Читать книгу One Last Kiss - Mary Wilbon - Страница 15

Slick woke up and stretched. She walked into the bathroom, and when she was done, she washed her hands and splashed some water on her face.

The sun was coming in the widows. Laura was still asleep. Garbo was on the foot of the bed wagging her tail, paws in the air, ready for her walk.

Slick threw on some sweats and socks, then did some warm-up exercises. She dropped to the floor and did thirty push-ups, followed by thirty sit-ups as quietly as she could with Garbo licking her face and occasionally pulling on her socks. When she finally opened the bedroom door, Garbo excitedly ran out before her.

Once outside, Slick let the warm Sunday morning sunshine spill over her. Garbo romped and chased birds and squirrels and in between did what she needed to do. Slick walked to the end of the property and picked up the Sunday Star Ledger and read the headlines.

Garbo wanted to play, so Slick put the paper down and tossed a ball for her to fetch until she was no longer interested in the game.

Then she walked back to the house, opened the door, and walked up the stairs to the bedroom, with Garbo close on her heels.

She opened the bedroom door. Laura was awake and watching television. Charles Osgood was describing what was coming up on Sunday Morning.

Slick put the paper on the bed and kissed Laura.

“Good morning,” Laura said.

“Good morning.”

“Someone’s had a workout already.”

“Sorry,” Slick apologized. “I didn’t mean to get my sweat on you.”

“I don’t mind at all. What’s it like outside?”

“It’s beautiful. I say we go for a long walk in the mountains later.”

“That sounds great,” Laura said. “I’d love to.”

“What’s Charles up to today?” Slick asked, pointing to the television.

“There’re going to be stories on Stevie Nicks and Vanessa Redgrave. Stevie has a new CD coming out, and Vanessa has a one-woman show opening on Broadway.”

Laura slid over to make room in the bed for Slick.

It was their Sunday morning ritual: read the paper in bed and watch the Sunday talk shows. They would start with Sunday Morning, switch to The Chris Matthews Show, watch Meet the Press, and finish with The McLaughlin Group.

They would discuss and argue every show, take a long hot shower together, then have brunch. Sunday was their favorite day of the week.

They had just assumed their Sunday morning positions—Laura propped up on the pillows watching television with Garbo in her lap, Slick prone on the bed leafing through the “Parade” section of the newspaper—when Slick’s cell phone rang.

“Hello.”

The voice on the other end drew her full attention.

“Yes, sir,” she said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

Laura knew without asking.

Slick clicked off her cell.

“That was the official word. We go as planned. Tomorrow.”

“I’m ready,” Laura said.

“I’ll go make coffee,” said Slick. “Then we can go over the information I just got.”

Laura picked up the remote and clicked off Charles Osgood, then sighed.

This Sunday morning was definitely headed in a different direction.