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perfect proposal was going all wrong. Would Curtis think she did something wrong, like give Crystal the wrong address or time? She had been clear. Had Crystal been delayed? She was usually always on time. Amera took out her cell phone to call. It rang just as she started to dial. She breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized the number. She jumped up, said, “Excuse me,” then went into the bedroom suite and closed the door.
    “Where are you?” she asked.
    “Is he still there?”
    “Of course,” Amera said surprised by the question. “He’s waiting for you.”
    “Is he angry?”
    “Where are you? Is something wrong?”
    “I’m nervous.”
    “Why?”
    “He’s never done something like this before. He’s going to ask me to marry him, isn’t he?”
    Amera hesitated, wondering if she should spoil the surprise. “Come by and find out.”
    “Oh my god he is,” Crystal said with a note of terror.
    “If you’ll just come and--”
    “He shouldn’t,” she interrupted, sounding miserable. “He’s only doing it because that’s what our families want. Mainly, what his father wants.”
    “I’m sure he wants it too. He takes commitment seriously and you should see--”
    “I’m sure you did it all,” she said and Amera could hear the smile in her voice. “You’re the best. I know that all the restaurants, shows and gifts were because of you.”
    “I just help,” Amera said embarrassed by Crystal’s praise. She was just an assistant doing the job she was paid to do. “I don’t--”
    “He should marry you. You’re able to deal with him better than anyone. You’ve been with him long enough. Longer than most. He scares me.”
    “I know marriage is a big decision, but just come over and have dinner with him--.”
    “I was only with him because I was frightened not to be, but I can’t do it anymore. He’s heartless. Tell him I don’t want to see him again.”
    “You tell him.”
    “I know I’m a coward and I'm sorry to put you in this position, but I can’t face him. I’ll make it up to you.”
    “Crystal you’re just--” Amera paused when she heard a click. “Crystal? Crystal?” Amera silently swore, then called her back, but the phone kept ringing. What should she do? She hadn’t planned for this. She’d at least hoped Crystal would have shown up. Not only hadn’t she shown up but she’d talked nonsense. At one moment calling Curtis ‘heartless’ then suggesting Amera marry him! Was she saying that Amera was cold too? Amera shook her head. She couldn’t worry about that now. She stared at the bedroom door. It was the only thing that separated her from an awful task. She rehearsed in her mind different ways to break the news. She could lie and say something unexpected had come up. Or she could question his judgment about Crystal’s suitability. But he’d see through both. Being direct was the best option. She would tell him quickly and then go home. He’d just nod his head in a stoic manner and then dismiss her. She took a deep breath then returned to the main lounge. Curtis had returned to his post at the window and had his back to her. “Sir--”
    “Did you bump into a door or something?”
    Amera blinked. “What?”
    “I’m still curious about that bruise. Come here.”
    She knew he was just toying with her and she wasn’t in the mood for his strange games. She stayed put and folded her arms. “I just spoke to Crystal.”
    “It’s snowing. I didn’t think it would.”
    “And Crystal said--”
    “Come and see it.”
    “Sir, I’m trying to tell you--”
    “I thought you liked snow. Come here.”
    Amera threw up her hands in exasperation. The man was insufferable. He never cared about her feelings before and she couldn’t understand his strange calm. She made a crude gesture, behind his back and mimed strangling him with her hands and wringing his neck then joined him at the window. She saw the tiny white lights on the trees surrounding the hotel and the car