“It’s not just a rough patch. I found this in his pocket.” She held the card up. Jane and Claire both looked confused.
Claire reached for the card and put it on the table in front of her. “Sandee’s business card?”
“Except I don’t think James had it for business.” Maxi reached out and flipped the card over. “Looks like her personal number is on the back.”
Claire pressed her lips together. “It could be. I don’t know her number.”
“I figure her work number is the one actually printed on it, but this is seven digits. So it’s probably a personal number she gives out to a select few.” Maxi turned to Jane. “Remember when you thought you saw James with Sandee at the cottage?”
Jane nodded solemnly. “But you said you weren’t in the market to buy one.”
“Right. I don’t think James was there looking at real estate... if you know what I mean.”
“There could be a logical explanation—” Jane started, but Maxi cut her off.
“That’s what I hoped at first. But then I thought about all the nights he came home late and how things have been strained between us. The real kicker was the other day when I saw him pulling out of the spot next to the real estate office, and he pretended that he didn’t even see me!”
Claire’s eyes narrowed. “And you think he was visiting Sandee. In broad daylight? That would be just like her. She’s a home-wrecker with no conscience.”
Maxi knew very well what Sandee was capable of. She’d lived through it with Claire when Claire’s husband, Peter, had cheated on her with Sandee. And now it was happening to her. But it had worked out good for Claire. She’d eventually been able to start Sandcastles and now had everything she’d ever wanted, including a new devoted boyfriend. In a way, it had inspired Maxi because she knew that she, too, could use this as a way to reinvent herself into everything she always wanted to be. Just without the boyfriend.
“And he admitted to seeing her?” Jane’s tone was skeptical.
“No, not really. But when I confronted him about pretending not to see me in the street, he lied and said he wasn’t there!” Maxi took a long sip of her drink. “I know him well enough to know when he’s lying.”
“I can’t believe it.” Jane's expression softened with sympathy. “You always seemed so good together. What can I do to help?”
Maxi shook her head. “Nothing. I’m doing fine, really.”
“You are?” Claire studied her. “Sometimes it doesn’t hit you for a while. If you need to talk, please let me know. I’ve been there.”
Maxi appreciated her friends’ offers to help, but she was surprised to find that she really was doing okay. “I’m just focusing on the future. I love the little cottage. I’ve been painting and... I have a new man in my life.”
Claire and Jane were taken aback. “So soon?”
Maxi pulled her phone out of her tote. She’d taken several pictures of Rembrandt to show them. She'd yet to tell them about the cat and was excited to surprise them. She thumbed through for her favorite, the one in which he was reaching up with one paw at her.
“His name is Rembrandt.”
Claire and Jane tilted their heads to look at the phone.
“How adorable!”
“How old is he?”
“He’s only six months.” Maxi’s heart swelled as she swiped to the next photo of him curled up and sleeping on the couch.
“Already spoiled, I see,” Claire said.
“He’s great company. And the cottage is coming around.” Maxi took her phone back. “Do you guys want to come over and meet him and see the place tomorrow night?”
“Of course!” Jane said.
“That would be perfect,” Claire agreed.
“Good. I might be really busy the next couple of days.” Despite the grim news about her marriage, Maxi was bubbling over to tell her best friends about her show in the art gallery.
“Oh? Why is that?” Jane asked around a mouth of fries.
