Beautiful Illusions by Annie Jocoby Read Free Book Online

because it was so dry that year .” He smiled. “Global warming is actually a good thing for vintners.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yeah. The drier it is, the better the crop.”
    “Huh?”
    “Well, when there’s too much moisture, the leaves tend to get moldy, and the grapes don’t grow as well. The sugar also gets more concentrated in dry weather.”
    “Learn something new everyday!”
    Surreptitiously, I looked at his face for any sign of the emotional turmoil that he was apparently going through. He did look a little wan, a little less engaged, a little more distracted. But he was hiding it well. I felt mixed emotions about that. If he could hide his emotions about this, what else would he be good at hiding in the future?
    I waited for him to say anything about t he conversations this morning. He had to know that there was at least a chance that I heard something, although I hoped it was not in his mind that I heard as much as I did.
    “Um, let me fix you some breakfast.” Well, “fix” wasn’t quite the term, as he had a cheese strata already in the oven, which was now coming out and cooling.
    “Did you prepare that la st night?” I knew that stratas are usually an overnight thing, but I didn’t recall him making anything last night.
    “Yeah. After you went to bed, I got this ready. I wanted to make something nice for you for breakfast. And, for the record, I am impressed that you know about cheese stratas.”
    “Well, I am not a total food philistine,” I said with mock indignation.
    “Never thought you were.” He was distracted - he apparently thought I was being serious when I acted offended.
    He sliced up the cheese strata, then garnished it with some berries and cream. “Bloody Mary or Virgin Mary?” he asked.
    “Bloody, please.”
    He smiled at that. “My kind of woman. Now, shoo, go meet me on the terrace.”
    I went out the sliding glass door that opened into his backyard. The “backyard,” w as more of a palatial terrace. The back patio was paved in lightly colored stone, overlooking an in-ground Olympic-sized swimming pool. A 10-person hot tub gurgled just above the pool. The hot tub was also built in-ground. I made my way to his dining table, which also sat 10, and was situated under a canopy. Just beyond the pool and hot tub, I could see roses, daisies, geraniums mandavillas, and a gazebo. There was also a fully-stocked wet bar outside, underneath a little Tiki hut, right by the pool.
    Ryan appeared, bearing a tray with his plate and mine, and two Bloody Marys. I felt a little weird sitting at such a large table.
    “Love, would you rather sit by the pool?”
    I looked towards the pool, noticing that there was a smaller table with an umbrella attached. “Sure, but let me help you with the food and everything.”
    “No, I got it. Just meet me there.”
    I went down the steps to the table by the pool, Ryan right behind me.
    Sitting down to eat, I bit into my strata. “Oh, I’m in heaven! Where did you learn to cook?”
    “Here and there. I picked up a little all my life.”
    I felt glad that he didn’t tell me the clichéd “My nanny taught me to cook.” Or something like that.
    I took a deep breath, wondering if he would say anything at all about the unfolding drama. To my surprise, he did.
    “Uh, my ex-wife called this morning.”
    I tried for the right expression. Not exactl y surprised, but not like I knew something, either. I hope I get this right. “Oh?”
    He smiled. “So, I um, I have to go somewhere this morning.”
    I sat silently, waiting to see if there was more.
    “I, um, am, um, um, um, uh, s-s-s-seei ng my therapist this morning.” He looked at me, his face taking on the puppy dog expression I saw on our first date. It’s almost as if he’s afraid of losing me for telling that he’s seeing a therapist.
    “Hey, not a problem. I got things to do anyhow.” What these “things” were, I didn’t really know. Probably get caught up on my DVR.
    “Yes, yes.” He