Chapter Forty Eight
“Aren’t you going to compliment my dress?” Emily asks as I sit as far away from her as physically possible.
“We don’t have to pretend until we’re in there,” I reply.
She laughs. “Wow, all work and no play makes Mason a dull boy. I wore your favorite color just for you.” Even after all this time, she still believes that it’s red.
“Did you find my grandpa’s watch?”
She looks out of the window. “No. I looked everywhere.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to report it as stolen because I definitely didn’t take it.”
“I think you’re being a little dramatic.”
“No, I’m not. It was there before I left and now it’s gone.”
“I’ll have another look.”
“I’ll come and look for it myself.”
“Why don’t you come back with me after the auction?” She moves her hand across the leather seat between us.
I stop it before it reaches my leg. “No.”
“Not even for old times’ sake?”
“No.”
“But a woman has needs.” She leans in and places her other hand on top of mine.
“Then make sure you tell the decorator. No means no.”
She pulls both of her hands away and we ride the rest of the way in silence.
I jump out of the car as soon as we pull up outside the hotel. My frown is quickly replaced by a strained smile when I see other guests arriving. I walk around the back of the car and stop next to Emily, who is now smoothing out her dress. She smiles and holds her hand out to me and I have no choice but to accept it. I grimace when her thumb strokes the back on my hand. A year ago, I would have appreciated the small gesture but seeing as though she hasn’t given me any kind of affection in a long time, I know she’s only doing it to get a reaction out of me. I refuse to give her one. Instead, I smile, pose for photographs and imagine that her hand is somebody else’s.
“Wow, brother, you’re looking sharp,” Buzz says with a grin.
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“You usually wear the same old boring suits.”
I look down at my midnight blue suit, which has always been my favorite color despite what Emily believes. “Yeah well I felt like mixing it up.”
“That’s the spirit. Change can be good.”
“Will you be bidding on anyone tonight?” I ask. “Have you seen the line up?”
He raises his eyebrows. “Yeah, I’ve seen it. I’m guessing you haven’t?”
“No, not yet. Any surprises?”
“Um, you could say that.”
I scan the room and I’m pretty sure I forget how to breathe when I see a familiar pair of bambi eyes. Buzz follows my line of sight. “Did you not know she was coming?”
I ignore him and head in her direction. It’s like a magnetic force is pulling me towards her. She looks other worldly, dressed in a floor length blue dress covered in hundreds of tiny diamonds. Even the slightest movement makes her look as though she’s bursting with light. She smiles but it takes me at least half a minute to form coherent words. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.”
She shifts from one foot to the other. “Well here I am. Surprise!”
“You look beautiful.”
“You don’t look too shabby yourself. You clean up well.”
“You’re color coordinating,” Lori says. I hadn’t even noticed that she was standing next to Sophia. “I must have missed the memo.”
“Hello, Lori.” She nods in response. “That color really suits you,” I tell Sophia.
“It’s my favorite color.”
I grin. “Mine too.”
“Champagne?” A waitress asks as she walks by. I don’t usually drink but I could use a little something to calm my nerves. “Are you sure you can risk being around liquids when you’re in such a lovely dress?” I ask Sophia. “First the wine, then the coffee.”
She laughs. “A wise man once told me to take the risk or lose the chance.”
I hold my glass up. “Cheers to that.” We all take a drink. “I’m glad you could both make it. Will you be placing any bids this evening?” Please say no, please say no, please say no.
Sophia clears her throat. “Actually, people will be bidding on me.”
My heart sinks. “Why?” Is the only thing I manage to get out.
“I want to help.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. You work with some wonderful charities.”
What the hell am I supposed to say to that? Forget about the charities and come home with me instead? “You’re right, we do. I just thought we had a full line up this year.”
She winks. “Then it’s a good thing I know people in high places.”
“Who?” I’ll fire them all. As if the news of Sophia putting herself up for auction isn’t bad enough, I spot Emily making her way over to us. I silently will her to turn around or get intercepted by somebody but of course it doesn’t happen. She walks straight up to us with a smug grin on her face. I try not to flinch when she threads her fingers through mine. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, sweetie?” Emily asks.
There’s a moment of silence as I stare at Sophia and she stares at our intertwined fingers. “Emily, this is Sophia,” I say through clenched teeth. “Sophia, this is Emily.”
“His wife,” she adds. Sophia looks like she wants to be anywhere but here. The same as how I feel. “Have me met before?” she asks. “You look so familiar.”
“No, we haven’t,” Sophia replies bluntly.
Emily leans her head to one side. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“So how do you know my husband?”
“Excuse us for a moment.” I give Sophia an apologetic look before leading Emily away, all the time keeping a fake grin on my face. “What’s with the Spanish inquisition?” I ask her.
“She’s pretty,” is all she says. “Don’t you agree?”
“Please don’t make this any more awkward than it already is.”
“I didn’t think she would be your type but apparently I was wrong. It’s interesting.”
I sigh. “What is?”
“It’s interesting that you also seem to be her type.”
“Emily, please.”
“Please what?”
Please don’t screw this up for me. “Let’s just stay out of each other’s way as much as possible and get tonight over with, okay?”
She makes eye contact with the band on stage and nods to the singer. “I wish you had mentioned something sooner.”
The singer taps his microphone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the fourth annual charity date night auction hosted by Hunter’s Hotel. To kick start our evening, please could I ask Mr and Mrs Hunter to make their way over to the dance floor?”
Hundreds of heads turn to look at us but I only care about one. “What did you do?” I whisper as she takes my hand and leads me over to the dance floor.
“I just thought it might be nice, for old times’ sake.”
“Tonight is all about finding love,” The singer announces as our wedding song begins to play. “I’d like to thank Mr and Mrs Hunter for helping us in our quest to find love and for being a shining example of how to keep that love alive. This one’s for you.” Emily begins to sway and I feel like I’m trapped in a bad dream. My eyes find Sophia’s. She quickly looks away and downs the rest of her champagne.
“For old times’ sake?” I ask, eyebrows raised.
“Yes. We used to be happy, remember?”
I remember. But I also remember how she violated my trust and without trust, we have nothing left, not even friendship. The next time I glance over at Sophia, she’s gone. I desperately want to go and look for her but Emily gives my arm a gentle squeeze, reminding me of all of the people watching us.
“Whatever happens at the end of all of this,” she says, “I hope we can stay civil. I just want the both of us to get what we deserve.”
We don’t talk for the rest of the song. The song which now fills me with sadness, regret and longing for a happier time. A happier me. It feels like we’ve come full circle and when the song comes to an end, everybody claps and cheers, oblivious to the fact that it’s also the end of our marriage.