Viki and Clint lay in each others’ arms in peaceful contentment. “Oh, my darling, I have missed you so much,” whispered Clint as he kissed Viki’s nose and stoked her face tenderly, brushing a tear from her cheek. “I can’t remember when I have felt this happy. I have wanted to make love to you for so long. My beautiful Viki is finally mine again!”
“Clint, sweetheart, I love you with all of my being,” said Viki tenderly, as she kissed his cheek and lets out a contented sigh. Clint turned on his side, and kissed and nibbled Viki’s neck and shoulder. She started to giggle. “Honey, are you still hungry after all that Chinese food you ate for dinner?”
“I am only hungry for you. I can never get enough of you, honey, never, ever!” said Clint as his lips came down hard on Viki’s and his hands began to explore her body again. As their passion flared, Viki melted under Clint’s touch as they made love again. Time stood still for them as they were lost in the magic they created for each other.
Clint looked at the clock and groaned. It was 11:45 p.m. and he knew he must leave. Just the thought of leaving Viki’s arms broke his heart. How was it possible that he loved her even more than he had ever loved her before? Was it because the passage of time made what they had together even sweeter than it was before? Clint knew the only thing he could do was get free of Lindsay as soon as possible so that he and Viki could start their lives over again together.
“Clint, when will I see you again?” said Viki as she tried to keep from crying. “I want you to know that I love you, Clint Buchanan! Tonight in your arms, I have been happier than I ever thought I could be again. I will wait for you, Clint, as long as it takes. There will never be anyone else for me but you.”
Clint and Viki held each other tightly and shared one more passionate kiss. “I will be back next month for Asa and Renee’s wedding. I promise we will be together again then and, in the mean time, I will get a divorce lawyer and see what I can do to get free of Lindsay. We will be together again, I swear it, Viki. I swear it. I love you more than words can say,” said Clint in a reassuring voice as he walked out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin and Brent were sitting at the kitchen table in Llanfair playing chess. Kevin had just won the game and was feeling rather smug about it. Joey was making one of his Italian specialties that no one but him could pronounce.
“How many of us are there going to be tonight, Kev? Are Jessica and Cris going to be here or have they got some big plans?” said Joey as he grated cheese over his creation.
“Jessica said this morning that she and Cris were going to some special art fair tonight, so I am sure that they won’t be here. Mom should be home any time. So I guess that makes four of us. You are staying for dinner, Uncle Brent, aren’t you?” asked Kevin in a matter of fact tone.
“I guess so,” Brent replied with a smile. “The only reason you want me to stay is so you have a chance to beat me in another game of chess. Oh, by the way, I heard from your dad today. He called me to see how I was fitting into the family. I told him that other than Asa trying to tell me how to run my business, I seem to be adjusting fairly well. Clint said to give you kids his love and he promised to be better about returning your calls in the future.”
At that moment, Viki walked through the kitchen door. “Whatever that is, Joey, it smells heavenly,” said Viki, looking a bit tired from her long day. “How many times has Kevin beaten you tonight, Brent? You sure are a glutton for punishment. How soon will dinner be ready, Joey? I’m starving.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin, Joey, Viki and Brent had just finished dinner. “I sure appreciate your letting me have dinner with you like this. I am so used to eating by myself that this is a real treat,” said Brent as he helped the boys clear the table.
“Uncle Brent, what time does that concert start that you and Mom are going to?” asked Joey. “It’s after 7 p.m.”
“The concert doesn’t start until 8:30 p.m. so we still have plenty of time,” said Brent, looking over at Viki and smiling.
~~~~~~~~~~
Several hours later, Brent and Viki walked back toward Brent’s car. Brent had his hand casually on Viki’s elbow as he led her through the street to the car. “Thank you so much, Brent, for taking me. I really enjoyed it much more having someone to share the experience with,” said Viki gratefully.
“You’re very welcome, Viki. I enjoyed the concert. And the company wasn’t bad, either,” Brent said with a big grin. “Viki, I wanted to wait until after the concert when we were alone to tell you that I heard from Clint today.”
“Oh, Brent, you did?” Viki said anxiously. “How is he? What did he have to say about meeting with the divorce lawyer?”
Brent reached over and gave Viki a big hug and kiss on the cheek. “Those are from Clint. And he told me to tell you he loves you with all his heart,” said Brent as he watched the tears start to stream down Viki’s beautiful face. Brent took her into his arms and just held her as she cried. Then he handed her his handkerchief so that she could wipe her tears.
“Now,” said Brent seriously, “I will tell you what Clint had to say. He said that the meeting with the lawyer went well. The fact that he and Lindsay have been married so short a period of time should help as far as the financial settlement goes, but Clint is probably going to have to shell out quite a bit of money to get rid of Lindsay because they had no prenuptial agreement. The lawyer also cautioned him to be very careful not to give Lindsay any grounds for divorce, as it would increase the amount of money she could go after him for. The two of you are going to have to be very careful about your relationship until after he is free.”
Viki heaved a big sigh as she leaned against Brent’s car. “I guess I should have known that this wasn’t going to be easy. As much as I miss Clint and long to see him, I am very glad that he is in California. I don’t think I could stand it if he were here in Llanview and we couldn’t be together. At least with a whole country between us, there is nothing to make Lindsay suspicious. Thank you, Brent, for being the go-between for Clint and I. You are a great friend to me — and to Clint.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Brent was sitting on the sofa in his suite in the West wing, having a drink and thinking about Viki. “I am going to have to watch myself very carefully, or I am going to end up falling head over heels in love with her,” Brent tells himself. “All Viki sees me as is a friend and I would never do anything to hurt her or Clint, but I am very attracted to her — whether I want to be or not. I think I’d better put some distance between Viki and myself for a while. This might be a good excuse to go out and visit Clint. Then I can accompany he and Lindsay back here for Asa’s wedding.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Lindsay Buchanan walked into the Mission Art Gallery. Her position as Assistant Director of the gallery had enabled her to enjoy meeting most of the better patrons of the arts in San Francisco society. She and Clint had been invited to some of the best parties and Lindsay was glad they moved away from Llanview. Not that Llanview isn’t a nice place to live, but compared to San Francisco, it is very provincial. “I wish that Clint had more of an interest in art. He just seems to go with me because he feels he has to. Then he ends up talking with the politicians and not the people that really count,” Lindsay thought to herself as she went into her office.
“Good morning, Lewis,” Lindsay said to the tall, distinguished-looking gentleman who was looking at some sketches on the desk. Lewis Castleman was the owner of the Mission Art Gallery. He was a man in his early 50’s with dark hair graying at the temples and a small mustache that made him look a little the late actor, David Niven.
“Lindsay, darling, I was wondering what time you would finally get here,” said Lewis, beckoning her to come over to him. Lindsay walked right into Lewis’ arms, and they embraced and kissed passionately. As they broke apart, Lewis asked, “Did you tell that red-necked husband of yours that you can’t go back east with him for his Daddy’s wedding? I need you here for the exhibition. It will be the biggest one we have this year and, besides, that will give us a chance to be together without him being around.” Lewis sat down in the chair. Lindsay sat on his lap and they cuddled together. “Yes, I told Clint last night I would not be able to go with him to Asa’s wedding. He was disappointed, but then he got a phone call from his brother, Brent, and that seemed to settle him right down again. Brent is coming out here for a visit and then they are going back to Llanview together. Clint is so glad that he will be spending time with Brent that I don’t think that he will care whether I go or not. It will also make it a lot easier for us to be together without raising Clint’s suspicions.”
“I am just sorry it didn’t turn out that he was having an affair with his ex-wife, after all, when you went back east and surprised him,” said Lewis, sounding disappointed and irritated. “It would be so much easier for you to get a divorce and get what you want out of him if you could prove he was fooling around on you.”
“I thought he was at first. But when I was back there with Clint, I saw nothing to indicate that he was fooling around at all,” responded Lindsay, sounding discouraged. “When I showed up, he was alone, asleep in his own bed and there was no sign of anyone else having been there. I also watched both Clint and Viki carefully the whole time I was there and they were pleasant to each other, but nothing more than that. As much as I hate to think about it, when the time comes, I think I will have to be the one to get the divorce. Clint is not the unfaithful type and I guess I just have to face that.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Brent and Clint were sitting in Clint’s office at the San Francisco Daily Press, catching up on what had been happening to each of them. “It turns out that Lindsay will not be going with me to the wedding, Brent. The gallery where she is Assistant Director is having a big art opening thing that weekend and she needs to be here. Actually, I am elated about the fact that she will be here. That will make it a lot easier for Viki and I to spend some time together. After I get back from the wedding, my attorney is going to file the papers. I am just going to tell her that we are just too different and don’t have enough in common to make a marriage work.”
“How do you think Lindsay will react, Clint?” asked Brent. “If she has any idea that you are breaking up with her to go back to Viki, she will fight for every penny she can squeeze out of you.”
“That is what I am thinking, too,” replied Clint, sounding concerned. “I plan on being very careful to make sure that she doesn’t get any hint about Viki and I. Lindsay seemed very suspicious of Viki and I when we were in New York, but by the time we got back home, she seemed convinced that there was nothing between Viki and I at all. All Lindsay seems to have on her mind anymore is this art exhibition that is coming up and our social calendar. I hate going to these parties that she drags me to. I have been encouraging her to go with Lewis, her boss. Then I don’t have to be bored out of my mind. I’m hoping that Lindsay will see that, with as little in common as we have together, we would be a lot better off apart.”
The phone rang and Clint picked it up. “Hello, Clint Buchanan,” he said.
“Hi, darling,” said Lindsay. “I just called to tell you that I won’t be able to join you and Brent for dinner tonight. Lewis and I have so much work to do to get ready for next weekend! Besides, I thought maybe you guys would enjoy an evening out alone.”
“That’s fine, Lindsay, thanks for letting me know,” replied Clint, secretly elated. “Tell Lewis not to work you too hard and I will see you later at home.”
“Bye, Sweetie,” responded Lindsay as she hung up the phone. “Well, Lewis, that is taken care of. We will have the whole evening together. Clint and Brent will be so busy entertaining each other that we will be able to have a wonderful romantic evening together and not worry about it at all.”
It was 7:30 p.m. when Brent entered The Roman Fountain Restaurant. Clint would not be meeting him until later, but Brent thought he would have a couple of drinks in the bar before Clint arrived. As Brent walked through the dinning area, he noticed Lindsay and a dark-haired gentleman seated at a table having dinner. They seemed very cozy, holding hands, laughing and having a good time. The gentleman looked up first and saw Brent. A look of shock crossed his face. He nudged Lindsay. As she looked up, the same look of shock crossed her face, too. Then, after a few seconds, her face relaxed and she walked over toward Brent. “Brent, darling, what a surprise to see you. I thought that you and Clint would be together tonight doing guy things. You must come over and meet my boss from the gallery,” said Lindsay, pouring on the charm.
Lewis stood up as Brent and Lindsay approached the table. “Brent,” said Lindsay, “this is the owner of the Mission Art Gallery, Lewis Castleman. Lewis, this is Brent Hamilton, my brother-in-law.”
Lewis and Lindsay asked Brent to join them, but Brent said “no” — Clint would be joining him later for dinner. He explained that he had only dropped in for a drink before meeting Clint. Brent got the feeling that Lewis was very uncomfortable, but couldn’t figure out why. Brent bid Lewis and Lindsay a good evening and proceeded to the bar. Shortly after, their dinner finished, Lewis and Lindsay left the restaurant before Clint arrived.
About 10 minutes later, Clint walked in and joined Brent at the bar. “You just missed your wife and her boss. They were having dinner here when I arrived,” said Brent as he greeted Clint with a hand shake and big grin.
“Well, I’m not really surprised. I know they have their business dinners here quite often,” replied Clint. “Did Lindsay give you any idea how late she thought she would be? I don’t really care, but I would like to be home before she gets there. I having been pretending to be asleep most nights so that I don’t have to make excuses about not having sex with her. Right now, I wouldn’t be a candidate for ‘most attentive husband of the year.’ ”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Clint and Brent ordered their meals and debated whether the San Francisco 49’s or the New Orleans Saints was the better football team. Clint enjoyed pointing out all of the 49’ers’ Super Bowl wins as compared to the Saints’ rather dismal record. Brent’s cell phone rang. “Hello,” said Brent with a big, mischievous smile on his face. “Yes, he is right here. Clint, this phone call is for you.”
Clint looked inquiringly at Brent as he took the phone. “Hello,” said Clint.
“Sweetheart, is that you?” said the beautiful voice that belonged to Viki. “Brent told me that the two of you would be having dinner tonight without Lindsay and that it would be a good time for me to call so we could talk. I love you, Clint, and I miss you so.”
“Oh, Viki, what a wonderful surprise,” said Clint as he winked at Brent.
“I have great news, honey. Lindsay won’t be coming with me to Llanview for the wedding. She has a big opening at the gallery that she has to be here for. I know we will still have to be careful, but it will be a lot easier for us to be together without her being in Llanview. I know it is only a week away, but I can hardly wait. I love you, Viki, so very much.”
“Clint, it is just so wonderful just to hear your voice,” said Viki tenderly. “I know it would be suspicious if we were calling each other all the time, but it is just so hard not to be in contact with you except through Brent.”
“I know, sweetheart,” replied Clint seriously. “It won’t be for much longer. I plan on telling Lindsay I want a divorce right after I get back from Llanview. I know that you want me to come back and work at The Banner, Viki, but I have to stay here for a while in San Francisco. If I go right back to Llanview, she might think that something is going on between us. If I stay here for a while, she will have no reason to.”
“I know you’re right, Clint,” said Viki. “I will just miss you so much. I know it will be worth it when we are finally together again. I love you, darling. See you next week.”
“Viki, I love you too. I’ll make sure that we are together as soon as possible, and I swear that once we are together, we will never be parted again, my love. Never. Goodnight, sweetheart,” said Clint as he turned off the phone and handed it back to Brent.
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