CHAPTER TWO

Arriving home soaking wet, Didi mounted the stairs to her warm, dry, and welcoming second-floor duplex apartment. She left her drippy coat in the hall and resisted the urge to kiss the hardwood floor. Pulling off her soggy shoes and skirt, she headed toward the bedroom, shivering all the way down to her pinky toes.

Wet clothes landed on the floor as she hurried to find her bathrobe in the closet. Next to the comfy, rose-colored chenille, her white satin peignoir hung limp. She’d bought it for her upcoming honeymoon, but she certainly wasn’t about to wear her new gown now. Maybe she’d cut up the silky fabric and make a throw pillow. Or better yet, she could use the scraps as dust rags. She pushed it to the back of the closet, out of sight. Wrapping her robe around her, Didi snuggled into the familiar softness. Tonight, she’d take her solace where she could find it, especially since Maisie was at the vet until tomorrow. This was certainly a bad night to be without her devoted feline friend.

Didi’s insides warmed as she spotted a slipper peeking out from under the comforter. Maisie had left her a gift. After rooting around in the closet and finding slipper number two, Didi stole a glance at the blinking light on the answering machine on the dresser. She ignored it and opted to go to the kitchen instead.

Her stomach growled. She’d only picked at the fancy French cuisine at her special dinner with Kevin. Expecting to eat a fancy meal tonight, she’d put off grocery shopping until tomorrow. The cupboards were pretty much empty, save for her emergency can of soup. Thank goodness for chicken corn chowder. A quick search unearthed a box of only slightly stale crackers to go along.

She slid the mug of soup into the microwave and clicked the door shut. Her cell phone vibrated and shimmied on the counter. She was about to let it go to voice mail just in case it was Kevin, but she checked the caller I.D. anyway. Her friend Carol Ann’s name popped into the display window. There weren’t many people Didi would consider talking to tonight, but her witty, acerbic pal was one of the few. Carol Ann always made her laugh.

Didi answered, “Hey, Carol Ann.”

“Hey, Didi. You want another cat? We got a new addition at the SPCA today. She’d be the perfect friend for Maisie.”

The microwave beeped, and Didi perched at the breakfast bar with a steaming mug of chicken corn chowder. “I guess not right now. My plans for a two-cat residence just took a nosedive. The wedding’s off.” She braced herself for the response. Carol Ann had plenty of reservations about Kevin, and she wasn’t too shy to share them.

Carol Ann’s muffled “Yes!” echoed in the background. “Ah, sorry. I don’t mean to sound insensitive. What did the louse do?”

Didi moaned and stirred her soup. “He cheated on me. He’s been seeing another girl.”

The chorus of curses that followed made Didi pull the phone away from her ear. Carol Ann had an extensive vocabulary. Finally, the verbal hurricane subsided, and a full sentence followed. “You’ve told me precious little about the man, and what few things I’ve been able to glean, I had to pull out of you. But didn’t I tell you your snobby fiancé had some major problems? That vile S.O.B…Honestly, anyone who has an antique umbrella stand too precious to hold anything other than a…what was that thing called? Presidential Gustbuster? Even his umbrella’s pretentious.”

Didi should never have told her about the Gustbuster. Not quite able to fight off the ingrained urge to defend Kevin, she said, “The umbrella’s eye-catching sitting by his front door. He only bought it to impress clients. You know how it is in that exclusive part of town.”

Carol Ann grunted. “Right. Who ever heard of an umbrella that’s too pricey to take out in the rain?”

Didi chuckled in spite of herself. If she had to admit it, the whole thing was silly, even if the stand was an impressive antique made from quarter-sawn oak fashioned in the Empire style. Kevin’s treasure sported brass feet and the original scrolled metal drip pan, and he’d paid big bucks for it too.

Grabbing another cracker, Didi bit into it and munched, lost in her own world. Hmmm. Carol Ann was still talking. “Sorry, what?”

“I said retribution is in order. We should order a truckload of catnip toys and send them to Kevin’s law office. Or maybe we could fill up his precious Italian sports car with kitty litter. Used, of course. For such a worthy cause, any woman with a cat would be tickled pink to help out with a donation. Or…”

A long pause stretched across the line, and Didi could almost hear Carol Ann’s brain whirring in high gear. “Better yet, I could go on the Internet and dig up instructions on the proper way to use a stun gun on Kevin until he quivers. Yeah. I like that one the best.”

Didi couldn’t help laughing. “Thank you, Carol Ann.”

“For what?”

“For being on my side and for making me giggle.”

“No problem. You want me to come over?”

“No, I’m okay.” Didi strolled to the refrigerator, seized a diet soda, and popped the top. “At least, I will be. Just as soon as I can figure out how to stop thinking about him.”

“What? Stop that, right now. And I mean it!” Carol Ann practically shouted. In a softer voice, she continued, “After his rotten admission, what did you say?”

“Not nearly enough. I stormed out and came home.” Still standing in front of the fridge, Didi searched for something sweet and came up empty. She had to make do with the rest of the funky crackers.

“He didn’t follow you or at least try and get you to stay?”

Didi searched her memory. “Now that you mention it, no. And since I didn’t stick around, I’m left wondering if he drove off to be with his perky Pilates instructor.”

“Seriously, Pilates teacher? How cliché. Jerk. No…world-class jerk. He could give lessons in jerkiness.”

Didi snickered and slid a chair over so she could put her feet up. “It doesn’t make any sense. What did I do wrong?” Tears pricked her eyes. Had she somehow driven him to this?

“Nothing. You didn’t do a gosh-darn thing to deserve this, and please take note I’m watching my language here.” Carol Ann’s disapproval oozed through the phone. “I understand you’re hurting, but I really think in the long run you’re going to realize you’re better off without the conceited donkey. And once again, I cleaned up those last words just for you.”

Didi’s head pounded. Why hadn’t she given Kevin a big piece of her mind? What a wimp. Annoyed at herself, and at Kevin, Didi faked a noisy yawn. “Excuse me.”

“Of course. I’m sorry. I should let you get some sleep. He’s not worth the soggy tissues you’re using up, but emotional upheaval can sap your energy.”

“Thanks, Carol Ann. I appreciate it. I’ll talk to you later.”

“All right. Call me if you need me, especially if you want to trash Kevin. We’ll get together soon. Bye.”

Didi ended the call and padded into the living room with the rest of her soup and soda. She picked up the TV remote and made herself turn it on. Perhaps a nice, cheery sitcom would distract her. As she flipped through the channels, she came across one of her favorite programs, As Time Goes By, and fell back on the sofa.

As the show flickered on the screen, she sniffled. Sheesh. She didn’t want to cry. She really didn’t, though throwing her soup mug across the room appealed to her. Instead, she curled up in a ball, the awful conversation flooding back. Her name was Mindy, a sweet young thing. So just how spectacular was “Mindy from Dubuque?” It was certain she had flat abs if she taught Pilates. Was she prettier? What color was her hair? Kevin loved deep auburn hair. Hers was brown. Plain old brown. Did Mindy’s tresses glow red in the sunlight?

Reeling with the full realization of what Kevin had done, it was all Didi could do not to curl up in a pathetic heap. She would not cry. Where was her backbone? He was the one at fault here. Why was she the one who was suffering?

And yet, a part of her wanted to call him and ask what she’d done wrong. Didn’t he care?

The answering machine taunted her. Had he called? Before she could stop herself, she ran into her bedroom to confront the offending contraption. Weighing the pros and cons, she felt her chest tighten as she stared at the blinking red light. Finger poised over the play button, Didi grappled before reaching a difficult decision. No matter what was on the machine, she didn’t want to hear it.

If Kevin had left a message, she was in no shape to call him back with her emotions bouncing all over the place. There was no telling what might fly out of her mouth. At any given moment, she might break into wussy tears or fling caustic words she couldn’t take back. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of either. And if he’d neglected to leave a message begging and pleading for her forgiveness, she’d be extra ticked.

Turning her back on the machine, she straightened her shoulders and pulled a blanket and pillow off the bed. She marched back into the living room and made her bed for the night. Off went the TV, and on went the teakettle. Making herself a calming cup of lemon ginger tea and snatching up a suspense novel that held no romantic theme whatsoever, she settled down to read.

* * *

Kevin cut the engine on his racy black Italian sports car and coasted to the cover of a convenient chestnut tree. Midnight had long passed, and the light still glowed in Didi’s living room. She always left the blinds up a little—some idiotic idea about giving that stupid cat of hers plenty of places to view the outside.

He despised that prissy little cat.

He stared intently for a good half-hour until she meandered to the kitchen. She was still up. Good. She must have been upset.

Did she wonder if she’d lost him? He hoped so. She had to be insanely jealous, and he was certain insecurity would keep her on her toes. It was well past time he’d established the ground rules. He’d given her too much slack for far too long. Back in charge, he leaned into his leather seat and smirked. He relished being the one in command.

Hours later when he was sure she had to be sleeping, he eased the car away from the curb. No woman was going to tell him what to do.