Liv nodded.
‘She got a tip-off she’d won the award ’bout a week before. She was real proud readers had voted for her. But then she found out the date of the event was November the first. Her debut novel had been published that day, twenty years earlier. Ess was supposed to hold a big old party to celebrate back then, but something went wrong and it didn’t happen.She was wary the Constellations were being held on the same date.’ He shrugged a shoulder. ‘We were struggling with some personal stuff in our lives and drinking more than we should. It made Ess paranoid about that kind of thing. I told her it was a chance to change the meaning of the date, and encouraged her to go.’
‘I saw footage and photos from the ceremony. You look so proud.’
‘Heck, I sure was. We both hit the champagne real hard and had a great time.’ He grinned. Then his smile slid away. He gulped his whisky and glanced at Liv. ‘Everyone wanted a piece of her, especially the press. They wanted a piece of me even more.’
Liv saw Hank’s hand shake as he put down his glass. ‘Journalists?’ she said, remembering Chloe’s speculation that Hank had paid one off.
‘You work with Ess. You’re close to her, right?’ he said, as if asking her permission to say more.
Liv didn’t nod or say anything. She wanted him to speak freely of his own accord.
He ran his hand through his hair. ‘Some hack got Ess’s ear. Told her I cheated on her.’ He let out the saddest sigh. ‘It was the worst.’
Liv’s stomach rolled. Had she found Essie’s greatest love, but he’d stamped on her heart? ‘And did you cheat?’ she said.
‘I wouldn’t call it that.’ Eyes glistening, Hank looked up at the ceiling and cleared his throat. ‘One night, me and Ess had been drinking again. We rowed, y’know? It happened sometimes. I went out and drank some more in a bar. I ended up going home with some girl. Had so much whisky I don’t even remember it. Except she…’ He chewed his bottom lip.
‘She got pregnant?’ Liv added quietly. She thought about the photo of Hank and his family at the baseball match.‘I read a quote that said Essie hoped to have children one day.’
Hank didn’t look up. ‘We tried for years and nothing worked. Drinking helped to numb the pain.’
Liv pursed her lips. ‘How old is your son?’ she said.
Hank’s eyes flickered. ‘Did Ess tell you anything? She said she’d never—’
‘No, not Essie,’ Liv said, realizing she’d stumbled upon something Hank had been hiding from the world. ‘I worked out some dates.’
‘Jeez.’ He dug his hand into his hair. ‘Well, yeah. You got me… The girl got back in touch and told me she was having a baby. Ess and I were still very much together and I hated myself. I decided to keep it from her, not my greatest idea. I told the girl I’d support her, but asked her to keep quiet…’
‘I’m sorry,’ Liv said. And she was. For both Hank and Essie.
‘This stuff’s been eating me up for years. It feels good to speak to someone Ess trusts,’ Hank said. ‘Some journo found out the girl was pregnant and tried blackmailing me. I denied it, tried to brazen it out. Except the same hack was at the Constellation afterparty and he told Ess before I did.
‘It was her chance to shine, rewrite history for that date, and I ruined it. I humiliated her. She refused to come back to LA with me, left all her stuff behind in our home. Wouldn’t even talk to our friends anymore. I ended up paying off the journo so nothing came out.’
Liv winced. She imagined Essie’s devastation at her husband cheating and fathering a baby behind her back. But was it enough for the author to hide herself away for ten years afterwards? ‘What happened then?’ she said.
‘I tried to do the right thing. Ess got a quickie divorce and I married the girl before our son was born. We said he’d arrived prematurely, to avoid embarrassment for Ess. I was a real mess over losing her for a long time, even checked myself into rehab. My wife’s been real patient with me.’
‘And you’re happy?’ Liv said. She really wanted him to say yes. He’d made a terrible mistake and regretted it for a decade. She could see he loved Essie.
‘I love being a dad. Only wish it had happened in a different way, wish I hadn’t been so weak.’
They sat still together while bodies jiggled on the dance floor. Lots of people eyed Hank and he didn’t notice.
‘There’s a journalist snooping around, wanting to write a story about Essie,’ Liv said. ‘I’ve suggested she write about Georgia Rory instead. I think a quote or two from you might seal the deal.’
‘A journo? Jeez… I hate ’em.’ Hank’s lips twisted. He slugged his whisky. ‘Will it help Ess?’
‘Yes, and me, too.’
‘Sure. I love Ess. Always did, always will. I just happened to be stupid that one night.’ He took a business card from his pocket and passed it to Liv. ‘Put the words in my mouth, whatever you need. Send them my way to approve.’
After draining his glass, Hank leaned in so close Liv felt the front of his hair brush hers. He looked deeply into her eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, as if he was speaking to Essie. ‘Forgive me, doll.’
Liv felt his breath on her lips and her skin tingled all over. Every hair on her arms and neck lifted as he grew even closer. It had been so long since she felt this desirable. Just another few millimetres and their lips might touch. Fire flooded her body.
