Sally’s Honeymoon: Book 4 Of A Contemporary Romance Short Story Series (8 page)

“How could he do this to me…to us?”
These and other thoughts of disbelief raged through her mind, as the waitress returned with the drink.

“Can I do anything for you at all madam? I can’t help but notice you are upset.” The beautiful Pilipino woman asked her, concern evident in her voice.

Sally looked up, grateful for the sympathy – and someone to voice her thoughts to.

“Not really I’m afraid…you see I have just found my husband of only a few days, in the arms of a naked woman!”

“WHAT!... Oh, please excuse me! I cannot believe what I have just heard! Why would a man who has a beautiful wife such as yourself…..why would he jump into bed with another woman!”
Sally burst into sobbing again, as the friendly waitress tried to console her.

“Such a man is a monster! I swear I would kill him, if it were my husband!” A shout came from the bar.

“Ah, that is my boss hassling me. Please just you try and be calm, I will bring you another ‘on the house’ in a little while. She wandered off muttering to herself.
“Unbelievable! Monster!”

Sally tried to pull herself together as her mind re-played the moment over and over again, when she had walked in on them.

A voice next to her shoulder broke into her misery.

“Sally
are you all right? You seem upset.” It was Stefan.

“Good god, of all the people I don’t want to speak to right now!”
She thought to herself.

Blowing her nose on her handkerchief, she pulled herself together somewhat.

“No I’m not all right thank you Stefan, but I will survive don’t worry.”

“But Sally you don’t look ok. If I can do anything at all, please just ask!” He looked genuinely concerned.

“Honestly Stefan I’m fine, I’ve just had a bit of a shock that’s all.”

“Is this the
monster!” The waitress was back with a large drink on a tray, and a thunderous scowl on her pretty face.

“No
no, this is just a friend..this is not my husband.” Sally quickly interceded.

The waitress laid the drink on the table in front of Sally.
“If you’re sure? I hope this gentleman is not troubling you is he?” She spoke quietly to Sally.

“No honestly. Thank you for your concern…I really appreciate it.”

As the waitress wandered off, Stefan could contain himself no longer.

“Monster?
What on earth does she mean Sally?”

It’s nothing Stefan. Please just forget it, I’ll be fine.”

Stefan however was not put off.

“Sally, I’m not stupid; and I’ve a fair idea what you think of me.” He nodded at Sally’s quizzical look. “Oh yes, I have seen you watching me with Shirley- a woman old enough to be my mother?”

Sally could not deny it.

“But let’s put that aside for a moment. I pride myself in being able to read people; let’s just say that my livelihood depends on it!”

Sally wondered where this was going.

“This ‘monster,’ I’m guessing since you are here alone, is Robert. Now please tell me what the trouble
is..I would really like to help if I can.” The genuine expression on his face convinced Sally that maybe she had underestimated Stefan – on some levels at least.

Sa
lly was bursting to unload on someone, so she decided that Stefan could handle it. She told him everything.

Stefan stayed quiet as she unburdened herself, letting all the anger and humiliation spill out. Finally when Sally had finished, and wiped her nose for the hundredth time; he spoke out.

“Sally, this is a truly desperate situation, but I can tell you now – and I count myself a good judge of character - Robert is not the kind of man to have an affair.”

“But I caught him in the act!” Sally protested.

“No Sally…I think you caught Melanie in the act! She has had her mind set on getting him into bed, from the first day!”

“Maybe so!”
Sally retorted. “But it takes two to tango! They were wrapped in each other’s arms when I came across them – and she was naked!” The memory of it provoked another fit of angry tears. Stefan waited until she had calmed down.

“That’s exactly it Sally – SHE was naked, but he was fully clothed. Believe me, there is more to this than meets the eye!”

Sally thought for a minute. “Could it be possible that I have misconstrued what was going on?”

Stefan spoke comfortingly one again. “Can I tell you what I think Sally?” She nodded. “I think that he was lured to her room under some pretence. You happened to walk in just as she had made her move!”

A shadow fell upon them at that moment. It was Melanie’s husband John, looking tired and drawn.

“Sally, I’m sorry to interrupt; but could I have a word with you please?” Sally looked from John to Stefan. “Don’t worry about me Sally, I’ll go now and leave you to your thoughts – I really hope it works out for you both though.” He nodded to John and left them to talk.

She indicated for John to take a seat.

“Sally, I guess you know why I am here?” He said with such sadness, that she found herself concerned for him.

“I can guess John – it seems our spouses have been ‘messing around,’ the words felt like ashes in her mouth as she spoke.

“Yes indeed. But I have come to set the record straight. Melanie confessed all to me as soon as I entered the suite. I have to say for her; remorse for her actions is something I am not used to seeing.”

“Meaning?” Asked Sally intrigued despite herself.

“Meaning that it was all her doing.
She lured poor Robert to her room pretending she was not well. She set a trap for him Sally….but it did not work. Robert refused her, he even pushed her out of the way!” John chuckled at the thought.

“Oh please excuse me – but you can understand; a woman like Melanie is not used to rejection!”

Sally felt a lightness descend on her. “Oh my Lord, what have I
done!”

“My dear do not condemn yourself – you have done what any woman would have done under the circumstances. However I hope that this will set the record straight; your husband is an honourable man, my wife on the other hand…”

“Oh John, I’m terribly sorry for you!” Sally reached out to touch his arm.

“Oh no Sally, ple
ase don’t be. I’m a seventy two year old man, married to a stunningly beautiful woman with the kind of body that most men can only dream about. She married me for my money, and I married her for her looks!”

“But how do you cope with her playing around with other men?” Sally asked shocked.

“Ah well, most of the time she is quite discreet; she is a young woman after all, and she has physical needs that I cannot supply unfortunately. This time however she has ‘exceeded her remit’ so to speak; and she is truly repentant. It was her idea for me to seek you out; fearing that you would most likely sink something sharp into her ribs!”

“Well she did have that right!” Sally sniggered, relief pouring over her.

“What a mess, I wonder where on earth Robert is – I think I have an apology to make..sort off!”

“Oh I can tell you that my dear. He is in your room waiting for you – I’ve just left him there!”

“WHAT!” She said, incredulous.

“Oh yes; you are not the only one I had to apologise to! I told him to wait till I’d spoken to you; that I would seek you out and tell you everything.”

Sally gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you so much John – you might just have saved our marriage!

But what about Melanie - What will you do now?”

“Oh don
’t you worry about that; she now owes me big time! As you say. I gave her a real rollicking over this, and she will be on her best behaviour for some time to come. The thought of being removed from my will, is enough to ensure that!” John gave a tired grin.

Sally
quickly got to her feet - a little unsteadily due to the two large scotches she had downed – and headed down to the cabin with a new lightness in her step. The marriage was saved, Robert had not been unfaithful after all. She was in tears again by the time she reached the cabin and opened the door to a distraught Robert.

Saying nothing, she threw herself into his arms and smothered him with wet kisses.

“Sally I…”

She placed a gentle finger over his lips.
No more needed to be said, as she opened herself to his warm embrace; and exalted in the fact that he had not been unfaithful, but in fact had withstood a test that would have caused many men to fall.

******

Later that evening Raymond was finally airlifted off the ship, much to the entertainment of the passenger
s who lined the railings to see the procedure carried out. Sally gasped as poor Raymond’s stretcher bounced off the underside of the helicopter, as it was winched aboard in strong winds. Margaret was stricken with fear, and it was only with much gentle persuasion from Robert and Sally, that she was convinced he would be all right.

Next morning, true to their word, the cruise line had arranged for tr
ansport to the hospital in Nice where he had been admitted. Sally and Robert both went with her to help with the luggage; as she was forced to leave the cruise and arrange accommodation near the hospital.

It was a tearful but happy re-union with Raymond in the hospital, as they were all assured he would make a full recovery.

Margaret secured accommodation at a nearby hotel, and after they had settled her in, and said their farewells; they headed for a quick tour of Nice before heading back to Cannes where the ship had docked.

“Can I dare to bring up the subject of last night Robert? There is something that you might find interesting!”

“Before you do…Are you cool with it all?” Robert asked looking slightly alarmed.

“Yes honey I am totally cool with it!” Sally gave him a hug to emphasise the point.

“So what is it then?”

“You know Stefan, that you, sorry we, are not sure about?”

“Yes, what about him?”
“Well, it’s just that he came to your defence last night!”

“What! How exactly did he do that?”

Sally went on to repeat her conversation with the observant Stefan. Robert looked stunned.

“So you mean to tell
me, that not only had he guessed that we are suspicious of him; he had also figured out what had happened with Melanie?”
“Well it certainly seems like it doesn’t it!”

“Unbelievable! So he actually spoke out in my defence?”

“Yes he did.” Sally repeated.

“It looks like I owe that man a drink!”

“Yes you do; it seems like we both owe him one – although he did not say anything about Shirley; except acknowledge she was old enough to be his mother!”

“Ah well, never mind. Now that you have changed our dining arrangements, we may never see them again!”

The first thing that Sally had done after the ‘infamous incident’ was to insist on a change to the dining arrangements. They now had an earlier time, and a table for two set up for the remainder of the cruise.

“That’s not the point
Robert, the poor woman still has to be looked out for!”

“Ok
ok..I’ll  try and have a little word with him before the cruise ends; I can use the excuse of thanking him for his intercession on my behalf. Then maybe try and find out what his game is – that sound ok to you?”

“
Your my hero Charlie Brown!” Sally hugged him, laughing as they made their way back aboard the ship.

The next day was the port of Civitavecchia, which is the port for trips to Rome. Both decided
that after the recent traumatic events however, that they would stay on board the ship and take advantage of the facilities, which would be quiet, with most of the people heading out to Rome. Sally personally was still a little fragile, and was glad to stay aboard and ‘chill.’ Both looked forward to the trip to Naples.

By the time the ship docked at N
aples, Sally and Robert had sorted out a routine between them. Both of them would get up about 7am, well before the crowds had started. Sally would go for a run around the ships running track, while Robert – if he did not join her – would go for an early morning coffee and fresh made Danish pastry.

Robert loved the peace and quiet of the early morning, and watching the Mediterranean sun rising over a glassy sea, was his idea of heaven.

When Sally had finished her run, she would come and join him and they would head off to breakfast.

This morning, a jaunt around Naples was on the agenda, and Sally was particularly looking forward to it.

“So what’s the routine honey?” Robert asked, as Sally usually liked to take some control over the trips.

“Well the ship really berths just a short walk away from the city, so I thought we could just take a snack and some drinks, and leg it!”

“Sounds good to me honey. Mind you, it’s going to be blistering hot today!”