Until the End of Time (3 page)
Read Until the End of Time Online
Authors: Melanie Schuster
“
Renee, darling, I don’t mean to be ugly about this, but you’re a contrary wench. There, I said it. The way you treat these poor men is disgraceful and you could use a good smack. And I happen to have a hand right here that isn’t doing anything.”
Renee, darling, I don’t mean to be ugly about this, but you’re a contrary wench. There, I said it. The way you treat these poor men is disgraceful and you could use a good smack. And I happen to have a hand right here that isn’t doing anything.”
Renee had to stifle a giggle, recalling the last time she and Ceylon had a go around regarding what Ceylon termed her heartless behavior. Even though Ceylon was mostly kidding, she never failed to point out that Renee was being unfair to her horde of admirers.
“
But I don’t lead anyone on,” Renee would argue. “I don’t promise them that I’ll be monogamous, or that our relationship will progress to anything other than what it is. It’s not my fault that they persist,” she would always say.
But I don’t lead anyone on,” Renee would argue. “I don’t promise them that I’ll be monogamous, or that our relationship will progress to anything other than what it is. It’s not my fault that they persist,” she would always say.
And it was perfectly true. Renee didn’t encourage men to make fools of themselves over her, but she certainly didn’t discourage their attention as long as it was the variety she favored, like tonight’s date with Edwin. On a damp early spring evening, what could be nicer than theater and dinner? From the look of ardor on Edwin’s face, many things, apparently. After the play Edwin had been making small talk and clearing his throat for some time, indicating that he wanted to say something of great importance. Renee sighed and knew she would have to put the man out of his misery. She knew that another proposal of marriage was in the offing and the thought filled her with unease. Though it was irritating that Edwin kept asking her, she was not without feeling. She would let him down gently as always and gradually the relationship would resume its normal pleasant dimensions. Edwin would continue to wine her, dine her and present her with appropriate floral tributes and baubles and she would continue to allow him to do so.
She glanced at her companion across the table in the intimate and expensive little
boite
that he had selected for her dining pleasure. Edwin was practically beside himself. Whatever it was he needed to get it off his chest in a hurry. Renee gave him a smile of encouragement, which could have been a mistake. Renee’s smiles were noted for their infrequency and their beauty.
boite
that he had selected for her dining pleasure. Edwin was practically beside himself. Whatever it was he needed to get it off his chest in a hurry. Renee gave him a smile of encouragement, which could have been a mistake. Renee’s smiles were noted for their infrequency and their beauty.
Edwin looked up to see Renee’s loveliness gleaming at him in the candlelight, which was harrowing enough and then she smiled, which made his palms moist. He couldn’t help himself, he blurted out exactly what he was thinking which was never a good idea around Renee.
“
Renee, you are so gorgeous. When you smile at me like that, it makes me want to…well, that smile of yours just does things to me,” he said hoarsely.
Renee, you are so gorgeous. When you smile at me like that, it makes me want to…well, that smile of yours just does things to me,” he said hoarsely.
Renee lowered her eyes and turned down the smile just a notch. There was no point in raising false hope in the poor man. Edwin went on with his declaration.
“
Renee, you know that I want to get married again. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I care for you very, very much. I think that we make a good match in terms of our interests and our temperaments. I would certainly do everything in my power to make you happy. I simply can’t conceive of living the rest of my life without a partner, a wife with whom to share my life and to enjoy the finer things in life that I’ve managed to acquire.”
Renee, you know that I want to get married again. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I care for you very, very much. I think that we make a good match in terms of our interests and our temperaments. I would certainly do everything in my power to make you happy. I simply can’t conceive of living the rest of my life without a partner, a wife with whom to share my life and to enjoy the finer things in life that I’ve managed to acquire.”
She engrossed herself in tracing the pattern in the damask tablecloth while bracing for the closing argument. Despite her outward calm, she was getting more and more uncomfortable. She didn’t ask for this, damn it, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t made her feelings perfectly plain to Edwin. Why did he persist in flinging himself at her like a doomed moth trying to mate with a light bulb? She tried to pay attention to what he was saying.
“
And so, it seems odd, but Muriel and I have been seeing each other for a couple of months now. It was kind of amazing how well we fit together after all this time. I mean, we’ve been divorced for quite a few years now. But I guess the old saying about how you never stop loving your first love is true. And I know that you have no interest in marriage at this time or ever, according to your own words, so…” Edwin had stopped looking anxious and started looking happy, which was contrary to all that Renee knew about the man. Maybe she should have listened more closely when he started speaking.
And so, it seems odd, but Muriel and I have been seeing each other for a couple of months now. It was kind of amazing how well we fit together after all this time. I mean, we’ve been divorced for quite a few years now. But I guess the old saying about how you never stop loving your first love is true. And I know that you have no interest in marriage at this time or ever, according to your own words, so…” Edwin had stopped looking anxious and started looking happy, which was contrary to all that Renee knew about the man. Maybe she should have listened more closely when he started speaking.
“
Edwin, what exactly are you trying to tell me?” she asked in the precise, measured tone she reserved for people who were about to get royally reamed. Edwin was actually beaming by now.
Edwin, what exactly are you trying to tell me?” she asked in the precise, measured tone she reserved for people who were about to get royally reamed. Edwin was actually beaming by now.
“
My former wife and I are getting remarried,” Edwin said with a big silly smirk on his face. “I proposed last night and she did me the honor of accepting,” he added.
My former wife and I are getting remarried,” Edwin said with a big silly smirk on his face. “I proposed last night and she did me the honor of accepting,” he added.
Renee tried to tell herself that the reason for her inability to move had nothing to do with Edwin’s announcement, but she knew better.
The old coot! I give him the
pleasure of my company and this is how he repays me?
This and other savage thoughts raced through Renee’s mind while she tried to compose herself.
The old coot! I give him the
pleasure of my company and this is how he repays me?
This and other savage thoughts raced through Renee’s mind while she tried to compose herself.
Forcing her pretty mouth into a social smile she said, warmly, she hoped, “Congratulations, Edwin. That’s lovely news. And I do appreciate your telling me in person. It would have felt so odd to read it in the papers. You’re so considerate,” she said through a slightly clenched jaw.
Edwin, bless his thick head, didn’t see anything amiss with his behavior. He had a date with Renee and past experience had taught him that to break a date with her was to risk her considerable wrath. She wasn’t the kind of woman to lose her temper, but what she did when she was riled was in many ways much worse. She could put you into a deep freeze with a glance; she was so tough that a man would still feel the chill days later. So he saw nothing wrong with having a last date while announcing his engagement. It seemed perfectly proper to him, which is probably why his first marriage ended in divorce.
They quickly left the restaurant and drove to Indian Village in what Edwin mistakenly believed was a companionable silence. It wasn’t until he walked her to the door that he realized something was amiss. Renee turned to him with a variation of expression that he had never seen on her face before. It was a combination siren and succubus, guaranteed to drive a man to the fiery brink of desire.
“
Once again Edwin, congratulations on your engagement,” she purred. “I hope you’ll be very, very happy.” And before he could respond, Renee grabbed him by the lapels and laid a kiss on him like nothing he had ever experienced in his life, certainly not with Renee. No, it wasn’t one of her patented lip pecks; this was a long, sensual, French kiss of the most erotic variety. It was over much too abruptly as Renee suddenly pulled away, leaving him breathless and wanting.
Once again Edwin, congratulations on your engagement,” she purred. “I hope you’ll be very, very happy.” And before he could respond, Renee grabbed him by the lapels and laid a kiss on him like nothing he had ever experienced in his life, certainly not with Renee. No, it wasn’t one of her patented lip pecks; this was a long, sensual, French kiss of the most erotic variety. It was over much too abruptly as Renee suddenly pulled away, leaving him breathless and wanting.
“
Goodbye, Edwin.” was all she said before slipping in the door.
Goodbye, Edwin.” was all she said before slipping in the door.
Chapter Two
No sooner had the door closed behind her than Renee was consumed with guilt.
Why did I do that? That was just so sick and wrong!
she berated herself. Aretha, Bennie’s huge black longhaired cat, seemed to agree with her. She sat on the stairs in the boxy shape that cats employ when they’re observing humans. She always seemed to sense when someone was up to something. Renee wasn’t known as a cat lover, but she and Aretha were drawn to one another. When the two of them were alone, Renee talked to her like she was a person. Aretha always understood her, even if no one else did. Renee hung her coat in the hall closet while she cursed herself in French. Then she turned to the cat which was waiting patiently for Renee to unburden herself.
Why did I do that? That was just so sick and wrong!
she berated herself. Aretha, Bennie’s huge black longhaired cat, seemed to agree with her. She sat on the stairs in the boxy shape that cats employ when they’re observing humans. She always seemed to sense when someone was up to something. Renee wasn’t known as a cat lover, but she and Aretha were drawn to one another. When the two of them were alone, Renee talked to her like she was a person. Aretha always understood her, even if no one else did. Renee hung her coat in the hall closet while she cursed herself in French. Then she turned to the cat which was waiting patiently for Renee to unburden herself.
“
Well, if you’re looking for an explanation, I can’t give you one,” Renee admitted as she picked Aretha up and carried her up to her suite of rooms on the third floor of the house. “Edwin, you remember him, the one with the beard, is a perfectly nice man. I just don’t happen to be terribly interested in him. He’s a wonderful dining companion, but I don’t have any kind of abiding passion for him at all.” She sat Aretha on the bed and began to undress. She removed her dress, shook it out carefully and hung it on one of the thickly padded hangers that she used to pamper her expensive clothes.
Well, if you’re looking for an explanation, I can’t give you one,” Renee admitted as she picked Aretha up and carried her up to her suite of rooms on the third floor of the house. “Edwin, you remember him, the one with the beard, is a perfectly nice man. I just don’t happen to be terribly interested in him. He’s a wonderful dining companion, but I don’t have any kind of abiding passion for him at all.” She sat Aretha on the bed and began to undress. She removed her dress, shook it out carefully and hung it on one of the thickly padded hangers that she used to pamper her expensive clothes.
She took off her earrings and underwear, talking to Aretha all the while. “Well, he’s getting married, thank you very much, and to his ex-wife, of all people. We’re at dinner and he makes this garbled announcement and for some unknown and unknowable reason, I get this wave of…of…I don’t know what the hell it was, to be honest. All I know is I was feeling much more than I should about the situation.”
“
About what situation?”
About what situation?”
Bennie’s voice floated in from her sitting room. Renee jumped guiltily and called out to her that she would be right out.
Renee slipped an expensive silk nightgown over her head and went into the bathroom to remove her makeup. She opened the door to the medicine cabinet and glanced at her daily affirmation, which she had put out of view—some things were too private to explain. In her neat block printing was the legend “I Am the Prize”. Renee sniffed inelegantly as she looked at it, and mumbled, “Damned right, I am.”
She went into the sitting room and joined Bennie, who had made herself right at home with a tea tray containing a pot of Lapsang Souchong tea and some Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux cookies, both of which were Renee’s favorites. She was appreciative of the gesture, less so of the fact that Bennie went right back to her question like a bird dog.
“
What situation were you talking about?” she asked mildly as she poured the tea.
What situation were you talking about?” she asked mildly as she poured the tea.
“
I don’t suppose if I told you it was between Aretha and me it would do any good, would it?” Renee parried.
I don’t suppose if I told you it was between Aretha and me it would do any good, would it?” Renee parried.
“
Nope. Unless you really don’t want to tell me. You don’t have to, of course, I was just curious,” Bennie said disarmingly.
Nope. Unless you really don’t want to tell me. You don’t have to, of course, I was just curious,” Bennie said disarmingly.
Renee sighed and told her the story of Edwin’s engagement and her subsequent behavior at the front door. “For the life of me I don’t understand why I’m the least concerned over Edwin’s middle-aged frolics. It’s not my business, why should I care what he does and with whom? And why I decided to turn into a hot hoochie at the very door of our home is beyond me. There must’ve been MSG in some of that food tonight,” she said moodily.
Bennie looked carefully at her friend but didn’t say anything right away. “Well, we can always blame it on spring,” she said neutrally. “A drastic change of seasons makes us all go a little mad,” was all she would say on the matter.
They chatted for a while and Renee reminded Bennie that someone was coming to Urban Oasis in the morning for a preliminary interview. “We might be featured on television,” Renee mused. “Or at least get a nice write up in a national magazine. This reporter is Beth Thomas’s sister-in-law and she’s this big-time free-lancer with all kinds of connections. Beth just raved about the spa so now she wants to come check it out,” she said sleepily.
“
Well, that’s wonderful news, Renee. I’m going to turn in so that you can get up early and knock her socks off.” Suiting action to words, Bennie bid Renee goodnight and left with the tea tray.
Well, that’s wonderful news, Renee. I’m going to turn in so that you can get up early and knock her socks off.” Suiting action to words, Bennie bid Renee goodnight and left with the tea tray.
Aretha remained behind as if to tuck Renee in. Renee yawned and looked at the fluffy black mass. “It was probably the full moon that did it,” she murmured. Aretha didn’t answer; she merely stared at Renee with the feline equivalent of a knowing look. Renee settled in bed, fluffing her pillows and smoothing out her goose down duvet. Looking at Aretha, she sighed.
“
I’m sure that I’m gonna to have to pay for what I did tonight. If no good deed goes unpunished, there’s no telling what a scandalous move like that one will get me,” she said ruefully.
I’m sure that I’m gonna to have to pay for what I did tonight. If no good deed goes unpunished, there’s no telling what a scandalous move like that one will get me,” she said ruefully.
Aretha walked over to her and butted her head affectionately before departing for the lower floor to join Bennie. Renee turned off the light and waited for sleep to arrive. She was sure it would be a long time coming; she never could sleep when things weren’t settled in her mind, and she was far from settled right then. Despite her conversation with Bennie, she was still in turmoil over the events of the evening. Why had she given poor Edwin that big ol’ slutty kiss? She knew very well that she didn’t want the man, but the idea of someone else having him was somehow galling to her. And why couldn’t she seem to generate feelings,
normal
feelings for Edwin or anyone else? Where had she gotten the idea that she was like the Queen of Everything? Her face burned while she tried to forget her actions that night, or at least justify them.
normal
feelings for Edwin or anyone else? Where had she gotten the idea that she was like the Queen of Everything? Her face burned while she tried to forget her actions that night, or at least justify them.
Maybe it was the fact that Edwin had finally found her resistible that was so annoying. Who did he think he was, anyway? She had to admit that at almost twenty years her senior, Edwin was rather old for her. So he would rather remarry his first wife, who was roughly his age, than to continue to pursue her, a fine figure of a woman barely in her early thirties. Well there you have it; the man was obviously getting senile. He just didn’t know; he should have asked somebody.
I Am the Prize
, she reminded herself. And she fell asleep before she realized that a tiny tear was trickling down her cheek.
I Am the Prize
, she reminded herself. And she fell asleep before she realized that a tiny tear was trickling down her cheek.
***
The next day, Renee was quite willing to chalk the whole incident up to PMS or indigestion. Her behavior on the previous night had been completely uncharacteristic, and so had the feelings that occasioned them. And since her actions had been so completely out of character she obviously wasn’t responsible for them. The whole thing had been a fluke of a very weird kind; a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. There must have been a full moon, she decided. And having successfully purged herself of any culpability in the matter, she put it out of her head entirely.
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