At Last Read Free Page B

whispering again. “M-A-R-K.” As if spelling it would keep Susan from comprehending. “What the hell do you think you’ll want to do?”
    Kevin looked down at Susan’s vacant expression and thought about how she’d been telling him the relentless, gruesome details of her love life for the past five years. This could be very bad, he told himself.
    “Yeah, you taking over in a week is a really good idea.”
    “That’s a good boy,” she said, her tone placating. Kevin was about to tell her she was a bitch when she swiftly scooted around him and opened the door. “We better hurry.”
    When they got downstairs Lou had a taxi waiting at the curb outside Susan’s apartment building, all the luggage already stowed in its trunk, and was standing there--at long last--holding the door, his expression turning from merely polite to fatherly worried.
    Liz stopped for a moment and uncharacteristically threw her arms around the aging doorman. “She’ll be fine. We’re taking care of her.” She pulled away to look deep into Lou’s eyes. “You know what to do about the locks...and if he shows up?”
    Lou’s polite reserve returned as he smiled at Liz. “The locks will be changed before you arrive at the airport. I’ll have... him arrested for trespassing if he dares shows his face.”
    “Knew I could count on you, Lou.” She pecked the old man on the cheek, wiping the light smudge of lipstick off before bolting out the door.
     
    ~*~
     
    Kevin was surprised how few people bothered you when your carry-on luggage was another person. The usually brutal security screeners waved him through. The flight attendants showed him hastily to his seat, not daring to ask what was wrong with the pretty, though catatonic, woman in his arms. Kevin buckled her into her seat and spent the rest of the flight with his arm around her, not saying a word. Partly because he didn’t know what to say, and partly because he genuinely couldn’t let her go. He’d missed her so much.
    When the flight landed in Cancun, the hotel picked them up in a simple yet spotless black sedan. No limo, no tacky Congratulations or Just Married signs in sight. Obviously, Kevin thought with gratitude, Liz had already contacted the resort.
    “We’ve moved you to a luxury suite, sir,” the driver said as he pulled the car out into the gridlocked traffic. It seemed that half the United States had said, “Screw it!”and exited en masse to this sunnier, warmer destination. Kevin could feel himself start to sweat through his suit, even after he had already removed his tie.
    At least they wouldn’t have to deal with the honeymoon suite or some heart-shaped bed. “I’ll need to have some more appropriate clothes sent up to the room.”
    “Of course. Should I charge it to the room?” The driver’s expression was one of keen knowing.
    “No. I’ll pay for my own clothes. But charge everything for the lady to the room.”
    “Very good, sir. Would you like medium or large shirts, and your waist is probably a thirty-two?” The driver’s eyes were smiling in the rearview mirror as he peered back at Kevin and Susan.
    “Large shirts, size eleven shoes, and my waist is a thirty.”
    “Ah, big feet.” The driver wriggled his eyebrows. “Very good indeed.”
    The driver’s smile was smug, and Kevin guessed he already knew his measurements the moment he looked at him. That first look at the airport was not only professionally friendly, but unabashedly appraising. At least someone would be flirting with him.
     
    ~*~
     
    The luxury suite was exactly that. Some thousand square feet, two bedrooms, private and master baths, a living room and a fully functioning kitchen.
    Kevin took Susan straight to one of the bedrooms and lay her down on the bed, covering her up and tucking her in protectively.
    The bellman had left the bags by the door, but two maids had come in and were unpacking Susan’s before Kevin even noticed they were there. He would’ve told them he’d