Maggie felt something inside her splinter.
Anthony pulled back, still smiling. “I can’t wait another minute, Evelyn.”
Evelyn? Who was this woman?
“I have to tell Crista and pray she doesn’t murder me for doing something so life changing. Shehasto know the truth. I can’t go on lying to her any longer.”
The words detonated, each like a little bomb in Maggie’s head. She shot to her feet so abruptly she nearly toppled the Ficus.
Jo Ellen grabbed her arm. “Maggie?—”
Too late.
Maggie marched forward, ripping off her head scarf like a battle flag.
“Anthony.”
She kept her voice low, but the tone of it cracked through the lobby like a whip, and Anthony jerked around, blinking. Then every drop of blood drained from his face.
Of course—guilty.
“Maggie? What…what are you doing here?”
“What amIdoing here?” Maggie demanded, advancing, working to control her tenor. “What areyoudoing here, Anthony John Merritt?”
Evelyn’s eyes widened. “Is this your mother?”
Anthony glanced between them. “No…I—this is?—”
“You,” Maggie cut in, stabbing a finger toward his chest, staying close so she could make her point without causing a scene. “You are about to destroy the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“Maggie—”
“Crista is the greatest woman on this planet. She is carrying your child. She has given you a beautiful daughter. She has stood by you through promotions and pressure and stress. She made you a gorgeous home and you’re willing to destroy it with the same cavalier attitude you used when you totally forgot about my roses?”
“Maggie—”
“And this—” she gestured toward the law office “—this is how you repay her?”
Anthony stared at her as if she’d been speaking in Greek. Stunned, he looked around, his gaze landing on Jo Ellen, who gave a weak and pathetic wave as she shuffled closer.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, still sounding stunned.
“We’ve been following you,” Jo said, making Maggie groan. Did that matter now? He was ruining his life and needed to know that.
Anthony’s jaw dropped. “You’ve been—what?Why?”
“Because I believed in you.” Maggie ground out the words. “When Crista came to me scared and suspicious, I defended you. I told her there was no universe in which you would cheat. And this—this secret debit card, these deleted texts, these clandestine meetings with youryoung, attractive assistant?—”
The woman made a small choking sound.
“—and nowdivorcepapers? And you’re worried she might murder you? She should move fast because I am very close to doing it myself!”
Anthony started to speak, then he laughed. A short, startled, incredulous laugh, and added insult to injury by looking at his lover, who also giggled like a schoolgirl.
Maggie’s mouth fell open.
“You think this isfunny?”
