Hillary Kanter - Dead Men Are Easy To Love Read Online Free

happy to hear that Ernest had risen early and gone fishing with a friend. I was embarrassed by my doings of the evening before, afraid to face him by the light of day. I was resolute that something like that should never happen again.
    Resolute!
    After breakfast, Hadley and I grabbed bicycles with wicker baskets, filled them with sandwiches, and headed for the beach. It was a hot sunny day, with a soft trade-wind blowing in from the south, and I was happy to spend time with my new friend.
    “I hope Ernest is catching loads of fish,” she said. “He comes back so happy when he’s had a good day of fishing. I swear, I think he loves his fishing even more than he loves me, or the baby … or his writing.” Forehead wrinkling, she stared out at the water.
    “Why do you say that, Hadley? I thought you two were in love.”
    “Well, I’m not so sure.” She took a long, ragged breath. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone?”
    “Of course.” My stomach churned, and it was not acid reflux.
    “I don’t think Ernest loves me anymore. There is someone else. And I think she’s in New York. He goes up there a lot, and even though he says he’s visiting his publisher, he doesn’t need to go nearly as often as he says he does. I’ve also heard the rumors, from reliable sources. He’s been seen out with someone else.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Friends told me,” she whispered. Her face became an ocean of sadness, and her brown eyes turned blue. “What am I going to do if he leaves me?”
    I was confused. What sort of man was I dealing with here? Ernest was a very sexual being—it only took a minute to figure that out—and I didn’t want to hear about these suspicions. Sure, I felt sorry for Hadley, but I had some strong feelings of my own for the man.
    “It’s such a dreary thought,” she said, dragging me toward the water. “Let’s forget about it all, and go for a swim.”
    ***
    Ernest walked in, grinning from ear to ear. “I caught five dolphin, a sailfish, and three red snappers. The sailfish was a beauty, a five-and-a-half-footer, even larger than the one I caught last week.”
    “I’m so happy for you, darling,” Hadley said.
    Fixing me in his gaze, he said, “Speaking of beauties, what have you two been doing all day?”
    “We had a lovely time at the beach. It was perfect,” I said.
    “I’m glad. Hey, why don’t I make us drinks, while Tallulah fries these fish up for dinner.”
    Dinner was excellent but as we finished our meal, a knock came at the door. It was Western Union with a wire for Hadley. Ernest and I exchanged glances. From the crestfallen look on Hadley’s face, we knew it was not good news. She set the message on the table for us, unable to read it aloud.
     
    Come home at once. Stop. Your father is back in the hospital and it is not looking good. Stop. Love, Mother. Stop.
     
    Hadley lifted her head, seeming to summon new courage. She said, “I’ve got to go to St. Louis. I’ll try to get a train out early tomorrow morning. I’ll take Bumby with me.”
    That, I realized, would leave me alone with Mr. Hemingway.
    “Well then,” I said to Hadley, flustered, “I guess I should make my own train reservation, so that I can leave when you do.”
    Her thoughts were elsewhere, and she offered no reply.
    Ernest simply raised an eyebrow, as if to question my sincerity.
    After the dishes had been cleared, Hadley called to check the train schedule. I would have jumped on the Internet to do that sort of thing, but of course, in this world, there was no such thing. We were dismayed to learn there was only one seat left on Hadley’s train, and none on the only other Key West departure till the following day.
    “I, uh … I can book a room for tomorrow night at that boardinghouse down the street,” I said.
    Hadley nodded. “Well, I’m exhausted and going to bed. Are you coming, honey?” she said to her husband, with a hint of irritation.
    Ernest looked at me