“I have something for you,” he said, sitting next to her again, closer this time.
“Something else?” she said.
He withdrew a small square box from his pants pocket and placed it in her hand.
Marisa looked up at him.
“Open it.”
Marisa sprung the catch. An emerald cut diamond set in gleaming white gold sparkled against a bed of deep blue velvet.
“Where did you get this?” she gasped.
“Faber’s Jewelers, corner of Main and Grand.”
“Not from Mr. Faber!”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. Old guy about seventy, on the short side, thinning white hair, eastern European accent?”
“You didn’t tell him it was for me,” Marisa groaned.
“Sure, why not?”
“Mr. Faber was my grandfather’s poker buddy, not to mention that they grew up together, practically slept in the same bassinet. He’s the worst gossip in the town, in the world. Everybody will know by tomorrow morning.”
“Good. Then you’ll have to marry me.”
“Jack...”
“Yes?”
“I’ll marry you.”
He pulled her into his arms almost roughly, knocking the ring box to the floor.
“I have to ask you a question,” he said in her ear.
“What?”
“Have you got any money?”
She drew back to look at him.
“I exhausted my credit card limit buying that ring,” he said, laughing helplessly.
“I have twenty-three dollars in my purse,” she said.
“That will have to last until day after tomorrow.”
The scent of burning food wafted down the hall.
“There goes dinner,” Jack said.
“I have some tuna in the pantry.” She disentangled herself from his arms and stood, straightening her clothes. “Let me go turn off the oven and I’ll see if I can put together a casserole...”
“Turn off the oven and then come to the bedroom,” he said quietly. “Where is it?”
“Right at the end of the hall,” Marisa said. She went to the kitchen and fumbled with the knob on the stove, her fingers trembling. Then she made a feeble pass at straightening her hair as she followed Jack into the bedroom.
He was waiting and handed her a glass of champagne.
“To us,” he said, toasting her.
“To us,” she repeated.
They touched glasses and drank. Then he put his down and took her glass from her hand.
“Now come here,” he said.
She was only too happy to obey.
Epilogue
“So now I have to start planning a baby shower?” Tracy said. “I haven’t recovered from the wedding yet.”
“It’s not definite,” Marisa replied, pouring coffee into Tracy’s cup. “I haven’t seen a doctor.”
They were sitting in Marisa’s kitchen on a Saturday morning in late March, with the first spring thaw melting the icicles on the roofline outside the window.
“Didn’t you take one of those home tests?”
“Yes, but they’re not always accurate.”
“Come on. Was it positive?”
Marisa grinned.
“You didn’t have to say it,” Tracy said, smiling conspiratorially. “You’ve got the glow.”
“I’ve got the nausea, I can tell you that. I can’t contemplate food until about three in the afternoon.”
“You must be so excited.”
“I think I’m just in a daze. If anyone had told me when I left Florida that three months later I would be married to Jack, and pregnant, I would have laughed. Derisively.”
“Have you told Jack?”
Marisa shook her head. “I just found out this morning, and I didn’t want to tell him over the phone.”
“When is he due back from his trip?”
“About eight.”
“Big doings tonight, then. What will you say? How are you going to tell him?”
“Well, once he starts seeing me turn green at the sight of his breakfast, he’ll know. He’s been in Japan for two weeks promoting Renegade.”
“Is that his new book?”
Marisa nodded, taking a sip of her milk. “A thinly disguised account of our romance, I’m afraid. He was already writing it during the trial in Florida. Do you believe that?”
Tracy giggled. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. His hero falls for a lady lawyer, a New Englander who goes up against him in a complicated legal case. Sound familiar?”
“Am I in it?” Tracy asked eagerly.
“Well, the lady lawyer has a pal named Cindy who works as her researcher .”
“A beautiful, seductive, brilliant pal named Cindy,” Tracy corrected archly.
“Of course.”
“Who is responsible for bringing the lovers together in an act of friendship and generosity unparalleled in human history.”
“Right.”
“I still can’t get used to having Jack here all the time. Has he sold his condo in Oklahoma yet?”
“The real estate agent thinks she has a buyer but she isn’t sure if he’ll qualify for the mortgage,” Marisa said.
“I don’t think this town has recovered yet from the idea of Jack as a full time resident. Did you see the ad Mr. Faber ran in the newspaper, describing the ring Jack bought for you in his store?”
“You mean ‘Come to Faber’s, Jeweler to the Rich and Famous?’” Marisa asked, closing her eyes.
“That’s the one,” Tracy responded, cackling.
“Mr. Faber has never been known to pass up a lucrative business opportunity.”
“I think everybody in this town is secretly disappointed that you haven’t razed this tired old place and erected some sort of palace in its stead.”
“Jack really isn’t the palace type and neither am I. We did buy the house in Florida, though. For sentimental reasons. And I’ve ordered vinyl siding to be put on here in May.”
“My, you are getting frivolous. What next? A new fence? Painting the shutters? The neighbors will be talking.”
“What were they expecting, for heaven’s sake?”
“Well, you know how it is. A bestselling author moving into a seventy-year-old Cape Cod is not their idea of a luxurious lifestyle. At the very least, Jack should be driving some expensive Italian sports car. That 4 x 4 of his just doesn’t cut it.”
“But he’s from out West. There are mountains and foothills and the terrain is rough. A vehicle like that is practical.”
Tracy stared at her.
“I’m sorry we’re so dull,” Marisa said, sighing.
“But not in the bedroom. I’m sure you’re not dull in the bedroom,” Tracy observed wickedly.
Marisa threw a napkin at her.
“I suppose Jack could do a rain dance on the front lawn,” Tracy suggested. “At least that would satisfy their curiosity about his Indian background.”
“I’ll mention it to him.”
“And now I have to go,” Tracy said, rising. “I have a paper due next week that’s still in the notecard stage.”
“Okay. Good luck with the work.”
“Give my best to Jack. And to junior in there.” She patted Marisa’s tummy.
“I will.”
“I’ll see you at the office on Monday morning.” Tracy sailed out the back door.
Marisa put their dishes in the sink, feeling once more the secret elation that had become part of her inner life ever since she realized that she was pregnant. Jack would be so thrilled. She was preparing a special dinner, all of his favorites, but if she knew her man they would be in bed before they had a chance to eat it. She was getting very good at wrapping leftovers.
Marisa went to get her doctor’s office number to make an appointment.
* * *
Jack swept through the door at eight-ten, carrying a stack of parcels and drenched with a cold rain. Marisa was waiting for him in the living room, sitting next to the roaring fire and holding a glass of his special Napoleon brandy.
“Woman!” he shouted and threw the boxes on a chair.
Marisa put down the drink and ran into his arms.
“Oh, God, you feel so warm and good,” he murmured, his mouth moving in her hair. “I missed you terribly. Why the hell didn’t you come with me anyway?”