The Husband Hour(101)

It was Henny who had originally invited him to the party, but Lauren had mentioned it in passing with a casual “You should come if you’re still in town.” That had been before it all went to hell, of course.

Driving for two and a half hours after an abrupt good-bye to a confused Craig, Matt tried to figure out what he was going to say when he was face to face with her. He wasn’t entirely sure; all he knew was that he needed to see her.

Inside the restaurant, he made his way through a throng near the front counter. Lauren was difficult to miss in a pale orange sundress, her dark hair long and loose. How had he not noticed how beautiful she was that very first day when he’d met her in this place? He could see it like it was yesterday, the wariness when he tried to chat her up, her disgust when he’d handed her his card. By some miracle, he’d been able to break through all that and not only get what he needed for the film, but also get close to her as a person.

And then he’d wrecked it.



Lauren needed air. She couldn’t walk around making small talk with the party guests after the intense conversations with Emerson and her sister.

She pushed open the door, and it had barely closed behind her when someone said her name. At first she thought she’d imagined it.

“Lauren,” Matt repeated.

“What are you doing here?” She turned around, her face stony while some deep, primitive, and inconvenient part of her fluttered with joy.

“You didn’t respond to any of my texts.”

“Why should I? We’re not friends, Matt. You got what you wanted. Now leave me alone.”

He moved closer, and she felt the pull of her attraction to him.

“I miss you,” he said, and he kissed her. She gave in for a second, then pulled away sharply. They stared at each other, both breathing heavily. I can run twelve miles a day but one kiss from him and I feel like I’m going to pass out.

“Listen to me,” he said. “I know you want me to scrap the film, but that’s not how it works. Sometimes the truth is upsetting. But that doesn’t diminish its value. At the same time, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You can’t have it both ways.”

“I think I can.”

“What are you saying?”

“I won’t use footage of your nephew in the film. I won’t use Stephanie’s interviews. And I’ll still have the film I came to this island to make.”

Lauren stared at him. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m certain.”

“That would make a huge difference. To all of us. But you could have told me that over the phone.”

“I had to see you. Because you’re wrong—I didn’t get what I want.”

He reached for her, and she let him hold her, everything else falling away. Her entire being seemed to say yes. The feeling was new and familiar at the same time, and it scared her.

In the past she had run too quickly into her love for another person. She had given up too much to sustain it. And for what? In the end, it had failed. Now a second chance was there, right in front of her. But she knew that if she didn’t fully heal before rushing headlong into it, this, too, would disappear.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not ready.”

Matt nodded in reluctant acceptance. “Okay,” he said. “I understand. I just hope someday you will be. And when you are…”

“You’ll be the first to know,” she said, fighting back tears, rocked by competing feelings of happiness, sadness, fear, and hope.

The front door of the restaurant opened. Stephanie appeared; if she was surprised to see Matt, she didn’t show it. It was just one of those nights.

“Mom’s bringing out dessert,” Stephanie said.

Lauren turned to Matt. “Have you ever tried a s’mores doughnut?”

“As a matter of fact, I haven’t,” he said, taking her hand. “But I’d love one right about now.”





Chapter Fifty-Five



Beth hovered near the dessert buffet. The guests lined up to fill their plates, as excited and expectant as children waiting for slices of birthday cake. She swelled with pride.

“It’s so good, Gran,” Ethan said, his mouth smeared with chocolate and melted marshmallow.

“You’re so good,” she said, bending down to kiss his head. The music seemed to grow louder, a song that always reminded her of her wedding party, Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration.”

Howard appeared beside her, holding a full plate, and slipped his arm around her.

“Your new career is going to wreak havoc on my waistline,” he said.

“You’ve never looked better,” she said, and it was true. She thought of the day she’d spotted him down the beach, how it was like looking at him thirty years earlier. With the success of the evening, she herself felt decades younger. And she’d never wanted him more.

As if sensing what she was thinking, he leaned over, kissed her, and whispered, “I can’t wait to celebrate later, just the two of us.”

Ethan tugged on her hand. “Can we go sit with Mom?”

“Yes,” Howard said. “Good idea. Beth, you’ve been on your feet all day. Everyone’s over there waiting.”