of Clara’s stay, I found her in the kitchen making breakfast. Luca had already left for work, so I was surprised to see her there. She was normally at the office before him.
“Going in late?” I asked.
She groaned, her hand resting on her belly. “I was moving slowly this morning.”
“I think you have a perfectly reasonable excuse for slowing down in general.”
She waved me off. “Nonsense. I’ll have three months of maternity leave, and no doubt I’ll be climbing the walls by the end of it. I don’t want to begin that earlier than I have to. Besides, my job isn’t very physically taxing. It’s the whole heaving myself from bed and making myself presentable that takes twice as much energy as it used to.”
I slid in next to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and squeezing. “Well, you look absolutely gorgeous, if that makes you feel any better.”
She knocked her head against my shoulder and grinned. “Coming from my gorgeous sister-in-law, it does indeed. Although, I rue the day I have to see you walking around glowing and pregnant. You’re so tall, I bet your bump will be tiny, and I’ll seethe with jealousy. I just know it.”
When I didn’t laugh, Clara turned her sharp eyes on me. I gave her the warmest smile I could muster.
I hated lying any more than I had to, so I answered carefully. “I’m not sure when that will happen.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, look at me, speaking out of turn. It’s this baby in me, sucking my brains out. Before this, I never would have presumed a woman had plans to become a mother. Forgive me?”
“Of course I forgive you. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Flustered, I made myself busy pouring a cup of coffee. Miles would be here soon to start our workday. We had a meeting with Kenji, so I needed to grab breakfast before everything started rolling.
Then I remembered how worried Luca was about his sister. She hadn’t been receptive to him prying into her marriage, but maybe she’d talk to me.
“Will you be here again tonight?” I was going for casual, peering at her over my steaming coffee.
Clara leaned her hip on the counter. “If it’s okay, I’d like to stay another night.”
“You don’t have to ask, Clara. We talked about it last night and agreed how much we like having you here.”
Her brow winged. “My brother doesn’t mind me intruding on his newly wedded bliss?”
I laughed. “He really doesn’t.” I set my mug on the counter and opened a box of granola. “Do you think Miller would like to stay over too? We’d love to have him.”
“Oh, no, that’s okay, I—” she cut herself off, turning toward the sink. Suddenly, she was interested in washing her plate and glass. I’d struck a nerve.
“I’m sorry. If you want to talk, I’m here, but I won’t press.” I made a show of pouring my granola into a bowl so she would relax. I wasn’t going to badger her.
Then she turned around with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on.” She swiped at her face with the backs of her hands. “I was convinced he was cheating because something’s been so off with him. But once I confronted him about it, he promised me he wasn’t, and since then, he’s made a concerted effort to be a good husband. He’s been so attentive…I gaslit myself into believing I was the crazy one.”
I went to her, took her hands in mine, and pulled her into the living room. We sat together on the sofa no one ever sat on. Clementine showed up to take her spot wrapped around Clara’s belly.
Clara cooed at Clem for a moment, stroking her soft fur, then she took a deep breath and spilled everything.
“Miller’s assistant came to me on Monday. She was buying a car, so they ran her credit report and there was a credit card listed on it that didn’t belong to her. Naturally, she panicked and looked into it. The card is in her name, but the address is ours. Mine and Miller’s.”
My heart lodged in my throat. I had no earthly idea where this was going, but it couldn’t be anywhere good.
“Did you confront him?” I asked.
“No. I haven’t yet. But I did some digging and found the credit card’s statement. He paid for flowers delivered to a woman named Theresa Graves in Tennessee. He sent a book to her address too. I don’t get it. I just don’t. Miller doesn’t know anyone in Tennessee. He hasn’t been on any trips. I don’t know what to think. And I’m afraid, Saoirse. I have to know, but I don’t want to ask.”
I wanted to help. The urge was so strong I could barely sit still. “Luca can talk to him.”
“No,” she snapped. “Absolutely not. Luca will kill him with his bare hands if he finds out—” She gasped, her chest rising sharply. Clementine mewed and butted her head against Clara. After a moment, Clara dug her fingers into Clem’s fur, soothing them both. “I looked at Miller’s phone a few days ago. I only had a few minutes, but I clicked on his email app, and it was logged in to an account I didn’t know he had.”
She cut herself off, her lips pressing together in a straight line.
“You can’t go on like this. I hate seeing you so upset.”
Her shining, tear-filled eyes met mine. “What if you talk to him? You could meet him for coffee, maybe tell him you want to talk to him about baby stuff and try to get the truth out of him.”
The idea was crazy. Miller and I had next to no relationship. Why would he confide in me? But Clara was so distraught. If there was even the smallest chance I could help her, I had to do it.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
She exhaled, her shoulders curving forward. “Thank you so much.”
Her relief was palpable. I wrapped my arms around her because she really looked like she could have used a hug.
“Of course, Clara. You shouldn’t be under this kind of stress.”
“I appreciate that you care.” She pulled back and took a deep breath. “Please don’t tell Luca until we have all the facts. My brother will get himself arrested if he finds out.”
“I don’t want to keep secrets from him.”
She shook her head. “No, I understand. But can you wait until afterward? And let me tell him once we know for sure.”
My stomach squirmed with discomfort, but I agreed. I’d let Clara be the one to tell Luca what was going on since this was her marriage and life. It was only fair for her to get to choose the timing.
I’d just sat down at my desk Monday morning when Luca sent me an email.
From: [email protected]
Saoirse,
I had a cancellation today and I want to take you to lunch. This isn’t a euphemism. I want to sit across from you and eat food together. I have enough time. I can meet you close to home if that’s easier.
Tell me you’re free.
Yours,
Luca
I smiled as I read the email, even as my heart sank. I’d have to decline since I’d already made plans to meet Miller—which I was dreading like getting a filling without Novocaine. I’d already been pissed at Miller for being such a shithole husband his wife had asked me to intervene, but now I was doubly mad because I was going to miss out on spending time with Luca.
I couldn’t knock the grin off my face, though. It had become something of a constant since the week before when Luca had thrown out the rules. Clara had gone to stay with her parents on Saturday, which I thought would mean I’d be returning to my bedroom. But when I tried, Luca scooped me up and threw me on his bed.
We didn’t talk about the change. It just…was.
“Tell me the joke.”
I jerked back, surprised by Miles’s voice. I shouldn’t have been. We shared an office, and I’d let him into the condo only a half hour ago. I’d known he was in the room with me, but I’d been so busy daydreaming about Luca I’d forgotten I wasn’t alone.
“There’s no joke,” I said.
He parked his butt on the edge of my desk, a habit he’d carried over from his days working with Elise at Andes. Miles and I were both talkers. We quickly realized in order to get anything done, we had to learn to ignore each other or else we’d spend hours chattering instead of working.
“It might be me being paranoid, but I see you smiling at your computer like a little loon, and I think you’re talking trash about me.”
Laughing, I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms over my chest. “That is definitely you being paranoid. There’s no question.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re not going to tell me?”
I would have, but he was amusing me, so I drew out the torture. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“That’s it. This partnership is dissolved.” He picked up a blank piece of printer paper and ripped it down the middle.
“That wasn’t our contract.”
He crumpled the piece while staring me dead in the eye. “That was symbolic. It’s dissolved in my heart.”
I fell sideways in a fit of giggles. Working with Miles Aldrich was one of the best decisions I’d ever made.
He scowled at me through my laughter. “I’m not amused, Sershie.”
Sobering somewhat, I waved my hands between us. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I would never talk trash about you other than your abysmal taste in food trucks.”
His chin jutted. “I stand by Ludwig’s taco stand.”
“That’s because you’re a maniac. No one else wants sauerkraut tacos.”
“More for me.” His hand came down on my desk. “Now, tell me what had you grinning before I order sauerkraut tacos every day for the next month and eat them in front of you.”
I almost dry-heaved at the memory of the smell. One time was enough. They were banned from the condo.
“Just a sweet email from my husband, that’s all.”
He threw his hands up. “You couldn’t have said that?”
“I could have, but we were having fun.”
“You were having fun. You know, I see why you and Elise are friends. Both of you have demon hearts. It’s a good thing I get along well with evil women.”
“Go back to your desk and rest easy with the knowledge that I would never trash-talk you.”
He hopped up and shot me a dimple-popping grin. “I never doubted you, Sershie.”
When I was alone again, I replied to Luca’s email, stretching the truth as far as I could. I wouldn’t lie to him if I didn’t have to.
From: [email protected]
Luca,
I would love to sit across from you and eat food together. Sadly, and I really am sad about it, I won’t be able to make it today.
Miles and I are going to view that shared office space I told you about. I’ll pop in on you when we’re done. Are office kisses allowed? Because I plan to give you several.
Sincerely,
Your Inconvenient Wife
Biting my lip, I hit send. His hand would be twitchy when he read how I’d signed it. He hated me calling myself that. But he’d married a woman who liked provoking her husband’s twitchy hand.
I looked forward to seeing what he’d do about it.
My lightness vanished as soon as I remembered my impending meeting with Miller.
Freaking Miller. Ruining everything.
I walked out of lunch with Miller none the wiser.
He was squirrelly, evasive, and oddly sweaty. He asked me a lot about Clara’s state of being. She hadn’t come into the office today, so he was worried. From the dark circles around his eyes, it looked like he’d been worried for a while.
But when I outright asked him if he was cheating, he flatly denied it…and I believed him.
Something was off. Very, very off. He wouldn’t tell me what it was, and I couldn’t even begin to guess. But I truly didn’t think there was another woman. He loved his wife, even if he was screwing up big time.
I texted Clara on my walk from the café to the Rossi building.
Me: I just left lunch with Miller. He says he isn’t cheating, and maybe I’m stupid, but I believe him.
Clara: Did you ask him about Theresa Graves? The flowers? The book?
Me: I did. He acted like he had no idea what I was talking about. And when I showed him the credit card statement you gave me, he said there must be some mistake.
Clara: Oh, no. Why can’t he just be honest?
Me: I don’t think he’s going to be honest with you. You’re going to have to decide what you want to do without having all the answers. I’m sorry.
Clara: No, don’t be sorry. You went above and beyond your sisterly duty for me. I will never be able to repay you. Thank you for everything.
Me: You don’t have to thank me. When will you tell Luca?
Clara: I’ll tell him soon. I need to get my thoughts straight first.
Me: Please do it as soon as possible. I’m no good at secrets.
Clara: I will. I promise. I’ll talk to him this week.
I slid my phone back into my purse and looked up at the Rossi building in front of me. My stomach somersaulted, knowing Luca was in there, waiting for me.
I hated not being able to talk to him about this, but I trusted Clara would tell him soon. As long as Luca didn’t ask me a direct question about what was going on, I wouldn’t have to lie. Since I was terrible at lying and hated doing it, I kept my fingers crossed as I walked inside to find my husband.
