Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [125]
‘That’s what you’re going to tell everyone, is it?’ He imagined she had rehearsed her lines carefully.
‘It’s the truth, isn’t it?’
‘No, Amy, it’s goddamned not! I’ve had a lot of time to think about things over the years and you know what … I came to the conclusion you tricked me. And I’ll tell you something else, Amy. You’re too late. I’m about to marry the woman I truly love.’
‘How can that be?’ she asked calmly with mock sweetness, spreading her arms in a querying gesture. ‘You’re married to me.’
‘Not for long. We’re getting a divorce. No way can you walk back into my life. You smell money. You’re only here because of the pearls.’
Amy’s face was hard, her mouth set in a firm line. ‘I will never give you a divorce. I will fight you every inch of the way. I have come prepared with documents, marriage certificate and letters. I can claim you deserted me and get … restitution.’ She resumed her artificially sweet pose. ‘Is it such a poor proposition, Johnny? For me to be your wife? Many men would envy you. There is nothing for me back there. I intend to stay here. With you.’
‘But I don’t want you!’Tyndall shouted in frustration. Through his anger came the dawning realisation that this woman was dangerous, conniving and unpleasant.
‘Think it over. This is a shock. You’ll get used to the idea. By the way, you’d better inform your lady friend of your true situation,’ she added with some smugness.
‘You can’t stay here,’ said Tyndall stubbornly, feeling the ground giving way beneath his feet.
‘What are you going to do? Send me to a hotel? Throw out your wife? I would be very distressed at that. Whatever would people think?’
Tyndall conceded momentary defeat. The pretty but manipulative girl who’d led him to the altar had become a shrewd, calculating and experienced woman used to getting what she wanted from life.
He slammed out of the house. Oh God, how was he going to tell Olivia? It would be hard, but he had no doubt Olivia’s depth of understanding and love for him would help them to cope with the trauma. He’d get rid of Amy no matter how much it cost.
It took a few moments for Olivia to absorb the full import of what Tyndall told her. She asked him slowly to repeat the basic details.
He stumbled through a brief explanation and floundered to a halt as Olivia sank back into her office chair and stared at him across the desk. She’d come to work as usual to tidy up loose ends before their wedding and honeymoon.
Tears of hurt rage spilled down her cheeks. ‘How could you not tell me you were married? Had been married, whatever … ’
‘I thought she was dead. I haven’t thought about her in years! I was a lad, she just disappeared … ’
‘And you didn’t try to find out what happened to her? You were her husband … ’
‘I was barely twenty years old. I was on the other side of the world. The priest wrote and told me … for God’s sake, Olivia, try and understand … ’
‘I am trying to understand. Understand how the man I love, the man I believed my soul mate, the man I saw spending the rest of my life with, joyously with, has lied to and deceived me.’
‘Never, Olivia … Never intentionally … ’
‘What else have you not told me, John? How can I ever trust you again?’
‘Olivia, we’ll sort this out. I know it’s unfortunate, her timing is bad, I agree … ’
‘Unfortunate! I would say her timing was perfect. What if we were married? You’d be in gaol for bigamy … ’
‘We’re still getting married, Olivia. This might delay matters but I will fix it. Damn her, she’s just after money … ’
‘I don’t think so, John … ’
‘Don’t think what? That she’s after money?’
‘That we should get married.’
‘Olivia … you can’t be serious! We can’t throw away our happiness because of this wretched … intrusion.’
Olivia turned away from his anguished face. ‘It’s not just her being here … it’s the fact that you didn’t tell me … ’
‘I didn’t know!’
‘But you should have told me, we talked about your past. This