Public Secrets Part 224

frayed. "I didn't think you had time for old friends anymore."

"Marianne-" She couldn't break down right here. There were still

reporters close enough, watching her, snapping pictures. Drew was

going to see the pictures, of her and Marianne together. Then he would

know she lied. She cast desperate looks over her shoulder. "Can I . .

. I need ..."

"Are you all right?" Marianne tipped down her sungla.s.ses and studied

Emma's face. "Christ, you look terrible."

"I'd like to talk with you, if you have a few minutes."

"I've always had a few minutes," Marianne retorted. She dug in her

purse for a cigarette. "I thought you were going straight back."

"No." She took a deep breath, and stepped over the line. "I'm not going

back at all."

Through the haze of smoke, Marianne's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"I'm not going back," Emma repeated, and was terrified when her voice

began to hitch. "Can we go somewhere. Please. I have to go

somewhere."

"Sure." Marianne stuck a hand under Emma's elbow. "We'll take your

limo. We'll go anywhere you like."

It took only a short time to reach Marianne's hotel, which, when Emma

began to shake, was the best place Marianne could think of to take her.

They went straight up to the suite, a beautiful pastel set of rooms

overlooking the crowded white sand and blue water. Marianne had already

made the s.p.a.ce hers by tossing articles of clothing over every available

chair. She scooped up the sweatshirt and slacks she had traveled in,

gestured for Emma to sit, then went to the phone.

"I want a bottle of Grand Marnier, two cheeseburgers, medium, a basket

of fries, and a liter of Pepsi in a bucket of ice. I got twenty bucks

for the guy who gets up here in fifteen minutes." Satisfied, she swept

her running shoes off another chair and sat. "Okay, Emma, what the

h.e.l.l's going on?"

"I've left Drew."

Not quite ready to forgive, she stretched out her legs. "Yes, I think I

picked up on that, but why? I thought you were deliriously happy."

"Yes, I'm very happy. He's wonderful. He takes such good care ..."

She heard her own voice and trailed off with a kind of panicked disgust.

"Oh G.o.d, sometimes I actually believe it."

"Believe what?"

"What he's trained me to say. Marianne, I don't know who else I can

talk to. And I think if I don't say it right here and right now I never

will. I wanted to tell Johnno. I started to, but I just couldn't."

"All right." Because Emma looked much too pale, Marianne rose and opened

the balcony doors. Sea air fluttered in. "Take your time. Is

it another woman?" Marianne said nothing, just watched as Emma began to

rock back and forth and laugh.

"Oh Christ, sweet Christ." Before she could stop, the laughter had

turned to sobs, great wrenching sobs. Moving quickly, Marianne knelt

beside her to take her hands.

"Easy, Emma. You're going to make yourself sick. Hey, hey. We all

know most men are b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. If Drew's been unfaithful, you just kick