Read Online You Belong To Me by Patricia Sargeant - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Sargeant
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Our babyâs gone. Our marriage is long over. What would be the point in bringing up the past?â
âWhat indeed?â Denise asked.
Â
Malcolm stepped off the elevator and onto Nicoleâs floor. He carried takeout heâd purchased from an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. He hoped Nicole liked the place. Breakfast hadnât worked for him yesterday. He was hoping lunch would be a better bet. He balanced the meals on his left forearm before knocking on her door, then waited for what he hoped would be a warmer greeting today.
âSheâs not home,â a lilting voice said behind him.
Malcolm turned, cradling his package in both arms. Mrs. Velasquez walked down the hall toward him, resplendent in her Sunday finery. Her hat was tipped rakishly above her twinkling bird eyes. A knowing smile quivered, ready to burst free.
âGood morning, Mrs. Velasquez. How was mass today?â Malcolm eased into the role of romantic hero in which Nicoleâs neighbor apparently had cast him.
âIt was beautiful. Just beautiful.â Mrs. Velasquez beamed. âNicky, she goes on Saturday so she can have a peaceful day on Sunday.â
âSo where is she this Sunday?â Malcolm asked.
âHer brother, he took her to the hospital,â Mrs. Velasquez announced.
âWhat?â The bag almost slipped from his arms. He juggled itâtossing the containers of linguini and zitiâtrying to reclaim his hold. âWhat hospital? Where is it?â
Mrs. Velasquez started to speak, then seemed to reconsider her words. âI will tell you where he took her and how you can get there.â She cocked an eyebrow. âYou have a car?â
Â
âIsnât that Malcolm Bryant?â her cousin Guy asked incredulously.
Nicole looked up and saw Malcolm striding across the parking lot toward them. His gray tweed winter coat flapped in the breeze. He seemed impervious to the cold that must have been weaving its way into his bulky maroon sweater.
âYes,â Derrick replied. âWhatâs he doing here?â
Nicole was aware of the men closing ranks around her like the Symplegades, the rocks from Greek mythology that smashed anything that tried to get past them. But her attention was on Malcolmâs chiseled features and his long-legged stride that quickly closed the distance between them.
Malcolm stopped before her, his features tense, the look in his eyes urgent. âAre you all right?â
Nicole frowned. âOf course. Why?â
âMrs. Velasquez told me Derrick had taken you to the hospital.â Malcolm nodded a greeting to her brother, then glanced at Guy.
Nicole could just imagine how the matchmaking Mrs. Velasquez had delivered that information. She sighed inwardly and considered her options. Malcolm would hound her until she confessed all about her hospital visit. Still, she was reluctant to tell him about Simone.
âDo you remember my cousin Guy?â Nicole asked.
âHello,â Malcolm said.
âHowâre you doing?â Guy returned, clasping the hand Malcolm extended in greeting.
From the almost relieved expression on Malcolmâs face, Nicole could tell he hadnât remembered Guy. She wasnât surprised. They hadnât seen each other that often when Malcolm had lived in New York. Guy probably recognized Malcolm from the wedding photos Aunt Rose refused to remove from her family album. Aunt Rose, a strict Catholic, didnât acknowledge Nicoleâs divorce.
âMay I take you home?â Malcolm returned his attention to her.
She glanced at Derrick and Guy. Guy had offered to take them home before driving Aunt Rose to the hospital so she could sit with Simone while Guy took care of Lynnette. Nicoleâs going home with Malcolm would save Guy a trip, but was she ready to spend more time alone with the man tied to such painful memories of her past? Nicole already was drained emotionally from seeing
âWhat indeed?â Denise asked.
Â
Malcolm stepped off the elevator and onto Nicoleâs floor. He carried takeout heâd purchased from an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. He hoped Nicole liked the place. Breakfast hadnât worked for him yesterday. He was hoping lunch would be a better bet. He balanced the meals on his left forearm before knocking on her door, then waited for what he hoped would be a warmer greeting today.
âSheâs not home,â a lilting voice said behind him.
Malcolm turned, cradling his package in both arms. Mrs. Velasquez walked down the hall toward him, resplendent in her Sunday finery. Her hat was tipped rakishly above her twinkling bird eyes. A knowing smile quivered, ready to burst free.
âGood morning, Mrs. Velasquez. How was mass today?â Malcolm eased into the role of romantic hero in which Nicoleâs neighbor apparently had cast him.
âIt was beautiful. Just beautiful.â Mrs. Velasquez beamed. âNicky, she goes on Saturday so she can have a peaceful day on Sunday.â
âSo where is she this Sunday?â Malcolm asked.
âHer brother, he took her to the hospital,â Mrs. Velasquez announced.
âWhat?â The bag almost slipped from his arms. He juggled itâtossing the containers of linguini and zitiâtrying to reclaim his hold. âWhat hospital? Where is it?â
Mrs. Velasquez started to speak, then seemed to reconsider her words. âI will tell you where he took her and how you can get there.â She cocked an eyebrow. âYou have a car?â
Â
âIsnât that Malcolm Bryant?â her cousin Guy asked incredulously.
Nicole looked up and saw Malcolm striding across the parking lot toward them. His gray tweed winter coat flapped in the breeze. He seemed impervious to the cold that must have been weaving its way into his bulky maroon sweater.
âYes,â Derrick replied. âWhatâs he doing here?â
Nicole was aware of the men closing ranks around her like the Symplegades, the rocks from Greek mythology that smashed anything that tried to get past them. But her attention was on Malcolmâs chiseled features and his long-legged stride that quickly closed the distance between them.
Malcolm stopped before her, his features tense, the look in his eyes urgent. âAre you all right?â
Nicole frowned. âOf course. Why?â
âMrs. Velasquez told me Derrick had taken you to the hospital.â Malcolm nodded a greeting to her brother, then glanced at Guy.
Nicole could just imagine how the matchmaking Mrs. Velasquez had delivered that information. She sighed inwardly and considered her options. Malcolm would hound her until she confessed all about her hospital visit. Still, she was reluctant to tell him about Simone.
âDo you remember my cousin Guy?â Nicole asked.
âHello,â Malcolm said.
âHowâre you doing?â Guy returned, clasping the hand Malcolm extended in greeting.
From the almost relieved expression on Malcolmâs face, Nicole could tell he hadnât remembered Guy. She wasnât surprised. They hadnât seen each other that often when Malcolm had lived in New York. Guy probably recognized Malcolm from the wedding photos Aunt Rose refused to remove from her family album. Aunt Rose, a strict Catholic, didnât acknowledge Nicoleâs divorce.
âMay I take you home?â Malcolm returned his attention to her.
She glanced at Derrick and Guy. Guy had offered to take them home before driving Aunt Rose to the hospital so she could sit with Simone while Guy took care of Lynnette. Nicoleâs going home with Malcolm would save Guy a trip, but was she ready to spend more time alone with the man tied to such painful memories of her past? Nicole already was drained emotionally from seeing
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