One Hot Fake

I stop outside Marian’s house. The living room lights are on, and I imagine her on the couch with her laptop on her lap, staring at me politely. Maybe wishing that I would disappear. The last thing I want is to be a pest.

I jam the car into gear and drive off.

Chapter 28

Marian

Declan has been calling me all morning, but I’ve ignored him except for a terse text telling him that I’m fine but busy. Part truth. It wasn’t my best day. My clients seemed to have agreed that today was the day to be difficult.

Janice, one of my brides, wanted me to call the wedding dress store where she’d bought her dress and tell them she had changed her mind. This, when her wedding is a week away. Not possible.

Helen, the mother of one of the grooms, called to inform me that she and her husband were not going to pay for the wedding unless the bride and groom added ten more people to the wedding list—their friends.

By midmorning, my head is aching, and I’m badly in need of a break. Work has kept me occupied so that I don’t think of Declan. I leave the office and pop into the boutique, but Maggie is busy with a client, and I leave soon after.

Back in my office, my thoughts meander to Declan. His disappearance last night brought back memories of Leonard doing the same thing when he wanted to punish me. He would disappear for days without a word, and I would go crazy with worry, calling all his friends and his mom. Granted, Declan had sent me a text saying he had gone to Santa Monica. Just that, no explanation, nothing.

Marriage and relationships are always sweet at first until the cracks start showing. Was our marriage starting to crack already? What would Declan do the next time we disagreed or when I spoke my mind about something he didn’t like? Would he become abusive?

I tremble even though it’s a warm day. A knock on the door jerks me back to the present. I call for the knocker to enter, and Eric peers in. “Your husband is here to see you,” he says, a look of amusement on his features.

Leonard had announced himself the same way yesterday. I’d explained to Eric and Kimberly that he was actually my ex.

“Tell him to come in,” I say, trying to veil my irritation.

I fix a smile on my face when Leonard enters. “I love this place,” he says.

“Hi,” I say, eager to get to his reason for stopping by. “What brings you here?”

He sits down. “I have to go back to Arlen on some urgent business, and I was hoping that you’ve decided by now.”

I never noticed before that Leonard has beady eyes. Or that one eye is slightly bigger than the other. Maybe that’s why he’s always wearing sunglasses.

“I’ll tell you the same thing I told you yesterday. That’s never going to happen.” Maybe if I say it enough times, it will get through his thick skull.

Leonard smiles. “Do you remember the early days, how much fun we had together? We liked taking walks in the woods and stopping by the stream.” He laughs. “We would go back home completely wet after splashing water on each other.”

Despite everything, I laugh as memories wash over me. We had been so young and so full of life and hope. Leonard was fun then until he allowed insecurity and darkness to consume him.

“Do you remember how we used to laugh over the silliest things?” he says.

I stare at him. “I also remember the insults you liked to throw.”

That wipes the smile from his face. “I’ve changed. I’m a different man. Besides, you think that the schmuck you are with is any different? He’s quick to anger.”

“So are you.”

“I’ve addressed my anger issues. I saw a shrink for three years, Marian,” Leonard says.

“I don’t care what you have or haven’t done, Leonard. It’s over. Please just leave me alone.”

He looks crestfallen. I’m not moved. I went through hell in his hands. He turned me into a woman none of my friends recognized. A woman who was frightened of sudden movements. I’ve worked hard to bury the ghosts of my past and to become the woman I am today.

Nothing would make me even consider having Leonard back into my life.

“I’m going back home today, but I’ll be waiting for your call. I’m an optimistic guy,” Leonard says.

I contemplate him for a few seconds as I remember what Declan said. “Tell me something, and don’t lie. Why did you go looking for the marriage certificate?”

He sighs and sits back down. “I have a daughter. Her name is Samantha. She’s three years old.”

“Oh.” That is news. I’m happy for him. “Go on.”

“I went to the courthouse to verify that we were divorced as the mother wanted us to get married. I didn’t want to. I can’t tell you how happy I was to find that we’re still married,” Leonard says.