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“Don’t get any ideas.” Duty done, he set down his glass. “I’m busy, and it’s time for you to leave.”
“I know it’s over between us.” Her lipstick leaving a red print on the rim, she set her tiny glass on the counter. “But I want us to be friends.” With a dejected sigh, she pouted.
Head back and eyes narrowed, he appraised her. “What fiendish scheme are you plotting now?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head as she stepped toward him. “I just want us to end on a high note. We’ve had our lovers quarrels—”
“A lot more than quarrels.”
“But we’ve had our good times, too, and I’d like to remember those.”
“Are you serious?” He squinted, trying to read her face.
“Yes.” She shrugged. “Why else would I come here on a rainy afternoon?”
“I don’t know…” He made a dubious growling sound deep in his throat.
“Come on.” She held out her arms.
For an instant, he glimpsed the woman she had been.
“One hug before I go?”
****
“Knock, knock.” As I rapped on Luke’s front door, the dog nosed it open, and I followed him inside.
Bea’s red talons gripping Luke’s back, she opened heavily mascaraed eyes to meet my stare before she nuzzled his neck. “Remember, I’m just next door if you need me.”
I knew it. The journal fell from my hands, making a loud plop as it connected with the cement.
Teddy barked.
“Maeve.” Luke turned as he broke away. “Bea was just leaving.”
“So nice to see you again, Maeve…” Her voice like whipped honey-butter on a warm biscuit, Bea gathered her purse, then gave Luke a smoldering glance over her shoulder as she sauntered out the door. “ ’Til next time.”
Is history repeating itself? I retrieved the journal, fingering my grandmother’s letter as I studied Bea’s retreating form. Like grandmother, like granddaughter?
Or am I the “second wife,” horning in? Bea was here first.
Or does Luke want his cake and eat it, too?
I’m not sure what’s real and what isn’t. Drawing a deep breath, I made up my mind. It’s time to move to El Paso…put some distance between Luke and me.
“Bea just—”
“You don’t have to explain yourself.” I snapped my mouth shut before I said more.
“But it isn’t the way it looked—”
“This is your house. Do what you want.” Mad at him, Bea, myself—the entire situation—I heaved a sigh. “Besides, it’s time I moved on—”
“At the top of the news, the El Paso County Commissioners Court may implement a ban on fireworks’ sales this summer.” The television blared to life. “But vendors are asking for leeway.”
“What? How’d that turn on?” He turned off the TV.
The television blasted on at full volume. “Fernie Samaniego, who owns several fireworks bus—”
