Evelyn, to her credit, tried to contain herself, but failed. Another chortle escaped.
Anthony scrubbed a hand over his face. “Maggie,” he said carefully, fighting a smile. “You think I’mdivorcingCrista?”
“You just said you can’t go on lying to her.”
“Yes, but?—”
“And you’re in a law office. With…her.”
“True,” he conceded.
“And you hugged and got all gooey and said Crista might kill you, but I guess you and your little hottie don’t care.”
“Hottie?” He drew back and looked at the other woman as if…well, as if he’d never considered her that way. Which was probably an act.
Jo Ellen leaned closer to Maggie. “We may have miscalculated, Mags.”
“The only person who miscalculated is my son-in-law. He underestimated me.”
“Uh, never, Maggie,” he said, inhaling deeply. “Sadly, youunderestimatedme.”
She stared at him, her heart rate too high to continue her tirade.
“I am not divorcing your daughter.” He opened the thick folder in his hands and pulled out a piece of paper with a picture at the top and grids of numbers and lines. “I am surprising her.”
She leaned in, squinting at the picture of a sweet house with white siding, soft gray shutters, and a small front porch with two rocking chairs. Palm trees dotted the background and there was water in the distance.
“With…that?” Her voice cracked.
Anthony’s smile softened. “I know, it’s small. Not the Summer House and not meant to be. But it’s five minutes away from that beach and perfect for us to spend long weekends and summers. In Destin.”
Maggie stared at him. “You…bought a house.”
“I knew if I breathed a word of it to her, she’d talk me out of it. She’d say it’s crazy and too much money, but since Eli and Vivien have been down there, and now you, I know she feels lonely. And with another baby…”
“You bought a second home.” Maggie breathed the words, then frowned, looking from him to the woman. “Why is she…”
“This is Evelyn Brookstone, my real estate agent.”
“Oh.” It was all she could manage, plus a look at Jo Ellen, who was biting her lip to keep from laughing.
“Look, Maggie, I know Eli and Vivien aren’t selling the Summer House. And I suspect…” His lips curled up. “…you’re never leaving it.”
Maggie opened her mouth. Closed it.
“And that place is huge, but there are four of us—or will be when the baby is born—and I thought we should have our own space down there,” he continued. “I wanted to surprise her.”
Evelyn stepped forward, smiling warmly. “I’ve never seen a man so concerned about making his wife happy. You’re Crista’s mother? You should know she’s in very good hands.”
“I…did know that.” Maggie winced and looked around, hoping she hadn’t made a spectacle, but no one seemed to notice—except Anthony, her beloved son-in-law.
He gave a wry smile. “Sounds like you had some doubts.”
“I’m sorry,” she said on a sad breath. “Truly. Crista was suspicious because of you taking calls outside and getting a different bank account and erasing texts and…”
“I didn’t want her to stumble onto anything.” His expression crumbled. “Oh, man, I blew it if she thinks I’m cheating. But how could I blame her? The lying was killingme, and I knew why I was doing it.”
All Maggie’s anger and doubt evaporated like the air from a balloon. “I came to prove you innocent. We followed you and called your assistant and…you didn’t come home one night.”
