Moonlight and Roses (6 page)

Life isn’t over for Caroline Davis White. If you want to know what happens to her next, her story continues in the book,
Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights
, published by Astraea Press.
The first 1,000 words of that book follows right here:

“You’re running away, Miss?” Harry, the butler, asked her.

“Yes, I am. I’ve had enough. Thank you for all your kindness over the past five years. You helped to make unbearable times better,” she said, warmly, shaking his hand.

Harry, a non-descript, plump, fifty-year-old man blushed, putting color in his sallow cheeks.

“Don’t know what’s wrong with Mr. White. When he has you here, why would he…? Well, it’s not for me to understand, I guess. But I wouldn’t be doin’ that if I were him.”

She was grateful for his sweetness, but it was time to get started. She had a long trip ahead. Caroline Davis White dashed into the sunroom to grab her sketchpad and her fawn pug when the doorbell rang.

“It’s Stanton Cauley, Mrs. White,” Harry said, returning to the sunroom.

Caroline went to greet her visitor, a tall, slim, attractive man with gray hair, dressed in casual pants and a button down shirt.

“Stan, nice to see you, but I was just going out. Is there a problem with the collection?” she asked, smoothing down her long blonde hair.

“No, no, Caroline. My people have packed up your paintings now that the show is over, and I wanted to deliver them to you personally.”

“That’s nice of you, but unnecessary,” she said, looking at her watch.

“You’re looking ravishing as ever,” he said, his eyes roving over her body, focusing too long on her cleavage, unconsciously licking his lips before raising his eyes to hers.

“I’d love to invite you for coffee, Stan, but as I said, I’m on my way out…” Caroline said, uneasy under his stare. She backed away from him, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

“Always working, Caroline, you’re such a gifted artist, but even a driven one takes time off to…ah…play once in a while,” he said.

“Yes, well, today is not the day for that, I’m afraid,” she said, moving toward the front door, hoping he would follow her.

“Come on, Caroline. Let’s stop beating around the bush. You know why I’m here.”

“Honestly, Stan, I don’t have a clue. But whatever it is will have to wait.”

“But love can’t wait.”

“What?”

“That’s right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t pretend, Caroline. You know I want to have an affair with you. I’ve wanted it for a long time. Brad has his…other life…so why shouldn’t you have yours?”

Caroline’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

“What happens between Brad and me is none of your business. I’m married, Stan, and even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be interested in sleeping with you. Never have been, never will be. I suggest you leave.”

“Come, come, don’t be like that. I can show you a good time, believe me. We can sail away for the weekend together on my yacht. I’ll treat you well, just say the word.”

“No way. If Brad knew you were coming here with this…this proposition, he’d
—
”

“But he does know. He thought if you had some diversion of your own, you wouldn’t mind so much if he had his,” Stan said, stepping closer and reaching for her hand.

Caroline moved back away from him.

“Come. Don’t be childish. You know you want this,” he said, advancing toward her.

Anger from the past two years of pain and humiliation pooled in her chest. Stan Cauley’s proposition was the last straw.

“Get out, Stan. Get out. You’re disgusting. Leave. Now! Get
out
!” she screamed, her voice escalating in intensity.

She picked up an umbrella from the stand and threatened him with it.

His face turned purple with outrage and when Harry opened the front door, Stan stormed out.

Caroline put down the umbrella and took several deep breaths to calm herself. She blinked back tears.

“That’s the way, Miss,” Harry said, shutting the door quickly.

“Harry, did you get the paintings unloaded before you escorted him out?”

“Of course,” he said, smiling.

Caroline sank down in a soft chair in the foyer. Trixie came and sprawled out at her feet. Harry brought her a cup of coffee. The foyer of the Riordan twenty-room house in Greenwich, Connecticut, one of the richest towns in the country, was grand. Great art hung on the walls, the floor was pink marble and the room was painted a tasteful beige.

The foyer was elegant like all the rooms in this house. Bradley Riordan White lived in the section of town zoned for four-acre estates, a cut above the area zoned for a paltry two acres.

Caroline paused. She thought about how great life could have been in this amazing home with an art studio and a greenhouse. Life could have been wonderful with the right man. Instead, this house had become world’s classiest prison with Caroline as the only inmate.

She had been planning to leave Brad for the past three months. Her suitcases were packed, but the time never seemed right. After Stan’s visit, if she had any thoughts about staying, they were gone. Her relationship with Brad had deteriorated beyond repair and she had to leave…immediately before she had to face another degrading situation like the one with Stan. She finished her coffee and called for Harry.

“Would you please help me load up my car?”

“Right away, Miss,” he said.

Caroline led him into her bedroom to get two suitcases and several small oil paintings.

“Harry…don’t put the luggage and things in the Bentley,” she instructed.

“You’re not taking the Bentley?” he asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

“No. Put everything in the Mazda, in the trunk. I don’t want anything showing in the back seat,” she said, ready to be rid of the trappings of wealth.

“Yes, Miss,” he said, picking up the two heavy suitcases.

He carried the luggage and artwork out to her car and loaded it expertly into the trunk, fitting all the luggage, paintings and sketches together snugly so nothing would get damaged.

“A long trip, Miss?” he asked her.

“Yes, Harry. A long, private trip. You’re not to tell anyone,” she said.

“What should I say if Mr. White asks me where you’ve gone?”

“Tell him you don’t know. Because you won’t know.”

Looking for the
entire
book? Find it in these locations:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Moonlit-Nights-Moonlight-ebook/dp/B005XGJDYK/

Barnes & Noble:   http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sunny-days-moonlit-nights-jean-joachim/1100229383?ean=2940013289451&itm=2&usri=sunny%2bdays

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