Too Little, Too Late: A Novel by Victoria Christopher Murray

Author:Victoria Christopher Murray [Murray, Victoria Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Religious
ISBN: 9781439113745
Google: 1kNt9sicj0EC
Amazon: B001O9CG12
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 2008-06-03T00:00:00+00:00

FORTY

HIS WIFE WAS ON THE edge.

But it still took Brian four days to build the courage. He’d come to his office on a Saturday so that no one would overhear. Still, he locked himself inside and then dialed the number quickly before he changed his mind.

“This is Malik,” the voice on the other end said.

The sound of his voice made Brian want to hang up. But he inhaled, stuck out his chest like a man. “Malik, I don’t know if you remember me,” he said, thinking that if he’d been forgotten, that would be a good sign. “This is Brian Lew—”

Before he could get his full name out, Malik said, “I know who you are. Wasn’t that long ago when we last spoke.”

Malik paused long enough for Brian to remember how he’d called and told him to stay away from Jasmine and her baby. Brian had been more than happy to abide by Malik’s wishes. His plan had been to stay away from Jasmine forever. But life changed things.

Malik asked, “So what’s up?”

Brian took a breath. “I know what we agreed, but I need to talk to Jasmine. I’m not trying to pull anything or to get with her…or anything,” he rambled. “But this is important. Urgent really, and I don’t have her number.”

Several beats and then, “Straight business?”

“Yeah.”

Another beat. “All right.”

Brian frowned. He’d expected more resistance—or maybe more resistance was what he wanted.

Malik continued, “Jasmine and Hosea are in Los Angeles.”

“Really?” That was not good news. He didn’t want to share this half of the country with Jasmine and her husband—and his wife. “They moved to L.A.?”

“Nah, just there on an extended business trip. They’re staying at the Fairmont. Give me your number and I’ll call Jasmine. If she wants to talk to you, she’ll call.”

He gave Malik his cell number.

Another pause, and then Malik asked, “Man to man, this is straight up?”

“Definitely. I’m happily married, faithful to my wife…now. Just need to talk to Jasmine for a minute.”

“Good, because she and Hosea are happy. No need for drama.”

“There won’t be any,” he said, and prayed that would be true.

“Then I’ll call her for you,” Malik said before he said good-bye.

For long minutes after he’d hung up, Brian sat, tormented by his questions. Why had Malik been so amiable? Had Jasmine told Malik that she wanted to speak to him? Had she been looking for him? And if she had, why?

Now he needed the same answers that his wife wanted.

Malik had said Jasmine and her husband were at the Fairmont. He called information, got connected to the hotel, and then asked for the Bushes. He said a quick prayer, and made a plan to hang up if Hosea answered.

“Hello.”

It wasn’t a warm greeting; she sounded frantic. “Jasmine?”

“Speaking.”

“Jasmine. This is Brian. Brian Lewis.”

He heard the phone fall to the floor and he knew that was a sign. He knew he was in trouble.

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