Honeymoon - James Patterson [61]
“Did you have a nice visit with your mother, Nora? Seems like it.”
“Yes, I did. It was certainly better than the last time I was here.” Nora tucked her hair behind her ears. “That reminds me,” she said. “I want to apologize for my behavior that day. I was very emotional. You, on the other hand, calmly took care of things. You were great. Thank you, Emily.”
“You’re welcome, but that’s what I’m here for.”
“Well, I’m glad you were here that day.” Nora glanced down at Emily’s book. “Tell you what, when his next one comes out I’ll get you an autographed copy.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I happen to know Mr. Walker. I did some work with him.”
Emily’s smile was radiant. “Oh God, that would make my day all right. My week!”
“It’s the least I could do.” Nora flashed a warm smile. “After all, what are friends for?”
Figure of speech or not, Emily knew that it was a nice thing to say. Nora finally waved good-bye and headed for the elevator bank.
After Emily watched her hit the DOWN button, she returned to her Jeffrey Walker novel. Only when she heard the closing elevator doors did she look back up. That’s when she saw it.
Nora’s purse was on the counter.
Emily figured that she’d realize she’d left it by the time she reached the lobby. Just the same, she called down to security. Hanging up the phone, she resumed her reading. But before she could finish a sentence, her eyes went back to the beautiful and expensive-looking purse.
She noticed it was open.
Chapter 81
ELAINE AND ALLISON could hardly believe their ears. They weren’t used to Nora talking about another man—not since her husband, Tom, had died suddenly.
But that’s what their good friend was doing as they ate dinner amid the exposed brick walls of the Mercer Kitchen in SoHo that night. In fact, talking didn’t begin to describe it. Gushing was more like it. This was so not Nora.
“There’s this incredible energy with him, just beneath the surface. This quiet confidence I just love. He’s down-to-earth, but he’s special.”
“Wow. Who knew insurance guys could be so sexy?” joked Elaine.
“Certainly not me,” said Nora. “But Craig, well, he shouldn’t be an insurance man.”
“More important, how does he dress?” asked Allison, ever the fashion editor.
“Nice suits, but nothing stuffy. He likes to go open collar. I don’t think I’ve seen him in a tie.”
“Okay, let’s cut to the chase,” said Elaine with a wave of her hand. “How is your fella in bed?”
Allison rolled her eyes. “Elaine!”
“What? We tell each other everything.”
“Yeah, but they just met. How do you know they’ve even had sex yet?” Allison turned to Nora with a sneaky grin.
“We’ve had sex.”
Elaine and Allison leaned forward on their elbows. “And?” they both asked simultaneously.
Nora, in complete control of the moment, took a slow sip of her cosmopolitan. “The sex was okay. . . . No, I’m kidding. It was incredible.”
The three of them laughed like teenagers.
“I am so jealous,” said Elaine.
Nora got a little serious suddenly, and it surprised even her. “I don’t feel alone when I’m with him. I haven’t felt like that in a long time. I think . . . I think we’re a lot alike.”
Elaine turned to Allison. “Maybe we’ve been looking in the wrong place. A city of a million single men and she meets Mr. Incredible out in the ’burbs.”
“You didn’t tell us, what were you doing there in the first place?” asked Allison.
“I’ve got a client in Briarcliff Manor,” said Nora. “I was in Chappaqua at an antiques store and there he was, looking for old fly-fishing rods. He collects them.”
“And the rest is history,” said Allison.
“She reeled him in from there,” added Elaine. “I repeat, I am so jealous!”
She wasn’t really and Nora knew it. The only thing Elaine was, was happy—happy that her friend, who hadn’t seemed able to get on with her life, had met someone. And Allison was equally happy for Nora.
“So when do we meet this Craig?” she asked.
“Yeah,” said Elaine. “When do we get to meet Mr. Incredible?”
Chapter 82
NORA RETURNED TO her loft after