I darted down the steps at full speed, flashing thong-exposed butt cheeks past windows on my way to the first floor. “Wah!”
“Sophie! For crying out loud! What is wrong with you? Crazy nutjob!”
I raced into the garage and yanked my shirt and pants on, covering myself and running to Bill’s truck. I dove behind the wheel and raced home as fast as my conscience would let me.
Everything I needed to prove Robert was a big fat liar rode shotgun at my side.
I alternated between desperate relief and nausea as I navigated the traffic. How had I ever found Robert attractive or interesting? Why did I think his cruelty was acceptable?
I shuddered at the memories, then grew angry.
Robert had quietly bullied me all our married life, and now that I’d grown strong enough to leave, he’d found new ways to mistreat me. Namely by hiding money. At least now I knew where. Stocks, bonds, and a company he’d never mentioned. All more attempts to prove I was inconsequential. That everything we had belonged to him.
My grip tightened on the steering wheel. It was too late in the day to reach my attorney. First thing tomorrow I’d call and tell her everything. Then I’d send the photos. And what had he said about Bitcoin, before walking into the bedroom?
I didn’t know anything about digital currency, but I would add it to my nightly research. Hopefully I’d have better luck with that than I had looking for my biological father in France. I certainly couldn’t do worse.
I glanced at my purse, puzzling over the boat title in my name. I only vaguely recalled Robert’s interest in buying a boat. I had no recollection of signing paperwork for one, but those things were easy enough to do online these days, I supposed. When we were younger, Robert talked about buying assets in my name to increasemy credit score. Was the boat meant as a gift before I’d asked for a divorce?
Robert was so assured about our finances that I never got involved. As a result, I’d never realized how little I knew about any of it until now.
Thankfully, tomorrow was my day off, and the timing couldn’t be better.First stop,I thought,is the DMV, or wherever people get titles to boats verified.If the title was legit, then Robert had apparently paid thirty-four thousand dollars for it, likely as a way of draining funds from one of our bank accounts before the court started monitoring them. Lucky for me, selling the boat would be a great way to get that money back.
My mood improved instantly. I’d catch up on bills, invest in my growing business, and help Camilla with her wedding plans.Right after I buy a reliable used car and return Bill’s truck.
I just had to find the boat and place the ad to sell it. I hoped that Robert moored the vessel at a marina rather than hiding it a storage unit somewhere. I could call around after I talked to the DMV.
My nerves relaxed as my plan came together and I put miles between Robert and myself. I fished my phone from my bag and tapped the Do Not Disturb feature in case he tried calling. I needed a little more time to think and unwind. I’d send the photos I’d taken to my forensic accountant the minute I got home. I had no idea if they’d found anything yet, but tonight’s discovery should help pick up the pace.
Thinking of the evidence of various funds in his hidey-hole ignited my anger once more, and I pounded my palms against the steering wheel at a red light. “Fucking Robert!” I screamed, enjoying the rush that came with blowing off some steam.
Beside me, a white-haired woman in the passenger seat of a Volkswagen clutched her pearls and gaped.
I opened my mouth to apologize, but laughter poured out instead.
I was driving a beat-up old pickup truck and screaming profanity. I’d broken into my old house and snooped through my husband’s things. Then I’d stripped and pretended I stopped by for sex!
Who am I?
The light changed, and I motored into my neighborhood, mind brimming with more thoughts than I could manage. I wished it was morning so I could get started finding and selling the boat, contacting my attorney and the accountant. I’d never be able to sleep tonight. Not now.
Then I recalled the Invisible Baker.
I pulled into my drive and hung my head a moment. I snuffed the engine and reached for my phone to check for new orders. A berry cheesecake. A tiramisu. A party tray of mini vanilla cupcakes and mini salted caramel macarons. And a request for three dozen chocolate chip cookies using the recipe on the bag of chocolate with no added care, to appear authentic.
That last order was definitely from a tired, possibly bullied mom. I made a mental note to apply a heavy discount.
I gave the new orders another scan, thankful I wouldn’t be up all night baking. Then I noticed something I’d missed at first glance. Chez Margot hadn’t placed an order.
Had Lucas decided it was better to avoid Virginia’s attention by not ordering? I couldn’t blame him. I felt exactly the same way. Was Virginia the reason he’d been so distracted at work today?
I climbed out and rushed across the lawn toward my door. The sooner I finished baking, the sooner I could toss and turn until dawn.
The crunch of tires on the driveway behind me tightened every muscle in my body. I sent up seventy rapid-fire prayers that Robert hadn’t followed me home to demand a real explanation for my appearance tonight. Or worse, to confront me about the missing boat title.
I forced myself to peek over one shoulder as I turned my key in the lock. I still had time to go inside and shut him out, if necessary. I only had to cross the threshold to be safe.
The broad male figure moving in my direction sent my spiraling thoughts into a standstill. All the frazzled ends inside of me fixed onto a single word.
