Sidney Sheldon - Nothing lasts forever

“What news?” Paige asked.

“Ken asked me to marry him.”

There were looks of disbelief on their faces.

“You're joking!” Paige said.

“No. He proposed to me last night. I accepted.”

“But you can't marry him!” Honey exclaimed. “You know what he's like. I mean, he tried to get you to go to bed on a bet!”

“He succeeded.” Kat grinned.

Paige looked at her. “I'm confused.”

Kat said, “We were wrong about him. Completely wrong. Ken told me about that bet himself. All this time, it's been bothering his conscience. Don't you see what happened? I went out with him to punish him, and he went out with me to win some money, and we ended up falling in love with each other. Oh, I can't tell you how happy I am!”

Honey and Paige looked at each other. “When are you getting married?” Honey asked.

“We haven't discussed it yet, but I'm sure it will be soon. I want you two to be my bridesmaids.”

“ You can count on it,” Paige said. “ We'll be there.” But there was a nagging doubt in the back of her mind. She yawned. “It's been a long night. I'm going home and get some sleep.”

“I'll stay here with Mike,” Kat said. “When he wakes up, the police want to talk to him.” She took their hands in hers. “Thank you for being such good friends.”

On the way home, Paige thought about what had happened that night. She knew how much Kat loved her brother. It had taken a lot of courage to turn him over to the police. I should have done this a long time ago.

The telephone was ringing as Paige walked into the apartment. She hurried to pick it up.

It was Jason. “Hi! I just called to tell you how much I miss you. What's going on in your life?”

Paige was tempted to tell him, to share it with somebody, but it was too personal. It belonged to Kat.

“Nothing,” Paige said. “Everything is fine.”

“Good. Are you free for dinner tonight?”

Paige was aware that it was more than an invitation to dinner. If I see him anymore, I'm going to get involved, Paige thought. She knew that it was one of the most important decisions of her life.

She took a deep breath. “Jason …” The doorbell rang. “Hold it a minute, will you, Jason?”

Paige put the telephone down and went to the door and opened it.

Alfred Turner was standing there.

Paige stood there, frozen. Alfred smiled. “May I come in?” She was flustered. “Of… of course. I'm … sorry.” She watched Alfred walk into the living room, and she was filled with conflicting emotions. She was happy and excited and angry at the same time. Why am I going on like this? Paige thought. He probably dropped by to say hello.

Alfred turned to her. “I've left Karen.”

The words were a shock.

Alfred moved closer to her. “I made a big mistake, Paige. I never should have let you go. Never.”

“Alfred…” Paige suddenly remembered. “Excuse me.”

She hurried to the telephone and picked it up. “Jason?”

“Yes, Paige. About tonight, we could—”

“I …I can't see you.”

“Oh. If tonight is bad, what about tomorrow night?”

“I … I'm not sure.”

He sensed the tension in her voice. “Is anything wrong?”

“No. Everything is fine. I'll call you tomorrow and explain.”

“All right.” He sounded puzzled.

Paige replaced the receiver.

“I've missed you, Paige,” Alfred said. “Have you missed me?”

No. I just follow strangers on the street and call them Alfred. “Yes,” Paige admitted.

“Good. We belong together, you know. We always have.”

Have we? Is that why you married Karen? Do you think you can walk in and out of my life any time you please?

Alfred was standing close to her. “Haven't we?”

Paige looked at him and said, “I don't know.” It was all too sudden.

Alfred took her hand in his. “Of course you do.”

“What happened with Karen?”

Alfred shrugged. “Karen was a mistake. I kept thinking about you and all the great times we had. We were always good for each other.”

She was watching him, wary, guarded. “Alfred …”

“I'm here to stay, Paige. When I say 'here,' I don't exactly mean that. We're going to New York.”

“New York?”

“Yes. I'll tell you all about it. I could use a cup of coffee.”

“Of course. I'll make a fresh pot. It will just take a few minutes.”

Alfred followed her into the kitchen, where Paige began to prepare the coffee. She was trying to get her thoughts in order. She had wanted Alfred back so desperately, and now that he was here …

Alfred was saying, “I've learned a lot in the last few years, Paige. I've grown up.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. You know I've been working with WHO all these years.”

“I know.”

“Those countries haven't changed any since we were kids. In fact, some of them are worse. There's more disease down there, more poverty …”

“But you were there, helping,” Paige said.

“Yes, and I suddenly woke up.”

“Woke up?”

“I realized I was throwing my life away. I was down there, living in misery, working twenty-four hours a day, helping those ignorant savages, when I could have been making a bundle of money over here.”

Paige was listening in disbelief.

“I met a doctor who has a practice on Park Avenue in New York. Do you know how much he makes a year? Over five hundred thousand dollars! Did you hear me? Five hundred thousand a year!”

Paige was staring at him.

“I said to myself, 'Where has that kind of money been all of my life?' He offered me a position as an associate,” Alfred said proudly, “and I'm going in with him. That's why you and I are going to New York.”

Paige stood there, numbed by what she was hearing.

“I'll be able to afford a penthouse apartment for us, and to get you pretty dresses, and all the things I've always promised you.” He was grinning. “Well, are you surprised?”

Paige's mouth was dry. “I … I don't know what to say, Alfred.”

He laughed. “Of course you don't. Five hundred thousand dollars a year is enough to make anyone speechless.”

“I wasn't thinking of the money,” Paige said slowly.

“No?”

She was studying him, as though seeing him for the first time. “Alfred, when you were working for WHO, didn't you feel you were helping people?”

He shrugged. “Nothing can help those people. And who the hell really cares? Would you believe that Karen wanted me to stay down there in Bangladesh? I told her no way, so she went back.” He took Paige's hand. “So here I am. … You're a little quiet. I guess you're overwhelmed by all this, huh?”

Paige thought of her father. He would have been a big success on Park Avenue, but he wasn't interested in money. His only interest was in helping people.

“I've already divorced Karen, so we can get married right away.” He patted her hand. “What do you think of the idea of living in New York?”

Paige took a deep breath. “Alfred …”

There was an expectant smile on his face. “Yes?”

“Get out.”

The smile slowly faded. “What?”

Paige rose. “I want you to get out of here.”

He was confused. “Where do you want me to go?” “I won't tell you,” Paige said. “It would hurt your feelings.”

After Alfred had gone, Paige sat lost in thought. Kat had been right. She had been clinging to a ghost. Helping those ignorant savages, when I could have been making a bundle over here… . Five hundred thousand a year!

And that's what I've been hanging on to, Paige thought wonderingly. She should have felt depressed, but instead she was filled with a feeling of elation. She suddenly felt free. She knew now what she wanted.