Page 7 of Happily Ever After

Cece adjusted her chair. “That brings me to my next point. You told me you wanted to talk about something personal today. Something that’s been part of your past for a long time, but hasn’t been public.”

Paige rested her hands on the arms of the chair. “That’s right.”

“Take your time and tell us in your own words what’s on your heart.” Cece went silent after that.

“When my marriage ended,” Paige said, moving her hands to her lap. “There were a lot of assumptions. People like to have opinions about things like that. They like to think they know what’s happening. All of them were wrong.”

Cece stayed quiet.

“The reason my marriage ended wasn’t unusual. My husband was having an affair,” Paige continued. “With his personal trainer. Not that shocking. But…” She paused to take a breath. “His personal trainer was a man. He’d been hiding a secret life from me and our daughter.”

Cece caught herself before she reacted, blinking back her surprise.

Paige went on, her tone unchanged. “He left because he was gay. I left because he lied to me. He’d been lying to me since I’d met him. Our daughter deserved better than a father she couldn’t trust and a house full of secrets.”

Cece kept her eyes on Paige, listening.

“I didn’t talk about it publicly before because there was no reason to,” Paige said. “It wasn’t anyone else’s business. I wanted to protect my daughter as much as possible.”

“I can understand that. It must have been incredibly hard on you both.”

“It was.” Paige’s voice caught, the first show of emotion she’d allowed since she’d started. “It was the most difficult thing I’ve been through. It wrecks you mentally, emotionally, and physically.”

Cece nodded once. “Why share now?”

Paige looked up and gave Cece a little smile. “Because silence lets other people assume whatever they want to. It gives them a sense of power over you,” she said. “And I’m done with that.”

Cece let a breath out and carefully reached out to squeeze Paige’s hand. “Thank you for trusting me with it.”

Paige squeezed back. “Thank you for asking.”

Cece moved on to another question, shifting the interview toward Paige’s future plans.

As Paige answered, Cece felt the great satisfaction of having helped a friend, and having given Paige exactly what she needed.

Chapter Four

Maude wouldn’t be here yet, but that was because Essie had reached the dog park a few minutes early. No surprise there. She’d always been the sort of person who arrived ahead of schedule, even now that she had fewer places she needed to be.

She supposed that was just what happened when you were retired. Why not arrive early? What else were you going to do? This morning, she’d already eaten breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the master bathroom, done a load of laundry, had her devotions, read two chapters of her book club book, and started knitting a blanket for Maple.

Who was very eager to get out of the golf cart and into the dog park, judging from her excited little whimpers.

“Okay,” Essie said. “We’re going.” She got out of the golf cart and Maple followed as Essie headed for the gate. Essie unlatched it and they went through.

Maple tugged lightly at the leash, tail wagging as she took in the new smells. Making sure the gate was closed behind her, Essie unhooked Maple’s leash and watched her trot forward, ears perking up, her posture cautious but playful.

The grass crunched under Essie’s sandals as the sun climbed steadily, promising another warm day. A couple of dogs were already inside the fence, their owners clustered near one of the benches, talking in low voices.

Maple hadn’t gone far. Maybe she needed to watch the other dogs first? Essie hoped Maple liked the dog park. There was space for her to run and play. It was a great spot for her to expend energy.

“Milo!” Maude’s voice carried from behind her.

Essie turned as Maude came through the gate, Ollie’s dog, Milo, straining eagerly at the leash. He was a handsome dog and seemed determined to greet every living thing within reach. Essie hoped he and Maple got along.

“Well, hello to you, too,” Essie said as Milo made a beeline for her.

Maude laughed and unclipped the leash now that they were inside the fence. “He’s such a friendly dude.”