His Third Wife

“In this building? What does she want?”

“I don’t know. I just need to go and calm her down. Get her to calm down. That’s all,” Jamison said.

“Calm her down? You think you can calm a wo

man who’s traveled across the country and followed you to a hotel?” I asked. “Wait, does she know I’m here?”

“I don’t think so. Look, just calm down, Kerry. I’ve dealt with this woman before. I know her. I know what she’s capable of. She just wants to see me. And that’s it. I’ll be right back down.”

“Down? From where?” I was frantic, looking around the room for my shoes.

I was about to get up, but Jamison stopped me.

“Listen, we’re just meeting in the Sundial. It’s the restaurant on the roof. I don’t need a bodyguard. It’s just a woman. That’s all. Everything is fine. I’ve dealt with Coreen before. We’ll have coffee. I’ll give her some money. That’s it.”

“I think I should go with you.”

“No. I’m fine,” he said. “Everything is fine.” Then he lightened his tone a little. “We’ll order room service when I come back. Sound good?” He forced a smile.

“Jamison, this isn’t right,” I said.

“Do you trust me?” Jamison asked.

“What?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” I said. “I do trust you.”

“Well, try doing it right now. I’ll be right back. I promise.”

Jamison was about to walk out the door. I noticed that his gray suit pants were wrinkled in the back the way they always were when we were married.

“Hey,” he called walking toward the door. “You relax and take a little nap. And think about what you’d say if I ever asked you to marry me again. Like formally. Down on one knee, a ring, the works. I might even call old Thirjane and ask for permission.”

“You serious?”

“Depends. Would you say yes?”

“I might,” I said.

“Might?” He laughed.

“Yes. I’d say yes, Jamison. I’d do it.”

Jamison grinned wide and Tyrian was in his cheeks.

The phone started rattling in his pocket again.

“I’ll be right back,” he said. “Right back.” He went to go, but then turned around suddenly and jumped in the bed with me, kissing me all over my face.

“Stop,” I hollered, fighting him off. “You’re so ridiculous!”

He jumped back up.

“Gone for real this time,” he said. “Be back.”

I fell back into the pillows when the door closed behind him. Begged myself for an answer over what I was doing. I hadn’t known I was going to say what I’d said to Jamison. I was okay with admitting where it had come from then. I loved him. That was it. And I didn’t care anymore. I closed my eyes and tried to forget about everything.