Christie Brinkley’s husband, Peter Cook, about whom all civilization has recently read, wants to say: "I love my wife. I have loved her since the day I met her. Please . . . I love her." Then: "For a lifetime I’ve tried to prove how much I love her. This is an aberration." Then, amid tears: "I’m sorry. I’m contrite. I’m stupid. Foolish. No excuse." Christie, a very private person, does not wish him to speak out or to widen this story. Peter Cook is NOT speaking publicly. Not to the press. Not to me. To no one but his lawyer. Norman Sheresky asked me to deliver his client’s message. I meticulously wrote down Norman’s words, which are Peter’s. I then read my notes back to the lawyer who approved them. Now, with exacting care, I have delivered them. Said Sheresky: "He also denies that any relationship with that person was nonconsensual." And what’s this mean in English? "It means, as he told it to me, quote, ‘I took no advantage.’ The idea that the other person involved didn’t knowingly consent to this relationship is garbage." Norman Sheresky is a divorce lawyer. His history is usually representing the party who is racked with pain. He was there for James Gandolfini’s wife, Marcy, and for Patricia Duff, the middle one in the chorus line of Mesdames Ron Perelman. I asked what does he foresee in a coming divorce action. He said: "WHAT coming divorce action? There is no divorce proceeding that is proceeding. Christie Brinkley has not sued her husband." So what does his client actually want? Says Sheresky: "He hopes there’s no divorce. IF she wants one, and he certainly hopes this doesn’t happen, but IF – it will not be nasty. She can have whatever she wants. "Look, nobody’s been saying anything decent about this man who loves his wife and who loves his children. He adopted one of her other children. He’s been a great husband. He’s a great father. Excellent relationship with his kids. Talks to them even now every day. He wants this to go away. He wants for the children to be protected. To beg her forgiveness. For her to take him back. He says he’s married to a terrific woman. He got involved, in over his head somehow, and he wants to make it up to her for the rest of his life. "He’s not looking to be a star on his own. "He’s just going to his office where he’s hounded. He’s just sitting . . . and . . . crying. "I’ve dealt with a laundry list of husbands. I personally think Peter Cook is a terrific guy. He didn’t invent adultery. He didn’t invent the certain kind of person who would engage in it with him, either. He may, however, have invented the huge profuse unending enormous heartrending apologies he is directing toward his wife." So you say he wants this to go away. How can this go away? "Well, for one thing, people like YOU can go away. Every day the media keeps refueling this story makes the whole thing harder. He, me, she, all of us, just want all of you people to go away."
Cindy Adams
