All That Glitters (Landry 3)

passion for me. Fate had turned him into a thirsty man

forever hovering above cool, clear water, but

forbidding him to drink. If only there were a way to

get him to hate me, I thought with irony. It would be

painful for me, but it would be so much better for him.

Between us, like a raw wound that refused to heal,

lingered our regrets and sadness.

"Well," he said finally, "let's not speak of

unhappy things right now. We have too many other

problems at the moment. You're certain about us not

seeking another nanny?"

"For the time being, yes."

"Okay, but I hate to see you put your career on

hold. I'm supposed to be married to a famous Cajun

artist. I did a great deal of bragging in Baton Rouge.

There are at least a dozen rich oil men eager to buy

one of your paintings."

"Oh, Paul, you shouldn't do that. I'm not that

good."

"Yes you are," he insisted, and rose. "I have to

stop at the cannery and speak to my father, but I'll be

home early."

"Good, because I invited Jeanne and James to

dinner. She called earlier and sounded like she wanted

to see us very much," I said.

"Oh? Fine." He leaned over to kiss me, but he

was much more tentative about it and his kiss was

much more perfunctory: a quick snap of his lips

against my cheek, the way he would kiss his sister or

his mother. A new wall had fallen between us, and