“How can you not understand?” She threw out her hands, then grabbed the falling sheet and yanked it up over her breasts. “We can’t share a bed again. It wouldn’t be decent. As soon as we can, we’re going to get a divorce!”
His hands caressed her arms, and the long strokes made her shiver. Gently he pulled her long hair back and gazed into the mirror at the thrust of her nipples against the sheet. “Remind me. Why are we getting a divorce?”
For one fevered moment she couldn’t remember, couldn’t think. Then she jerked away from him. “Why? For one thing, we ruined each other’s lives. For another thing you betrayed me with Laura, and for the last thing, I’m going to marry Peter De Groot!”
Oh Lord. Peter. The room spun around her. No, she wouldn’t think about Peter. Later she would flog herself with thoughts about Peter, but not now. How on earth had a simple thing like a divorce gotten so complicated?
She’d have to sort that out at another time because right now she had a more urgent problem. Molly called her name and knocked on the back door. “Yoohoo, Angie. Are you awake?”
Wide-eyed, she whirled toward Sam. “Quick, quick. I’ll pick up the clothes in the kitchen, you jump out the window.”
“What?”
“Out. Go.” She made a shooing motion with her hands, then she dropped the sheet and grabbed her wrapper from the hook on the back of the door. “We don’t want Molly and the girls to know you spent the night in my bed.”
“It’s my bed.”
“I don’t care whose bed it is, you and I shouldn’t have been in it together,” Angie hissed. “Go!” She looked down, then clapped a hand over her eyes. “First, put on your pants.”
“You really are beautiful,” he said as she turned aside to tie the belt of the wrapper.
“Damn it, Sam. Go.” Dashing past him, she ran into the kitchen, bending and grabbing clothes off the floor and chairs. “I’ll just be a minute,” she said to the door.
“Did you bring us something?” Lucy called.
“Is it cake?” Daisy shouted.
“You’ll find out in about one minute.”
Rushing into the bedroom, she flung their evening clothes on the bed, then gasped and put a hand over her heart when Sam’s head and naked shoulders appeared outside the window.
He scratched his jaw and gave her a thoughtful look. “When you have a minute, I’d like you to explain why I’m sneaking out of my own house.”
“Think about your daughters!” She jerked the curtains together, shutting him out of sight. She could only hope he had the sense to wait until Molly and the girls were inside before he made a dash for his tent.
Damn, damn. There wasn’t a thing to do about her wild hair, swollen lips, bare feet, or a certain knowing look that she could swear had not been there yesterday.
“Angie?”
“I’m coming!”
After Angie opened the door, Molly looked her up and down and raised her eyebrows, but she didn’t say anything. And she didn’t say anything a few minutes later when she pushed aside two shirt studs before she set down plates for the cake.
When the coffee was ready, Molly settled back in her chair. “Well. Tell us all the details that are fit to tell.” Her gaze was steady, but her mouth twitched at the corners.
Daisy sighed happily. “Cake for breakfast. Wait til Papa hears.”
“Was there music?” Lucy asked. “And pretty dresses? Did Papa dance with you? I wish I knew how to dance.”
Angie cupped her hands around the coffee mug, gave Molly a long look, then told the details that were fit to tell.
Chapter 14
Walking away from a soapy pan of breakfast dishes, Angie dried her hands, then sat at the kitchen table and pulled Peter’s letter out of her apron pocket.
My dearest Angelina,
I’ve delayed a reply to your last letter in hope of receiving further news that your appalling circumstances have changed. As I’ve heard nothing, I assume the worst: that you are still forced to live with Mr. Holland and his illegitimate children.
My dear, this situation cannot be allowed to continue.
Your compassionate nature is to your credit and I wouldn’t wish you otherwise. Truly I understand why you would agree to delay the divorce and make the child’s surgery the primary financial priority. However, your letters seem to suggest the surgery will not occur anytime soon and therefore the divorce is indefinitely postponed.
I’ve given our situation careful thought, seeking a solution that will permit us to be together sooner than Mr. Holland’s circumstances allow. As both you and Mr. Holland have agreed to dissolve your marriage, and the only impediment is monetary, I wish to offer you the financial wherewithal to accomplish the dissolution sought by everyone involved.