Surrender

I held my breath. If too many more seconds passed, I’d know I had failed. Maybe I should have been more interested in Paul’s adoption story, or pressed more about the charity. Hell, I should have offered to make a contribution from our account.

“Oh, and the safe is in Leo’s office. You know, next to the study. It’s in the cabinet of his desk. It looks like two drawers, but it’s actually a safe.” That was it, the last extension I had for this conversation. I had played my cards and lost.

“You know, I was going to ask you about that paint color. I love the dark blue in there.”

“Oh sure. I have the sample color. I’ll drop if off.”

“That would be great.” She sipped her raspberry tea. Her gaze wandered to the window. “I don’t like to think about getting sick or dying.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that seems to stare me in the face every day with an older husband.” She looked at me. “He is a lot older than I am.”

“It doesn’t matter, though does it? You love each other.”

“We’re an odd couple, aren’t we?”

“Oh no,” I answered quickly. “The first time I saw you together I thought you were sweet. There’s something very deep and romantic between you two. Something that has nothing to do with your age or Paul’s.”

“It’s not like we don’t talk about it, or think about it. My sister told me he was too old, but I didn’t want to listen to her. I loved him. His quirky nerdy Frenchness. All of him. I didn’t care that he loved science and I loved art. It didn’t matter. When we were together, that was all that mattered.”

“Did something change? Are you unhappy?” I was afraid to ask. She made it seem as if all of the love was in the past. It was a contradiction from what I had witnessed.

“No. No.” She waved me off. “I’m just thinking about the beginning—back when I made the decision that this was going to be the marriage I had. I knew there wouldn’t be children. I knew he was a workaholic. What you said about being responsible. Having all your affairs in order—it’s bringing up something I hate thinking about, that’s all. Our age difference isn’t going to suddenly diminish. The older we get—the older he is…”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

She rose from the couch. “It’s all right. Hold on.”

I eyed her as she disappeared down the hall. A few minutes later she returned.

She sighed. “You’re completely right. We should have someone. Paul’s brother is older than he is, and frankly, I wouldn’t trust the man if we needed something in an emergency. He’s just too damn old.”

I opened my hand as she dropped a notecard into my palm.

“My sister is back home, but if something were to happen, that’s all the important stuff.”

I stared. I had it. The code. It was in my hand. It was that easy. One lie had led to another, and another, until she gave me exactly what I wanted. It was supposed to be a triumph but I felt sick. Disturbed it was so easy to deceive someone who trusted me.

“Are you sure?” I asked. Part of me was giving her an out. She could snatch the piece of paper back and I could tell Eloise it just wasn’t possible to get the code. Blackwing would have to find another way.

“Yes. Of course. The safe is actually behind that painting.” She pointed to the one on the wall I had studied only a few minutes earlier. “It used to be in Paul’s study, but we moved it when we had a problem. It wouldn’t fit flush against the wall, and he’s just too OCD to handle something sticking out two inches.” She laughed. “Anyway, just punch in those numbers and voila. Our lives will be in your hands.” She grinned.

I exhaled. “I hope neither of us ever need these.” I tucked it in my pocket. “But this is smart. Now we have a buddy system. Paul’s work is in there too. You won’t need it, but he just stacks things like it’s an old shoe box, not a safe.”

I laughed. “Somehow I can see him doing that.”

She returned to the corner of the couch and nuzzled under the fluffy blanket. “That man is so particular in certain areas of his life, and a complete slob in others. He’s a fascinating case study on human behavior.” She winked. “Enough about my quirky husband. I was thinking. Why don’t you and Leo go with us to the next event?”

“Oh, really?”

“It’s sort of work-related for Leo. But it would be fun, and you’d get to dress up that handsome husband of yours. How often does he wear a tux?”

I blushed. Everyone noticed Vaughn. Even very happily married women.

“Not enough,” I admitted.

“We could go shopping together. Next week there’s a black tie event at the Ritz. It’s a silent auction for the children’s home.”

I nodded. “Sure. We’d love to go. And I will make sure we bid on some very expensive items.”

I wanted to leave as many good deeds behind as I could before we were gone and Aubrey realized how I had betrayed her trust. I knew it wouldn’t matter by then. She would be mired in the breach of trust. She wouldn’t care if we had given a million dollars to parentless kids. But for now, it was something that helped me move to the next day. To keep this friendship going.