Valene’s mouth dropped open yet again. She hadn’t expected any worse news about Wyatt. “No, that can’t be true.”
“I’m so sorry, Valene. I didn’t mean to see it. Well, I did of course because I willfully read her mind, but I didn’t mean to see such bad news for you. I wouldn’t have believed it if she’d just told me, but in her mind, she’s definitely seen Wyatt half-dressed.”
She stared at Nova, eyes widening in vivid horror. Her head moved back and forth, the scream she wanted to release caught in her throat.
Valene had seen that scar herself for the very first time last night. She had run her fingertip over the surface, asking how old he’d been when he got it. How could Daphne Charlene possibly know about it, unless she’d also been with Wyatt?No. No. Please don’t let that be true.
Nova had the good sense to grab Valene and ease her gently into a row of visitor seats. Her legs gave out just as she plopped onto her butt in the molded plastic chair in the hallway leading to the Fearless Leader’s office.
She rocked back and forth, her arms wrapped around her middle, feeling betrayed like never before. The tears that had threatened to spill let loose, streaming down her face as she let go the agonized sobs that would not be stopped.
Nova sat down next to her, put a comforting arm around Valene’s shoulders and squeezed her as the misery leaked out.
When she finally settled, Nova said, “Listen, I was shocked at first, too. So I thought about it on my way down to the basement. It occurs to me that there are lots of ways that woman could know about Wyatt’s scar.”
“Like how?”
“Maybe she knows someone who was a nurse during his procedure. Maybe a friend of Wyatt’s mother told someone and Daphne Charlene got the information by accident.”
Valene sniffed. She wanted so much to believe that Wyatt would never betray her and especially not with the likes of Daphne Charlene.
Every time he’d spoken ofthat womanit was with a certain contempt in his tone. He truly didn’t seem to like her. Something occurred to Valene.
“Tell me, Nova. What did Wyatt’s scar look like?”
Nova’s eyes widened. “Well, I only got a quick look, you understand.”
“I know, but tell me what you remember.”
“Wyatt obviously works out. He has very nice abs.”
“Yes. He does. What else? Tell me about the appendix scar.” Valene was more interested in the description. Wyatt’s scar was unique. Not the clean-lined, flat scar it might have been, but jagged with raised, angry dark pink tissue due to the unusual nature of its removal.
Wyatt told her he’d gotten his rather ugly scar because an EMT had done emergency surgery on him when he was nine years old and in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. The only doctor on staff had been knocked unconscious by a quarrelsome, loudmouthed ER patient, and the standby doctor was too far away to get to Wyatt’s surgery in a timely manner.
Afraid Wyatt might die if the appendix ruptured en route, the standby doctor talked the EMT through the procedure as the ambulance raced across town to the hospital. His appendix had partially burst as it was being removed during the rough ride, but he and his parents had been told he only survived because it was taken out so quickly. He very likely would not have made it to the hospital in time had they waited.
“The scar is sort of lightning shaped.”
What?“Do you mean it’s jagged?”
“Yes. Right. Jagged. And it has pink, raised tissue.” Nova made a face. “It kind of looks like they used a butter knife to do the surgery as I think about it.”
Valene’s mouth trembled. So, it was true. Daphne Charlene must have seen the scar. Tears splashed onto her cheeks as the disturbing truth peeked through.
Nova took her by the shoulders and shook her gently. “Listen to me, Valene. Don’t let her get into your head. If Daphne Charlene knows or says something, that doesn’t mean the obvious.”
“What do you mean? If she hasthatvision in her head, then she’s seen him in his pajamas. Trust me, I know that firsthand.”
Nova looked up as if searching her memory for a plausible explanation. “I know—what if she looked in his window?”
Valene grunted. “Doubtful.”
“Why?”
“Wyatt keeps all his windows shut, locked and the bedrooms have blackout curtains.”
“Oh, so he doesn’t ever walk around the rest of his house in pajama pants? I don’t buy it. And I also don’t believe Wyatt cares one whit about her. He loves you. I heard he said it out loud this morning in front of your brothers.”
