Page 93 of Married With Malice

Perhaps I’ll make a resolution list for the new year.

Item number one: STOP OBSESSING OVER MY HUSBAND.

If I once (and only once, but it still counts) landed a triple axel jump, surely this goal will be a breeze.

Tiptoeing out of the meditation room like a criminal, I locate the locker where I left my clothes and purse. I duck into a restroom to change, only to run into the spa attendant when I emerge.

“Was there a problem?” She seems distressed to find me wearing clothes and on the verge of escaping.

“Not at all. I just remembered I had somewhere to be.” I should have thought up a better excuse.

The woman’s forehead buckles with dismay. “But you haven’t even experienced the deep scalp massage followed by the citrus and salt renewal.”

She continues to beckon even as I back away toward the exit.

“I’m good,” I say, calling over my shoulder, “I’m serene enough, I swear.”

A mild sense of guilt pricks at me as I flee. I’ll make sure to sign for a huge tip for the staff. They tried their best. Not their fault I’m the poster child for the sentiment‘It’s not you. It’s me.’

Now that I’ve assembled enough courage to deal with Luca, I just want to get it done before I lose my nerve and hide in the bathroom again.

The heels of my boots are as loud as gunshots as I hustle through the corridors. In the lobby, two uniformed staff members stand at the door and admire the snow flurries. The scene outside the window is awful pretty and if I wasn’t in a hurry I’d probably stop to admire the sight.

My phone pings with a text and I’m expecting the message to be from either Sabrina or Daisy. They’ve been deeply worried ever since the Christmas fiasco. I’ve done my best not to burden them with my sordid issues but sisters have a way of sensing when something critical has gone awry in your life.

The text is not from Daisy or Brina. Or Luca either. Sadie has sent the photo she snapped of me snuggling a kitten in Peggy’s kitchen yesterday while Luca looks on in the background. She captions the photo with the words, “Can’t wait for you to visit again!”

She’s so sweet. I do hope we get a chance to spend more time together. Daisy and Brina would absolutely adore her. However, I’m not sure what to expect after today. Luca feels protective of Cale and Sadie. He may not want me around them.

I’ll have to think of an answer for Sadie later, when my heart isn’t pounding in my throat.

I can feel my pulse speeding up as I approach the suite and I hold my breath as I crack the door open. But Luca isn’t even inside. I don’t know where he is. Maybe he’s down at the bar again or maybe he’s isolated himself somewhere in the bowels of the resort in order to discuss extra important mafia business.

This is actually a relief. I thought I was ready to face him but now I’d like a little more time to sort out what I want to say.

I might feel more confident if I had some gum. There’s been a sticky feeling in my mouth since I ate those macaroons. Luca can usually be counted on to keep a couple of packs of wintergreen Trident around. I’ve stolen them a few times.

No luck in the sitting room. All I find are the keys to the rental car and Luca’s gun, which is in a drawer beside the bible. Maybe he brought more than one. These days he’s always armed and he’s unlikely to be dissuaded by any policy the resort might have. My father has an ownership stake here and I’m sure they know exactly who we are.

At first glance, all I can find in his suitcase are piles of folded clothes. But when my fingers land on the small blue travel bag within, a jolt of recollection strikes.

The first time I saw this bag was on our honeymoon. I stood and watched as Luca extracted a small bottle of aloe to rub on my non-sunburned shoulders. What happened next is a steamy memory I’ve revisited many times. Even now, those minutes in front of the mirror have the power to make me blush.

Yet I’m not sorry that I let it happen. In spite of everything, I’d do the same again.

My legs are cramping in this crouched position so I take a seat on the throw rug and unzip Luca’s bag. If there’s gum to be found anywhere, it’s bound to be in here.

Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Deodorant. Razor. Aftershave.

And a square white box with the name of a Manhattan jeweler scripted across the top. This is an odd find and out of curiosity I shake the lid off.

For a few seconds I’m confused about what I’m looking at.

It’s a woman’s silver charm bracelet. But why?

One by one, I see the shapes of the charms. The pair of figure skates. The palm tree. The wedding ring. The tiny sign that says #1 SISTER.

My eyes fail to blink for so long that they start to water. There’s no possibility that this gift is intended for anyone else. It’s as if Luca reached into my heart, discovered the most vital parts of my soul, and turned them into a keepsake.

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