The Prince Charming Hoax (25 page)

Leah broke into a sweat. She wasn
’
t sure if the room was hot or if she was steaming from anger, but she knew she had to get outside. The room was swirling, faces loomed before her, but she pushed her way to the door and ran to her car in the parking lot behind the bar.

Her cell phone rang just as she turned on the air conditioning and leaned back to close her eyes and try to calm down. She couldn
’
t read the call screen in the dark and she figured it was Roxie.
“
I really don
’
t want to talk to you,
”
Leah said as she clicked on the phone.

“
What did I do?
”
asked a puzzled male voice.

“
Oh, hey Jonathan. I thought it was someone else calling.
”

“
I hope you want to talk to me. Listen, I
’
m still with the gallery crowd at Riverwalk and thought maybe you and Roxie might want to come here for a while. Weren
’
t you girls supposed to be at Kiwi
’
s, though? It sounds too quiet for you to be in there.
”

“
I just left—alone. I
’
ve been told I
’
m no fun to be with. Are you sure you want me to join you?
”

“
Whoever told you that must be crazy. And where
’
s Roxie?
”

“
She
’
s the one who told me. That
’
s why I
’
m by myself, Einstein. I
’
m in my car, so I could drive over and meet you there in a couple of minutes.
”

“
Everyone went over to Chez Jacques for dinner. I
’
ll wait for you outside the restaurant, Leah. Can
’
t wait to see you.
”

Leah put the phone away in her purse, pulled out her lipstick and powder, and refreshed her makeup in the rearview mirror. Thank goodness for Jonathan, she thought. He was always there when she needed him. As she drove down Las Olas, she tried to force herself to release the hurt and anger she was feeling and concentrate instead on having a good time, even if it wasn
’
t with Roxie.

Traffic was slow and the streets crowded, as usual on a Friday night. It took longer to drive there than if she had walked, but she managed to find a great spot only a block away from the restaurant. Relief flooded through her as she approached and saw Jonathan out in front of the building, waiting for her.
“
Good-bye for now, demons,
”
Leah whispered.
She waved at him from across the street and hoped the uneasiness in her stomach was due to her fight with Roxie and not a signal for trouble ahead.

Chapter
21

Once they got inside the restaurant, Jonathan quickly maneuvered Leah toward a large round table of six people. Chez Jacques was a trendy new French restaurant with food as great as its New River views, so the room was filled to capacity with many tables positioned close together. Leah was glad to have Jonathan leading her through the dimly lit maze.

They reached a round table with two empty chairs, and Jonathan made the introductions.
“
Hey everyone, this is Leah Gold. She
’
s a freelance writer.
”
He motioned to the woman seated to the right of Leah and made his way around the table.
“
Leah, this is Regina Chilcoat, Riverwalk Gallery owner; Roger Dahl, gallery curator; Regina
’
s sister, Jillian Segal and her husband, Ron. And next is Patsy Fitzgerald, arts reporter for the Sun-Gazette and her husband Bill.
”

Regina patted the seat next to her.
“
Sit down. We haven
’
t ordered yet, but we
’
re getting ready to.
”

Jonathan held out the chair next to Regina and motioned for Leah to sit down.

Leah smiled as she sat next to Regina, an attractive brunette in her early 40s, and took in her fashionable dress with perfect accessories.

“
I hear your gallery has made quite a splash, Regina. Jonathan told me you have some very interesting sculptures and beautiful watercolors—my favorites. I
’
m looking forward to coming in and seeing the exhibit.
”

“
Please do. I was disappointed when you didn
’
t come to the opening. Jonathan had put your name as his guest on our invitation list. And then neither of you made it!
”

Leah was surprised to find out the opening they missed was an invitation-only event, but didn
’
t let on. She wasn
’
t sure if Jonathan had made some excuse for their no-show, or if Regina was fishing for information.

“
Sorry. It was a bad weekend for me. My daughter
’
s senior prom and right before graduation. We had so much to do to get ready. Do you have children?
”

Regina seem to warm up. She smiled widely, nodding.
“
Yes, two. A boy, ten, and a girl, eight. So, I know how they can take over your life. Thank God, my parents live near me, or I
’
d never be able to have a business and take care of them. And, their father has them two evenings a week for dinner and every other weekend, so I work my schedule at the gallery around that.
”

“
You
’
re fortunate to have help from your parents and ex. I had no one to help me with my daughter when my husband and I split up.
”
Leah shrugged.
“
But, we manage don
’
t we?
”

Regina nodded and turned her attention to the waiter, who was reviewing the specials and taking their dinner orders.

Leah spent the next hour trying to advance Jonathan
’
s career, alternating conversations about his work with Regina, Roger, and Patsy. Buoyed by another martini, she managed to work into the dinner talk information about his exhibits, public works, well-known collectors who purchased from him, and a pending commission from the governor
’
s office.

Her promotional skills were not lost on Regina.
“
Leah, are you available to do some public relations? I really need help with publicizing the gallery.
”

Leah hesitated. She really wanted to devote her time to the new book, but she needed some income and she could earn far more money copywriting than she could on freelance editorial assignments.

Regina seemed to sense Leah
’
s reluctance.
“
I
’
m sorry to put you on the spot. Take my card, and give me a call if you
’
re interested.
”

Leah decided to jump on the opportunity. She took the card and pulled out one of her own in return.
“
I
’
d be happy to offer you some tips or suggestions for promotion. Why don
’
t I come by the gallery this week? Is Wednesday good for you?
”

Regina brightened.
“
Yes, I
’
ll be there all day. But, tell you what. I
’
m having a barbeque and pool party on Sunday afternoon at my house. I
’
d love to have you and Jonathan join us. Just social, no business,
”
she added quickly.

“
That sounds great. Write your home address and phone number on the back of your card. I
’
ll call you tomorrow for directions. Thanks, Regina.
”
Leah was pleased at the prospect of meeting new people, and she felt especially elated about the friendly connection she was making with Regina. Her discomfort about the spat with Roxie faded.

When Regina got up to go to the restroom, Leah turned to Jonathan, smiling.
“
I
’
m so glad you called me. I
’
m having so much fun.
”

Jonathan leaned over and kissed her.
“
The evening is just beginning, Leah.
”

She kissed him back.
“
Sounds good. I
’
m about ready to get out of here. Do you want to take a walk on the beach?
”

“
Sure. We can take your car, since you
’
re parked at a meter. I
’
m parked behind the gallery, and I
’
m sure Regina won
’
t mind if I pick it up later.
”

“
Great. I
’
ll make a quick visit to the ladies room, and then let
’
s get out of here.
”

Regina, fixing her makeup at the restroom sink, saw Leah in the mirror and waved. In contrast to the dim lights of the dining room, the well-lit area of the vanity revealed Regina
’
s tired facial lines and dark under-eye circles. Leah remembered the days when she sold advertising for the magazine. Dressed in business suit, pantyhose, and heels, she
’
d leave the house by 8 a.m., drive around seeing clients all day, pick Ali up from school, race to after-school activities, and not get home until ten or eleven in the evening. She knew how Regina felt.

“
Long day, Regina?
”

“
You know it. I
’
m looking forward to heading straight home from here. I can
’
t wait to pull off these clothes, take a bath, and go to bed.
”
Regina turned from the mirror and asked Leah,
“
Are you going out after this?
”

“
Not
‘
out,
’
exactly. Jonathan and I are going to take a walk on the beach. Then I
’
ll probably head home.
”

“
How long have you and Jonathan been dating?
’

“
I wouldn
’
t call it
dating.
We
’
ve known each other and been close friends for a long time, though.
”

“
Really? I thought the two of you were a couple. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he feels more than friendship. And you were so complimentary about him and his work, I thought…
”

“
The truth is that I
’
m not sure what we are right now. I
’
ve always cared for Jonathan, but I
’
m—I
’
m coming off a bad break up right now, so I
’
m trying to be careful.
”

“
Leah, I
’
m sorry. I didn
’
t know. Do you mind all these questions? Here I barely know you, and you must feel like I
’
m grilling you. It
’
s just that in the six months since my divorce, I
’
ve haven
’
t dated. So, I
’
m interested in what other single women do and how to do it, if you know what I mean.
”

Leah nodded.
“
I didn
’
t date for almost a whole year after my divorce, and then I met the man I just recently broke up with.
”

“
And you
’
ve been dating him all this time?
”

“
Oh no. We dated for almost a year. We were very much in love, but he got a promotion that took him to Chicago. We lost touch after his transfer. I dated a succession of men, but none of them ever worked out. Then one day about nine months ago, I read about my former love in the newspaper and contacted him.
”

“
So far it sounds like a romantic fairy tale. What went wrong?
”

Leah hesitated. While she and Doug were together, she was very tight lipped about the affair to protect them both. But the affair was over, and the drinks and her desire to share a confidence with Regina prompted her to go on.

“
When I first saw him, it was like no time had passed. We ended up in each other
’
s arms and within moments were renewing our love. Some things had changed in our five years apart, but he promised that he would work everything out so we could be together. After many delays, I sold my house and was ready to move to New York to be with him. When he told me we had to wait again, the disappointment was just too much. I realized he probably was never going to make the changes he promised, so, I broke it off last month.
”

“
Was it his job, again?
”

Leah took a deep breath and bit her lip, trying to decide if she should tell the truth.
What the hell, I don
’
t have to protect Doug anymore.
“
No. It wasn
’
t his job this time. The problem was his wife.
”

Regina
’
s whole posture and expression changed. She had been leaning in close to Leah, listening carefully with an intent look of compassion. She turned suddenly back toward the sink and picked up her purse. Looking at Leah in the mirror, she said,
“
You had an affair with a married man? Did he have children, too?
”

Leah became flustered by Regina
’
s abruptness.
“
Yes, but I didn
’
t break up their marriage, if that
’
s you mean. She has mental problems, and their marriage was over long before I ever contacted him. He said seeing me again gave him the impetus to do what he wanted to do. The problem was he didn
’
t want to leave his children with a sick mother.
”

“
Did it ever occur to you the damage his family would suffer because of you, Leah?
”
Regina didn
’
t wait for a reply.
“
Probably not. Women like you never think about the wives or families. You only think about yourselves.
”

The room began to spin and Leah had to prop herself up against the wall to keep from falling. But, she was crystal clear on one thing. Regina
’
s husband had left her for another woman.

“
Regina, I—I don
’
t know what to say. Every situation is different. You can
’
t compare what happened to me to…
”

“
To me? Yes, I can. Because of a woman like you, who thought only of her own needs and desires, my children
’
s lives were uprooted and our lives turned upside down. There are no extenuating circumstances, Leah, when it comes to doing the right thing. So don
’
t flatter yourself and say you
’
re somehow different, and the rules don
’
t apply to you.
”