Proposition

by Wegner, Ola

  “Bought in Europe?” Claire wanted to know.

  “Yes, in London.”

  “Very nice, though a bit on the plain side.”

  Amy dropped the little dessert fork with a bang on her plate. Enough was enough.

  “It’s not plain, Claire. It’s elegant. Though I personally doubt you can see the difference. To elaborate it is called classical elegance. Not every woman desires to look like a parrot in a zoo,” Amy finished menacingly, glancing with barely disguised contempt at Claire’s colorful, revealing outfit.

  Lowering her eyes again, she heard Claire’s outraged gasp. There was a moment of long awkward silence, before her father started speaking quickly.

  “Jake, Amy is going to fall asleep in her chair in a moment. She did that once when she was a little girl. Take her upstairs. We’ll see each other tomorrow morning.”

  Jake’s arm came around her and lifted her from her seat, making excuses for both of them.

  “You couldn’t stop yourself, could you?” he murmured with amusement when they were out of the earshot.

  “You heard her,” Amy mouthed angrily.

  “I did,” he said calmly, “but I told you that it would be for the best to ignore her.”

  “Easy to say,” she huffed.

  Already in their suite Amy asked Jake if he wanted to take a shower now and when he shook his head no, she took out her pajamas and fresh panties from her bag and closed herself in the bathroom. The long bath relaxed her, but also made her a bit drowsy, which, with the added stress of the last week, made her slip quickly under the covers and close her eyes with relief.

  Jake used the bathroom after her but she barely paid attention. Her mind was occupied elsewhere. The thought of Michael being here just a few days before her, prevented her from falling asleep completely. He had been here, and he had met her father. There had been a time when she’d dreamed of them meeting. How was it possible that her heart still stopped at the memory of him? He’d been asking about her, he’d remembered her. Had she come a week earlier she’d have met him herself. Had he changed much over the years?

  She must have dozed off eventually, because she woke up when Jake pulled her gently into his arms.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead. He smelt of fresh toothpaste. “I’ve disturbed your sleep.”

  “Mmm. It’s ok,” she murmured.

  She closed her eyes again, and snuggled against his warm, solid frame.

  “You looked very lovely tonight,” he crooned into her ear.

  He shifted her so that she lay partially on his chest, her head tucked under his chin.

  She was on the verge of falling asleep again, lulled with his hand stroking her back soothingly, when she heard him say, “Who was that guy your father and Claire mentioned?”

  Amy shrugged in his arms, and murmured dismissively.

  “No one really,” she mumbled.

  That wasn’t the truth, and she didn’t want to deceive him, but sharing her most intimate memories with him didn’t sit well with her either.

  “We sort of ...” she hesitated, “... made friends in law school, but when I decided it wasn’t for me and dropped out, we broke contact with each other. I haven’t heard from him since then.” she yawned, “I’m surprised he remembered me so well.”

  His hand on her back stilled. She sensed he wanted to ask her more about Michael. She leaned to put a chaste kiss on his cheek, before she snuggled next to him again, her face buried against the side of his ribcage.

  “I’m really tired, good night,” she whispered, evening her breathing and doing her best to convince him that she was fast asleep.

  “Good night.” he whispered back after a moment, his arm bringing her even closer to him.

  * * * *

  The next day she woke up surprisingly early for a Saturday. Yesterday she’d had the most serious intention to sleep in this morning.

  She slipped out of bed and padded to the glass door leading to the spacious terrace. The skies were grey and the ocean looked stormy.

  She turned toward the bed, and stared at Jake. He snored softly, sprawled on his back. No wonder that he was tired. She crawled under the sheets, and snuggled next to him. She put her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

  But she couldn’t return to sleep. Eventually she decided to take a walk down to the beach, before breakfast. Careful not to make noise in the bathroom, she brushed her teeth, and plaited her hair neatly. After pulling on loose jeans, knickers and a thick jacket she walked through the terrace straight onto the beach.

  She wandered for some half an hour when she saw her father approached from the other end of the beach.

  “Dad, you’re up so early?” She kissed his cold cheek in greeting.

  “I wake early here. I have no problems with sleeping soundly and waking up refreshed.”

  Amy beamed at him. “You see, I knew that the seaside would do you good.”

  “I walk down the beach every morning,” he informed proudly.

  “That’s so wonderful.” She hugged him, “I’m so glad that you took the doctor’s orders to heart. You just have to stick to this, you know, and never return to bad habits.”

  They walked silently for a moment before Thomas started speaking hesitantly. “Amy, about what Claire said yesterday...” He sighed, “She really didn’t mean anything wrong.”

  Amy stepped from one foot to the other. “Daddy...” the topic of Claire was never an easy one between them. She could talk about everything with him, apart from his wife. There would never be an understanding between them on the topic, she knew that.

  Thomas took her hand in his. “Look pumpkin, she is like she is, but she isn’t cruel on purpose, never that,” he sounded almost pleading.

  Amy gave a heavy sigh. She had a different opinion about it, but she chose not to voice it. Instead, she smiled, trying to give her voice a lighter tone.

  “It was my fault as well,” she conceded reluctantly, “I was tired, and I overreacted. The last week was stressful.”

  Suddenly, Thomas changed the subject. “Have you heard from Peter?”

  Amy stopped surprised, because she didn’t expect that question. Thomas hadn’t mentioned her brother since their conversation when he’d talked her into visiting Jake and asking him for help.

  “Yes, I have,” Amy said slowly, “but not lately. I mean last time was three weeks ago.”

  Her father stared out at the stormy ocean, his expression indecipherable.

  “He’s sent me an email, there wasn’t much there, apart from the information that he works in New Orleans.”

  “New Orleans,” Thomas said as if to himself. “Did he say where exactly? What kind of job it is?” He sounded almost indifferent.

  “No.” Amy shook her head. “I sent him another two mails, but haven’t received an answer. He also hasn’t answered the phone or returned my phone calls, nor my text messages.”

  Thomas shuffled his hand into the pockets of his loose slacks. “I’ m worried for the boy.”

  “Was there a time you weren’t, Daddy?” she asked softly.

  Thomas nodded curtly. “True enough.”

  Amy placed a gentle hand on her father’s back. “Daddy, I think he’s all right,” she said, even though she didn’t entirely believe that herself. But there was no reason to worry her father more, now when he was doing so well. “I think he’s just ashamed because of all that happened. But he’s fine. Peter is like a cat, always landing on all four feet.”

  Thomas smiled weakly, and then changed the subject. “What about you, Amy?”

  She shrugged and focused her eyes on the waves. “I’m fine.”

  Thomas turned her to him and looked into her eyes seriously.

  “Does he treat you well?” he asked with quiet intensity. “Does he care about you as you deserve?”

  “Yes, Daddy, he’s very good to me.” Amy spoke with honesty.” And I’m not saying this just because I don’t w
ant to worry you,” she stressed. “He’s really good to me.”

  Thomas’s face visibly relaxed. “I thought so. I was sure he would be. Otherwise I would never have supported the idea of this marriage.”

  Amy forced herself to smile before her face went somber. “I must say I still don’t understand why you were so happy about this marriage.” She glanced at him, hesitant to form the next question. “Was it just because of the company?” she asked unsurely.

  “Amy, how can you even believe that?” Thomas looked hurt by the assumption. “I wanted you to be happy first of all. I don’t give a damn about company when it comes to your well-being. It’s been a long time since I thought that Jake would be perfect for you; someone you could really respect and care for. I was afraid that you were unhappy being alone, and for some reason, you didn’t let anyone close to you. Sweetie, sometimes you are too stubborn for your own good.”

  “Dad, I’m not a child...” she tried to protest his reasoning, but he interrupted her.

  “You’ll always be my little girl, no matter what, even when you have your own kids. And Amy,” he leaned into her, “I’m at peace now that you’ll be safe and protected with Jake.”

  Amy frowned in confusion.

  “Jake!” her father called and waved.

  She glanced up and saw her husband walking toward them from the direction of the hotel. He wore khaki pants, and a navy blue sweater, looking tall, broody, and somehow troubled.

  On reaching them, he greeted Thomas cordially, but his eyes focused on her all the time.

  “I should be going back. Claire has surely woken up by now,” Thomas said quickly, as he glanced from his daughter to his son in law. “We’ll see each other at breakfast, right?” he asked, already walking away.

  “Sure, Dad,” Amy replied with a smile.

  When they were alone, Amy produced a small, awkward smile.

  Jake stepped to her, and zipped her jacket up, his hands rested heavily on her shoulders. “I don’t like waking up without you by my side.”

  “I was surprised myself to wake up so early because last evening I had very serious intentions of sleeping in today,” she babbled, suddenly unable to conquer her nervousness. “Shall we go down to the beach for a while?” she asked and without waiting for his answer started walking.

  They’d been walking for some time silently when he caught her hand. “You’re different since yesterday,” he said, eyeing her carefully, “distant.”

  “No, it’s just the ocean.” She took a deep breath, smiling at him, “Makes me dreamy and melancholic.”

  She closed her eyes and inhaled the breeze.

  “It’s about this guy, this lawyer? Right?” the question cut into the sound of waves clashing against the seashore.

  Her eyes flipped open and she caught Jake’s intense eyes.

  “You had a relationship with him, didn’t you?” he asked quietly, “Slept with him?”

  Her eyes widened at his straightforwardness.

  “What?” she mouthed.

  “You heard me,” he said curtly.

  “Yes, I heard you,” she managed calmly. “But you haven’t the right to ask me such questions.” She started walking quickly past him.

  “The hell I haven’t.” He caught her arm not so gently, grounding her in place. “You’re my wife.”

  “I’m not asking you about your past lovers,” she snapped.

  “He was your lover,” he whispered, his voice listless, but his eyes burning.

  “It’s my personal matter,” she said only.

  Amy observed as he turned and walked away from her. After a few moments of hesitation, she ran after him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. He was that much taller than she was, that her chin barely reached his shoulder blades.

  “You really don’t have to worry about it,” she whispered.

  He turned abruptly. “You loved him.” It sounded like accusation.

  “Well, you could say that,” she admitted reluctantly. “I mean, I thought I was in love with him, but it turned out to be only infatuation. I thought I loved him, but now I see how immature it all was.” She stared at the ocean and let out a sigh. “When I met him he was already engaged to someone his family approved. My father had money, but certainly not that kind of money and what’s more important, not the social position his family and the family of the girl he was engaged to had. I think he was amused with my feelings for him. He was flattered, perhaps he even liked me, but eventually he married his fiancée.” She bit her lower lip and stared at her shoes. “The end of the tale,” she managed a small smile.

  “Was he the reason why you dropped out of law school?”

  She averted her eyes. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this,” she murmured.

  He didn’t protest but pulled her into a tight embrace. “That guy was an utter fool to let you go,” he whispered before he bent to kiss her softly.

  “Come,” he tucked her under his arm. “It looks as if it is going to start raining at any moment.”

  “What about your previous girlfriends?” she asked cheekily, when they starting walking back to the hotel

  He shrugged. “Not much to brag about.”

  “Oh, come on,” she gave him a doubtful look, stopping in place. “You can’t tell me you didn’t have at least two or three serious girlfriends during all these years.”

  Jake glanced at the heavy clouds hanging low in the sky. He took her hand in his and accelerated his pace, pulling her after himself.

  “I had, mainly in my early twenties.” He began to run as it started to rain. “Later, when I started working for your father, things changed. I was dissatisfied with my life. I felt I was standing in place with no hope for a better future. Your father helped me to prove to myself that I could do something with my life. He encouraged me to return to college and start my own company. Those were busy years, and I barely slept as I juggled it all. There was no time for women.”

  Amy frowned, and slowed down. They were already on the path leading directly to the hotel. “But you asked me out back then. Was it because you wanted to get closer to my father?”

  He stopped as well. “You really believe that?”

  She hesitated. “To tell the truth it was the only convincing reason I can think of at that time.”

  He shook his head at her. “Haven’t you thought that I was simply attracted to you?”

  “And you still are? Right?” she asked shyly.

  “Amy, are you blind?” He sounded impatient. “I involved you in this marriage. I can barely stop myself from touching you every time when you’re near me. How can you doubt it after what happened last evening in our room before we came down for dinner? You think I could fake all this, especially my physical reaction to you? I’m very attracted to you.”

  She looked up at him. “I’m attracted to you as well,” she admitted quietly. “I think I’ve always been, even years ago you unsettled me. I guess I just couldn’t read my reaction to you properly. I was too young for that.”

  The rain started in earnest, but they stood unmoving, getting wet.

  “Are you willing to give our marriage a chance?” Jake breathed, the puffs of air coming out of his mouth.

  “Yes,” she whispered very quietly. But clearly loud enough for him to hear. In the next moment she was in his arms, her face pressed into his chest.

  “Come, your hands are like ice,” Jake murmured, kissing her wet face tenderly. He took her hand again and they ran back to the hotel.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jake checked his watch. It was few minutes after four, and he’d just finished talking with a new site manager. The man seemed to be responsible and his previous experience said that he was actually good at his work. Hopefully he wouldn’t turn out like the previous one.

  “We’ll resume work Monday, Mr. Barry,” he assured. “I’ll hire all the people we need tomorrow.”

  “Good.” Jake shook the other man’s proffered hand. “I’ll drop i
n on Monday to check how everything’s going.”

  Getting into his car, he flipped his phone open, and chose Amy’s number.

  After a few long seconds, his wife’s sleepy voice answered. “Yes,” she mumbled.

  “Did I wake you up, sweetheart?” he asked with concern.

  “Mm-hm...” she murmured.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” He started the car. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine,” He heard her yawn. “Are you on your way home now?” she wanted to know.

  “Yes.” He pulled out of the building site onto the road. “But I need to drop by the office yet. I’ll be home in about an hour at the soonest. Do you need anything?”

  There was a moment a silence before she spoke. “Vogue.”

  “What?”

  “The newest issue of Vogue,” she elaborated. “It’s a fashion magazine.”

  “Sure,” he smiled to himself. If she wanted him to bring her a fashion magazine, it meant she definitely felt better. “Now go back to sleep,” he ordered gently, soon hearing a soft sigh after which she switched off.

  The last days had been rough. Clearly, that chilly Saturday when they’d talked in the rain on the beach, she’d managed to catch a cold. Undoubtedly, he’d been more than happy with the result of their conversation that morning, especially with the fact that she’d admitted to having some feelings for him, and agreed to give their marriage a chance. At the same time he cursed himself for staying on the beach for so long in such nasty weather.

  She’d begun to sneeze when they returned home on Sunday afternoon, but she’d dismissed his concern when he’d asked if she’d felt ok. She said it was nothing serious. On Monday, she’d gone to work as usual, even though she looked pale to him. But she again said she was fine. At night from Monday to Tuesday, she began breathing heavily in a strange raspy way, resembling a wheezing of sorts, but on Tuesday morning, she again announced she was fine. He shouldn’t have let her go to work then, despite her assurance of feeling well. When he’d come home the same day, he got a phone call from the library from Laura. She informed him that Amy had a dizzy spell at work, and developed what seemed to be a high fever. He’d been there in less than half an hour.