Dawn in Eclipse Bay

you know for certain whether or not you loved her?”
    He gazed out at the mountains. “I now know for sure that whatever the hell I felt for Claudia Banner was not love.”
    “How can you be so certain of that?”
    “I didn’t know what love was until I met you.”
    She turned her head very quickly, obviously startled.
    Then she laughed softly, leaned across the small space that separated the two loungers and kissed him lightly.
    “Good answer,” she said.
    “Thanks. I thought it was pretty good, myself.”
    It was also the truth, he thought. But after all these years he was certain she knew that.

chapter 14
    He dressed carefully before he went to see her, wanting to strike precisely the right note. So much hung in the balance. He contemplated the limited range of clothing in the closet. Unfortunately he had left many of his best shirts and ties behind in Portland. He hadn’t expected to need them here on the coast. But he was not entirely unprepared. He was never entirely unprepared. He wanted her to know that.
    After due consideration he went with a pale-blue shirt that matched his eyes and an Italian knit sweater that made his shoulders appear a little broader. The trousers and loafers worked well with the sweater.
    He stood in front of the mirror studying the effect. Not quite right. He took off the sweater and went back to the closet for a tie and the corduroy jacket. The tie showed respect. The cord jacket said he was a deep thinker.
    Satisfied, he left the room and went outside to the parking lot. He got into the car and drove the short distance to the Eclipse Bay Policy Studies Institute.
    Ten minutes later he was standing in front of her secretary’s desk.
    “I’m here to see Mrs. Thornley,” he said.
    The secretary looked skeptical and apologetic at the same time. It was probably a natural-born talent.
    “Do you have an appointment?”
    “No, but please give her this card. I think she’ll see me.”
    The secretary examined the card and the note he had jotted on it. She got to her feet, went to the closed door behind her desk and opened it.
    He waited until she disappeared inside before checking his reflection in the highly polished chrome base of her name plaque.
    He straightened quickly when the door opened again.
    “Mrs. Thornley will see you, Dr. Flint.”
    “Thank you.”
    He took a deep breath, preparing himself for acute disappointment in case he had gotten the wrong impression about her last night. The scene in the restaurant had happened so quickly.
    He went through the door, closed it firmly and stood looking at his fate.
    She studied him from where she sat behind her desk, a vision in a fitted red knit jacket that was accented with gold buttons and well-defined, padded shoulders. She toyed with the small card he had sent in a moment earlier.
    He gave the office a quick once-over, checking the quality of the furnishings. First class all the way. The lady had style and taste. The room was spacious with a view of the town and the bay spread out below in the distance.
    There was another door on the far side of the office. It stood open a crack. Someone was moving around in the adjoining room. Probably an assistant or a speechwriter. He heard a desk drawer slam.
    “Please sit down, Dr. Flint,” Marilyn said. Cool self-possessed authority rang in the words.
    He felt his blood heat. He had not been wrong. She was magnificent. A goddess.
    He lowered himself into one of the sleek black leather chairs.
    Marilyn rose, crossed the room to the door that separated her office from the smaller one on the far side of the room and closed it very firmly. She smiled at him.
    Absolutely magnificent.
    “We need to talk,” Anderson said.

    “I found out that she had an affair with Trevor,” Marilyn said. She went to stand at the window of the cottage and looked out over the bay. “I could hardly keep her on as my campaign manager after I learned the truth.”
    “Guess it would be a little awkward,” Lillian admitted. She glanced at her watch. Another morning’s work shot. The last thing she had needed today was to open the front door and find Marilyn Thornley on her front porch. Why me? she wondered. She did not relish being a politician’s confidant.
    “I knew that he was probably screwing someone but I just assumed it was one of his perky little campaign workers. Someone unimportant. Lord knows, it wouldn’t have been the first time. Trevor and I had an understanding, you see. As long