It was so strange how Barry didn’t want anyone in there. His mother had said if she knew him better, she wouldn’t have married him. Staring at the door, she swallowed hard. Could there be information about all of this mess behind that door? She’d begun to fear Barry just a little, but it would take more information before she could turn her back on him. She twisted the knob, but the door was still locked. She took a bobby pin from the side of her hair where she’d pulled it back. After straightening it out, she leaned over and inserted it into the lock. Turning the pin this way and that, she tried to get the lock to open, but it held fast.
She was going to have to get the key. Maybe it was in Barry’s room. She retraced her steps and stood at the top of the stairs. Barry’s voice came from the living room. He was talking about the upcoming concert in Beaufort. She moved to his bedroom, pushed open the door, and turned on the lamp at the dresser. The austerity struck her again. It was like a monk’s cell.
She glanced around. Every table was bare except for the lamp and medicine bottles. Her husband was the neatest guy she’d ever met. She stepped to the dresser and slid open the top drawer. Underwear lay in neat rows. She found socks in the next drawer and T-shirts in the bottom one. No keys.
Moving to the bedside stand, she checked the top drawer. A couple of books, nail clippers, some tie clips, and an old high school class ring lay inside. Still no keys. And there was no other easy place to look. No, wait, the closet. She stepped to the closet and opened the door. His clothing hung neatly inside.
A set of keys swung from a hook on the door, and Alanna lifted them. She’d have to move fast. He might come up any time. She turned off the light and hurried down the hall to the locked door. There were six keys on the ring. The first three didn’t fit, but the fourth one clicked home. She checked the doorknob. It was unlocked.
Her pulse galloped in her chest. She didn’t know what Barry would do if he found her inside. She wasn’t even sure why she wanted to see what the room held, but her curiosity was strong.
She opened the door. Her hand felt the wall for the switch. Before she could turn on the light, she heard steps coming up the stairway. It was too late to go in. Pulling the door shut, she quickly locked it. She turned and started back to her room. When she rounded the corner, she saw Barry turning toward his room. He mustn’t find out his keys were missing. She clasped them tightly in her fist.
“Barry,” she called.
He turned with a smile. “What are you doing, sugar?”
“I thought I might play my fiddle, but I heard you coming up.” Was she sweating? Her forehead felt damp, and she was sure he could see the guilt on her face. “Were you looking for me?”
“I was going to work for a while before I went to bed. Did you need me for something?”
“I’m fine.” She hesitated. “Though it’s kind of dark and I had trouble with the lights. Would you mind getting my fiddle for me from the ballroom?”
“Anything for you.” He touched his lips to her forehead in a lingering caress. “I’ll be right back.”
Once his footsteps faded, she dashed to his room and hung the keys back on their hook without turning on the light. She returned to the hall and waited for Barry to return.
He came back with the fiddle and her bow in his hand. His smile brightened when he saw her, and she called herself every name she could think of for betraying his trust. What kind of wife sneaked around behind her husband’s back? She should just ask him to let her go into the room with him.
“Thanks.” She took the fiddle and bow. “I’d like to spend a little time with you. Can I come with you to your office?”
His smile faded. “I don’t think so, sugar.” His hand caressed her curls. “I don’t have to work tonight. What would you like to do? We’d talked about dinner out, but your mother showing up messed up our plans.” His eyes darkened.
Now she’d done it. He hoped for more than she was ready to give, especially after the things she’d seen and heard from Jesse today. And he wanted answers about her past. “How about a walk?” she suggested.
“You haven’t had enough adventures in the dark yet? It’s really not safe.”
“You’ll be with me.” She couldn’t bear to see his expression when she told him about her past.
“If you insist.” He took her arm. “You’d better spray on insect repellant.”
They went down the steps to the entry and past the voices in the parlor. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. A walk in the moonlight might give him romantic notions. They paused to apply repellant, then stepped out into the moist night air. The moon was bright tonight, glimmering on the waves across the sea grass. She smelled salt in the breeze blowing from the east.
“Careful of the potholes.” He took her hand. “Oh, and I heard from the attorney I hired. He got the hearing in Ireland moved back three months, so Thomas will have no power over you by the time it comes. Your citizenship is coming through next week. It’s over.”
“Oh, Barry!” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “It’s wonderful, you are!”
He pulled her closer, and his lips found hers. The intensity of his ardor repulsed her, and she pulled away with a laugh, then stepped into the swath of moonlight. “It’s not as dark as I thought,” she said. The attraction she’d felt for him was missing tonight. She wanted to be with Jesse, not her own husband. The realization was daunting.
“Want to see Pete?” he asked.
“Why do you like that gator? He scares me.”