“I won’t take her calls anymore,” he said as much to himself as to her.
“Don’t feel bad,” she said with a sympathetic look. “I still take Andrew’s calls sometimes, four years later, although I’m always sorry when I do. It’s just an echo of old times, and not a good one for me.” But she knew it was different for him with Megan. Their relationship was more recent and the pain still very fresh.
“I think she loves me, or she says she does,” Simon said, with a troubled look. “The problem is she loves him too, even if she won’t admit it to me. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t still be with him, after three years with me. Maybe she loves him more.” He was still trying to sort it out, although he felt better since he’d come to New York and had some distance from her and her troubled life.
“Or history and kids,” Blaise said sensibly. “It’s hard to know why people stay together. Andrew has cheated on his wife for years, and probably always will. And she puts up with it. And I’m sure they’ll never leave each other. They like the fantasy of their marriage, but there’s not much there. Some people are willing to settle for that.”
“That’s not enough for me,” Simon said, looking anguished. “I want the real deal or I’d rather be alone.”
“Yeah, beware of what you wish for. That’s what I said, and now look at me. I’m alone, and probably always will be. At your age, you have lots of relationships ahead of you.” It made her sad to think about it, that her romantic life might well be over. It certainly looked that way. And in a lot of ways, she had made her peace with it, and told herself she didn’t have time anyway. Who could handle a relationship when you had a career like hers? She had neither the time, nor the energy. Her life with the network was all consuming, just as Harry had said. And nothing had changed. For one shining moment, she had believed in what she shared with Andrew. And he had made a mockery of it. It didn’t make her want to try again.
“I told Megan I was happy here,” Simon interrupted her train of thought. “It’s true. I’d really like to find a job in New York for next year.” He sounded hopeful as he said it.
“Then start looking,” Blaise encouraged him. “There are some excellent schools for the blind here. You should fill out some applications, and take a look at the schools while you’re in New York. You can even take Salima with you.” Blaise had no intention of keeping her in New York, once Caldwell opened again, and Salima had never asked to stay at home. She knew it wasn’t an option. But it was clear that Simon wanted a chance at something new, and Blaise thought it would be good for him.
They spent an easy quiet weekend. And on Sunday night she flew to L.A. Pat Olden, the congressman who’d been shot at UCLA, had died without regaining consciousness. Blaise wanted to attend his funeral, and pay her respects, and then she was interviewing the head of the university on Monday afternoon. Afterward, she was filming a special with a hot new movie star on Tuesday, and returning Tuesday night. Simon had promised her he’d take care of everything. And she kissed them both goodbye when she left.
“Call me if anything comes up,” she said to Simon, as he carried her bag to the elevator for her.
“You know I will. We’ll be fine.” He smiled at her. And in the flash of an instant, she thought she saw something in his eyes that she had seen twice before, and then it was gone. And there was no doubt in her mind. She had imagined it. Mark was crazy. She was sure of it. She and Simon were just friends, and it was enough for both of them.
Chapter 8
PAT OLDEN’S FUNERAL was as heart-wrenching as Blaise had expected it to be. He had been shot down in the prime of life, at forty-three, with a wife who loved him, a great career, and four terrific kids. Who knew? He might have been president one day. It was all so unfair, Blaise thought to herself. The first lady had spoken, and the president had sent a message to Pat’s family because he couldn’t be there. And Pat’s wife and children were devastated. The death toll from that day had reached eighteen, including the shooter. It was tragic.