Then he comforted her.
o0o
They arrived in Fulton the next afternoon at five. A light snow had fallen, and the small town looked like it belonged in a Currier and Ives print. They drove past the campuses of William Woods and Westminster, which were still deserted for the holidays, and into the downtown area.
Claude’s office was in an old brick building, painted white. THE DAILY BUGLE was lettered on the north side of the building.
“This is it, Amanda.” Tanner parked his car in a vacant spot and turned to face her. “Nervous?”
“Yes.” She sat very straight, hands pressed together in her lap. “We had an easy divorce. Both of us knew it was time to end the marriage. But seeing him again is going to be hard.”
Tanner reached over and squeezed her hands. “For me too. The last time I saw Claude, I was trying to steal you away from him at the altar. I wouldn’t blame him if he took a punch at me.”
They sat for a few minutes, both dreading the confrontation and postponing it as long as possible.
“It’s late,” Amanda said. “Maybe he’s not there.”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Tanner got out of the car and opened her door. Together they walked into the office.
Claude was alone, sitting at his desk, newspaper copy spread out in front of him. He looked up when the bell above his door tinkled. The silence was so thick, it could have been spread on toast and eaten for breakfast.
Tanner and Amanda stood inside the door, and Claude sat riveted to his chair. If thoughts had been birds, the air would have been heavy with the flapping of wings. Amanda thought Claude had aged. Tanner marveled that he felt no sudden surge of anger toward Claude, just a sad sort of ache for the things they’d lost—the easy camaraderie, the crazy jokes that nobody else thought were funny, the laughter.
The silence became embarrassing. Finally Amanda spoke.
“I received your Christmas card, Claude.”
“Good. I meant what I said.”
Amanda felt Tanner’s body tense. She slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed.
Claude took off his glasses and polished the lenses with his handkerchief, a habit that signaled his unease. Tanner and Amanda watched him silently, remembering the many times they’d seen him do exactly the same thing.
Finally Claude put the glasses firmly back on his nose. “I’ve always loved you, Amanda,” he said simply.
“Amanda is going to marry me, Claude.” Tanner hadn’t meant to blurt out the news like that, but he was going crazy being in the same room with Claude, knowing he’d once held Amanda and made love to her and kissed all her secret places. The rage he’d held in check suddenly surfaced. Visions of the two of them together clouded his judgment. He balled his fists and took a step toward Claude.
To his astonishment Claude burst out laughing. “Thank God for that. I’ve always known the two of you belonged together.”
Tanner’s rage ebbed, but his nerves were still raw from lack of sleep. “Then why in the hell did you send that card and sign it ‘love’?”
“I’m a sentimental fool. I just wanted Amanda to know that there are no hard feelings.” He stood up and came to her. When he was close enough, he reached for her hand. “The six years we had together were like a gift, Amanda, one I never expected to receive, and one I never fully appreciated. You’ve always belonged to Tanner. Deep down I knew that, even when we were married.”
“I’m sorry, Claude—for everything. For coming between you and Tanner, for the divorce—”
His laughter interrupted her. “Don’t say another word. The next thing I know, you’ll be saying you’re sorry for the marriage—one that nearly didn’t take place, thanks to you.” He turned to Tanner. “That was a helluva stunt you pulled in the church.”
“It was the high point of my career.” Tanner was almost relaxed enough to grin but not quite. He couldn’t figure out why Claude was so amiable, and he didn’t trust his old friend’s willingness to give up Amanda now that he had seen her again. The man had to be crazy, Tanner decided.
“Maybe I should pay you back. When is the wedding?”
It was a sticky question. Tanner didn’t want Claude at his wedding. He wanted to start his marriage with a clean slate, no reminders of the past.
“We haven’t set the date,” Amanda said, noting the look of thanks in Tanner’s eyes.
Claude clapped Tanner on the shoulder. “That doesn’t sound like you. I’d have thought you’d have her kidnapped by now.”
“I guess I’ve mellowed with old age.”