A Cry In the Night by Mary Higgins Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

“Enjoying your flight?”
    She smiled at him. “Very much.” They both looked down at his mother’s gold wedding band now on her finger.
    Beth and Tina had fallen asleep. The flight attendant had removed the center arm and they were curled up together, auburn ringlets overlapping, their new green velvet jumpers and white turtleneck pullovers somewhat rumpled now.
    Jenny turned to study the cushion of clouds that floated outside the plane window. Underneath her happiness she was still furious with Kevin. She’d known he was weak and irresponsible but she’dalways thought of him as being casually good-natured. But he was a spoiler. He’d managed to cloud their wedding day.
    In the apartment after he left, Erich had said, “Why did he thank you and what did he mean? Did you invite him to our home?”
    She’d tried to explain but the explanation felt hollow in her own ears.
    â€œYou gave him three hundred dollars?” Erich asked incredulously. “How much does he owe you in support payments and loans?”
    â€œBut I don’t need that and the furniture was half his.”
    â€œOr maybe you wanted to be sure he had fare to come visit you?”
    â€œErich, how can you believe that?” She’d forced back the tears that threatened to fill her eyes but not before Erich had seen them.
    â€œJenny, forgive me. I’m sorry. I’m jealous of you. I admit that. I hate the fact that man ever touched you. I don’t want him to ever put a finger on you again.”
    â€œHe won’t. I can promise you that. God, if anything I’m so grateful to him for signing the adoption papers. I kept my fingers crossed right to the last minute on that.”
    â€œMoney talks.”
    â€œErich, you didn’t pay him?”
    â€œNot much. Two thousand dollars. A thousand per girl. A very cheap price to get rid of him.”
    â€œHe sold you his children.” Jenny had tried to keep the contempt from showing in her voice.
    â€œI’d have paid fifty times more.”
    â€œYou should have told me.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have told you now except I don’t want any leftover pity for him. . . . Let’s forget him. This is our day. How about opening your wedding present?”
    It was a Blackglama mink coat. “Oh, Erich.”
    â€œCome on—try it on.”
    It felt luxurious, soft, lightweight, warm. “It’s exactly right with your hair and eyes,” Erich said, pleased. “Do you know what I was thinking this morning?”
    â€œNo.”
    He’d put his arms around her. “I slept so badly last night. I hate hotels and all I could think is that tonight Jenny will be with me in my own home. Do you know that poem, ‘Jenny Kissed Me’?”
    â€œI’m not sure.”
    â€œI could only remember a couple of the lines. ‘Say I’m weary, say I’m sad’... and then the triumphant last line is ‘Jenny kissed me.’ I was thinking that as I rang the bell and then a minute later I have to watch Kevin MacPartland kiss you.”
    â€œPlease, Erich.”
    â€œForgive me. Let’s get out of this place. It’s depressing.”
    She hadn’t had time to take a final look before he rushed her to the limousine.
    Even during the ceremony Kevin had been on her mind, especially her marriage to him at St. Monica’s four years ago. They’d chosen that church because Nana had been married there. Nana sat beaming in the first row. She hadn’t approved of Kevin but put her doubts behind her when she couldn’t dissuade. Jen. What would she think of this ceremony before a judge instead of a priest? “I, Jennifer, take you . . . She hesitated. Dear God, she’d almost said Kevin. She felt Erich’s questioning eyes and began again. Firmly “I, Jennifer, take you, Erich . . . ”
    â€œWhat God has joined together, man must not