That was probably the last time I felt truly content. And I had no idea it was all built on a lie.
I remember him stroking my hair, my cheek, as I fell asleep in his arms.
That’s it.
After that, nothing until I woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t find him in our bed. How could I have known that he was with my best friend, that he snuck out while I slept to betray our marriage?
My eyes burn now, dry and aching from the crying I did last night.
That night I was so devastated that I didn’t even stop to wonder why Scarlett called him instead of me to share the news about Sadie.
But there’s no point dwelling on that now.
I need to focus on my daughter and not allow their affair to distract me. Sadie is more important than this heartache.
I’m moving into the camp today. I know now with absolute certainty that it has to be done. It’s actually the perfect time to get out of this place. Staying under the same roof as them feels unbearable, like breathing poisoned air. If the camp wasn’t an option, I’d be packing my bags for a hotel already.
But check-in is at midday and it’s so early in the morning. So many hours to kill. Instead of lying here like a rock, I need to do something to help keep my mind occupied. I pull out my laptop and catch up on work.
By 9a.m. I have a splitting headache, so I stop and go to the bathroom to swallow an aspirin.
Then I fetch coffee and a muffin from the kitchen, careful not to look at the closed bedroom doors as I walk past. Both Scarlett and Gabriel are still asleep, and I’m grateful for the quiet.
Back on my bed, I’m squinting at my laptop screen when the knock comes, three quick taps that send coffee sloshing over my fingers.
“Judy?” Scarlett’s voice. “Can I come in, please?”
I don’t respond, and the silence stretches between us like a taut wire. Three more taps, gentler this time.
The door handle moves, and the door swings open an inch. I swear under my breath for forgetting to lock it after coming back from the kitchen.
She peers through the gap. Her face is wrecked with tears, eyes swollen and red, skin blotchy.
“I have nothing to say to you, Scarlett.” Even uttering her name is painful.
“I know I hurt you.” Her voice barely carries across the room. “I don’t know how to—. I don’t know how to live with myself.”
“You’ve managed just fine for six months,” I cut in, my words sharp enough to slice. “You’ll survive.”
She recoils as if slapped. “I just want you to know that Gabriel was telling the truth. There’s nothing between us anymore. I swear.”
“Do whatever you want with each other.” I examine my fingernails, then meet her gaze. “I’m done with both of you.”
Her mouth quivers before she finds her voice again. “What I did…that wasn’t me. My marriage was over. I was so hurt and lost, and I just?—”
“I just need one answer,” I interrupt.
She looks at me, waiting.
“Just tell me when.” My coffee mug trembles in my hand, so I set it down.
She looks at the floor, and a strand of hair falls across her face.
“Your conference in Tampa. Sadie had that fever, remember? I brought over chicken soup. After she fell asleep, Gabriel madecoffee and he told me how he’d convinced Matt to increase my settlement, and I just—” She touches her collarbone, her fingers lingering where a necklace should hang. “I reached for his hand and…” She pauses, swallowing hard. “It just happened. We didn’t plan it. I didn’t plan it, Judy. I swear.”
My stomach lurches as if I’m on a boat hitting rough water.
I stare at her, but all I can think about is how her eyes are filled with guilt, or maybe fear. I can’t tell which.
