Twilight's Child (Cutler 3)

It depressed me to hear the quaver in his voice. He seemed a small boy who was pleading for the impossible to happen.

"I couldn't be more happily married than I am now, Michael. Heaven and earth couldn't pull me away from Jimmy. What you and I had was magic, at least for a little while, but you destroyed it. I'm sorry for what happened to you, and I'm sorry you never told me these things when we were together. Nothing would have come between us then, but I'm a different person now. That star-struck young girl is long gone."

Michael nodded and g

ulped down his drink.

"I thought you would say something like that," he said, smiling. He looked down at Christie and smiled wider. She sipped the last of her Shirley Temple.

"We have to go, Michael. I'm taking Christie shopping." "Oh. Of course." He signaled for the bill.

"What are you doing in Virginia Beach?" I asked.

"I'm just passing through on my way to New York City. I was in Atlanta."

"You're driving?"

"Yes. I have some time, and there are things I haven't seen, so I thought I would."

The waitress brought the bill, and Michael fumbled through his pocket for his wallet. He looked at the bill and then at the money in his billfold.

"Oh, I have to go to the main desk to cash a check," he said. "I don't have enough cash."

"That's all right. I’ll pay for it," I said.

"Well, actually," Michael said, smiling and leaning forward, "that was another reason I wanted to see and speak with you."

"Oh?"

He kept his smile.

"Since you are doing so fabulously now, I thought you might be willing to lend me some money," he said. "What?"

"I need to get back on my feet. Five thousand dollars would do fine."

"Five thousand dollars!"

"I'm sure it's not a great deal to someone who owns one of the country's most famous seaside resorts."

I stared in disbelief. This wasn't just another reason he wanted to see me and Christie; this was his main reason. Never did he look more dishonest and cheap to me.

"Michael, even if I wanted to give you the money, which I don't, I could never do it without drawing attention. All my business affairs are run by a comptroller."

"You must have some personal funds," he pursued.

"Jimmy and I have personal funds," I corrected.

"So?"

"You expect Jimmy to approve such a thing?" Was there no end to his gall? I wondered.

Michael shrugged.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," he said.

I pulled myself back into a stiff, firm position and glared at him.

"Jimmy and I don't keep secrets from each other. Our marriage is built on trust."