him. “If you ever lie to me again, I’ll be gone so fast you won’t know what hit you.” He nodded, and by the time they got to her bed, they were both naked and their lovemaking was even more white hot than he remembered or maybe it was even better than it had been, because they had missed each other so much. It went on for hours, loving her was exquisite agony and being with her was the culmination of all his dreams. When they finally lay together, spent, in a tangle of sheets, she smiled at him, and he felt as though he had died and gone to Heaven.
“I love you, Alicia, thank you…thank you…”
“I love you too,” she said softly. “You wouldn’t be here now if I didn’t.”
They lay there talking for a long time, until he was aroused again, and then they made love until the sun came up. It was the longest and happiest night of his life, and hers.
Chapter 10
Kate met Tammy at one of the restaurants in easy walking distance from her office. Claire preferred the fancy French one, and Tammy preferred the simpler Italian restaurant with pasta and good salads. Tammy was already seated when Kate got there, out of breath, and ten minutes late.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Work is out of control right now. Everyone comes back from their vacation happy and relaxed, and they all want to sue each other.”
“Well, I’m not suing anyone.” Tammy smiled at her. She looked healthy and tan after her vacation in Maine with Stacey. They’d done some sailing, kayaking, and canoeing, and a lot of hiking. It was the perfect counterpoint to their busy lives. Tammy had to leave for Paris soon, for fashion week, and the Chanel show of ready-to-wear. “Thank you for making time to have lunch. That was certainly an interesting dinner the other night. I’m sorry it all happened on your birthday.”
“I should have known it would. The opportunity was too tempting for Claire to resist. What do you think of her news?”
Tammy thought about it before she answered. “I think it’s too bad she’s being so stubborn about it. I think she’s going about it all the wrong way. Everyone would be happy for her if she were getting married. As it is, everyone will be shocked. What’s the point of that? I don’t know why she’s so adamant about not getting married.”
“Neither do I. I think Reed would rather get married too. Girls her age seem to have babies all the time now without getting married. I don’t see what it proves.”
“How’s Anthony doing after the big breakup?”
“I haven’t talked to him today, but he was very sure about his decision yesterday when he came to my office to tell me. I’m disappointed for him, but he can’t marry her if he doesn’t love her.”
“He’s been looking nervous and unhappy for a while. I don’t think Amanda even noticed it. She was so busy planning the wedding.”
“I think that may have been what scared him off, and apparently he met someone else a while ago, which threw him for a loop. What about you?” Kate looked seriously at her oldest daughter. “Are you okay after all the revelations the other night?”
Tammy nodded. “In a way it’s very freeing, to realize that things weren’t perfect for you and Dad either. Maybe your telling us that gave Anthony the courage to break up with Amanda and cancel the wedding. It was liberating for me too,” she started down the slippery slope, and was praying that she’d say the right things. “Actually, that’s why I wanted to have lunch with you today.”
“Liberating in what sense?” Kate looked puzzled as their pasta came. Tammy didn’t touch hers. She was too nervous to eat.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time. I should have years ago,” as she said it, her mother looked at her, mystified. “Mom, I’m gay,” she said without lowering her voice. She didn’t want it to be a secret anymore.
“You mean as in happy?” Kate said, and Tammy almost laughed. “I don’t think people say that these days.”
“No, gay as in homosexual. I’m a lesbian, Mom.” If she had taken a gun out of her purse and shot her mother, she wouldn’t have looked more shocked.
“Are you serious? Is this a joke?” Tammy was beginning to think she had made a terrible mistake telling her, but it was too late to turn back.