Maelstrőm

by Michelle Love

  “Okay, I’m going to let the fact you didn’t tell me right away slide. I kind of get why you didn’t but still. What did he want?”

  Sarah took a deep breath in. “Me, apparently. He wanted to come back and be my “husband” again. I shut him down. He wouldn’t be in any doubt that I meant it too, I might have slapped him when he tried to kiss me.”

  Isaac gave a low growl and she squeezed his hands. “All I felt was utter revulsion, Iss. I don’t know that man, he is a stranger to me.”

  He searched her eyes. “Do you think he means you harm?”

  She sighed. “I honestly don’t know. He did say he wouldn’t let anyone else have me – take that as you will. Is it macho posturing or a threat?”

  Finn cleared his throat then, reminding the couple that there were two other people in the room. “Look, guys, as far as the police are concerned…Dan went away, faked his disappearance. But it wasn’t for monetary gain or to cover up a crime so technically, he’s done nothing wrong. Maybe it was just because he was fucking my wife.”

  “Then why didn’t she disappear too? Make all our lives better?” Molly interjected, then grinned. Sarah and Finn chuckled at her face.

  Isaac sighed heavily. “But then who attacked Sarah? And why? If Dan didn’t kill those women and George and Buddy, then why wouldn’t the killer just…” He couldn’t finish, just looked at Sarah, her lovely face, those kind, warm deep brown eyes. “Why would anyone want to hurt you?” His voice was almost a broken whisper and it made tears spring into her eyes. She leaned her forehead against his.

  “I’m here, Iss, I’m still here. It’s okay.”

  Molly surreptitiously wiped a tear away. “So, what do we do?”

  Sarah looked at Isaac. “I say, I have a final meeting with Dan. Here, publicly. I tell him that we are no longer in each other’s lives, I wish him the best, but I want him to stay away from me, you, Molly, Finn. If he wants any property, he can have it.” She turned to Molly. “Except The Varsity. As from Friday, Mols, you are the sole owner of this coffee house.”

  Molly gaped. “What the hell?”

  Sarah smiled. “I’ve been thinking a lot about new opportunities. I want to go back to school. I have my MBA but I want to do something I’m really passionate about. Literature, art, music. Maybe even start my architectural degree again. So I decided. You have done so much for me and you deserve something good so it’s my gift to you, Molly. The Varsity is yours.”

  Molly had tears on her face. “Sarah…no, come on, let me buy it.”

  Sarah shook her head. “No way. It’s yours, I just hope you don’t feel I’m dumping it on you then running. I’ll stay on until you are fully staffed. And then there’s this… I’m moving in with Isaac - permanently.”

  She grinned across at her love, who had visibly relaxed now, hearing her talk about their future. “In fact, although we haven’t made it official…”

  “I asked Sarah to marry me,” Isaac said proudly and then chuckled. “Twice, actually.”

  Sarah laughed too as Molly started to grin. “Once, I was on morphine, so he had to ask again.”

  She shared a look with Isaac and he knew she was thinking the same thing: when I was inside you, kissing, you, fucking you, loving you…

  Finn half-smiled. His cheeks were flushed pink and his eyes were flat but he congratulated them genuinely. Sarah smiled at him, ignoring the look in his eyes. Pain. She shoved the wave of sadness that came over her away. “Finn, I have something for you too.” She grabbed her purse and dug out a set of keys, throwing them to him. “George’s house. Now I know that…well, you may not want to live in that because of…you know, but the land is good. You could finally build that house you’ve always dreamed of building.”

  Finn was shaking his head. “I can’t accept it, Sarah, it’s too much.”

  Sarah clamped her hands over her ears. “Can’t hear you lalalalalala. Look, I’m starving, I’m going to order pizza. Who is in?”

  Molly grinned. “I’d love to but Mike’s waiting. We have a night off from the kids for once and we’re going to enjoy it.”

  Sarah hugged her. “Ok then, happy humping.”

  Molly grinned as Finn groaned and Isaac laughed. She waved and left the coffee house.

  Outside the streetlights were on, their sodium glow throwing the buildings into relief. A bunch of high school kids, giddy from the summer heat and the idea of another week of vacation, danced and shoved each other around, their laughter echoing down the purple-shadowed alleys and passageways leading off Main Street. One of them danced like a court jester, flailing his arms around and making the girls screech.

  Sarah sighed, tired but relieved. After all her planning, finally, the people she loved most knew what she was doing. It made it real. She smiled to herself and got up.

  “Coffee, anyone?”

  She took their orders and went to the bar. Isaac was making a call. Finn followed her.

  “Hey.” She turned and grinned at him.

  “Hey, yourself.” Finn came behind the bar and hugged her. “That was an incredible thing to do for Molly. Thank you.”

  She flushed, easing herself gently out of his arms but patting him on the chest to soften the rejection. “She deserves it. You too. Please take the house, the land, Finn. It really is the least I could do.”

  Finn hesitated then glanced back at Isaac, who was deep in conversation with whoever he was on the phone with.

  Finn looked at Sarah. “Look, there’s something,” he choked off. “No, I’m sorry, I just needed to say…you ever need me, I’m there. Forever, Sarah. You can always count on me.”

  Sarah, terrified he was about to declare his love, patted his chest, putting that barrier between them. “Finn, you are my…brother,” she said gently, “I trust you to know that I care deeply about you, and I always will.”

  Their eyes met and Finn nodded his understanding. Sarah hated the pain she saw in his eyes but he smiled. “Look, I’m pretty beat. Rain check on the pizza?”

  She hated feeling that she’d hurt him. “You bet.”

  Isaac returned Finn’s wave as he left then, as the door closed, and Sarah locked it behind Finn, he ended his call and stood. Sarah turned and leaned against the door and smiled at him. The way he was looking at her made her belly quiver, her sex pulse between her legs.

  Isaac smiled and walked to the large windows, lowering the shades until they were totally private.

  “Come here,” he said in a low voice, heavy with desire. She pushed herself away from the door and went to him. He slid his hands onto her head, gazing down at her as if seeing her for the first time. “Do you remember when we met? It was right here. I saw you and I was lost. I knew in that second we were meant for each other.”

  Sarah smiled up at him. “I love you. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you.”

  Isaac tilted her chin up so he could press his lips against hers. “Then it’s only natural that I should now do this properly.”

  He bent down on one knee and Sarah started giggling as he nearly tipped over. Isaac laughed then and grabbed her, wrestling her down onto the floor. “Ah, dammit, I wasn’t meant to do it the traditional way. So, Sarah Bailey, for the third and final time, will you be my wife?”

  She kissed him through her giggles. “Fuck yes!”

  As they laughed, they were pulling at the other’s clothes and before long, Isaac was hitching her legs around his waist and driving his rock-hard cock into her as hard as he could. Sarah moaned and writhed with pleasure beneath him, her fingers tangled in his hair, her mouth on his.

  It was nearly three a.m. before they made it back to his apartment in the city. Sarah fell asleep almost immediately but Isaac, making sure she was deeply out, slipped from the bed and went into the living room.

  He sat at his desk, his head in his hands. For all the drama with Dan Bailey, there was something else that was bugging him. No, scratch that, it was bigger than that, something he should have dealt with mo
nths ago. Hell, he did deal with it – or so he thought.

  He fired up his laptop and there was another email. He scanned through the contents quickly then glanced at the clock. A quarter past three in Seattle – eight-fifteen in New York.

  He picked up the phone.

  ***

  Sarah banged on Caroline’s door, fidgeting, her skin itchy from irritation at having to be there. Caroline opened the door, her eyes popping out slightly when she saw Sarah there.

  “Well, look, if it isn’t the high and mighty…” Caroline clamped a hand over her mouth as if she was a naughty child. “Excuse my manners, please.”

  Sarah, her eyes cold, didn’t react. “Can you get a message to Dan?”

  Caroline’s eyes shone with both curiosity and glee. “You bet I can.”

  Sarah had the urge to punch the other woman. “Good. Tell him I want to arrange a meeting. At the house. I’ll be there all day today. If he wants to meet, tell him to be there. If not, I’ll assume –,” Now she grinned at the smirking Caroline, “I’ll assume he’s changed his mind about “wanting me back”.” She was rewarded by Caroline’s face, all mirth wiped out.

  “I’ll tell him but I wouldn’t hold your breath.” Caroline’s tone had dropped to ice cold which just made Sarah’s smile wider.

  “Oh, I don’t think I’ll be the one holding my breath. Later.”

  She turned and walked away, hearing Caroline hiss a curse after her. Without turning, she raised her middle finger behind her, grinning.

  Dan called the Varsity less than an hour later.

  “Sarah.” His voice was warm, friendly.

  Sarah blew out a breath. “Will you come by the house later? We need to talk.”

  “Of course. I can’t give you an exact time, I have some business in the city but I promise, I’ll be there today, my darling.”

  Isaac called her at lunchtime. “Hey you, how’s it going?”

  Sarah looked around the living room of her house. “It’s weird being back. Not good weird, either.”

  “You sure you want to do this? I could cancel my trip to “Frisco, you know.”

  “Nah, don’t, it’s only one night and as soon as I’ve done here, I’m heading to Molly’s. You know what’s weird, what I realized coming back here?”

  “What’s that, beautiful?”

  She gave a sad sigh. “I don’t belong here anymore. I’m not sure I ever did.”

  “Why don’t you pack all your stuff up? Just move out. We can put stuff in storage if we can’t get it all in here.”

  She sighed. “Good idea. Honestly, at this point, I want to take my clothes, my books, my records and the rest can be sold with the house. A new start.”

  Isaac laughed softly. “You and me both, baby.” There was something in his voice she couldn’t understand – a sadness.”

  “What is it, Isaac?”

  He hesitated. “Nothing. Just some crap I’m dealing with, nothing for you to worry about.”

  She wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it. “I wish Dan would hurry up and get here, the sooner this is all resolved…”

  “I hate that you’re out there alone.”

  “I’ll be fine. I want to get it done. Besides, I had the locks changed.”

  “You have your gun with you?”

  “I do. Hopefully, it won’t come to that – I’ve been thinking. Maybe we’re all just a little too paranoid about this whole thing. I’ll call you later if anything happens.”

  “Call me anyway. I mean it – even if you just get spooked. And get Finn over there too.”

  “I will. I love you.”

  “Me too, darling. Always.”

  It took her longer to clean up the house than she’d planned. In the rooms she seldom used – especially since Dan had left - a thick layer of dust lay across the furniture. Moving from room to room, she dusted, tidied and removed anything she wanted to keep. There wasn’t much, she realized and felt a pang of regret. Is this what her life added up to? In the kitchen she set out boxes, loading them with her books, her records, her cd”s.

  She looked out of the window to the porch where she’d sat with Dan so many evenings. She tried to reconcile that man with the one who’d left her and returned as…whatever he was now. Had there been signs?

  Trying to shrug off the feeling of unease, she finished her packing upstairs, throwing all her clothes into two suitcases, sweeping all her toiletries and makeup into zip-lock bags. She grinned when she thought of Molly and her vast clothing collection – she would pass out if she saw how Sarah had thrown together her suitcase. Still grinning she lugged the cases downstairs and out to her truck. She was aware the daylight had begun to fade and hurriedly carried the rest of the boxes to the truck.

  She went back into the house to wait for Dan, looking around the silent house. I will never sleep here again, and she knew with certainty the truth of her thought. She checked each room for anything she’d forgotten. In the music room, she sat down at the piano, tapping out a little tune, sadness welling up in her chest. For a while, with Dan, it had seemed like they’d built a good life here. That life seemed a million miles away now.

  She went into the kitchen to make coffee and checked her phone. Be with you as soon as I can. D. Ugh. She hated that he had her cell phone number – she’d ditch it after all this was over.

  Isaac went to the restaurant just after noon. He’d chosen a low key out of the way place and changed from his suit to a casual jeans and tee, stuck a baseball cap over his dark curls.

  The waitress led him to an empty table at the back of the room and took his order. A scotch, straight up. He fidgeted in his chair, checking his phone.

  “Isaac?”

  He looked up into the face of the blonde woman. Her blue eyes were large and innocent, long eyelashes sweeping down to her cheeks – false, he guessed. Her long blonde hair was swept up into a graceful chignon, her clothes simple but expensive. He should know, he thought, half-smiling, he paid for them. She smiled down at him warmly. “It’s so wonderful to see you again.”

  He stood to kiss her cheek. “Clare.” He pulled out her chair for her.

  “Always such a gentlemen.” She sat down opposite him and placed her hand on his. He gently moved his hand away and sat back.

  “Clare, you look good.”

  She smiled coquettishly. “Thank you. Although I pale in comparison to your new girlfriend. She’s a rare beauty. Very exotic, very different from me.”

  So she knew about Sarah. Isaac sighed.

  “Clare, what is it you want?”

  Clare smiled. “I came because…I wanted us to be friends, to be in each other’s lives. We left things so…unfinished.”

  Isaac raised his eyebrows. “Clare, to me, they were totally finished.”

  Her ice blue eyes narrowed. “You send me divorce papers while I’m supposed to be at my mother’s funeral?”

  “The key word there being supposed,” his voice hardened. “Did you really think I didn’t know about the other men? Funny how your mother’s funeral – and I’m glad to hear she’s doing just fine by the way – funny how it coincided with Sebastian Gaspard being at the Cannes film festival, don’t you think?”

  Clare smiled and this time, there was no warmth to it. “What did you expect? You were absent, Isaac, all the time. You were working all hours.” She studied him for a long moment. “Do you make time for her, Isaac?”

  He looked back at her evenly. “I’d give up the business for her. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  Clare flinched. “Does she know about me?”

  Isaac hesitated a beat too long and Clare grinned. “Oh, you bad man.” She giggled. “Well, I suppose you don’t want her to know about your little secret.”

  The threat was implicit. Isaac’s chin lifted. “I haven’t told her because there’s nothing to tell. Our marriage lasted less than six months, Clare. As far as I’m concerned, it wasn’t anything close to resembling a marriage. And don’t forget, I pay
you a very generous alimony to stay away.”

  Clare nodded her head in ascent. “You do, I won’t deny that. But, Isaac, do you really want to start your new life with her with a lie?”

  Isaac sighed, pulled out his wallet and threw some money on the table. “Try anything and see how fast your good life disappears, Clare. No, do us both a favor. Go back to New York and enjoy the lifestyle my money pays for.”

  He stood. “Goodbye, Clare.” And he stalked out of the restaurant.

  Shit, shit, shit. Isaac walked back to his office, his mind racing. Well, this was easily solved. He ruled out his cell phone and called Sarah.

  “Hey, babe.”

  Her voice made warmth flood through him. “Hey yourself, gorgeous. Dan showed up yet?”

  He heard her frustrated sigh. “Nope. Asshole is playing a power game. He won’t win, I’m determined to wait him out, however late he may turn up.”

  Isaac frowned. “Sarah…I mean it, I don’t like you out there all alone.”

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart, the cavalry’s outside. Finn’s parked in the woods like a blonde ninja. God forbid any actual crime happens on the island today.” She sounded amused and Isaac relaxed a little.

  “Look, sweetheart, we need to talk about a couple of things and this isn’t the ideal time to tell you this but - and keep in mind that it has no bearing on us – I used to be married.”

  There it was, it was out, quick, brutal. Isaac waited for her hang up or yell or cry.

  “Okay.”

  He blinked. “Okay?”

  Sarah laughed softly. “Okay. Like you said, it has no bearing on us now. You’re divorced, right?”