Silver Linings

Hugh Abbott.” Ariel hung a jungle scene. “How did it happen, Mattie?”
    “It's a bit difficult to explain. I'm not quite certain how it happened, myself. And I'm not sure I'm engaged. That's Hugh's interpretation of the situation, not mine. I haven't made up my mind yet.”
    “Oh, Mattie, be honest. The man's living with you. He's telling everyone he's going to marry you. Did you have to go this far just to prove you can have what I once had?”
    “I didn't do it to prove anything.”
    “Yes, you did. You've always envied me. My talent, my success, my men, my looks. Everything.”
    “That's not true. Oh, sure, maybe when we were kids. But that was a long time ago. People grow up, Ariel.”
    “Is that right? Then how come the one man you finally decide to get serious about is one of my exes? An ex-fiancé, in this case. Don't you think that's too much of a coincidence? Why choose that particular male? Tell me, Mattie. Go on and admit the truth.”
    “I didn't choose him. At least, not this time around. He chose me.” Mattie stalked back into her office to look for some tools.
    Ariel followed, sweeping through the doorway behind her. “He chose you? What's that supposed to mean?”
    “Ask Hugh. He's the one who insisted on getting engaged. I've been deliberately avoiding him for a year. He set things up for us to meet out on Purgatory, not me. Whatever happens doesn't concern you.”
    “Doesn't concern me? He's my ex-fiancé, damn it.”
    “So what?” Mattie snapped. “You threw him back, remember? You didn't want him.”
    “And neither should you. Mattie, listen to me. I'm saying this for your own good. He's all wrong for you. Trust me. I know him. If you must have one of my men, take Emery. At least he's genuinely fond of you.”
    “Thanks a lot.”
    “Okay, so he's much too old for you and his career is on the skids, but he knows your world and the people in it. You can talk to him about things like art and wine and books. He'll respect your career. He won't try to drag you off to some godforsaken island and expect you to sit around under a palm tree and shell coconuts.”
    “I'm not interested in marrying Emery, thank you very much. And I don't plan to sit around twiddling my thumbs under any palm trees.”
    “What else can you do out there in the middle of nowhere? Or do you have some illusion about changing Hugh? If so, you're in for a rude awakening. I should know. I thought I could civilize him, too. But I was wrong. And if he wouldn't change to please me, what makes you think he'll change to suit you?”
    Mattie sorted through a toolbox until she found a screwdriver. Clutching it tightly she turned back to face her sister. “Excuse me, Ariel. I still have a lot of paintings to hang.”
    Ariel's face softened. “Oh, Mattie, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I'm doing this for your own good, I swear it. I am speaking to you now as your older sister. For a while I was sure I could convince Hugh to see reason and move back to the States. But I soon found out the truth. He won't leave that damned island of his for any woman.”
    “Get out of my way, Ariel. I've got work to do.”
    “Mattie, you don't want to marry him. The man is a throwback. He belongs in the Middle Ages or something. His attitude toward women and marriage is several hundred years out of date. Oh, I know the macho approach in bed is kind of interesting at first, but you'll get tired of it, believe me.”
    Mattie felt herself turning a fiery shade of red. “You may be my sister, Ariel, but I don't have to discuss my love life with you.”
    “Why not?” Ariel snapped, exasperated. “Just think of the sisterly confidences we can share now that we've both slept with the same man. Let's be blunt about this. I know for a fact he's not that good.”
    “Shut up, Ariel.” The anger was rising once more.
    “It's true. Mattie, I'm warning you, that slam-bam-thank-you-ma'am approach gets old real fast.”
    “ I said, shut up, Ariel . I don't want to hear another word.”
    “Hugh is not the man for you. He wasn't the man for me. As far as I can tell, he's not the right man for any modern woman. He's an outdated, inconsiderate, insensitive clod, Mattie. Listen to me. We're talking about your whole future here.”
    “All right. You want me to say it? That I'm scared? That I'm not real sure what I'm doing? Okay, I'm scared. I'll admit it. I don't know what—”
    The small, crackling sound of a paper bag being opened drew