LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter 5

      Just as Jacqueline was getting settled, there was a knock at her door. She tied the belt around her robe and went to the door. The bellhop had her box.

      “Your package, Ms. Lawson.”

      She reached for it.

      “I can put it inside for you.”

      “Oh, of course.” She stepped aside to let him pass. “You can put it right there on that table.”

      He soundlessly crossed the room and gingerly set the large box on the glass-and-wood table.

      “Thank you,” she said, walking him to the door. She grabbed her purse took out her wallet and pressed a five dollar bill into his hand.

      “Enjoy your stay, Ms. Lawson,” he said with a smile of appreciation.

      This could get expensive. She closed the door behind him and walked over to where he’d left the box. She tore off the packing tape and tucked inside the foam balls and plastic was the iconic blue Tiffany box. Gingerly she untied the ribbon from around the box and lifted the cover. The stunning crystal bowl sparkled inside. She checked it for cracks and then closed the lid and retied the ribbon.

      For a moment she paused with her hands on the box. The realization that she would see her family in less than twenty-four hours suddenly hit her. She did miss her nieces and nephews. It had been so long and the gap had only widened during the ensuing years of their estrangement. As for her brother, well that was a different story. She often wondered if he thought about her at all. And her nephew Maurice, David’s son, no one, not even she had heard from him in ages. She worried about Maurice the most. He’d been devastated by his father’s death. She had her reasons for turning away from her family but he did, as well.

      A sudden wave of dizziness seized her and she gripped the edge of the table for support. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She could hear her pulse pounding in her ears. The room seemed to shift then slowly settled. Jacqueline opened her eyes. In an instant the rest of what her life would be like flashed through her head like a bad “B” movie. This visit to her family was as much an extension of the olive branch as it was a goodbye. She didn’t want their pity, sympathy or help. But she did want to see them again, as she was now, not how she would eventually become.

      Gathering her strength she went into her bedroom for a nap when her cell phone rang. She walked over to the nightstand and picked up the phone. Raymond’s name was illuminated on the face of the phone.

      She drew in a sobering breath and touched the talk icon. “Hi!” she said, forcing cheer into her voice. She sat down on the side of the bed.

      “Hey, babe.”

      The timbre of his voice, as always, rolled through her in warm waves.

      “How was your flight?”

      “Long,” he said with a chuckle. “But it’s just a layover. The second leg of the flight is in another hour. Wish you were here.”

      “You’ll be there and settled in no time,” she said, sidestepping his comment.

      “Yeah, as settled as I generally get on these things. The humidity here is stifling. I could take ten showers and it would never be enough. How about you? What were you doing? I was hoping I didn’t wake you. This time difference always screws me up.”

      “Oh, nothing. Playing with my new toys,” she said, the lies sliding across her tongue with ease.

      He laughed. And she missed him. Her throat clenched. “So…what’s on your agenda?”

      “Day after tomorrow, I meet with the ambassador at the embassy. He’s giving me an hour.”

      His trip to Indonesia was to investigate and write an extensive piece of the evolving strife within the government. There had been several uprising of opposing forces within the past six months that had the United States wary of a possible coup. This assignment had Pulitzer written all over it.

      “I’m hoping to gain access to some of the members of the opposition. The story has to be balanced. And of course, traveling throughout Jakarta and some of the outlying areas to get some insight from the people.”

      “Just be careful, Ray,” she said with more emotion than she intended.

      “Of course.” He paused. “Are you all right? You sound funny.”

      “No, no, I’m fine.” She swallowed.

      “I know you don’t like it when I question you, but I’ve been worried about you, J. I hated to leave.”

      She lowered her head. She so wanted to tell him, to unburden her soul, pour out her fears and have him wrap his arms around her and tell her that he would make everything all right. But she would not condemn him to the life that was on the horizon for her. That’s not what you did to someone that you loved.

      “You worry entirely too much.”

      “I’m supposed to.”

      Her bottom lip trembled. She had to get off the phone or she was certain she would break down. “I know you have to be exhausted.”

      He yawned as if on cue. “I am. Twenty-four hours flying across time zones are for men half my age,” he joked.

      Jacqueline laughed. “You love it. You always have. And you look kinda good for your age.”

      “Very funny. But,” he yawned again, “if I don’t get some sleep I’m

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