“If this was before she was your wife.”
“She’s always been my wife,” he said. “From the start, she was the one.”
I continued to stare at him and hoped he’d answer the question.
“No,” he finally said. “It wouldn’t change anything. I’d want to punch Carvel in the face, but it wouldn’t change anything.”
I knew I’d made the right decision because I felt no anger or resentment. If I’d chosen to end things with her, I’d be drinking myself into a stupor and smashing vases.
“Talked to Carvel?”
“No.”
“Hash it out with him and put this behind you—and go back to being happy.”
I knew he would be at headquarters tonight, so I stopped by. I thought it was better to catch him off guard, so whatever he felt about the situation wouldn’t have a chance to simmer and then boil.
I walked in and found him yelling on the phone. “You know we don’t do extensions. I’ll put you last on the rotation, but that’sthe best I can do.” He hung up and shoved the phone back into his front pocket. That was when he noticed me, and he stilled.
I entered farther into the room and dropped into one of the ornate wooden armchairs.
He continued to stare at me.
I nodded to the other chair for him to join me.
He hesitated before he took a seat, slouched, one ankle on the opposite knee, arms crossed. “How do you want to do this?”
“I’m fine with it. Let’s put it behind us.”
He slowly cocked his head like he didn’t understand what I said. “Put it behind us?”
“Yes.”
“Let me tell you my side of the story?—”
“I don’t need your side, Carvel.” Nor did I want the details. Didn’t want to be reminded that he knew my woman’s body like I did. “It’s in the past. I don’t judge her for how she earned money, and I don’t care that the two of you were somewhat involved.”
He studied my face in search of a lie. “Sleeping with the same girl isn’t new. We do it all the time. But being in a relationship with one of them…is a little weird.”
“It’s not weird for me.”
“Really?” he challenged.
“You seem to have the problem with it, not me.”
“If you’d let me tell you my side of the story, you’d know why.” He stared me down.
I stared back.
“We were more than justsomewhatinvolved.”
I believed Aliénor. I trusted her. And that faith wouldn’t falter now. “You’re entitled to your perception, Carvel.”
“My perception?” he asked incredulously. “I fucked her without?—”
“Be very careful how you tread here.”
“I’m just saying it’s more than what she made it out to be.”
