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He might as well get used to it.
India found Dottie still in bed but with the lights on. The older woman had propped herself against the headboard with a stack of pillows. When India tapped on the door and entered, Dottie was flipping through a fashion magazine.
Dottie smiled cheerily. “How was the meal, my dear?”
“Lonely without you,” India said.
The other woman’s face fell. “You didn’t enjoy eating dinner with Farris?”
India stared at her. “I love you, Dottie, but if you keep pushing Farris at me, I’ll have to leave. Dinner tonight was supposed to be the three of us. Your not being there made the meal very uncomfortable for me.”
Dottie blanched. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” India sighed and perched on the foot of the bed. “Farris and I are divorced. Anything we had is in the past.”
“But neither of you has moved on.”
“Of course we have. I’ve dated. I’m sure Farris has.”
“But you haven’t remarried.”
Farris’s sweet mother was like a particularly stubborn dog with a bone. “Dottie...” India trailed off, not entirely sure what to say to convince her former mother-in-law that her efforts were in vain. “People who divorce are generally leery of jumping back into serious relationships too soon. I’ve met a couple of nice guys at work, but I’m enjoying being single and carefree for the moment.”
Dottie stuck out her chin, the gesture oddly reminiscent of her son. “That divorce was nothing more than a piece of paper. When two people are meant to be together, nothing can break that bond.”
India realized she was getting nowhere. “New subject,” she said cheerfully. “I’m going to raid the kitchen on your behalf. Tell me what you want.”
“I’m starving. Anything but asparagus, please.”
“Coming right up.” As she was leaving, India shot a teasing glance over her shoulder. “Next time, Dottie, come to dinner and you won’t have to go hungry.”
India was a little worried about running into Farris in the kitchen, but the high-tech room was dark. She rummaged in the refrigerator and found a plate of leftover baked chicken. She added two slices of sourdough from the pantry and a banana that was in pretty good shape. Dottie hadn’t mentioned what she wanted to drink, so India grabbed a caffeine-free soft drink.
Before she could take a step, she remembered. Salt. Not a good idea. She grabbed a bottle of water instead.
On the way back down the hall, she peeked at Farris’s door. What did he do in the evenings? Work probably. She took one step toward the suite and listened. He loved music. It was a love they both shared. No sounds emanated from the master bedroom, but Farris was probably using earbuds.
India had stood at this exact spot thousands of times. This had been her space, her sanctuary. And she had shared it with the man who made her deliriously happy. She couldn’t help but remember the first winter they had lived here.
She and Farris had gotten snowed in for almost a week. They hadn’t been paying attention to the weather forecast, and the area had gotten clobbered overnight with two and a half feet of snow. The power went out. None of the staff had been able to get in.
The former owner of the ranch had used it primarily in the summertime. So there were no generators. Farris and India had survived on peanut butter and crackers and whatever they could find in the pantry. Weeks later, Farris had remedied the generator situation by hardwiring the entire house with the appropriate horsepower.
While parts of that experience had admittedly been uncomfortable, all India could remember was Farris. He had been so worried about her, so apologetic. Though it took some doing, she finally managed to convince him that she was having fun.
Fortunately, they did have an enormous supply of firewood, because Farris loved building fires in all seasons. The great room became their hangout. Farris kept the fire going, and the two of them made love on a faux bearskin rug with the flames blazing. They laughed and teased and worked together on their meager meals.
In a way, that experience had served as the honeymoon they never had. Just the two of them, drunk on love. Farris had been unable to work. No internet, no cell service.
Now, suddenly, the need to open that bedroom door swept over India with such force she actually trembled. What would Farris say if she walked in?
Five years had passed. She had found contentment and peace. Yet tonight, only steps away from the bed she had shared with her husband, she was no closer than ever before to understanding what had happened to her marriage.
Inside the master suite, a cell phone rang. India heard the low rumble of Farris’s voice as he answered. Hot color flooded her face. Mortification swept through her body. What if he suddenly opened the door?
On unsteady feet, she walked rapidly to the other wing of the house. Dottie was already hungry. India had made her wait. Not okay.
If nothing else, India had to keep her emotions under control. She had traveled to Aspenglow at Farris Quinn’s request. To be a companion to his ailing mother, a woman India loved dearly.
