this wasnât a circus for the Barbies to watch. It was the Roman Colosseum. Lions, gladiators, victimsâ¦
Daddy. Darcie bent down until she reached eye level with the child.
âHi.â
Merrick stepped between them. âUh, why donât you run over there, kiddo.â He pointed at a pyramid of dolls on a nearby table âPick out one you like.â
Assuming he was talking to the child, not to her, Darcie straightened and the little girl said, âCan I? Can I? â
âYes,â he said. âYou may.â
Her mission approved, she scampered off. A heavy silence hung in the air.
Claire had been right. Heâs lying, Darcie.
She squished her package in rigid fingers, choking the zebra. Buster goggled at Merrick and so did Darcieâwithout her eyes crossed. Shoppers pushed by. A baby, like Claireâs, fussed. Over the PA system a male voice announced a sale in Electronic Games.
She felt sick.
âWell. Now I know.â
âDarcie, donât make a big deal of this.â
She reeled back at his weary tone.
âNo big deal? Just call me naiveâ¦â To her horror, she choked up. She hadnât thought this would really matter, if it proved true.
âIt isnât what you think.â
âOh, thatâs too tacky. What a classic line.â She swallowed hard. She could smell his aftershave, expensive, woodsy. Smell popcorn on the air. Smell the more acrid scent ofâ¦betrayal. âAre you saying youâre not married?â
He turned away. Darcie snagged his arm.
âMerrick, you owe me an explanation.â When he remained silent, she said, âNo wonder you didnât remember your ânephew.â Or are you more used to calling him your son? â She flicked a glance toward the table nearby. âYour daughter looks like you. So does he. How old is she?â
âSix. Yes,â he said. âIâm married.â The words came out loud, and he deliberately lowered his voice, color slashing across his cheeks as if Darcie had slapped him. Not a bad idea. âIâve been married for ten years. Is that what you want to hear?â
âNo, I want to hear why youâre screwing me instead of your wife!â
His tight schedule. His one-night-a-week free. Two this week, lucky her. You wouldnât leave a man in need, would you?
âIt doesnât work between us,â he said.
âWhat doesnât work? Sex? You and me? What? â Sheâd never felt so mortified, so hurt, in her life. Which was saying a lot.
He tried to lead her to a quieter corner but Darcie dugin her heels. She thrust the zebra bag between them like a shield.
âJust say it here.â And if there was anyplace more absurd, more public, than the doll department of FAO Schwarz, she couldnât think where. That didnât matter now. Then he shocked her again.
âI love you, Darcie.â
âOh. You bastard.â A first, she thought. It was a wonder he didnât strangle.
âNo, I mean it. Itâs over between Jacqueline and me. She wonât even care.â
âHer nameâs Jacqueline?â He nodded, looking at the floor, and Darcieâs mouth tightened like a prune. His wife had probably gone to Smith, like Annie.
He glanced up through a screen of thick lashes. âDo you hate me?â
âRight now, Iâd say thatâs a definite yes.â
For several moments neither of them spoke. Darcie clutched the zebra and listened to her own breathing. It seemed capable of overriding the noise around them. Roared like an oncoming subway train. She might drop dead right here on the floor. Attention, please. Emergency. Would Medic Barbie go to Aisle Fourâ¦
âWhen do you leave?â he said.
âI told you, tomorrow.â
âI canât see you before then?â
âI donât want to see you.â
He looked miserable. âHow long will you be gone?â
âI