Read Online She's Not There by Joy Fielding - Free Book Online Page B

stairs. The kids are sound asleep,” he continued before Caroline could ask. He looked around the table. “Where is everyone?”
    As if on cue, Rain suddenly appeared, Steve at her side. “Look who I found in the lobby,” she said, gathering her newly acquired shawl around her.
    “I was about to send out a search party,” her husband said.
    “I forgot I’d already packed the damn thing. Had to unpack my whole suitcase to find it.”
    “Serves you right for being so organized,” Peggy said. “I haven’t even started packing.”
    “I take it you couldn’t convince Becky to come back,” Caroline said to her brother.
    Steve shrugged as he pulled out his chair. “Women,” he said to the men present. “Can’t live with ’em, can’t shoot ’em.”
    “Nice talk,” Caroline said.
    “Kids okay?” Steve asked Hunter.
    “Kids are fine.”
    The waiters returned and everyone watched in silence as one prepared the crêpes while the other set them ablaze, the flames stretching like angry claws toward the darkened sky.
    —
    “Home, sweet home,” Hunter said, waving the keycard in front of the door to their suite. The small light at the lock flashed red, indicating that the door remained locked. He staggered slightly as he tried again and got the same result. “That’s weird. It was working fine earlier.”
    “Try mine,” Caroline said. She’d gotten a new one before dinner.
    He did, and it worked. “Stupid thing,” Hunter muttered, throwing the keycard down on the coffee table as they entered the living room, then flopping down on the sofa.
    “Maybe you had it too close to your cell phone.”
    “Maybe. Come sit with me,” he said.
    “I’ll just check on the kids.”
    “The kids can wait two minutes.”
    Caroline walked over to the sofa and sank down beside her husband. He quickly surrounded her with his arms and kissed her neck, his breath warm and carrying the trace of at least one drink too many. The drapes were open and the reflection of the light from the outside lanterns danced on the walls, mixing with the soft glow of the moon. “So, did you enjoy your anniversary after all?”
    “I did.”
    “Liar,” he chided.
    “No. It was lovely. It was.”
    “You hardly touched your dinner.”
    “I wasn’t that hungry.”
    “You were worried about the kids.”
    “I got over it.”
    He kissed her neck again. “Did you enjoy your serenade?”
    “Very much.”
    “Were you surprised?”
    “I was. I didn’t realize you were such a romantic.”
    “I can’t take all the credit. It was actually Steve’s idea.”
    “Really? Too bad he can’t come up with any good ideas where Becky is concerned.” Caroline’s hand moved to the front of her husband’s pants. “And speaking of coming up…”
    Hunter stilled her hand. “I’m really sorry, babe. I think I may have overdone it with the celebratory toasts.”
    “Oh, dear.” Caroline tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She’d been looking forward all day to making love to her husband, had been fantasizing about prolonged foreplay, maybe even trying something new. “Maybe there’s something I can do about that.”
    Hunter moved her hand away from his groin. “Sorry, sweetheart. Not that I wouldn’t appreciate the effort but I’m afraid you’d just be wasting your time.”
    “We could try, see what happens.”
    “Please don’t make me feel worse about this than I already do,” he said, effectively ending the conversation.
    Caroline withdrew her hand, sat up straight.
    “Now you’re angry.”
    “Just disappointed.”
    “We can do it in the morning.”
    Sure,
Caroline thought.
When the kids are up and we’re hurrying to pack and check out.
    “And tomorrow night.”
    When you’re exhausted from driving and the kids are cranky and we’re unpacking and you’re preoccupied with getting back to work.
    “And every night after that for the rest of our lives,” Hunter said, giving her his best little-boy smile.