Page 54 of Now Comes the Dark

Roman was about to reply but killed the words before he spoke. It would do no good to tell Mallon what he said was ridiculous. His marriage was built upon lies—two people living separate lives but pretending to be together for the sake of old-fashioned morality. Children were not stupid. The older they got, the more aware they would become of the gaping chasm between their parents.

If what he’s told me is true. Mallon had been lying to him for weeks. How could Roman trust that he was telling the truth now? Mallon was believable. His emotions seemed genuine.Is that enough?

“So, are you saying you are going to remain in a loveless marriage for, what, the next eight or nine years?”

He gave a short nod. “We’ve been married thirteen already. Nine years does not seem too long in the scheme of things.”

“Why are you telling me this? You had things worked out pretty neatly—one life in France, another here in Blyham. You had the best of both worlds. What has changed?”

“You. My feelings for you. When I called you last night, I sensed a change. I…I was afraid of losing you, of losing what we have.” He shook his head and mumbled something in French. “Shit. I can’t explain. I want you to know the truth, and if you decide to be with me, there will be no deception. You’ll know everything.”

“Be with you. What does that mean?”

Mallon’s eyes brightened. “It means anything you want it to.” He thumped his chest, right on the heart. “I can honestly say I have never experienced feelings like this for another man. I’ve always maintained a distance. I rarely saw the same man more than once. If I did, he was always married with secrets of his own to protect. Emotions were never a part of it.Youmade me feel something different.” He thumped his heart again. “Something here. Tell me, please. Tell you feel something, too.”

Roman struggled to think clearly. The things Mallon said appeared to have come from nowhere. He couldn’t remember another time Mallon had mentioned his emotions or viewing Roman as anything more than a sex partner. “Of course, I do,” he admitted. “I…I don’t even know what this is, but it’s all new for me, too. Until I met you, I hadn’t slept with the same man more than once for a long time. I can’t deny there was something developing between us, even though neither of us acknowledged it.”

“Thank God, I am not crazy. I was afraid this was only me.”

Roman shook his head. “It’s not. I feel it, too.” He took a deep breath. “But you have given me a lot of information tonight, and I’m struggling to get my head around it. That you’re married with a family is going to take some time to process. And you really picked your moment for it, didn’t you? I’m still recovering from the shock of what happened to Phil.”

Mallon furrowed his brow. “Shit. I’m a selfish bastard. I didn’t even think about that…only myself. I’m sorry, Roman. This confession could have waited. I suppose I panicked.”

“It’s all right. I appreciate your honesty. If you had told me all this at the beginning, it’s unlikely I’d have wanted to see you again. But I’m going to need some time to get my head around it all.”

“How long?”

“I can’t say. A day or two, maybe?”

Mallon’s expression saddened. “Of course. I understand. It’s a lot.”

“I’m glad I know. So, thank you.”

Mallon opened his wallet again and withdrew a plastic card. He passed it across the table.

“What is this?” Roman asked.

“It’s the key to my apartment. When you are ready, you can let yourself in at any time.”

Roman flushed as another rush of blood went to his head. “Are you sure? This is a big gesture.”

“I have already cleared it with the building security team. They know I am giving you this, so you can come and go as you please, even when I’m at work or out of the country. Maybe it will give you a place to escape to if the arguments get too intense at your own apartment.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Just take it.” Mallon pulled his jacket off the back of the chair. “I’ve said enough for one night, given you a lot to think about. I’m going to go now. Take your time and think about everything I have told you. There is no rush. I will wait for as long as it takes. And when you reach a decision, you know where to find me.”

* * * *

Mallon left Chez Michelle, fastened his jacket to the neck and lit a cigarette. From the other side of the road, a man dressed all in black, with a cap pulled low over his brow, watched, silent and unobserved. Mallon looked like a man with the world on his shoulders. He put down his head and walked along the street, further into the town centre. He had lost the usual arrogant, cock-of-the-walk strut.

Roman remained inside the café, making no attempt to leave himself.

Trouble in paradise?

It would seem so. Whenever these two got together, they could melt ice with the heat they generated. There was none of that tonight. Both looked troubled and lost in their own thoughts.

The man had to make a snap decision. They were clearly doing their own thing this evening. On instinct, he chose to follow Mallon.

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