Once Upon a Marriage

“Why does it matter?”

“Because. If she didn’t you never would have pursued me. You would have put the job first.”

His silence gave her her answer. And still she said, “She gave you the go-ahead, didn’t she?”

“No, Marie. She didn’t.”

“Then...you and me being married... She really is going to have your head for hiring you to watch out for me and then taking advantage...”

“I can assume so.”

He’d sacrificed everything for her and she still felt sick to her stomach every time she thought about that picture. “I need to go.”

“I understand.” He didn’t hang up.

She’d take care of her mother. Make certain that Elliott felt no backlash for any of this. Even if she had to play on Barbara’s self-expressed vulnerabilities and remind her mother of her own culpability. She didn’t want to. Would ordinarily not even consider doing so.

But to protect Elliott...she would if she had to. She didn’t say so out loud.

They were married. Had to discuss that fact, too. Somehow.

“Your stuff is here.”

“Yes.”

“You’re welcome to come in and out of the apartment as you need to.”

“I appreciate that.”

“We’re still married.”

“I know.”

“I have to go.”

“I understand.”

Hang up, woman.

“Okay. So...goodbye, Elliott.”

“Good night.”

She hung up and, grabbing his robe off the back of her bathroom door, lay down on the couch and cried herself to sleep.

* * *

ELLIOTT DIDN’T TAKE any calls Monday morning. He’d had a couple from potential clients. He’d return those. He just needed some time to himself first.

Time to figure out how to move forward. Until he knew if there would be formal blemishes on his reputation—which he expected as soon as Barbara returned from her honeymoon, if not before—he was going to proceed with business as usual.

He would proceed with business afterward, too. He had to eat. He might not get any more gigs as a bodyguard, but the world was filled with shady PIs. And he was a darn good investigator. One of the best in the state, he’d been told more than once. Depending on any ethics complaints that came forth against him, if his private business slowed down, he could always look into police work. If nothing else he’d be able to support himself.

He’d reached that conclusion sometime around three that morning. And then he’d slept awhile. He didn’t feel a whit better.

But he was at the table for coffee as he and Liam and Gabrielle had arranged when he came upstairs the night before.

Liam was at the table alone. Elliott chose an extra-strong coffee, brewed it and sat.