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“At the bookstore,” Wi
But Ryan had already handed his over. “For God’s sake, don’t screw this up, too.”
Sugar Beth’s heart pounded as she punched in Colin’s number. She’d made a colossal mistake, the mother of all mistakes, and she had to set it right. She and Colin couldn’t work this out unless they were together. She sank back down next to Gordon as it began to ring. Once, twice, three times. An automated recording kicked in.
“He’s not answering.” She disco
“He’s licking his wounds,” Wi
Sugar Beth’s head shot up. “I can’t move into Frenchman’s Bride.”
Wi
“Oh, dear, I wish to heaven I knew where he has gone, and what it all means!”
G
EORGETTE
H
EYER
,
The Corinthian
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
By di
She stood in her old spot just inside the door of Colin’s closet and watched Wi
“No, you’re not,” Wi
“How do you know that?”
“I just do.”
Sugar Beth turned away. Gordon followed her downstairs, where Ryan was taking a break on the sunroom couch, drinking a beer and catching the end of a golf tournament. “I want my wife back,” he said, flicking off the TV as she came in. “I know you’re upset, and I know this isn’t a good time for you, but I want her back tonight.”
“You’ve had her for fourteen years. Can’t I have her for a few more days?”
“No. I need her now.”
“You think I’m being selfish, don’t you? Keeping her?”
He smiled and set down his beer. “Always.”
She wandered over to the sunroom windows. As she gazed out at the piles of stone still waiting to be laid, she prayed Colin would someday finish his wall. Why did he have to fly off like this? He should have given them more time, and when she finally reached him, she intended to tell him exactly that. “Why won’t he turn on his phone?”
“Because he doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“I liked it better when you were nice.”
“You didn’t give him a lot of options.”
Gordon rubbed her ankles. She leaned down and patted him, taking comfort in his sloppy warmth. “Do you remember Luv U 4-Ever?”
“We were kids,” he said. “What we felt was real at the time.”
“Ken and Barbie work a lot better in make-believe land than they do in real life.”
He stretched his legs. “I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for dumping me.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“It’s easy to see now how badly matched we were,” he said. “I’m too boring for you, and all your drama would have driven me nuts.”
“Colin loves drama. It’s how he makes his living.”
He gave her his sweet Ken smile.
She sank down on the ottoman. “I should have been more flexible with him.”
“Too bad you didn’t have that epiphany a few days ago.”
“I’m a drama queen,” she said dismally. “I only learn things the hard way.”
Wi
“No.” He rose from the couch, his good humor fading. “No more. I mean it, Wi
“Don’t you dare try to railroad me.”
“You want to have everything your way. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s not how it’s going to work.”
“Quit being an ass.”
“If anybody’s acting like an ass—”
“Oh, stop it,” Sugar Beth said. “Wait until you’re alone to start your foreplay.” She rose from the ottoman, took a step toward the middle of the room, and froze. “Gigi!”
They gazed at her.
“Colin said he was going to call Gigi tonight. Hurry!” She raced from Frenchman’s Bride, leaving Ryan, Wi
She stormed into the Galantine house just as Gigi was coming downstairs. She’d abandoned Goth for a pair of cropped cargos that hung way too low on her hips and a sheer, pin-tuck shirt that didn’t cover her rib cage. Yesterday when Sugar Beth had asked her about it, she’d gotten a calculating look in her eye and said she was exploring her sexuality. Even in Sugar Beth’s emotionally impaired state, she’d known when she was being tested, and she hadn’t risen to the bait.
“What did you do to Colin?” Gigi cried, ripping off her headset.
“What are you talking about?”
“He’s gone!”
“How do you know that?”
“He told me.”
Sugar Beth stiffened. “When?”
“A few minutes ago on the phone.”
Sugar Beth sank down on the bottom step and dropped her head into her hands. “You’ve already talked to him.”
“He sounded totally bummed,” Gigi said accusingly. “You dumped him, didn’t you?”
Sugar Beth couldn’t muster a response.
It was one thing for Colin to leave. It was quite another for him to cut off all communication, and Sugar Beth didn’t intend to put up with it. First thing Monday morning, she called his publisher and asked to speak with his publicist. When the woman answered, Sugar Beth adopted her best Yankee accent. “This is Frances Gordon calling. From the Oprah show.”
“Gordon? I don’t recognize the name.”
“I’m new. This is very last minute, but Oprah wants to have Mr. Byrne on her show this week. I need to talk with him about it today if we’re going to make that happen. Stephen King really wants the slot, and you know how pushy he can be.”
“I don’t believe Mr. Byrne is available.”
“Of course, he’s available. It’s Oprah!”
“I’d feel more comfortable talking to my regular contact.”
“Unfortunately, she was in an automobile accident this morning. Nothing too serious, but she’ll be out for a while.”
“Odd. I spoke with him less than ten minutes ago.”
“Must have been while he was waiting for the ambulance.”
The woman hung up.
Wi
Monday evening arrived, and as Wi
As for Colin . . . They said it was just like Sugar Beth to drive a man to do something like this, but they didn’t turn against her, and Sugar Beth’s ma