A Very Good Life by Lynn Steward Read Free Book Online

one to let anything go unnoticed, believed Brett’s eye lingered a little too long on certain attractive young women when the two families went out for dinner. Was her hotshot son-in-law becoming a little too arrogant, too sure of himself as his influence within the firm spread? Was he rooted in family and faith? Virginia told Dana that she thought the matter needed attention and that she was being too naïve, too trusting. Dana responded, rather unconvincingly to Virginia’s way of thinking, that such suspicion was ridiculous.
    “I appreciate what you’re both saying,” John said. “It’s just that I believe when you marry somebody, it’s for life and you get the whole package. You don’t just marry a single individual—you marry the entire family. Their traditions, their quirks, their warmth . . .” He frowned. “Or lack thereof. If Suzanne is pushing the accelerator on the wedding, what is she going to do down the line, for heaven’s sake? She’s too aggressive for my taste.” He returned to the couch and sat between Virginia and Phil.
    Phil and Virginia each put an arm around their good friend. “We know it’s hard, John,” Virginia said as she looked at Phil at the other end of the couch, giving him a nonverbal cue that she was going to keep her advice short. The Martignettis could communicate with each other with their eyes better than most couples could with the spoken word. “Take one day at a time.”
    Virginia could indeed have gone much farther in her agreement with Uncle John. She, too, believed that marriage was a package deal, and that was precisely why she was so concerned about Dana at present. To her way of thinking, Brett had never matured. She’d been right from the beginning. Sure, he was a hard worker and kept Dana comfortable, but he seemed to be drifting. She felt he was exhibiting the McGarry family aloofness. While he went through all the motions in exemplary fashion, she didn’t think the marriage was growing and thriving. Dana shared an apartment with her husband, but not much else.
    “I wonder if Dana would mind speaking to Johnny,” Uncle John said. “You know how close they used to be as kids. Don’t forget that there was a time when we hoped
they
might be the ones to tie the knot. Maybe she can talk some sense into him—make him take a second look at the situation.”
    Phil laughed and nodded. “True enough, John, but I don’t think Dana is going to want to interfere. I think she’s going to want to give him space precisely because they were so close.”
    Virginia thought it was an excellent idea but said nothing.
    “I suppose you’re right,” Uncle John said.
    “Let’s go out to the dock and get some fresh air,” Phil said, escorting Uncle John from the den.
    Virginia leaned back into the soft brown leather cushion. She was convinced that Uncle John was right about Suzanne Farnsworth. As for Brett McGarry, the jury was still out as far as Virginia Martignetti was concerned.

C hapter Five
    D ana entered the library of her apartment, intending to remind her husband of their dinner reservation at Cheshire Cheese. Engrossed in a phone conversation, Brett held up the palm of his hand, gesturing that his wife would have to wait for a hearing. Rather than dwell on the brusque manner with which her husband dismissed her, Dana turned around and walked into the hallway, summoning Wills for his evening walk. Brett reclined on a plump English club chair and ottoman positioned in front of a bookcase that occupied the entire wall behind him.
    Dana leaned over to hook the leash to the spaniel’s collar. Brett was constantly on the phone, she thought, always talking with a client, a colleague, their accountant, their investment analyst—always schmoozing and working and laughing as if he had all the time in the world. But when was the last time they’d gone to a movie or enjoyed a quiet evening at home? When had they last talked about their future or having a family?
    Dana