Twenty Years Later(31)

“I saw the Times reviewed your book,” Victoria said to Cameron. “Impressive review.”

“For once,” Cameron said. “They usually rip me apart. Cardboard characters, thinly plotted storyline, trying but failing to be clever, nothing but a beach read, and on and on. I’ve heard all the insults over the years, but this time they actually liked it. It’s a miracle.”

“How was the tour?” Jasper asked.

“Tiring. But it was great getting out there and meeting the readers, though I’m happy to be home, and looking forward to a less hectic summer. I’ve got to deliver a manuscript in the fall and I plan to use the summer to wrap things up.”

“Victoria, maybe Cameron will let you borrow the hut to get some writing done,” Tessa said, pointing over at Cameron’s writing studio, which sat on the other side of the babbling creek.

At eight hundred square feet, it was a mini replica of the main house.

Cameron shook his head. “Sorry. That’s all mine. No one’s allowed in there beside me and my muse.”

“He’s selfish that way,” Tessa said.

“Not selfish, just superstitious. It’s worked so far and I’m not going to mess with it. Once I cross that bridge, something clicks in my head and I don’t walk back over it until I reach my writing goal for the day.”

“It’s an obnoxious man cave, and I sometimes wonder what goes on in there. But since I’m not allowed inside, I guess I’ll never know.” Tessa waved off her husband and stood from the patio table. “I have cheese and crackers inside.”

“I’ll help you,” Victoria said.

Once inside, Victoria took Tessa by the elbow and led her into the hallway so they were out of view from the patio.

“You’re not drinking,” Victoria said.

“You mean the wine?”

“Yes, Tessa. I mean the wine. You’re not drinking it.”

Tessa shook her head. “I’m just taking it easy. It’s two in the afternoon and I’m exhausted from our sail this morning.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“What?”

“Are you?”

There was a long pause. Finally, Tessa smiled. “I’m not sure. I might be.”

“Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“There’s nothing to tell. Cameron and I are trying, that’s all. I didn’t think it would happen so quickly. And I’m not even sure yet. I’m just late. But I don’t want to drink just in case.” Tessa smiled again. “I’ll probably take a test next week. Don’t say anything.”

“I won’t say a word,” Victoria said. She pulled Tessa into a tight, rigid hug.



That evening, Jasper ran to the market for steaks. Tessa slept soundly in a lounge chair on the patio. Cameron came down the stairs and Victoria met him in the hallway where Tessa had spilled her secret earlier in the afternoon.

“You’re a bastard!” Victoria said, bringing her hand up and slapping him sharply across the face.

“What the hell?” Cameron grabbed her wrist.

“She’s pregnant?”

“What?”

“Tessa is pregnant?”

“No.”

“You’re trying. She told me all about it.”

“Lower your voice! You want her to wake up?”

“I don’t give a shit. You’re a bastard!”

She tried to slap him with her other hand, but Cameron grabbed that wrist as well.

“Stop it,” he said, fighting to subdue her as she flailed against his grip.

“You told me you weren’t sleeping with her,” Victoria said.

“She initiated it. What was I supposed to do? Tell my wife I’ve taken a vow of celibacy?”

“So what’s happening here? You’re trying to get your wife pregnant? The woman you promised me you’re about to divorce, you’re now trying to impregnate?”

“You’re being irrational. It was the first time we’ve slept together in months.”

Victoria clenched her teeth together. “You made me get a goddamn abortion, Cameron. I aborted our baby because you convinced me the timing was not right. That it was too soon and that it would blow up our lives. Do you remember this?”

“Of course I remember.”

“But the timing is right with Tessa? You’re a fucking monster! And a goddamn liar!”

He put his face in front of hers, so their lips were just inches apart. “You know I love you. And you know I want to be with you.”

“Then why aren’t you?”

“What do you suggest I do? Walk out there right now and tell Tessa I want a divorce? Wait for Jasper to get home so we can all have a discussion over dinner about our affair, about how we’ve fallen in love and that we plan to leave them?”

“We’ll have to have that discussion at some point.”

“I know that. But I’d say over the Fourth of July while we’re all staying together is not the right time.”

There was a pause while Victoria looked down at the floor. “Is she really not allowed into your studio?”

“Hell no,” Cameron said, lowering himself so that he could look up into her averted eyes. “The studio is just for us. You can use it whenever you want. I love watching you write in there.”