Kathy stood there looking at the bracelet, knowing it was Felicity’s. How had she not seen the truth about Larry? She wished she could tell her dad what had happened and how it hurt her. She’d like to curl up on his lap and have him hug her and tell her that everything would be all right. But Bert Cormac wasn’t a snuggle type of father—and he’d tell her she was a fool for wanting Larry in the first place.
“Mind if I break up with Larry?” she asked.
Bert gave a snort. “And save me from someday having to support the lazy bastard?”
Kathy drew in her breath. If her father had seen that about Larry, who else had? Were other people laughing at her? She was the Wimpy Whale. Maybe she should write a children’s book with that title.
When her father looked up at her, he wasn’t wearing his usual expression of impatience.
For a moment, she thought she saw sympathy in his eyes.
Kathy gave a little nod, then left the office, closing the door behind her.
As she got into the elevator, she realized that it hadn’t all hit her yet. What she’d seen and heard weren’t quite in focus. How did she handle it? Did she walk away and cry out her hurt? Or did she confront Larry and say that she’d seen what he’d done?
But Kathy didn’t feel like crying. Maybe there was more of her father in her than she’d thought because all she felt was anger. Rage. It flowed through her like lava.
And that red-hot anger was making her stand up straight, and oddly, she felt rather calm.
Larry had been planning to entice her into marrying him. For her father’s money. And neither he nor Felicity seemed to think Larry wouldn’t be successful.
Those two had called her “nice.” “Love-starved.”
Cal and Felicity were on the dance floor. They were a good-looking couple. Cal was tall and handsome in his tuxedo and Felicity was elegant in her designer dress. She was looking up at Cal with stars in her eyes. No one would guess that just minutes before her legs had been wrapped around Larry’s neck.
With a smile, Kathy made her way through the dancers. She was the boss’s daughter so they stepped aside.
When she reached Cal and Felicity, they stopped dancing. Cal looked at her in such a patronizing way that she wondered what she’d ever done to make him dislike her. Felicity looked Kathy up and down, her upper lip curving in distaste.
“Sorry to bother you,” Kathy said in her sweetest voice as she held the bracelet on the tip of her finger. “You left this on the floor of my father’s office when you were screwing Larry. You know, maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I think you should have the mole on your left butt cheek looked at. It could be cancerous.” Kathy smiled. “But I was glad to see that you two are enjoying the party so much. Good night.” Turning, Kathy walked away, and the dancers—who’d heard it all—parted like the Red Sea.
Chapter Thirteen
“And that’s why you were crying,” Olivia said.
“Yes. Ray missed the whole thing of me with Cal and Felicity. Ray had put Dolores in a cab, then he went somewhere and had a couple of drinks. He’d never admit it, but I think he was looking at his life. By the time he got back to the party, I’d come down off my high and was hiding out in the office upstairs and having a good, long cry. Ray came upstairs to get some papers, saw me, and...” She shrugged.
“Sex?” There was hope in Elise’s voice.
“No. He raided the office kitchen and made us a big ice-cream sundae that we shared. I think that was the night he decided to quit holding out for a romance and settle for someone who could help his career. Whatever his thoughts, we were married six months later.”
“And you settled too,” Olivia said.
“I took what was offered. But in my own defense, I never thought that our marriage would be less than...than real.” She gave an embarrassed smile. “I think Dolores’s words were in my head. Maybe I wasn’t to get the romance I’d dreamed of, but I did think I would get Ray’s passion.”
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She paused. “But it didn’t happen. After the marriage, Ray and I got along well. He complimented me lavishly on my knowledge of the business, and he discussed every account with me. He was respectful and courteous.”
“What about the personal side?” Olivia asked.
“There were kisses and some fondling, but nothing else. I told myself that Ray was practicing being a gentleman. He’d said he wanted me to teach him what I knew about the social graces.” Kathy put her hands over her face. “But I kept remembering Dolores and her panties. I thought that once we were married that it would change, that Ray would unleash the fire inside him. On me.”
Elise said, “Me too. I believed that marriage would make Kent and me equals. No more of his ‘older brother’ act.”
“I thought those were beliefs of my generation,” Olivia said. “I thought that you kids knew better than to believe that ancient myth of marriage solving problems.”
“No,” Kathy said. “We don’t know any better. Haven’t learned anything.”