Sunshine Hunter

  Chapter Three

  A phone was ringing, but from where? I struggled to wake up and clear the fog from my mind. My temples pounded. After crying until I couldn’t cry any more, I had climbed into bed and hoped a nap would help to ease the headache. I must have slept for several hours, because it was now dusk.

  My phone. Where was it? I dragged myself into the living room and saw it on the coffee table where Mick had left it several hours earlier. Mick. I tried not to think about him. I didn’t want to figure it all out right now.

  “Hello,” I said. My voice was groggy.

  It was Darby.

  “Are you ok?” he asked. “I tried to call several times, but you didn’t answer.” I could hear his concern.

  “I’m ok,” I told him. “I have a headache, and I’ve been crying. I finally slept for a while. What time is it?”

  “It’s eight thirty.”

  “Oh, crap,” I said. I was awake now. “I’m supposed to work at the club for a couple of hours. I have to be there at nine. Come over and talk to me while I get ready.”

  “Unlock the door,” he said. “I’ll be right there.”

  The club was only five minutes away, but I didn’t want to be late. I quickly changed my blouse to a club shirt and unlocked the door for Darby. He was already outside in the hallway and walked right in. He gave me a quick hug, “I’m so sorry about this, Sunshine. Are you going to be ok? Tell me everything.”

  “He doesn’t just have a wife,” I said. “He has a son, too. A fourteen-year-old son.” I let out a big sigh. “Help yourself to something to drink while I patch up my face and brush my hair.” I stepped around the corner and into the bathroom.

  “Is that it? Is it over?” he called from the kitchen. “Did he tell you why he didn’t tell you that he was married?”

  “He’s getting a divorce,” I called back. I heard Darby snort from the kitchen. “Really, he is,” I insisted. “The divorce was started before we met, and he thought it would be easier to tell me about it after it was over.”

  With raspberry iced tea in hand, Darby stood in the bathroom doorway and watched me brush my hair, “Well, that kind of makes sense,” he said. “Are you going to talk to him about it some more?”

  “I don’t know. I’m confused. I don’t want to date a married man. And what if his son hates me?” I thought for a moment before saying, “I don’t want to see him right now. I need time to process all of this.” I put my brush down. “I have to run. I don’t want to be late for work.”

  “Listen, Susan,” he said, stopping me. “I’m on vacation next week. I’m leaving Monday morning for Florida. Come with me. It’ll do you good to get away from here, and you can clear your head and decide what to do while taking a breather on the beach.”

  “I don’t know,” I told him. “That’s a tempting offer. Let me think about it, and I’ll let you know tomorrow.”