave a short laugh. “Just because you called him a lecherous snake and a jerk? Gee, I don’t know.” Jenn was loyal if nothing else.

  “How about if we pig out on ice cream? I have some rocky road, mint chocolate chip, chocolate cookie dough, toffee, and dutch chocolate, a cupboard full of toppings, and I even have some monkey food. We could make some awesome banana splits and watch a Mel Gibson movie.”

  As they were digging out ice cream and toppings, Jennifer’s doorbell rang. Meghann froze with her hand reaching for the jar of caramel topping. That couldn’t be Bruce, could it? He didn’t know where Jenn lived. He wouldn’t come here, would he?

  “Oh, Dan, they are lovely,” she heard Jennifer say.