Love in Another Town (8 page)

‘I see. I'll give her the message.'

‘Thanks,' he said.

‘Goodbye,' Samantha muttered and slammed the phone down. She glared at it.
Son of a bitch,
she thought and angrily zapped on the television set. She got the BBC and the evening news, but watched it somewhat absentmindedly, wondering what Maggie's ex-husband wanted with her.

Half an hour later Maggie walked into the suite
laden with shopping bags. ‘Hi, Sam,' she said, walking through into the bedroom, putting the packages on a chair and kicking off her shoes. ‘It's just started to rain. Perhaps we'd better get a car for tonight.'

‘I already did,' Samantha replied and pushed herself into a sitting position on the bed. ‘Sit down, Maggie darling. And brace yourself.'

Maggie stared at her. ‘Why? What's wrong?' She frowned, then continued, ‘There
is
something wrong. I can tell from the dour expression on your face.'

‘Guess who's in London? No, you'll never guess. Don't even try. It's Mike Sorrell. He just called you, about half an hour ago. He wants you to phone him. He's staying at the Connaught.'

‘Good God!' Maggie flopped into the nearest chair and stared at Samantha, shaking her head in disbelief. ‘How did he find us? Not that it's a secret where we are.'

‘Through Angela. When he couldn't raise you he called my studio.'

Maggie bit her lip, suddenly thoughtful. ‘Out of the blue he wants to talk to me. I wonder why.'

‘As do I, Mag. Are you going to call him?'

‘I don't know. What for? It can't be anything to do with Peter or Hannah, he would have told you if there was some sort of problem or emergency.'

‘I think he would. He sounded calm enough and controlled.'

Maggie thought for a moment and then made a decision. Pushing herself to her feet, she looked at Samantha and said, ‘I'm going to talk to him now, get this out of the way.' She walked into the sitting room looking brisk and businesslike.

Samantha slid off the bed and followed her.

Maggie lifted the phone on the desk, asked the operator to connect her to the Connaught Hotel and a few seconds later she was talking to Mike Sorrell.

‘It's Maggie. I hear you want to talk to me.'

‘Hi, Maggie! Yes, I do. I was hoping we could get together.'

‘Oh. Why?'

‘I need to go over something with you. How about tonight? I thought we could meet for a drink. Or dinner.'

‘Certainly not.'

‘Not even a drink?'

‘No. I'm busy this evening.'

‘Tomorrow?' he suggested.

‘Why can't we talk now, on the phone? That's what we've been doing, off and on, for the last two-and-a-half years.'

‘I need to see you in person, Maggie.'

‘Are the twins okay?'

‘Oh yes, they're fine. Look, I think we have some unfinished business to discuss.'

Startled to hear this, Maggie was silent for a moment. Then she made another decision. ‘Nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Here at Brown's Hotel. I'll meet you in the lounge.'

‘Okay! Great. 'Bye, honey.'

Maggie put the receiver in its cradle and turned around, stood leaning against the desk, staring at Samantha. ‘You're not going to believe it, but that snake in the grass just had the temerity to call me honey.'

‘Something's not kosher in the House of Denmark, to paraphrase Hamlet!' Samantha exclaimed indignantly.

‘Since you've seen fit to meet with him, I'm glad you made your venue here. I'll be ready and waiting in case you need me … to kill that son of a bitch.'

Maggie couldn't help laughing. ‘Oh Sam darling, I do love you. No matter what, you can always bring a smile to my face.'

Grinning, Samantha leapt to her feet and went over to the small bar. ‘Let's have a vodka on the rocks before we get ready for the theatre.'

‘Good idea. You fix it. I want to get something from the bedroom.'

Maggie returned a moment later, carrying a small package. ‘This is for you, Sam. It's just to say thank you for all this – ' She glanced around the sitting room. ‘But mostly it's because you're always there for me, and always have been.'

Samantha took the package, tore off the wrapping paper and opened the red velvet box. It contained a pair of delicate chandelier earrings made of gold and malachite.

‘Oh Maggie, how sweet of you! The earrings I admired in that shop in the Burlington Arcade. Thank you so much, they're gorgeous. But you shouldn't have.' She went over and hugged Maggie, and added, ‘Your friendship is the most important thing in the world to me.'

Maggie drew away from her, and smiled lovingly. ‘Through thick and thick and thin and thin …'

The following morning when Maggie got up she wondered, for a moment, why she was feeling so tense. Instantly she remembered. Mike Sorrell was coming
over to the hotel to see her, and she was not looking forward to it at all.

Very simply, she had nothing to say to him, and she didn't particularly want to hear what he had to say to her. As far as she was concerned they had no unfinished business, as he termed it. Their business was well and truly finished and had been for a very long time.

‘You look fantastic!' Samantha exclaimed, when Maggie walked into the sitting room of the suite a few minutes before nine. ‘The bloom is on the rose, and then some, Maggie. You look so well and so happy he's going to be gnashing his teeth.'

‘I doubt it,' Maggie said, and grinned. ‘I'm sure he's very happy with his lady love, his new wife. He's probably in the midst of starting a brand new family. That's what these second, trophy wives want, isn't it? Kids galore and an insurance policy for the future?'

Samantha laughed. ‘Who knows? And who cares? Listen, Mag, I've been thinking about your situation with Jake, and I'm really glad. I know it's going to work out.'

Maggie patted her stomach. ‘And the baby?'

‘I think you're doing the right thing. Having it, I mean. Just make sure I'm godmother.'

‘Who else but you?' Maggie looked at herself in the mirror, straightened the lapels of her navy blue gabardine suit, adjusting the collar of her white silk shirt as she did. ‘Give me twenty minutes with him and then come downstairs and get me.'

‘I will. Our appointment at Keith Skeel's antiques place is set for ten o'clock anyway.'

‘See you in a few minutes,' Maggie murmured and left the suite.

Mike Sorrell was already waiting for her in the lounge when she arrived a few seconds later. He rose to greet her, seemed at a sudden loss, as if he didn't know whether to kiss her or shake her hand. He opted for the latter, and thrust his hand at her.

Maggie shook it quickly and sat down opposite him. She could not help thinking that he looked weary, worn and sad. His face was lined and jowled, his hair very grey, and in general there was a tired air about him. He wasn't wearing well, she decided, and looked much older than forty-nine. An image of Jake, twenty years his junior, flashed before her eyes. She blinked and averted her face, not wanting him to see the sudden smile of pleasure that had settled there. He might misunderstand that smile.

She said, ‘Let's order coffee, shall we?'

‘Thanks. I could use another cup.' As he spoke he signalled to a waiter. Turning to Maggie he asked, ‘Do you want anything to eat?'

She shook her head.

Once he had given the order for coffee, Mike turned back to her, again looking uncertain.

Maggie seized the moment and said, ‘Why did you want to see me?'

Mike cleared his throat nervously. ‘I was in New York at the end of last week, en route to London for a client. I thought we could get together there. I'm sure Samantha told you I called her studio when I couldn't reach you.'

‘Yes, she did. But
why
do you want to see me at all? You dumped me unceremoniously almost three years
ago now, and have hardly been in touch since then. Why the unexpected change of heart?'

When he remained totally silent, Maggie added, ‘I don't think we have any unfinished business. Quite the contrary, our business is well and truly finished.' She laughed a little acidly. ‘You made that quite clear to me when you left me for your legal colleague.'

‘Don't be bitter, Maggie,' he murmured. ‘I realize now that – '

‘Bitter!' she exclaimed, cutting him off. ‘I'm not bitter. I've better things to do with my time than waste it feeling bitter about you, or mourning your loss, Mike. I have a life to live, and believe me I'm living it. To the hilt.'

‘You look very well … glowing,' he said, eyeing her thoughtfully.

Maggie decided he sounded slightly regretful and wondered what was happening in his new life. But she really didn't care, and she didn't want to know. She said, ‘Look, Mike, I have an appointment with an antiques dealer this morning, so my time is limited. What's this unfinished business you mentioned on the phone? Let's get to the point.'

He took a deep breath and said, ‘Us, Maggie. We're the unfinished business. We were together for so long, we had a good life, and we have the kids …' His voice trailed off as he became aware of her icy demeanour, the disdainful expression on her face.

Maggie's voice was frosty when she said, ‘Are you trying to tell me you made a mistake? Is that it, Mike?'

‘Yes, for my sins, I did. I should never have left you, honey. We were the best, so good together. As I said, we had a great life – '

‘You
did,' Maggie interrupted. ‘I didn't, now that I look back. You were pretty selfish and self-involved, you never really thought about my needs, and the one time I was happy, doing so well at the design firm, you made me leave my job. You just couldn't stand the fact that I had an interest other than you.'

‘Don't be like this, Maggie.
Please.'

She laughed in his face. ‘You bastard! You dump me in the most cold-hearted way, barely talk to me for nearly three years and now come around making nice talk. What's all this about? Don't tell me your new wife's left you?'

When he sat back in his chair and glared at her, Maggie knew she had hit the mark. ‘Well, well, well,' she said, biting back an amused smile. ‘And more than likely for a younger man. Right?'

Mike Sorrell flushed deeply, but still he said nothing.

Maggie said, ‘Ironic reversal.'

‘I suppose it is,' Mike agreed at last. ‘And yes, Jennifer has left me. She took up with a guy about six months ago, unbeknown to me, of course. Anyway, she's gone off with him. Permanently. To Los Angeles. She wants a divorce.'

‘Never mind, Mike, you'll manage to cope somehow. I did.'

‘Can't we try again, Maggie?' he pleaded. ‘Let's give it a shot. The kids are all for it, too. And I need you.'

‘Oh, really? Well, it might surprise you to know that I don't give a damn that you need me. Also, what Peter and Hannah think doesn't concern me very much. They have behaved in the most unconscionable way with me. So, my attitude is exactly the same as
theirs has been towards me since you dumped me for a younger woman. Let's not forget what you did.'

‘Don't be so resentful and bitter!' Mike exclaimed, glaring at her. ‘I'm offering you this chance to start all over again, to put the family back together again, and you're behaving as if I'm asking you to commit suicide or murder.'

‘Apt words, very apt words indeed!' Maggie exclaimed. ‘To come back to you
would
be suicide. And you murdered my soul for years, all the years I knew you, Mike. You never let me be me, be myself.'

‘You don't want to end up a lonely old woman, all by yourself, do you?' he asked and then paused as the waiter arrived with the coffee.

Once he had left, Maggie said in an icy tone, ‘You egotistical idiot. What on earth makes you think I'm alone? As a matter of fact, I'm very involved with someone.'

‘Is it serious?' he asked, and he was unable to keep the angry look off his face. 

‘Yes, very serious. I expect to be married soon.' 

‘Who is he?'

‘I don't think that's any of your business. We're divorced, remember.' Maggie pushed back her chair, stood up and stepped away from the table. Then she paused and murmured, ‘Goodbye.'

As she walked through the lounge she saw Samantha hovering in the doorway. She raised her hand in greeting and smiled. She felt freer and happier than she had in years. In a few days she would be back with Jake. Her future.

 

J
AKE HAD TO KEEP
reminding himself that the speed limit was forty-five miles an hour, to resist the temptation to press his foot down hard on the pedal. He was on his way to Maggie's, and he couldn't wait to get there.

She had called him on his bleeper the minute she had arrived at her house in Kent from Kennedy Airport, and when he had asked her if he could come over she had agreed at once. He thought she had sounded glad to hear his voice, excited even, and this pleased him. He had missed her; he wondered if she had missed him.

Ten minutes later he was driving into her yard.

Before he had even turned off the ignition she was coming out of the kitchen door and running down the back steps. Her face was wreathed in smiles.

‘Hi, sweetheart!' he cried, slamming the truck's door behind him and almost running towards her.

They met in the middle of the back yard, and he swept her into his arms and swung her around. They were both laughing when he finally set her down on the ground.

Jake held her away from him, looking into her face, smiling widely.

Maggie smiled back at him and exclaimed, ‘I've missed you so much, Jake! I can't begin to tell you how much!'

‘I know, I've missed you too,' he said and brought her into his arms, kissing her deeply on the mouth. Once he started kissing her he couldn't stop. He showered her with kisses. Her forehead, her eyes, her face and her neck. ‘I'm happy you're home, Maggie.'

‘Yes, so am I. Let's go inside, Jake.' She cocked her head on one side and gave him a flirtatious look. ‘I have something for you.'

‘You do?' He looked at her questioningly.

She nodded, took hold of his hand and led him into the house. Her suitcases were still in the kitchen, along with her raincoat and a shopping bag; she reached into the latter and pulled out a package.

Turning, she offered it to him, feeling suddenly rather shy and girlish. ‘This is for you, Jake. It's from Scotland.'

Grinning, and just a bit flustered, he took the gift from her and stared at it for a moment. ‘What is it?' he asked finally.

‘Open it and see,' she answered, gazing up at him.

He did so, pulled out a heavy fisherman's sweater made of thick cream wool and then looked at her. ‘Maggie, this is great. But you're spoiling me.'

‘I just hope it fits. I had to guess your size. Large, right?'

He nodded and then held it against himself. ‘I'm sure it's perfect. Thanks, Maggie.' Putting the sweater down on a chair he moved forward, pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Thanks … for thinking of me when you were away …'

‘I never stopped, Jake.'

The adoration reflected in her eyes told him what he wanted and needed to know. He bent into her, placed his mouth on hers and kissed her passionately.

Maggie held onto him tightly, returning his kisses, matching his ardour, pressing herself against him, needing to feel his warmth and his love.

Finally, he slackened his hold on her and stared down into her face. ‘Can we go upstairs?'

Maggie nodded.

Together they climbed the stairs holding hands.

It occurred to Jake that their lovemaking was more frantic and passionate than ever. They shed their clothes and came into each other's arms with a rush of excitement and urgency; they seemed to grasp at each other, their faces full of intensity and longing.

Jake found himself taking her to him at once, on her urging, and she was hot and yielding and ready for him, as he was for her. They soared together, clutching each other tightly, calling each other's name as they rose higher and higher, lost in the wonder of each other.

When he finally fell against her he felt drained, almost exhausted from their passion. ‘Oh God, Maggie,' he gasped. ‘It's never been like that. Not ever. Not any time. Not anywhere. Not even with you. Until now.' He raised himself onto one elbow and looked down at her. ‘That was a first.'

She smiled and touched his face. ‘Jake …'

‘Yes, sweetheart?'

‘I love you … I love you so much … more than I've ever loved anyone.'

‘Oh Maggie, Maggie.' He wrapped his arms around her, held her close to him. ‘I've wanted to hear you say that for ages. I love you too. But then you know this … I told you the first night.'

‘I felt the same way, but I just wanted to be sure. About my own feelings, I mean.'

‘And are you sure now?'

‘Absolutely.'

‘I'm glad.'

Maggie lay next to him, her arms wrapped around him, drifting with her thoughts. Finally rousing herself, she said, ‘Jake, I have a surprise for you.'

‘Mmmmmm,' he murmured lazily without moving.

Maggie tried to sit up. He held her tightly in his arms, would not release her. Struggling slightly, she said softly, ‘Let me get up, Jake. I have something to tell you.'

‘Tell me then.'

‘I'd like to be looking at you when I do.' 

‘Oh.' Intrigued, he let go of her and sat up himself. 

Maggie crawled in front of him, then sat curled up in a ball, staring into his face.

‘So go on, tell me, sweetheart,' he said, eyeing her curiously.

Maggie smiled. ‘I'm pregnant, Jake. I'm expecting a baby. Our baby.'

A beatific smile spread across his face and his eyes lit up. ‘That's wonderful!
A baby.
That's great, Maggie! It really is.'

‘You
are
pleased then?' she asked.

‘Sure I am. I always wanted a child. I told you that. When did you realize? When is it due? I wonder if it's a boy or a girl?' For a few moments he was full of questions.

Maggie answered each one, enjoying his excitement and happiness, relieved that he had reacted in this way.

Later they made love again. ‘To celebrate the baby,' Jake whispered in her ear and then they fell asleep in each other's arms.

It was Jake who awakened first, about half an hour later. He slid out of bed and went into the bathroom where he took a shower.

When he returned to the bedroom wrapped in a towel, Maggie was putting on a loose silk caftan. She turned around as he came in; as always she felt the impact of him … his dark good looks, the soulful green eyes, the black hair slicked back after his shower never failed to surprise her. There were moments when he took her breath away.

‘You're staring,' he said.

‘I know. Sorry. It's just good to see you that's all.' For a moment she was tempted to tell him about the night they first met at the Little Theatre in Kent, when
Samantha had called him Tom Cruise. But she refrained, knowing that the story would not sit well with him. He disliked references to his good looks and his physique.

Maggie moved across the room swiftly, the caftan flaring out behind her. ‘I picked up some groceries on the way in from the airport. Steaks and salad for dinner. How does that sound?'

‘Great. I'll be down in a minute. If you open a bottle of wine we can have a drink outside, while I grill the steaks on the barbecue.'

‘It's a deal,' she said and went out.

After he had buttoned his white shirt, pulled on his blue jeans and boots, Jake went downstairs. He found Maggie outside on the back terrace, sitting at the table, the bottle of wine in an ice bucket. She poured two glasses as he sat down next to her.

‘Cheers,' they said together, clinking glasses.

After taking a long swallow, Jake remarked, Things are going great at Havers Hill, Maggie. And I know Mark and Ralph have been giving you progress reports. But I can't wait for you to come out to the site tomorrow. You'll be very surprised, pleasantly surprised.'

She grinned. ‘I know I will. I guess I'll have to make two trips tomorrow. One in the morning and one at night. I do want to see the outside lighting after dark. You said some of it was in place already.'

‘But only temporarily. For you to see. I've rigged it up in such a way that if you don't approve we can change it. My guys haven't done the channelling in the ground for the wires. We'll do that once you've made your final decision.'

‘I wish you'd been with me in Scotland, Jake. I found some wonderful antiques.'

They sat talking about the work at Havers Hill for a while, and then they went into the kitchen. Maggie made a green salad and put it on a tray, along with plates, knives, forks and napkins. Jake insisted on carrying this outside for her; Maggie followed him with the plate of steaks.

‘I've rarely seen fireflies,' Maggie said, clutching Jake's arm. ‘Look! Over there! The little lights dancing among the bushes.'

‘You're right!' he exclaimed. ‘I haven't seen them since I was a kid myself. When I was about fourteen. Amy and I would go to her aunt's – ' Jake broke off, sat back in his chair, sipped a little coffee, suddenly silent and tense.

Maggie said, ‘Why did you stop?'

‘It's not a very interesting story,' he mumbled and got up. He walked along the terrace and stepped down onto the lawn which stretched in front of it.

Aware of the sudden change in his mood, sensing that something was troubling him, Maggie rose and went after him. She caught up with him on the lawn, took hold of his arm and pulled him around to face her.

‘What is it, darling?' she asked, filling with apprehension.

He stood staring down at her and shook his head. A deep sigh escaped him. ‘I really didn't want to tell you this tonight. Not on your first evening back. I just wanted us to enjoy being together. But I guess I have to tell you …' He sighed again, then put his hand on
her shoulder, peered into her face. ‘I've got some really bad news, Maggie.'

She stared at him. ‘What kind of bad news?'

‘It's about Amy …'

‘The divorce has stalled, is that it?'

He shook his head. ‘No, not in the way you mean. But it is stalled.'

‘You always said she was very reluctant to divorce you, and I can't say I blame her,' Maggie murmured, feeling deflated after the excitement of earlier and their intimate dinner.

‘It's not really her,' Jake began, and stopped. He coughed, and said in a low voice, ‘While you were away I found out that Amy has cancer. Ovarian cancer.'

‘Oh no, Jake, how terrible! I'm so sorry. Is she getting treatment?'

‘Chemotherapy. She started at the beginning of this week. Maybe the treatment will arrest the cancer.'

‘Let's hope so,' Maggie said, and moving away she trailed across the lawn, knowing what he was going to say before he said it. She knew because she knew him. He was a decent man, and he was sensitive, compassionate.

Jake caught up with her and put his arm around her shoulders. ‘I have to help her as much as I can, do what I can for her, Maggie. You do understand that, don't you?'

‘Yes. Of course.'

‘I just can't pressure her about the divorce right now.'

‘I understand …' Maggie paused, took a deep breath and went on quietly, ‘Are you moving back to
New Milford? Are you going to live with Amy again?'

‘No, I'm not! How could you think that?' he cried and turned her to face him. ‘I love you, Maggie. I don't want to lose you. I just want you to understand that I'll have to do what I can for her, especially financially. She's on my medical insurance, I can't pull that away from her. If we got divorced she'd lose her benefits. She needs me to be there for her right now. She's like a child, she's always been dependent on me. As soon as the cancer's arrested I'll talk to her again about seeing her lawyer.'

Maggie compressed her lips and nodded. She was afraid to speak. She didn't want to say the wrong thing. She didn't want to lose him either. Her eyes filled with tears.

In the dim evening light he saw them glittering on her dark lashes, and he brought her into his arms, pressed her head against his shoulder. ‘Don't cry. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking about the baby.'

‘Yes,' she whispered against his shirt which was soaked with her tears. 

‘Will you marry me, Maggie? When we can?' 

‘I will, Jake. I love you.'

‘I love you. I want you and I want our baby. But I have to stand by Amy. Until she's better. You do understand that?'

Maggie nodded. ‘If you weren't the kind of man you are, I don't believe I would love you as much as I do. I'll wait for you, Jake. I'll wait.'