Page 78 of Try Easy

Steeling herself to face Paul, Lou washed and dried her hands, straightened her posture, and went back out into the airport. She would tell him she was tired, she thought, fleshing out a thin plan. She would tell him she was exhausted and needed rest, and then she would crawl under her covers and figure out the rest in the morning.

Lou saw Paul right away. He was standing inside the doors of the airport smoking a cigarette. His eyes swept over the crowds with a look of disdain. She knew he hated traveling, and he hated the airport. Lou imagined it had cost Paul quite a bit to show up here to collect her.

She stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. He was a tall man with an imposing air of authority. He was dressed impeccably in a black raincoat that covered an expensive suit. His face was half hidden under the brim of a wool hat that sparkled with raindrops.

Lou felt a pang in her heart looking at him. Had she ever really loved him? Or had she just loved the idea of him? He was smart and ambitious, handsome and strong. But he didn’t make her laugh, and he didn’t kiss her as if it was the only thing in the world he wanted to do.

Their eyes met over the crowd, and Paul smiled, pulling a bouquet of drenched flowers from behind his back. He dropped the cigarette to the ground, crushed it under his shoe, and strode toward her.

Lou reminded herself that Paul Sullivan was everything she had always wanted in a man. She smiled back and went to greet him.

The flowers were red roses. They were wilted with the weight of the rain on their petals, and they smelled like wet wool. They were a far cry from the fragrant lei Keoni had slipped around Lou’s neck in Honolulu.

“The flowers got a little wet,” Paul said. “Sorry about that.”

Lou took the flowers and tilted her face up for a kiss. Paul brushed his lips over hers. When Paul tried to linger, Lou turned her cheek and buried her face against his collar. He patted her back and after a moment released her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, holding back tears.

Paul’s eyebrows lifted under the brim of his hat. “You aren’t happy to see me?”

“Of course I am,” Lou said. Her head began to ache with the effort of trying to smile. “It’s been a long day, and I’m tired.”

“Of course,” Paul said, the cheer returning to his voice. “Penny looks like someone’s been beating her with a stick. Both of you girls need some rest.”

“Yes,” Lou said.

She let Paul lead her through the airport.

“You’ll never guess where I had dinner tonight,” he said.

“Where?” Lou asked, fixing her hood over her hair as they walked outside.

“Dr. Martin’s,” Paul said.

Lou had no idea who Dr. Martin was, but she said, “Really? That’s wonderful.”

“It is! I think he can get me a position with Judge Sodderman this summer.”

Paul led Lou to the car and opened the passenger door for her. Penny was already in the back seat. Lou turned to look at Penny as Paul walked around the front of the car.

“You okay?” Lou asked.

Penny shrugged and looked out the window. She didn’t say a word the entire ride home.

When they arrived at their apartment, Paul carried their luggage upstairs for them.

“Geez,” he said, struggling with the heavy suitcases. “These weigh a ton.”

Lou didn’t invite Paul to stay, and he was disappointed but didn’t push her.

“I’m too tired,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

Paul pulled her into his arms. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“It’s Monday,” Paul said.

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