The Prince Charming Hoax (18 page)

“
Right. I
’
ll call you tomorrow with my itinerary. Do you have email?
”

“
Of course.
”
She spelled it out for him, not wanting to leave any possibility of error.

“
Great. I
’
ll email you, and then you
’
ll have my email address and all my new numbers.
”

“
I can
’
t wait to see you, Doug, and hear all about what you
’
ve been doing.
”

“
Same here. I haven
’
t even asked you yet how you are and what you
’
re doing. And how
’
s Ali?
”

“
Ali
’
s great. She just started her senior year in high school. Actually, it
’
s more like she goes to school in her spare time, when she
’
s not working or being a cheerleader, actress, or an artist.
”

“
That
’
s great. Leah. It is so wonderful to hear your voice. Thanks for calling me. Let me go now and finish returning my calls so I can get to the important stuff—arranging a trip to Miami.
”

“
I guess I
’
ll see you soon, Doug.
”

“
Not soon enough for me. I
’
ll get right on this. Bye for now, Leah.
”

Leah noticed the mid-day sun dancing on the ripples of the lake outside her window. She could hear the faint sounds of children
’
s laughter and a dog barking from a screened patio of another townhouse across the lake. While in her depression, she had blocked out the sights and sounds of life. Immersed in her gloominess, she let herself be consumed by the gray clouds of her thoughts. Suddenly everything seemed bright and alive again.

Leah
’
s computer screen chimed, letting her know an email had arrived.

Dear Leah,

Did I tell you how wonderful it was to hear your voice? Did I mention I can
’
t wait to see you again? I have so much I want to tell you, pent up from the past 5 years. At the same time, I feel somewhat tongue-tied. I suppose I will calm down after the surprise of hearing from you wears off.

I have already put in my travel request for Miami. Will let you know the details as soon as I get confirmation. Counting the minutes until I see you again, Doug

Once before Doug had pulled her up and out of a bad place. Just talking to him again for five minutes had brought her more comfort and hope than she had felt in months. And now this email confirmed what she suspected the moment she heard his voice.
Leah swung around in her chair. Her prince was returning. And this time, she would follow him anywhere.

Chapter
17

In reality, Leah may have been sitting in front of her laptop at the penthouse, but in her mind
’
s eye she saw herself back at her old desk, in front of her computer starting the email exchange with Doug that chronicled the events of the past nine months.

It was time to confront the past. She opened the DDD folder for the first time since her break up with Doug. She decided to print out all the emails and read through them. Maybe she
’
d find the answers she was seeking. She started to read the pages as they came out of the printer.

From: Leah Gold
To: Douglas Dowling

Date: October 10 12:17 pm

Subject: I forgot to tell you something

Just so you recognize me when we meet again—there
’
s something you should know. I
’
m blonde! I
’
m attaching a photo to make sure you
’
ll know it
’
s me!

It was really great talking to you today. See you soon. —Leah

From: Douglas Dowling
To: Leah Gold

Date: October 10 1:47 pm

Subject: Re: I forgot to tell you something

I had to step out of a meeting (they want to spend $50 million, I want them to spend $18 million…tough going) to write you an email and here you have already sent me your picture.

Great picture! You look better than wonderful! I will try not to be a pest, but it was such a shock hearing from you, I can
’
t help wanting to talk (or type) to you. You sounded great. I hope that life is treating you well. I have a million questions. I guess I have to be patient, but 5 years is a long time. It would make me very happy if you stayed in touch and didn
’
t disappear again for another 5 years.

Talk with you soon, Doug

From: Leah Gold
To: Douglas Dowling

Date: October 10 1:47 pm

Subject: hi again

I hope I
’
m not being a pest, but I
’
m having trouble concentrating on work today. It took me a while to get up the nerve to make the call. I
’
m really glad I did.

It
’
s funny but it was so easy to talk to you. It almost seemed like no time had passed—or maybe a lifetime. I have so many questions and I
’
m sure you do too.

I know you
’
re busy and I won
’
t keep you. I just wanted to tell you that I
’
m really looking forward to seeing to you again.

Take care, lg

From: Douglas Dowling
To: Leah Gold

Date: October 10 1:50 pm

Subject: Re: hi again

I think our emails just passed in cyberspace. I thought I sent my email to you to myself. I even used the
“
pest
”
line. You can
’
t be a pest. The more I hear from you, the better. I do have to get back to the same meeting, but I will call you later.

Happily, Doug

From: Leah Gold
To: Douglas Dowling

Date: October 10 2:55 pm

Subject: Re: hi again

That
’
s unbelievable that we were emailing in unison! Not only that, but we wrote practically the same thing…

I have no intention of disappearing. I have made many mistakes in my life and I
’
m determined to not to repeat any of them—at least not the biggies.

It
’
s funny that you used the word
“
wonderful.
”
When I think about you now and the many times I have in the past,
“
wonderful
”
was how I felt. No one has ever made me feel so good about myself as you have.

I know your career has gone well! I
’
m not at all surprised—you worked very hard and were very committed from the very beginning. How long were you in L.A.? Have you already moved back to the NY area?

That
’
s probably all the safe questions for now. Speak to you later. —lg

From: Douglas Dowling
To: Leah Gold

Date: October 10 3:27 pm

Subject: Re: hi again

I can
’
t stop looking at your picture. That
’
s exactly the face I remember. I am glad that you have no intention of disappearing. I
’
m also glad that I made you feel good about yourself. It is amazing to me that you don
’
t have that sense of self automatically. You are beautiful, intelligent, sensitive, caring, and a few other things I would rather not put on company email. You had a deep and lifelong impact on me, and I guess in a way you made me feel good about myself. After all, I couldn
’
t be half bad if such a woman had an interest in me.

I moved to L.A. about 4 years ago for work reasons. Now that I took this new position, I
’
m staying at the corporate apartment in N.Y., but I
’
ve bought a house in Connecticut and should be able to move there by the end of the month.

I
’
ll tell you all about it on Thursday when I see you. I
’
ve forwarded my travel itinerary to you in a separate email. More soon, Doug

From: Douglas Dowling
To: Leah Gold

Date: October 10 3:27 pm

Subject: Travel plans

I am likely to arrive around noon on Thursday. I assume that the local manager will pick me up at the airport and take me to the hotel. I will check in and go to the meeting, which will continue for the rest of the afternoon and the next morning. I
’
ll try to leave the Thursday meeting by 5 p.m. The Friday morning meeting ends at noon and then I will be free. That is the current plan. If you have any other suggestions let me know. The sooner I see you, the happier I will be. Can
’
t wait, Doug

From: Leah Gold
Sent: October 10 4:29 PM
To: Douglas Dowling

I see you
’
re flying into Miami. Will your business plans include dinner on Thurs. evening? If so, would it be possible to sneak in a visit afterwards on Thurs. night? If I
’
m being too pushy, let me know. I
’
m just a little excited. —lg

From: Douglas Dowling
To: Leah Gold

Date: October 10, 4:51 pm

Business dinner Thursday evening is probable but if I can get out of it, I will. At the very least, I
’
ll make it an early dinner and beg off early (like 8 p.m.). Absolutely possible to sneak in a visit on Thursday night.

You can
’
t be too pushy with me. The time we have together will not be
enough, no matter how much it turns out to be. I don
’
t know who is more excited, you or me, but this is great.

Eager to see you, Doug

* * *

Two days later Leah was in the elevator on her way up to Doug
’
s suite in the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Doug
’
s business dinner ran late and she was meeting him in his room. As the elevator doors closed behind her on the eighteenth floor, she stood there for a moment and considered turning around and leaving. Her heart was racing and her stomach was turning. No, she had come this far—she had to see it all the way through.

As she walked toward the presidential suite the facing ocean, she reviewed her possible options when he opened the door. Should she shake his hand, give him a hug, kiss him lightly, or kiss him passionately? Leah trembled as she knocked. She would make her decision when she saw him.

He swung the door open wide. The instant she saw his face gazing at her with the love and admiration she remembered, she stepped inside and into his open arms. They hugged and kissed tenderly for several moments. Not releasing her, but looking at her from arm
’
s distance, Doug was silent. His eyes were wet and shiny, and he gazed at her with adoration.

“
Leah, you
’
re even more beautiful than I remembered, if that
’
s possible. I can
’
t believe you are here now.
”
He dropped his arms from around her waist and took her hand, leading her into the sitting area where a bottle of wine and a platter with cheese, crackers, and grapes were waiting on the cocktail table.

Leah stood transfixed by his unwavering gaze. When he momentarily averted his attention to uncorking the wine, she felt released her from her trance and got her first real look at Doug. He was heavier by at least ten or fifteen pounds, but it suited him. He looked less like the thin, gawky figure she remembered.

She was pleased with how Doug looked. He had matured in a most flattering manner. At fifty-two, he had a full head of dark hair that was only slightly grayed at the temples. He did not have Tom
’
s muscular, athletic body, but his posture radiated authority. Still in his business clothes, his tie was loosened at the neck yet he still maintained an air of competence and professionalism. Leah noticed with some satisfaction, however, that he seemed flustered by her, despite his businesslike appearance.

He poured two glasses of wine and handed her one as he sat on the couch next to her. He lifted his glass and opened his mouth as if to make a toast, but changed his mind mid-stream. He took their glasses and put them on the table. Then he turned to her, taking her hands in his. He smiled at her like he was admiring a rare and precious piece of art.

“
Leah, I planned to toast our renewed friendship. In fact, I had a speech all ready. But now that I
’
ve seen you again, I have only this to say. I love you. I
’
ve loved you since the first moment I saw you in my office at the bank. I have not stopped thinking of you, not once. Every day, no matter what I am doing or where I am, you are my first and last thought of the day. You have no idea how badly I have regretted the decision I made that tore us apart.
”

His voice broke. He stopped briefly to control his composure. He squeezed her hands and continued.

“
Leah, I thought if I could only see you one more time, I could finally tell you how I felt and that alone would release me from my torment. But seeing you and holding you in my arms again, I realize that I must have you in my life.
”

Leah let the warmth of Doug
’
s love wash over her, healing the hurt and restoring her spirit, as he had done before. Like a magic balm, his unconditional and unwavering love soothed her, filling the vast emptiness within her.

“
Oh, Doug, I love you, too. And I need you. You have no idea how much I need you.
”
She moved toward him, ready to fill herself with him physically as well as emotionally. As she reached for him, eager to share her love, he pulled back ever so slightly. Leah opened her eyes, questioning him. Had she misunderstood? One glance told her that his desire was as strong as hers, but there was also pain in his eyes.

“
What is it?
”
she whispered.

“
Leah, there is something else I have to tell you.
”
Doug held her tight.

Leah stiffened in preparation. She knew she didn
’
t want to hear what he had to say.

He took a breath, moving back from her so he could look into her eyes, but still held on to her.
“
Leah, I
’
m married. I met someone right after you made it clear it was over between us, and I married her quickly to try to get over you.
”

A stab of pain pierced through her, but Leah sat expressionless while Doug continued.
“
We had a child the next year. A son. Then she got sick, very sick. I knew that she had some issues years before with mental illness, but I thought it was adolescent adjustment problems. But the pregnancy seemed to disturb her all over again. She has a disorder that causes her to become unbalanced, and her behavior is very erratic. The doctors finally found a combination of medicines that helped, and she seemed to come out it. But after the second baby two years ago, it all fell apart again, this time for good.
”