Honeymoon

Chapter 50

THE BUZZ FROM my office phone was followed by Molly’s voice. “It’s her,” she announced.

I smiled. There was only one her she could be talking about. Nora was back in town. It was about time.

“Here’s what I want you to do, Molly,” I said. “Tell Ms. Sinclair I’ll be right with her. Then put her on hold and stare at your watch for forty-five seconds. After that, put her through.”

“You got it.”

I leaned back in my chair and gazed at the ceiling. It was composed of those white acoustic tiles that begged to have sharp pencils thrown up into them. I could’ve been taking the time to gather my thoughts, only that’s all I’d been doing the past week. There wasn’t a stray thought of mine within a hundred-mile radius.

Ring.

Thank you, Molly.

I picked up the phone and did my best impression of frenzied. “Nora, are you still there?”

“I’m still here,” she said. I could tell immediately she wasn’t very happy about having to wait.

“Bear with me for one more second, okay?”

I put her on hold again before she could object. Then I stared back up at the ceiling. One one thousand, two one thousand… At fifteen one thousand, I got back on the line and let out a deep breath.

“Gosh, I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Nora,” I said, now doing my best impression of apologetic. “I was finishing up with another client on the other line. I take it you got my note?”

“A few minutes ago, yes. I’m here at the house now.”

Time to test her lying ability. “How was your trip? Maryland, right?”

“Actually, it was Florida,” she said.

No. Actually, it was Boston, I wanted to say, but knew I couldn’t. Instead: “Oh, that’s right. Wouldn’t want to vote there! Was it a good trip?”

“Very much so.”

“You know I tried reaching you on that cell phone number you gave me—except it turned out to be somebody else’s.”

“That’s odd. What number were you dialing?”

“Let me check, I’ve got it right here.”

I read it back to Nora.

“That explains it,” she said. “The last two digits are eight-four, not four-eight. God, I hope it wasn’t me who mixed them up. I’m sorry if I did.”

Oh, she’s smooth.

“That’s okay. It was probably my mistake,” I said. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve suffered from digit dyslexia.”

“In any event, we’re talking now.”

“Yeah, we are. Anyway, the reason I wanted to speak to you was the insurance inquiry.”

“Is there news?”

“You could call it that.” I hesitated before going on. “Please don’t read too much into this, but I think we should discuss it in person.”

“It’s bad, huh?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Except if it was good news, you would’ve told me over the phone. At least admit that.”

“Yes, okay, it’s perhaps not the best news,” I told her. “Really, though, don’t read too much into it. Is there a time later today we could meet?”

“I suppose I could come by your office around four.”

And I suppose you won’t need directions, Nora, given that you’ve already staked the place out.

“Four’s good—great, actually. Only we might want to do it someplace else besides here. There’s a crew here painting. The fumes are pretty bad,” I lied. “Tell you what, do you know where the Blue Ribbon Diner is?”

“Sure, just outside of town. I’ve been there.”

I know.

“Good,” I said. “I’ll meet you inside at four for a cup of coffee. Or given the time, should I say high tea?”

“Not if we’re talking about the same diner.”

I laughed and agreed that we should stick to coffee.

“See you at four, then,” she said.

You can count on it, Nora.