“One that will make your life much easier.”
Her eyes were twinkling, daring him to figure out the clever thing she’d done.
“You erased their memories,” he said.
“Go the head of the class,” Holly said. “When your friends wake up, they’ll no longer remember any of the things you’d rather not have them know. I included your driver, too. You have a clean slate. Let no good deed go unrewarded.”
“I think you got the expression wrong.”
“I like mine better.”
Holly had saved him. He didn’t know how to thank her. Taking her hands, he gazed into her pretty face. She seemed embarrassed, and looked away.
“Why did you do it?” he asked.
“You didn’t deserve what was happening to you,” she replied.
“This gives me a second chance with Liza. You had to know that.”
Her cheeks were wet, but not from the rain. Her voice wavered as she spoke. “I realized something years ago. You were babysitting me, doing your magic tricks. I was being difficult, and not playing along. It bothered you, and you left in a terrible mood. That night, I figured out why. You’re easily the most unhappy person I’ve ever known. The tricks and clever one-liners are how you cope. You make other people happy to compensate for your unhappiness.
“But then you met Liza, and you changed. You were finally happy, and I was so happy for you. Don’t get me wrong. I would have given anything to have made you that way. But I didn’t. It was her. She was the one that stole your heart. That’s why I did it.”
“For me.”
“Yes, Peter, for you. Oh, look. Your driver is starting to wake up. The others will soon follow. You should be there when they come out of the spell. It will make things easier for them.”
“What should I say?”
Holly wiped away her tears. “I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
Holly had figured out his secret. And she’d protected him, as best she could.
“Thank you,” he said.
She started to walk away. “See you Friday night at my aunt’s.”
“I’ll be there,” he replied.
Peter climbed into the backseat of the limo. Herbie had come to, and was wiping the cobwebs from his eyes. He looked slightly confused.
“Sorry about that,” his driver said. “I must of dozed off.”
“No more sleeping on the job. Put some opera on, will you?”
“Opera? Sure, whatever you say, boss.”
Peter poured glasses of sparkling water for Liza and himself, an ice-cold Heineken for Snoop. He placed the drinks in holders for when they came out of Holly’s spell. Placido Domingo’s booming voice came over the limo’s state-of-the-art speakers. Liza stirred.
“Hey, sleeping beauty, rise and shine,” he said.
Liza slowly woke up. Gone from her face were the anger and distrust that had built up over the past few days. Life was good again.
“Boy, was that a weird dream,” his girlfriend said. “Who put on the opera?”
“I asked Herbie to.”
“That was sweet of you. Looks like it’s finally stopped raining.”
They looked out the window together. The storm had broken apart, leaving a vacant, slate blue sky. Like a curtain rising inside a theater, a new act was about to begin. He could start being a magician again, and forget about the evil that had consumed his life.
Snoop snapped awake, and grabbed the waiting glass of beer.
“Service around here is definitely improving,” his assistant said.
They laughed. It was all back to normal.
“Here’s to the best friends in the world,” he said.
“I’ll drink to that,” Snoop said.
“Me, too,” Liza said.
They clinked glasses. Peter’s drink burned going down. The searing ache in his heart was still there. He’d been living a lie, and it had nearly destroyed his relationship with Liza. He had to come clean with her before it happened again. The voice of his conscience told him to do it right now. He put his glass in the holder, and took her hand.
“I want to take you out to dinner. There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Sounds mysterious. I’m game,” she said.
Peter breathed a sigh of relief. That hadn’t been so hard, had it? He glanced across the seat at Snoop, and raised his eyebrow suggestively.
“Holy cow, look at the time,” his assistant said. “You two have a nice night.”
Snoop hopped out of the limo. He rapped his hand on the roof before walking away. Peter promised himself that someday, he would tell Snoop as well.
“Let’s roll,” he told his driver.
The limo glided down the street. Peter turned to Liza. “You hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Me, too. Where do you want to eat?”
Liza snuggled up next to him, and rested her head on his shoulder. Her face was so close that he could feel her breath on his skin. Tomorrow morning they’d wake up together, and her face would be the first thing he’d see, her voice the first thing he heard. If he was honest with her, it would be that way for the rest of his life. If he’d learned anything during the past few days, it was that there could be no secrets between people in love. No secrets at all.
“Surprise me,” she said.
