Demons

Chapter 24

Kerry came back on Sunday night. She didn’t call; she showed up unannounced at my flat shortly before nine o’clock. The doorbell rang, jarring me out of a half doze in front of the TV set, and when I went and opened up, there she was. Looking much more composed than she had on Tuesday — well rested and at peace with herself.

“I drove down to Big Sur,” she said when we were settled on the couch. “There’s nothing like the ocean to help you relax and see things clearly.”

“So what did you decide?”

“I decided I’m not going to see Paul Blessing anymore,” she said. “But that isn’t all. I decided something much more important than that.”

“Which is?”

“That you’ve been right all along. You and Cybil.”

“Right about what?”

She took a slow, deep breath, like somebody about to dive off a high board into very cold water. “Do you still want to marry me?” she said.

“Do I...” I gawped at her.

“You do, don’t you?”

“Well, sure, of course I do.”

“Then I accept.”

“You mean you... you’re willing to—”

“Not just willing — I want to marry you. Tomorrow, next month, whenever. I love you. I love you and I don’t want to be with anybody else and I don’t know why I thought I did.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. I just sat there grinning at her like a fool.