by Pamela Morsi
Letty was at the far end of the balcony, socializing with other younger people invited to view the occasion. She was dressed, very typically for her, in skinny jeans and a layered top. Fortunately, Letty had the body type to get away with wearing almost anything. One of the young men in attendance seemed particularly taken with her. He was nice looking, perhaps a bit boyish in appearance but life certainly had a cure for that. She’d heard him say that he worked at University Hospital and if he was a friend of Melvin’s son, then he could at least afford to take her daughter out for a nice dinner.
“Doctor?” she’d asked Melvin pointedly. He knew her well enough not to require any further explanation of her interest.
He glanced over in the direction of the two.
“Uh…pharmacist, I think,” Melvin answered. “I’m pretty sure he said pharmacist.”
She turned her attention back to the street in time to see a float that was merely a couple of pieces of blow-up lawn decoration pulled on a trailer. Apparently the standards for what qualified as an entry were very low.
“I have a little holiday gift for you,” Melvin said.
That got her full attention. She loved getting presents. Especially the kind given by wealthy men that came in small blue jewelry boxes.
She smiled at him when he handed it to her. It was tiny and square. About the perfect size for earrings. She had seen some gorgeous sapphires at Penaloza. Maybe the owner had called Melvin and mentioned them. No, that would be too lucky. She girded herself for disappointment as she untied the bow and opened the little box.
To Ann Marie’s surprise it wasn’t earrings at all but a huge square-cut diamond in a breathtaking antique setting.
“What’s this?” she asked him.
“Exactly what it looks like,” Melvin answered. “But before you say anything, one way or another, you have to know that I want a very strict pre-nup. If you divorce me, you don’t take anything that I’ve bought, including this ring. If you stay with me, everything I have is yours for the rest of your life. A lot of women would think that’s a very good deal.”
Ann Marie just stared at him, shocked, her thoughts shooting out in a hundred different directions.
“Ann Marie! Ann Marie! Mr. Melvin!” The sound of a little voice permeated the noise all around her. She turned her eyes toward the street just in time to see Quint waving up at her from the backseat of the very beautiful, very romantic Buick.
We hope you enjoyed this novel from Pamela Morsi.
Overleaf are some discussion questions that we hope will
further enhance your enjoyment of this novel.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
We’re a culture that loves gossip. Where does it cross the line between entertaining pastime and harmful influence?
Erica is back to work after a stint as a stay-at-home mom. Have you been there and done that? What kind of challenges did you face that she did not?
Is a successful marriage a matter of luck, hard work or compatibility of personalities over time?
Erica loves her son, but also loves having a job. Is she everywoman or simply a type?
Conventional wisdom suggests that family dysfunction gets repeated in successive generations. Yet Tom’s childhood created a longing for sanity and stability. Is that true to life?
Is infidelity a challenge or a deal breaker in marriage?
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1182-7
THE BENTLEYS BUY A BUICK
Copyright © 2011 by Pamela Morsi
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, MIRA Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
MIRA and the Star Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at [email protected].
www.MIRABooks.com
