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Tony quirked an eyebrow.  Is there something going on here I don t understand?
 I don t know. I m trying to make this work, Tony. Everything s just. . .weird. I can t
explain it.
 So you re hiding here with me? God, you do have a problem.
 People tell me that a lot lately. He leaned his head back in his chair and rubbed his
eyes.  I didn t mean to yell at her. I just didn t know where she was.
 Did you do something to piss her off?
Reno was silent, staring out across the balcony.
 Okay. Tell me. Don t tell me. But whatever it is you ll have to deal with it sooner or
later.
He made sandwiches and they ate them on the balcony. Reno sat, still brooding and
Tony watchful.
 You think I m a real jerk, don t you, Reno said after a long time.
 Sometimes, Tony said, with irritation.  Listen, nobody knows more than I do what
you ve been through. But you can t keep running away from your life.
 It doesn t seem to do much good, does it?
 Nope. You need to go home and figure out what you re going to do.
What he wanted to do was run home and carry Sarah off to his bedroom, but he d really
screw himself over if he did that. He couldn t figure out where all this was coming from when
he d been prepared to live like a monk for the rest of his life. He was afraid to admit to himself
the undercurrent of desire that swelled every time he looked at Sarah. What the hell was he
going to do about it?
He sat out on the balcony, long after Tony went inside. His mind was such a jumble he
wondered if he d ever get it straightened out.
Tony was watching a baseball game when he went back into the living room.
 I guess I need to go home, he ventured.
 No kidding. Don t forget, you promised Sarah you d bring dinner.
*****
Sarah was upstairs bathing Lexie when she heard the garage door open and close. In a
few minutes Reno was standing in the door to the bathroom, watching her, not quite knowing
what to do with himself. Lexie waved at him from the tub and said,  Mama.
 I didn t realize she could talk, he commented.
 Actually, that and Bye are the only words she knows right now. We re working on
some others, though. Aren t we, sugar plum? She tickled the baby with the washcloth and
was rewarded by giggles.
Reno walked to the other side of the bathroom where the tub was out of his line of
sight. He cleared his throat.  I owe you an apology, Sarah.
 Yes, you do, she said, not turning to look at him, her voice very calm.  Which
particular thing would you like to apologize for, running off for the day or shouting at me on
the telephone? I ll take either one. She carefully avoided mentioning the scene from the
night before.
Judith Rochelle 50
 Both, as a matter of fact. He leaned against the wall.  I was stupid and thoughtless
today. I m sorry. I ll try not to do it again.
 Fine. She ignored him while she put Lexie in her in pajamas. After laying the little
girl down in the crib, she turned on the mobile and gave her the stuffed dog. Turning out all
the lights except the night-light, she went downstairs, Reno following her.
In the kitchen she poured herself a glass of water, leaned against the counter and eyed
her husband. The air between them crackled.
 I brought dinner, he said, indicating the array of white cartons on the table.
Good. Apparently he wasn t going to mention last night , either.
 Then why don t we eat? I don t know about you, but I m starved.
They ate in a silence filled with electricity and tension. At last Sarah put down her fork
and looked at him.  I don t know what s going on here, Reno. There s a lot you haven t
bothered to tell me. Of course, that s your choice.
He watched her through narrowed eyes, saying nothing.
She hoped he couldn t see the slight trembling in her hands.  But you might as well
accept the fact that everything s got to come out sooner or later. The appropriate time will
make itself known, but I wouldn t wait too long if I were you.
Panic flashed across his face.  Sarah, please, I& .
 Not now. I m really tired. I think I ll just go on upstairs.
She walked out of the room with dignity, leaving a frustrated Reno thinking what a
good laugh everyone would have if they could see the high-powered executive now. How
much more could he do to fuck up his life?
The Hired Wife 51
Chapter Twelve
Sunday morning heralded another bright and beautiful day. With Reno hiding in his
den, Sarah took advantage of the early morning cool to push Lexie in her stroller around the
neighborhood again. Their walks were becoming a regular part of the routine. She fixed
sandwiches for lunch, but when Reno didn t emerge from his self-imposed exile, she left his
food on the counter and went upstairs to dress herself and the baby for the afternoon.
The said very little to each other on the drive to the Vanetta ranch. Sarah felt as if the
trip was thirty hours long instead of thirty minutes, and sighed with relief when they drove
down the narrow rode and pulled up before the ranch house.
 My God, Lindsey, this is gorgeous, Sarah said, when the Vanettas came out to meet
them. She sniffed the air, a heady mic of prairie grass, hay, horseflesh and leather.
Lindsey grinned.  We love it here. Nick was a city boy all his life, but now he wouldn t
live anywhere else.
The afternoon proved a respite for Sarah. She and Lindsey sat on the porch with the
two children in the playpen, drinking lemonade and eating sugar cookies baked by Mary
Medana, the housekeeper. Nick and Reno headed for the back patio, but Sarah sat up in
surprise when she saw Ruben, Mary s husband, lead two horses from the stable and Nick and
Reno approaching.
 I didn t know he could ride, she commented.
 Reno rides a lot when he comes out here. Says it works out the cobwebs.
Sarah eyed her husband carefully as he and Nick swung into their saddles. In his faded [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]