“So long, Sage,” he replied, putting his hand in the small of her back and bending down to kiss her. For a moment she felt unsteady as he pressed his lips to her cheek, taking his time. The lime of his cologne was subdued by the natural spice in his skin, and she breathed it in dreamily.
“Back to the porch,” she said softly, pulling away.
She walked down the road towards her car, arms folded, head bowed, her thoughts still with him. She dared not turn around. When she reached her car, she unlocked the door and climbed in. Risking a look now that she was behind glass, she saw that he had gone. She remained a moment at the wheel, reflecting. If infidelity extended to thoughts, then she was guilty already.
10
It is only with darkness that one can appreciate light.
In Search of the Perfect Happiness
“So how did it go?” Candace was waiting for Angelica at the school gates. “Don’t do that!” she snapped at Ralph, whose nose was buried once again in the bottom of a far smaller dog. “Really, I can’t take him anywhere!”
Angelica was about to divulge the details when something snuffed out her intention, like a sudden pail of water thrown onto a bonfire. Her exuberance fizzled away beneath her friend’s formidable gaze. Candace was her confidante—she could normally tell her anything—but this foolhardy leap over the marital border line was beyond her comprehension and approval. As much as Angelica longed to share, she knew what Candace would think—and she couldn’t bear to incite her condemnation—or be persuaded to delete Jack’s number from her telephone.
“It was really nice,” she replied cagily.
“Nice?” Candace crinkled her nose. “Lunch with the vicar is nice!”
“Okay, it was fabulous. He’s everything I remembered him to be. He’s gorgeous, handsome, funny, clever, sensitive, witty, and thinks I’m delicious—which is almost the best thing about him . . .”
“But? I can hear a but . . .”
“He’s married, and so am I. It’s not going any further.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking. I was a little embarrassed actually, sitting there as if I was about to embark on an affair.”
“Look, you had a great lunch. You had a flirt. You feel good about yourself. Now go home and wrap yourself around Olivier. I’m not Catholic, but a few Hail Marys won’t hurt.”
Angelica laughed. “At least he propelled me into getting into shape.”
“I thought it was Olivier’s comment about the belt.”
“I lied. It was Jack.”
“Well, you can thank him for that, and Olivier will never know.”
Angelica’s mobile telephone bleeped in her handbag with a message. She thought of Jack’s number hidden in there and felt a quiver of guilty excitement. Candace restrained Ralph, apologizing to another mother who picked up her terrier in disgust. Angelica delved into her handbag for the telephone while Candace summoned Kate, Letizia, and Scarlet with a wave. “Over here, girls!” she shouted into the throng of perfume and Prada. Angelica flushed as she read the text: Loved our lunch, Sage. Fancy taking this dog for a walk in the park tomorrow morning? X DOP
Candace looked at her quizzically. “Who’s that from?”
“Sunny. She wants me to pick something up on the way home,” Angelica lied, clicking the telephone shut and replacing it in her bag. It shocked her that she was able to fib with such ease.
The three girls came over to join them. “Hi, dolls. I’m just telling Kate and Letizia about this lad from Yorkshire I’ve hired for half term to teach the children football and tennis. If any of yours want to join them, they’re most welcome,” said Scarlet, who thought nothing of wearing tight black hot pants with boots to pick up her children from school.
“A manny?” said Candace. “I’m loving the sound of that!”
“Sort of—he’ll keep them busy so I don’t have to.”
“Sounds perfect,” Kate interjected. “We were going to go to St. Lucia, but Pete now has to go to Moscow, and I don’t relish the idea of taking the children on my own, in my condition.”
“It’s an inspired idea, darling. How did you find him?” Letizia asked. “Might he be available for the Christmas holidays? Does he ski?”
“He’s the son of a friend of mine. A fine young man who’s nuts about Manchester United and sufficiently handsome that I won’t tire of looking at him. I don’t think he skis, Letizia, but I’ll find out.”
“Oh, will you, darling? I need someone to help over Christmas. Maria isn’t legal, so she can’t travel. Such a bore. A skiing manny would solve all my problems.”