There was a loud clatter in the entryway as the Queen Anne chair toppled on the wood floor and the lamp on the side table shifted close to the edge.
“What in the world is going on?” Marilyn yelled as she came running through the door from the living room.
John and Calvin were dragging an almost unconscious Quinton between them. “I don’t know what you said to him, Marilyn, but it sure sent him over the edge. I’ve never seen the man so drunk. Have you, Calvin?”
“No, Sir, I haven’t.”
“I see how drunk he is, but why in the world did you bring him here?” Marilyn glared at them. “Why didn’t you take him home?”
John looked at her as if she had two heads. “I couldn’t let him go home like this.”
She glanced at Calvin then back at John. “Should you talk like that in front of the chauffeur?”
John laughed. “Marilyn, don’t be an idiot. The staff knows more about what’s going on in our lives than our best friends. Calvin could probably give you times and dates of most of Quinton’s exploits. Now, move out of the way and let us get him to the sofa.”
She moved aside. “Well, why didn’t you let Calvin take him home?”
“I couldn’t do that. The damn fool was planning to confess every sin he has ever committed in the last twenty years to Jillian, then beg her to give him one chance to make it up to her and tell her he loves her.”
The two men put Quinton on the long beige sofa.
“At least take his shoes off,” Marilyn said.
“That’s not a bad idea. He won’t be able to get up and run out.” John laughed.
Calvin removed Quinton’s shoes. “As drunk as he is, he probably wouldn’t know if he had shoes on or not.”
A slurred voice came from the couch. “Will you forgive me, Jillian?”
Marilyn couldn’t help smiling at him. “Sounds like your friend might be coming to his senses at last.”
“That’s exactly what he said your little visit did for him, honey. He sat and drank and thought about it. I don’t know if it was the booze that made him call me, or if he actually thought he needed me with him to face Jillian.”
Quinton reached out and grabbed Marilyn’s hand. “I love you, Jillian. I didn’t want to, but I do. I can’t help it. You’re the perfect woman for me. I love everything about you. Please forgive me and let me have a chance to prove I really love you.”
When no one spoke, Quinton went on, sauing, “Please, honey. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’ve never loved a woman like I love you. Please, forgive me. I know I can make you love me again. Please let me try.”
With her free hand, Marilyn reached out and touched his forehead. “I forgive you, Quinton.”
A smile crossed his lips. “Thank you, darling. I love you so much. You’ll never regret this. I love…” He passed out completely.
Marilyn dropped his hand and looked at the two men standing there. “Now what do we do? Is he going to wake up and think Jillian has really forgiven him?”
“I don’t think he’ll remember much of anything. He’s too far gone,” Calvin said.
“Okay. So, let me ask again. What do we do now?” Marilyn’s eyes implored them.
“Maybe I should go.” Calvin started backing out of the room.
“No, Calvin. You know what’s been going on. You’ve got to help me figure a way out of this.” He turned to Marilyn. “Would you bring us a sandwich or something? I’m starved and I know Calvin hasn’t eaten…and don’t look so shocked. I’m not too good to eat with Calvin.”
She stared at him. “I know you’re not too good to eat with him, John, but I figured you thought you were. You had a fit when you came home one day and I was having a snack with the maid.”
He looked at his wife for a long minute. “I’ve done a lot of fool things. After this is over, we’ve got to sit down and have a long talk.”
She frowned at him then a smile crossed her lips. “I’d like to do that, John. Now I’ll go get you something to eat.”
When Marilyn returned with sandwiches, the two men moved to the dining area adjacent to the large room. They could still see Quinton, but they were out of earshot. She set out three plates and went back for drinks.
“I decided to serve iced tea. I think there’s been enough spirits consumed this afternoon.” She smiled at them. “Now tell me what happened.”
John started. “Like I said, Quinton told me you had made him see the light. He said you told him he was a scoundrel and he didn’t deserve to have a woman like Jillian in his life. He also said you were right, and he was going to confess all the affairs he could remember and even tell her about Maddie and the wives we know who he’s slept with.” He looked at Marilyn. There was a question in his eyes.
“I told you earlier, John. I didn’t sleep with Quinton.” She smiled. She didn’t add that she did consider it once or twice, but knew it would ruin her marriage if her husband ever found out. She always felt John would choose his friendship with Quinton over her.
“I’m glad.” He smiled back at her then bit into his sandwich. “I would’ve hated to have to kill my best friend.”
They all chuckled.
“Mr. Von Cannon, I think we need to think of a way to let Mrs. Kincade know her husband won’t be home tonight. He always lets her know, even if he’s going to be late. She’ll worry if she doesn’t hear something”
“You’re right, Calvin. Maybe I should call her and tell her Quinton and I had to go out of town for the evening.”
“That wouldn’t work, John.”
“Why not?” He looked at Marilyn.
“You know word would get back to her that you’re in town. That’s something you can’t hide.”
“That’s right, Mrs. Von Cannon. Maybe it would be best if I called Gloria. I was supposed to…” His voice trailed off.
“Are you seeing Gloria, Calvin?” John asked.
“Yes, Sir. We’ve been dating a while.”
“Then, that will be perfect.” Marilyn turned to him. “You call Gloria and tell her you had to bring Quinton here and you don’t know how long he’ll be tied up with John. After a little while, I’ll call Jillian and complain that John and Quinton are shut up in the office and it looks like it will last all night.”
“I knew there was a reason I married this woman twenty-five years ago, Calvin. She’s smarter than I am.” John took another bite of his sandwich and winked at her.
It made Marilyn feel good inside. It was the first time John had flirted with her in a long time.
* * * *
For the first time since coming to Kincade Mansion, Jillian picked up the phone at seven the next morning and asked Melba if she would bring coffee to the room. She was at the French door looking outside when Melba arrived.
“Couldn’t you sleep, Mrs. Kincade?” Melba looked at her when she came in.
“Not very well.” She sat down at the small table near the window and accepted the cup of coffee Melba poured. “I missed my husband. It’s the first night we’ve been apart since we were married. It felt strange and lonely.”
“I’m sure Mr. Kincade will call this morning.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Melba. Mrs. Von Cannon called last night and said this sort of thing happens occasionally, if there was a business crisis.”
Melba spread out a breakfast on the table by the window and smiled. “I know you didn’t ask for food, but I wanted you to have something to eat anyway.”
She returned the cook’s smile. “You’re too good to me, Melba. I’m sorry I asked you to bring my coffee up here. I just couldn’t face coming downstairs and having it alone. Now you’ve brought this wonderful breakfast and I don’t think I can eat much. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you apologize, Mrs. Kincade. I don’t mind bringing your coffee or your breakfast up here any time you want me to.”
“Thank you. I won’t ask you to do it often. In the meantime, I think after I eat a little I’ll take a long bath and maybe go for a walk.”
“It’s a beautiful morning. The leaves are beginning to turn and it’s a pleasant day.” Melba must have sensed that Jillian wanted to be alone because she said, “I guess I’d better get back to the kitchen. I need to order supplies. You be sure to call if you want anything else.”
“Thank you, Melba. I don’t know how I’d get along in this big house without you and the rest of the wonderful staff.”
“I thank you, Mrs. Kincade. We’ve all been blessed by your presence.” There was a mist in Melba’s eyes as she slipped out the door.
Jillian nibbled at the food, but she didn’t really want to eat. She refilled her cup from the silver pot Melba left and stood to carry it outside. When she reached the glider on the balcony she sat down and remembered the first night she and Quinton had made love here. She half smiled, as she recalled that they’d repeated the event several times since that first night. It was becoming a special place for them. At least it was special to her.
She leaned her head back and let questions run through her mind. Was Quinton really working at John’s house or was he out with a woman? And who was that woman? Could it be that Maddie, Marilyn mentioned? Jillian felt sure it would be the one who had left him smelling of her perfume. She’d smelled the same scent on him twice now.
Why do I care so much? I know I have no claim on him other than a marriage contract. He never told me he wanted our time together to be anything other than the means for him to keep his stores. I know he’s a highly sexual man, but he does seem to enjoy it when we make love. And the good lord knows, I enjoy it. I’ve never had anything like this relationship with him. But I know he doesn’t love me. He only wants to be sure I stay with him for a year so he can get his stores.
She sat up straight and drained her coffee cup. She put it on the small table in front of her and mumbled, “Then why the hell does he have to be so nice to me? He knows I’ll keep my word without him pretending to care.”
She pulled her knees up to her chin and sat stiff. It would’ve been easier if he’d made love to me one time then told me to stay out of his life. No, that’s not so. Look what I would’ve missed. I’ve never been loved the way Quinton makes love to me. It’s as if I can’t get enough of him. On the other hand, if it hadn’t happened so often, maybe I wouldn’t have learned to care about him. And I do care. Much more than I want to. I might as well admit it. I’m in love with the man. Not that it’ll ever make him mine.
The doors below scraped open and she sat still. She didn’t want to eavesdrop, but if somebody said something about Quinton, she wanted to learn what it was.
“So you left Mr. Kincade at the Von Cannons’ house?” Gloria’s voice floated up to her.
Jillian couldn’t help smiling. He wasn’t with another woman.
“He was so drunk, Mr. Von Cannon said I couldn’t bring him home. We had to leave him there. We didn’t want Mrs. Kincade to see him in that shape.”
“You know that’s not like him, Calvin. He’s usually very careful about how much he drinks. He doesn’t want to lose control of himself.”
“Well, he sure lost control yesterday.”
“I wonder why.”
“Come over here, Gloria. Let’s sit in the swing.”
“Okay.” Their footsteps sounded across the slate patio and the swing squeaked when they sat. “Now tell me what all went on.”
“I’m not sure I know all of it. Seems Mrs. Von Cannon went to see the boss after she had a visit with Mrs. Kincade yesterday. She told him he was a low-down scoundrel and that he didn’t deserve a good woman like Mrs. Kincade.”
“We all know that, but is that what made him get drunk?”
“Must have. Next thing I knew, Mr. Von Cannon called and asked me to help him get Mr. Kincade to his house.”
“Is he still drunk?”
“If not, he has a bad hangover.”
“I wonder why Mr. Von Cannon wanted to take him to his house. Looks like he’d have brought him home.”
“He said we couldn’t let Mr. Kincade come home because he was planning to confess all his sins, even the ones from years past, to Mrs. Kincade and beg her to forgive him.”
“So? What’s wrong with that?”
“Now, Gloria, don’t be naive. We both know how Mr. Kincade goes from one woman to another. I bet he’s slept with more women than you or I could possibly count.”
“He doesn’t bring them here.”
“I know. He respects his home, but he sure takes them to hotels and condos and his lake house. And God only knows how many times he has gone to Las Vegas. There’s something about that place that fascinates him. Maybe the women are prettier or something.”
“I know, but why did he have to bring that Maddie back with him a few months ago?”
“I shouldn’t have told you about that.”
“I know, Calvin, but you did. It just makes me mad when I think he brought her here only a short time before he married Mrs. Kincade. She’s too good for him. Mrs. Von Cannon was right about that.”
“I know. Now I think he might realize it.”
“How?”
“Well, last night, he was so drunk he thought Mrs. Von Cannon was his wife. He grabbed her hand and begged her to forgive him. He said he didn’t mean to fall in love with her, but he had and he wanted to be with her and nobody else.”
“I wonder if he meant it.”
“I hope so, but who knows? You can’t ever tell about a drunk.” Calvin changed the subject. “Now why don’t we talk about us and drop the subject of the Kincades. It’s been almost a week since we’ve been able to go out.”
“I don’t want Melba to know we’re seeing each other.”
“Why not?”
“She’s my aunt, Calvin. She might object.”
“Because I’m a chauffeur?”
“I don’t think she’d care about that.”
“What then?”
Before Gloria could answer, the downstairs door opened again. “What’s going on out here?” Melba’s voice boomed.
“We’re just talking, Melba.”
“Don’t hand me that crap. You were sitting in that swing with your arm around my niece. I ask you again, what’s going on?”
Before they could answer, Bertram came out. “Calvin, Mr. Von Cannon called. He wants you to come to their house and pick him and Mr. Kincade up. He said you were to take them to the lake house.”
“Did he say why?”
“No, but you’d better hurry. He sounded rushed.”
“We’ll explain everything when I get back, Melba,” Calvin said as he ran across the flagstones.
“Well?” Melba boomed again. “You tell me what’s going on, Gloria. I’m not going to wait until Calvin gets back.”
“Don’t get upset, Melba. Calvin and I love each other.” When there was no answer, Gloria went on, saying “Isn’t it romantic? It’s just like you and Bertram those many years ago.”
But Jillian wasn’t listening. All she could think about was the fact that Quinton had said he’d fallen in love with her. He heart was pounding and she knew nothing mattered to her, but this. He cared. She couldn’t wait to see him again. Maybe things would be…. She didn’t let her thoughts go on. She was afraid to. She could have misunderstood what Calvin was saying.