The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe

Author:Mary Alice Monroe
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Che ricordarsi del tempo felice

Nella miseria.

There is no greater sorrow than to recall

a time of happiness in misery.

—Dante, The Inferno (Canto V)

The poetry was terrible but the company was superb. There were none of the first-date jitters or awkwardness that she’d expected. From the moment he picked her up in his red Saab to the moment he dropped her off again, they shared a seamless flow of conversation and comfortable silences, as though they’d been together for years. At the evening’s end, while Eve waited for him to come around and open her car door, she marveled at this unusual ease between them and wondered if indeed they hadn’t been lovers in some previous life.

It was a balmy night, moist with the fragrant air of summer. There were hoots of young male laughter coming from the park followed by the barking of dogs.

“It’s becoming a hangout for high school boys,” she explained, taking his arm.

“Young wolves,” he said with a chuckle and pointed to the full moon overhead. “They can’t help themselves.”

She leaned against him with her face to the moon, relishing the feel of him beside her, her hands laced with his, and wished on the moon for happiness in her life again. They strolled to her building in silence, then stopped at the foyer door. She turned to face him.

“I had a wonderful time.”

“I’m glad. So did I.”

“I’d invite you up for coffee but the children...”

“No, of course. I should be getting along.” He paused, then said in a rush, “I didn’t get to take you out to dinner tonight as I’d planned. So I was wondering...you wouldn’t want to come to my place tomorrow? I’m a fairly decent cook and I promised you that I’d read Dante in Italian. Would you?”

“Yes,” she replied readily. “I’d love to.”

His face relaxed and he grinned broadly. His smile lit up his face and his brilliant blue eyes shone like twin moons. Eve’s breath caught, entranced, and she wondered if she’d always fall captive to the remarkable charm of his smile.

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

There was a tense moment, thick with desire. She wondered if he would kiss her, and if she should let him if he tried. He leaned forward almost imperceptibly. She held her breath. Then, as though he’d checked his first impulse, he looked down abruptly, took her hand and placed his large hand over it.

“Good night then.”

“Good night.”

She watched him through the small-paned windows of the door as he walked down the sidewalk, turned, then walked out of sight. Leaning against the door, she released a long, pent-up sigh. Then, after fumbling with her key, she let herself in. She took the stairs slowly, savoring the glow of happiness she felt inside. She had been afraid to let herself feel such attraction, to let another man come close again. But now that she had, she was soaring with joy, blushing like a schoolgirl at the very thought of him.

When she pushed open her front door, she was met with a wall of hostility.

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