The Secret Lives of Married Women by Elissa Wald Read Free Book Online Page B

and door. “Is everyone right? Should I stop dating these crazy men and marry you?”
    It wasn’t a real question. But Stas looked back at me with a level intensity that bordered on reproach. “Yes,” he said, and there was nothing light or flippant in his voice. “Yes, you should.”
    I knew it would be terrible to let myself laugh.
    “Oh Stas. Honey. Listen to me. I wasn’t being serious. Look, you’re a very attractive young man. But I’m nine years older than you, and I want children. I mean, I want to get pregnant soon. You’re not ready for that, are you? And do you really think you’d be faithful to a middle-aged lady when you’re in your prime?”
    My tone was light and tender, cajoling, consoling. But Stas stared straight into my eyes with an expression that made him look, for the first time, like a man instead of a boy. And when he spoke, his gaze did not waver. “Yes,” he said again. “Yes, I would.”
    It was then that I felt it, the first twinge of attraction to him, like the flutter of a butterfly in a nearly airless jar. But it was only a twinge, and I dismissed it.
    The next morning, he went to Chicago.

8
    “I love this,” Rae said. “I love this story! Stas is the man!”
    We were at the kitchen table with teacups and a pot of Darjeeling between us. I felt safe with Rae in the room. Still, when I caught sight of Jack through the window, hurling a paint-splattered tarp into the back of his truck, I felt myself cringing. Rae followed my gaze to the neighboring driveway. She nodded in his direction.
    “That’s the guy?”
    “Shh,” I cautioned.
    “Leda,” she laughed. “He can’t hear me!”
    I felt my face get hot. “I know. You’re right. Of course he can’t. I don’t know why I said that.”
    “It’s okay,” she said, after a moment. She reached over and touched my hand. “You’re just spooked.”
    Jack turned in my direction. He seemed to be looking straight at me, something that wasn’t lost on Rae. She held my eyes as she said, “Tell Stas that he’s bothering you. I trust Stas. Based on everything you just told me.” And then, as if to steady me, she asked, “Why did he go to Chicago?”
    * * *
    Stas went to Chicago on his first business trip to wire an important client’s satellite office. He was away for five days and it was a revelation. I was amazed that I missed him, that it felt as if a vital part of the work atmosphere was gone. Until then, I’d thought that Bryce alone created the frisson in the office, but now I understood that Stas supplied an essential part of it as well.
    On the third day of his absence, I heard Bryce on the phone.
    “Stas, man, you’re making me proud, these guys tell me you’ve been the consummate professional. How do you think it’s going?”
    Then: “Good. Perfect. I’m sure you’re taking great care of these people. Now listen, did Lara’s friend call you...? She did? So you’re seeing her?”
    Lara was Bryce’s wife. I put down the press kit I was assembling.
    “Tomorrow night! All right, you lucky dog, you’re going to thank me for this,” Bryce was saying. “My young friend, let me tell you...that woman...is smoking. Hot as a fucking pistol. The type that’ll sing for her supper and get breakfast in the bargain, if you know what I mean. Take her somewhere nice, you can add it to your tab for doing such a kick-ass job out there.”
    When Bryce hung up, I turned to the press kit once again. “So what was that all about?” I asked, trying for an offhand tone.
    “What do you mean?”
    “It sounds like you’re hooking Stas up with some kind of prostitute.”
    “Prostitute? Come on. Not at all. She’s a friend of my wife’s.”
    “Okay, but you were basically saying he could expect to get laid.”
    “Look, she’s a fun-loving lady, what’s the harm in that? Plus, Stas is just her type. She likes them tall, young, foreign, boyish. What do you care, anyway?”
    “It’s not that I care. I just think it’s