The Prince Charming Hoax (6 page)

The phone was ringing when she turned off the shower. She ran to pick it up, her wet feet slipping on the tile and her hair leaving a trail of water droplets as she raced through her bedroom. She grabbed the receiver.
“
Hello.
”

“
Leah, where have you been? Why aren
’
t you answering any of my messages?
”

“
Doug?
”
Damn, she should have checked the call screen.

“
Yes. Remember me?
”

“
Look, I
’
m dripping wet from the shower, Doug. This isn
’
t a good time.
”

“
I
’
ll be in meetings the rest of the day, and I
’
m flying to Paris tonight. I have to talk to you, now. Get a towel. I
’
ll wait.
”

Leah walked back to the bathroom and wrapped herself in her terry robe and pulled her hair back in a clip.
“
What is it?
”

“
Leah, have you listened to your voice mail or checked your email since yesterday?
”

“
No.
”

“
What
’
s going on?
”

“
I
’
ve been busy with Ali.
”

“
You can tell me about that later. I have some important things to go over with you.
”

Leah hated when he took on his corporate
“
I
’
m Mr. Important
”
voice with her, but he didn
’
t give her a chance to interrupt.

“
I
’
ll be away for three weeks,
”
he continued.
“
Things are very unstable with the Euro right now, and I have to secure our investments. I won
’
t be here when you and Ali arrive, but I want you to know that I
’
ve arranged to have the corporate apartment ready for you. You can stay there indefinitely until I
’
m able to leave Amanda and get a real place for us.
”

“
Ali and I aren
’
t coming to New York, Doug.
”

“
What are you talking about?
”

“
I
’
m not coming to New York to be some high-price courtesan you keep until you
’
re ready to leave your wife. I never intended to be the other woman, Doug. You are always on the verge of leaving your wife, but you never do. The deal was that when I came to New York, we were going to be together—out in the open. Not hiding like two criminals.
”

“
It
’
s not like that, and you know it. I
’
d leave Amanda in a second if it weren
’
t for the kids. I can
’
t leave right now, but I will. I promise I will, as soon as I can. The important thing is for us to be together, Leah.
”

He paused and his tone softened.
“
I love you so much. And I need you now more than ever. Please, Leah. Be patient a little while longer.
”

Leah sat on the bed and closed her eyes. She felt herself wavering. She could see his face, his expression when he looked at her lovingly.

She opened her eyes.
“
No. If you love me, show me some respect. Acknowledge me to the world. Tell everyone I
’
m your woman.
”

“
I will Leah, I promise. It won
’
t be long now, I swear. But, there are some things I have to take care of first.
”

“
You know what? I have some things I have to take care of, too, Doug. Like me and Ali. And she deserves a mother who doesn
’
t hide in dark corners and corporate apartments.
”

“
What are you going to do, Leah? You were all set to come.
”

“
Yes, well, now I
’
m all set to stay. Roxie has found me a very nice place on the beach. Ali and I will be just fine.
”

“
Leah, meet me in Paris, and we
’
ll talk this over. I can get you on a flight tomorrow.
”

“
No way. Ali graduates next week. I
’
m not going to Paris. Look, Doug. You go to Paris. Save the world economy. I don
’
t give a damn any more. I don
’
t want to hear it, any of it. You were very convincing the other night. You
’
re right. Your children need you.
”

“
Leah, please think about it a little more. I need you in my life. Maybe after Ali leaves for college, we
’
ll go away together. We can go to Napa Valley and stay in one of those wonderful bed and breakfasts. You can go to the spa—
”

“
I
’
m not taking another trip with you under an assumed name. I
’
m not taking separate flights and lying to protect you any more. Don
’
t you get it, Doug? It
’
s over.
”

“
Leah, they
’
ve buzzed me three times for my meeting. I
’
ll call you—
”

“
Don
’
t. Go to your important meeting, Doug. Go to Paris. Just go. Good-bye.
”
She clicked off the phone and tossed it on the bed.

Leah felt the room swirling, like she had been on some crazy amusement park ride and had just stepped off. She wanted to throw up, yet oddly she felt relieved, too. The ride was over, at least for now.

She pulled the clip from her hair and went back into the bathroom to finish getting ready. She turned the hair dryer on, then off. She thought she heard Ali coming in from school.

“
Ali, is that you?
”
she called out.

“
Yeah, I
’
m home.
”

“
Already?
”

“
It
’
s finals week, Mom, remember? I only have to go in for the exam.
”

Leah heard Ali scamper upstairs and saw her daughter
’
s reflection as she walked into her bathroom.

“
How was your English final?
”

Ali shrugged.
“
No big deal. They make these things easy for seniors because it doesn
’
t make a difference anymore.
”

Leah noticed Ali watching her closely as she applied her makeup.

“
Where are you going?
”
Ali wanted to know.

“
We
’
re going to our new place.
”

“
What! Where is it? What does it look like?
”

“
I don
’
t know yet.
”

“
Mom, are you crazy?
”

“
Ali, I
’
ll explain on the way over. Did you eat yet today? I didn
’
t. Fix us a snack, and then we
’
ll go.
”

Ali
’
s face brightened.
“
Sounds like we
’
re going on an adventure. Like when I was a little girl and you
’
d pick me up after school. Remember? Sometimes we
’
d go to the park, and sometimes you took me to a museum.
”

“
Of course I remember, Ali. I loved taking you special places. Still do. Now get out of here and let me get ready so we can eat and go.
”

“
Yes, Mom.
”
Ali gave her a quick kiss and ran downstairs.

Leah was finishing her make up when a sudden chill went through her. She wrapped her arms around herself as she felt a wave of dread. Something bad was going to happen to someone she loved. Soon . . . tonight.

“
Come on, Mom,
”
Ali called out.
“
I made us pizza bagels. Let
’
s eat so we can go.
”

Leah hurried downstairs.
“
Ali, are you going to work tonight?
”
she asked as she sat down at the table across from her daughter.

“
No, gotta study, though. History final, tomorrow.
”

“
We won
’
t be back too late. You
’
ll have plenty of time to study.
”

“
Great.
”
Ali grinned.
I
’
m glad we
’
re getting to do something together today. You know you
’
re going to miss me when I
’
m gone.
”

Leah gasped and then choked on the mouthful of food she was chewing.

“
Mom, are you all right? Drink some water!
”

Leah regained her composure.
“
What do you mean,
‘
when you
’
re gone?
’
”

“
Well, I
’
m leaving for Philly right after graduation and then next year, I
’
ll be away at school.
What
’
d you think I meant?
”

Leah tried to throw off her misgivings and forced a smile.
“
I
’
m being a silly mom. Let
’
s finish up and get out of here for a while!
”

* * *

Leah drove into the circular driveway at The Sands and stopped at the front entrance, where a valet opened her car door and then whisked the car away. She and Ali walked into the lobby of the building and were immediately greeted by the attractive female receptionist seated behind a marble counter to the right of the automatic doors.

“
Welcome to The Sands. How can I help you?
”

“
I
’
m Leah Gold, and this is my daughter, Alison Goldman. I believe Roxanne Stein contacted the management this morning regarding an apartment for us.
”

The receptionist smiled.
“
Of course. Please wait one moment while I contact our concierge.
”

She must have pressed a hidden button because just seconds later, the concierge emerged from behind the office door.
“
This is Ms. Gold and her daughter, Ms. Goldman, Mr. Jameson.
“

“
A pleasure to meet you.
”
He smiled and bowed slightly in Leah and Ali
’
s direction.
“
We have been awaiting your arrival. I am delighted to welcome you as guest residents. Please follow me and I
’
ll show you the way to the penthouse,
”
he said.

They walked through the expansive marble lobby, elegantly furnished with what Jameson referred to as
“
period furniture.
”
Leah wasn
’
t sure what period it was, only that it was too formal for her taste. Nonetheless, the lobby and the view of the ocean at the rear of the building were magnificent. Jameson led them past the elevator bank to smaller hallway, which he used a card key to access.
“
Won
’
t we be taking the elevators to the penthouse, Mr. Jameson?
”
Leah asked.