Monarch Beach (22 page)

*   *   *

Max was tired out from his day of kayaking and needed no encouragement to go to bed. My mother and I took coffee out on the deck, and I steeled myself for what was coming.

“School starts in less than three weeks. Have you decided what you are going to do?” she asked.

It wasn’t the question I had anticipated. I expected her to ask: “Why did you come home with that ‘I’ve spent all afternoon in bed and I’m still in a sexual haze’ look on your face?” Maybe she was leading up to her inquisition.

“It doesn’t seem like Andre is going to budge, so I’ll have to look for a house to rent in Ross. Dean said that legally Andre could stay in the house if Andre paid Max rent, and the money would be put in a trust for Max.”

“When are you going to tell Max about the divorce?” my mother asked.

“I was hoping Andre would come down here and we could do it together. It seems his dance card has been full all summer. He keeps saying he’s coming but he never shows up.”

“A man of his word,” my mother murmured.

“I guess I’ll tell Max when we go back to Ross,” I replied.

“Amanda…” My mother paused. I sucked in my breath. She was going to tell me I was a terrible mother for jumping into bed with Edward so quickly. I didn’t know him at all, I wasn’t even divorced, and I should be ashamed of myself.

“I have decided to stay at the St. Regis till spring, possibly longer,” she said.

“What?” I was stunned.

“I love it here. I love the weather, I love the beauty, and I love the way the staff takes care of me.”

“But you’ve been in your house for thirty-five years! It’s where you and Dad lived your whole marriage.”

“And I miss him every day, but that’s the problem. In that house he was everywhere, I saw him when I walked into every room. Being here, I realize there are things I still enjoy: eating good food, being around people, even watching trashy television. I miss your father terribly, but I’m not quite ready to join him yet.”

Tears sprung to my eyes. I knew I was being selfish, but I couldn’t imagine not being able to cross the Golden Gate Bridge and see my mother whenever I needed her.

“You and Max could live in the house, or you could both stay here with me,” she offered tentatively.

“We can’t stay here, Max’s whole life is in Ross. And we can’t live in the city either,” I replied glumly.

“I’m sorry, honey. I don’t want to go back to living in a tomb.”

I didn’t answer. I admired her for being able to change her life. I was having a hard time imagining living on a different street in Ross.

I watched her sip a decaf espresso, and I remembered when I was a child I would hear her and my father come home from a party late at night. Sometimes they would turn on the record player and dance in the foyer. I even spied them a few times gliding around the ballroom. My father always had a drink in his hand, and my mother would be wearing some glorious gown, her shoes tossed against the wall.

“I think that’s wonderful,” I said, beaming.

“You do?” She put down her espresso.

“You belong here. You have a five-star staff at your beck and call. It’s perfect.”

“Are you sure you and Max won’t stay? I’ve heard there are some good schools close by.”

“I’m sure. But we’ll be down all the time. Max will be thrilled to come and surf.” I was exhausting myself with my own enthusiasm.

“I’m so relieved. I was dreading bringing it up to you.” My mother patted her hair. Her feet were tucked under her, displaying a perfect pedicure.

“I love you, Mom.” I got up and pecked her on the cheek. “I’m tired and full, I ate too much parfait,” I joked, so she wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes. “I’m going to bed.”

I slipped off my Chanel slippers and hung up my caftan. I wrapped myself in a St. Regis robe and took my hair out of its bun. I stood at the mirror for a long time brushing my hair. Finally I climbed into bed and snapped open the jewelry box. I could have worn the earrings and my mother would not have noticed. She hadn’t been thinking about me at all.

Chapter Eight

When I woke up the next morning and peeked through the shutters, I saw the ocean was socked in with fog. Beach Boot Camp would be canceled. Max could spend the morning at Kids’ Club playing Wii. My mother had God-knows-what saved on her TiVo and I didn’t need to worry about her. I decided all I wanted to do was climb under the covers and sleep all day.

When I woke again it was almost five o’clock. My first thought was I was starving, but the hunger was quickly replaced by another emotion: fear. My mother was moving away, my marriage was over, and I had slept with another man. I, who thought when I exchanged vows with Andre ten years ago that “till death do us part” and “forsaking all others” actually meant something, had sex with someone else.

I checked my phone. I had two missed calls from Stephanie. I pressed delete. She would ferret out that I had slept with Edward and I wasn’t ready for her critique. There was one missed call and a text from Edward. The text read: “Have surprise for Max. Can I pick you two up at noon tomorrow?” I smiled and texted back “yes.” Then I got up, wrapped my robe around me, and hoped room service had left breakfast and lunch on the sideboard in the living room.

*   *   *

The fog cleared overnight, and Monday morning was crystal clear. I walked out onto the deck and sat down in front of a room service breakfast of sliced peaches and granola.

“Where are you off to today?” My mother had a
New York Times
spread out on the table and was eating an egg-white omelet.

“Edward says he has a surprise for Max. He’s meeting us in the lobby.” I wore a green cotton sundress, flat sandals, and the butterfly earrings. I had been rehearsing in the bathroom mirror what I would say if my mother noticed them (“they’re my new good-luck earrings” was my favorite response), but so far she hadn’t said a word.

“Do I have to come? I want to go surfing.” Max sat across from my mother, eating spoonfuls of jam from a mini jelly jar.

“The surprise is for you. Plus, I never get to see you. You always have a surfboard leash attached to your leg.” I shook my head.

“I didn’t get to surf at all yesterday.” Max pouted.

I finished my granola, wondering if it would be harder than I thought to tear Max away from the ocean at the end of the summer.

*   *   *

Max and I waited for Edward in the hotel driveway. Max had insisted on wearing boardshorts so he could surf the moment we got home.

A navy blue pickup truck pulled up and Edward waved. “Hop in,” he said, motioning to us.

“You traded the Mini for a truck?” I asked.

“No, I’m borrowing Edward Junior’s. Both sit up front with me,” Edward instructed.

“What’s the surprise?” Max asked.

“You’ll find out when we get to the beach.” Edward smiled.

It was odd sitting so close to Edward and not being able to touch him. My body remembered all the things he had done to me, and I wanted him to stroke me and kiss me, but Max was wedged on my other side.

We pulled up at Salt Creek Beach and Edward jumped out. He had a secret, very pleased look on his face.

“We’re at the beach,” Max said as he hopped out.

“I apologize for my impolite son.” I looked hard at Max. “He didn’t get to surf yesterday because of the fog, and he’s a little antsy.”

“Okay, Max, close your eyes,” Edward commanded.

Max rolled his eyes like a bored eight-year-old, and then put his hands over his face. Edward opened the back of the truck and placed a yellow surfboard on the sand.

“You can open your eyes.” Edward beamed.

“It’s a surfboard,” Max said cautiously.

“It was my son’s first surfboard, and now it’s yours.” Edward smiled.

“My surfboard?” Max’s voice rose a few octaves.

“Edward Junior picked it up from the house in Pasadena over the weekend. It’s all yours.”

“Why mine?” Max fell down on the sand and ran his hands over the fiberglass.

“Because from what I’ve heard, you are a champion surfer in the making. And to thank you for letting me borrow your mom now and then.”

“Wow!” Max couldn’t contain himself. “Can I surf right now?”

“Let me help you wax it up.”

*   *   *

I found a towel in the back of the truck and spread it out on the sand. When the surfboard was gleaming with wax, Max picked it up like a young warrior and headed into the waves. Edward sat down next to me, took my head in his hands, and kissed me hard on the lips.

“Hello, sunshine, I’ve missed you,” he said when he finally released me.

I let myself relax, snuggled in his arms. “I missed you, too.”

“And I missed this,” he said as he traced a path with his hands between my breasts, down my stomach, and between my legs.

“We’re at the beach in broad daylight.” I moved his hand away.

“I know.” He took my hand and held it in his. “But I want you. Hey, you’re wearing the earrings. Didn’t the Wicked Witch of San Francisco protest?”

“The Wicked Witch of San Francisco has become the permanent guest of the St. Regis. She has other things on her mind.” I smiled.

“What are you talking about?” Edward asked.

“My mother has decided she is going to stay at the St. Regis indefinitely.”

“You’re kidding. I thought she has a huge mansion in Pacific Heights.” Edward frowned.

“I guess she has been really lonely in the house without my father. He was like Hamlet’s ghost, lurking in every room,” I continued.

“I can understand. It’s good to be somewhere new.” Edward nodded.

“She looks wonderful. She’s not smoking. She’s put away her Chanel suits and is wearing sundresses and sandals.” I tried to keep my voice from cracking.

“You don’t sound too happy.” Edward stroked my cheek.

“I know I’m being a baby, but I’m going to miss her.”

“Why not move here with her?” Edward’s hand traveled to my thigh.

“She suggested that. But we belong in Ross.” I let him push open my thighs. His fingers slid under my dress and caressed my panties.

“Because that’s where your lothario ex-husband is?” He slipped his hand inside my panties.

“Because that’s where Max’s school is, and all his friends,” I replied. I felt a tiny jolt as his fingers found the sweet spot inside me.

“Max loves the hotel, he’s crazy about surfing. Laguna Beach has excellent schools. You should consider it.” He leaned forward and kissed me on the mouth.

“Max can’t live in a hotel. He’ll think it’s normal to have people polish his flip-flops.”

“Then rent a house, or you and Max can live with me.” He pushed his fingers further into me. He opened me up, kneading me until I was wet and trembling. I closed my eyes and felt the delicious wave of an orgasm spread over me.

“You can’t do that in public,” I whispered finally.

“Yes I can.” He sat up and looked at me. “I’m serious, Amanda.” He was always smiling, joking. I had never seen him look so stern.

“Serious about what?” I straightened my dress.

“I haven’t really dated since my divorce. What’s the point? I’d done the courtship-marriage-children thing and it ended on a train in the Australian outback. But I find I just want to be with you. When I’m not with you I’m thinking about you. I want to give us a chance to get to know each other. I’m with your mother: stay here.”

“You like me because I’m an easy lay,” I said, trying to laugh.

“No, I like you because I might be falling in love with you,” he said quietly.

“Oh.” I sat up straight.

“It’s a great life down here for Max,” he said.

“I’m not very good at change. I’ve lived in San Francisco my whole life,” I replied weakly.

“Sometimes change happens for us. Just think about it.”

Max came galloping toward us, dragging the surfboard on the sand.

“Did you see how many waves I caught? This board is awesome.”

“You’re a star, just like your mother. How about if I treat you two to a burger and shake at Ruby’s before I go to work?” Edward asked.

“Awesome! I’m starving. Did you watch me, Mom? This board goes so fast,” Max prattled on. We got in the truck and Edward pointed out to Max the different surf breaks along the coast. I sat silently between them, trying to take in what Edward had said.

At Ruby’s, I watched Max swallow a double cheeseburger, a side of onion rings, and an Oreo shake. I ordered a fruit cup and played with the grapes.

“Not hungry?” Edward whispered. His hand was on my thigh under the table.

“Not hungry.” I shook my head. I felt too feeble to make a jokey comeback.

“Max, make sure your mom eats a good dinner tonight,” Edward said out loud.

“Sure thing.” Max nodded. He looked as if he had grown six inches in one afternoon. “Wait till I show Erin my surfboard.” He finished his shake and wiped his chin with a napkin.

Edward drove us back to the hotel and the valets helped Max with his board.

“I have to work tonight. How about lunch at my place tomorrow?” Edward asked.

“Sounds delicious,” I said, grinning.

“I’ll pick you up at noon.” He winked at me.

I walked into the lobby and out onto the balcony. I sat at a table overlooking the Grand Lawn and replayed the afternoon in my head. Sex on the sand, Edward saying he was falling in love with me. I was going to have to call Stephanie.

*   *   *

I decided to hold off calling Stephanie and give myself a week to think. The truth was I wanted to lie in Edward’s bed, hot and sweaty, without Stephanie’s advice running through my head. I gave myself over to five blissful days of possibilities and indecision.

Every morning Max collected his surfboard and headed off to the beach with Erin. My mother had her own new routine: After a late breakfast she went to the salon and had her hair or her nails or her toes done. Then she took a few turns around the Grand Lawn and came back to the suite to watch
The Young and the Restless
.

Edward had to work each night so he picked me up at noon every day. The first day we made a halfhearted attempt to sit on the deck at his house and eat quiche and fruit salad. After a few bites, we both realized we’d rather be in his bed.