Dalia could certainly be in denial. This island was filled with so many people, circuitous paths and exotic possibilities, for all Dalia knew, Ames could be living a whole secret life. Clint certainly had.
Cindy remembered going through Clint’s computer after he’d died, discovering so much about him that she’d had no idea about when he was alive. She wondered for a moment if all men naturally had to keep a part of themselves a secret? Was it a way to preserve their independence and identity - especially adventurous guys like Ames, who chose to live in out-of-the way places like this?
There was a huge amount about him that Cindy needed to know. She couldn’t probe too far with Dalia now, though; it would be too painful for her. She’d let Dalia tell her what she could in her own time.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me about Ames?” Cindy asked quietly.
“Ames loves his work, he loves the ocean, loves business, never hesitates to lend someone a hand. He’s very close to his son, Brad, and doesn’t want any more children,” she said.
“How do you feel about the no children part?” Cindy asked, surprised.
“I’ve learned to live with it,” said Dalia. “He’s worth it to me. My art gallery is my child. He helped me open it, The Green Fox. That was a lifelong dream. It does great, too. We sell paintings, local artifacts, pottery. I’m proud of it. It keeps me busy and I have wonderful help, a lovely young woman Nina, who takes care of the day to day work, so I can still get away when I want to. ”
Cindy remembered that Dalia had always loved art. She thought it was wonderful that she had a gallery of her own now, and that Ames had helped her set it up. “How did the two of you meet?” Cindy was curious how Dalia and Ames got together, coming from different parts of the world.
Dalia smiled. “I came down here for a vacation after I broke up with my second husband, Hal. It was a short marriage, I was on the rebound from my first husband, who cheated on me with a good friend. ”
“I’m sorry,” said Cindy.
“Well, I always chased the wrong guys,” Dalia said. “Remember?”
“I certainly do,” said Cindy.
“I thought I’d get my first husband back by marrying Hal, so fast. What a mistake. Hal was a psycho, checking up on me wherever I went. He practically stalked me at the end. I got someone to step in and help and finally, Hal let go. He was rich, and I got a huge settlement. That certainly helped ease the pain. ”
Cindy remembered that Dalia always had always attracted strange situations with men.
“Dalia smiled. “Anyway, after I broke up with Hal, I came down here to Grenada, to the Grand Hotel, to get my head straight and rest up. I heard it was beautiful and secluded, the perfect place for me at that time. The last thing I needed was more trouble, or to start with someone new. The Grand Hotel is only a few miles away. I’ll take you there for lunch one day. ”
“Anyway, when I got there I went to the bar for drinks. It was late in the afternoon, and there was Ames sitting there, suntanned, smiling, blue shirt half opened. The minute we laid eyes on each other, the sparks flew. It was pure electric, and the chemistry never died down. He told me straight away that he was married, to Elizabeth, but very unhappy with his wife and thinking about leaving her. I guess I was the catalyst that made it happen. We made love that night, all night long. ”
Cindy took a deep, sharp breath. The story only made her wonder more about Ames. Was he doing the same thing again, now? “These patterns repeat,” Cindy said, “What goes around comes around.”
Dalia barely heard what she said. “Our relationship was incredible right from the start. And I loved it here. We got married about fifteen months later. There wasn’t even a question about it, and I came right down here to live. ”
“And, what’s it like with you and Elizabeth?” Cindy asked.
“She blames me for everything,” said Dalia. “She’s wrong, though. Ames was done with her when we met. He was lonely and hungry. I never met a guy so hungry. Elizabeth’s cold. She’s the kind of woman who blames everybody else. She doesn’t bother me. I have almost nothing to do with her. Ames sees his son when he wants and Brad joins us sometimes. Elizabeth and I hardly talk. There’s no reason to. ”
Dalia seemed confident about everything. Cindy knew she had to meet Elizabeth and hear her side of the story, and also, Cindy suddenly wanted to hear Dalia’s opinion about what really happened to Ames.
Just as she was about to ask, Cindy glanced through the bottom of the half-open bedroom door, and saw a shadow walking back and forth.
“Who’s that?” Cindy asked, startled.
Dalia looked up. “Nothing, no one, probably just Rosa, doing her chores.”
“Is she listening in?” Cindy was troubled.
Dalia looked perplexed, “My God, for a detective, you’re pretty jumpy.”