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In three minutes, eight people departed the table. Only Farris and India were left.
His date stared at her phone, shutting him out.
“It will look odd if we don’t dance,” he said.
Her head shot up. Her expression was impenetrable. “I’m going to grab a cab.”
“Are you scared of me, Inkie?” The words came out sounding like a challenge. He hadn’t even known he was going to say them.
Anger flashed in her eyes. “Don’t be absurd. Besides, I fulfilled my duty. Drinks at the bar, dinner, awards. What more do you want from me?”
Everything.He needed to loosen his bow tie. The room was overly warm, as India had predicted. After taking a swig from his water glass, he stood. “You told me that tonight is it. You never want to see me again. So I might as well get my money’s worth from this date. My mother will be hurt if you leave without saying goodbye. It’s just dancing.”
India’s gaze narrowed. Her tight-lipped expression said she was angry. But she didn’t make a scene. Although she wouldn’t take his hand, she also stood and preceded him into the ballroom. Farris took her tiny black satin clutch and tucked it in his jacket pocket.
“Shall we dance?” he asked. His voice was hoarse, and his hands trembled.
He took India in his arms. They had danced many times before during their marriage. Perhaps it was like riding a horse...or muscle memory. Stepping into the flow of the music and the swirl of the crowd was effortless.
Her skin was warm and smooth beneath his fingertips where his hand rested on her back. He held her circumspectly, but even so, his body responded. It had been days since he had made love to her, days that felt like an eternity.
Dottie’s innocent words echoed in his brain. It’s never too late to do the right thing.
Every time he thought about telling India the truth, his courage failed him.
The music went on forever, from one dance to the next. India’s cheek rested against his lapel now. A strand of her hair tickled his nose.
As long as the band kept playing, everything was perfect.
But not all fairy tales had happy endings.
Dottie and Herman appeared from the midst of the crowd. Dottie looked exhausted but happy. She hugged India and then her son. “I’m so glad you both were here tonight. I’m very tired. Herman has offered to take me home.”
Herman’s hand rested protectively in the small of Dottie’s back. Farris liked and respected the man, but given Dottie’s diagnosis, he didn’t know if it was a good idea for his mother to get involved.
“I’m happy to take you, Mother,” he said.
Dottie shook her head. “I’ve invited Herman to have a cup of decaf with me and catch up on all the gossip in our corner of New York. Before tonight, we haven’t seen each other in three months.” The smile she gave the older man was soft and sweet.
Farris had no option but to smile, as well. “You two kids be careful going home.”
When the goodbyes were over and the other couple exited the room, India looked at him. “May I have my purse, please? I’m going to catch a cab and call it a night.”
There was absolutely no expression on her face at all.
In that instant, Farris realized the truth. If he let her walk away this time, it was over. Beyond over.
He cleared his throat. “I was hoping we could talk.”
One of her eyebrows went up. She glanced at her watch. “Now? It’s late, Farris.” There was impatience in her voice and a clear desire to escape.
“It’s important.” His throat was so tight he was barely able to squeeze the words out. When he looked at her, his heart ripped in half, possibly a fatal wound. With everything inside him, he willed her to say yes.
She rubbed two fingers against the center of her forehead as if she might have a headache. “This isn’t exactly an opportune moment, in case you haven’t noticed. There are a million people in this hotel, and it’s too cold to walk outside.”
He inhaled sharply. India was opening the door for a possible conversation. She had assessed what wouldn’t work. It was up to him to find a solution. “We can go back to my place.”
She flinched. “No.”
