In the late-afternoon sunlight, the sapphire looks like a small
star pinched between my fingers. A dozen tiny rainbows dance
on the carefully cut lines, casting light around the room. It’s
perfect. Holding the ring, I feel a pang of sorrow. I wish Mother
could meet Cassandra. She would have loved her sharp wit and
carefree energy. The two are alike in many ways.
This was the first piece of jewelry my father gave my mother.
They were too young to marry but still deeply in love. When
Father went away to Europe on holiday, he gave it to Mother
as a token of his undying affection in spite of the hundreds of
miles between them. Mother always cherished it. Sometimes I
think she loved it even more than the large diamond engagement ring that came a few years later.
A shadow falls over me, muting the ring’s shine. “Why,
Lawrence. For me?”
There’s no mirth in Fay’s tone. When I glance over my
shoulder, her eyes are as dark as storm clouds. Her legs are
planted defiantly. She’s completely lost her carefully perpetuated persona of sensuality. I stand to face her.
“Do you have anything to say to me?” she asks, venom simmering in her voice.
What can I possibly say? She’d reject the truth even more
than any weak excuse I could provide. I should have anticipated that this moment might come. Sooner or later, I’d have to address Ned’s crazy idea that Fay and I are engaged. But now
I’m at a loss for words.
Her lip curls with distaste. “Nothing, huh? You seem to have
plenty to say when I’m not around.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
She takes stomps to my desk and yanks open the drawer.
“I did some reading while I was waiting for you.” She grabs a
handful of my writings. The pages crinkle in her clenched fist.
“Care to explain this?”
I grab her wrist. “Let go of those.”
“You let go,” she says. She struggles out of my grip, bringing
her freed hand across my cheek with a hard slap.
I tense my jaw against the smarting pain. “I suppose I
deserved that.”
“I’ll say you did,” she snaps, her eyes welling with angry tears.
“You’ve been giving me the runaround for weeks. And now I
know why.”
“I’m truly sorry if I hurt your feelings. However, you had no
right to read my personal papers.”
“I’m your fiancée!”
“You’re not. No matter what agreement you and my uncle
have come to.”
“Who is she?” she shouts. “Who is this girl you’ve been seeing
behind my back? Who is this Cassandra?”
I’ve never seen her like this. Fay’s always so cool and in control. Always seductive and smiling. Always seeming to have the upper hand. She’s beside herself now. And I can’t help but feel
that it’s not just about me jilting her.
I touch her arm. “Fay—”
“Take your hands off me, you cad!”
“You need to calm down.”
“I won’t!” She pulls away, panting with rage. For a moment,
she looks like she might strike me again, but instead she storms
for the door.
I step in front of her, blocking her way. “Why are you so
upset?”
“Why do you think, you idiot? I just found out my beau has
been running around with some floozy.”
“Don’t lie to yourself. This isn’t about me. You don’t want to
marry me, Fay. You never have.”
“Proves what you know,” she snaps, but her eyes won’t meet
mine. Her discomfort with even the slightest questioning of
her motives sharpens my suspicion.
“I don’t know anything about you,” I say, narrowing my eyes.
“I’ve never known anything concrete.” She tries to shove past
me, but I don’t let her pass. “I had an interesting conversation
with my aunt the other day. She seemed pretty convinced that
you’re a born-and-raised New Yorker, Lower East Side.”
Fay’s stare meets mine. She’s speechless for a moment before
she retorts, “Your aunt is nutty as a fruitcake.”
“She knows someone who knows you.”