Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross 15)

“Mr. Corbett! Mr. Corbett!”

It was Maybelle, hollering from the foot of the stairs. I quickly wrote,

Your loving and faithful husband,

Ben

“Mr. Corbett!”

I put down the pen and walked out to the landing.

“What is it, Maybelle?” I called.

“Mrs. Nottingham is here to see you. She’s here on the porch. She’s waiting on you, Mr. Corbett. Hurry.”

Chapter 46

THERE ELIZABETH WAS, standing on Maybelle’s wide wraparound porch. She had put on another bonnet and seemed even more attractive than she’d been this morning.

She reached out for my hand. “I came to apologize, Ben.”

I took her hand. “What do you mean? Apologize for what?”

I said this for the benefit of Maybelle, whom I could see lingering in the parlor, trying not to be observed.

“Let’s go look at Miss Maybelle’s rose garden,” I proposed. “It’s in full bloom this time of year.”

I made a motion with my eyes that disclosed my real meaning to Elizabeth. She nodded and followed me around the porch toward the backyard.

Maybelle’s roses were actually in sad shape, a few blossoms drooping among a profusion of weeds.

“I’m sorry for this morning,” Elizabeth said. “The way I ran off.”

“You didn’t run, you walked. I watched your every step,” I said and smiled.

“You can still be funny, Ben.”

“Sit on the bench,” I said. “I won’t bite you.”

Smoothing her dress, she sat on the stained marble bench amid the raggedy roses.

Sitting close to her, I was fascinated by her every gesture, word, movement. I noticed the way Elizabeth touched her mouth with the knuckle of her second finger, giving herself a little kiss before coming out with an opinion. And the slow southern musical rhythm of her speech. Lord, what was getting into me? Probably just loneliness. Or was it being rejected by my wife?

“You were surprised I came to see you again so soon?” she said.

“I’m always glad to see you, Elizabeth,” I said. Then added, “Yes, I’m surprised you’re here.”

“I do have an ulterior motive,” she said. “We’re having a luncheon after church on Sunday. Will you come?”

“We?”

“Richard and I.”

“Sure, I’ll come,” I replied.

I caught the faint scent of rose water, and I noted the curve

of her nose, and remembered being very young and in love with that little nose.