One Hot Fake

I take a final look around. It’s exactly as I envisioned. The seating arrangements, the décor, the scent of baking crusts. My staff stands near the doors, and when I peer out, there’s already a small crowd. When I throw the doors open, cheers ring out.

And the madness starts. I feel as if I’m walking on air as I greet everyone and welcome them into the store. Ace, Lexi, and Vanessa get to work as the crowd grows and my staff starts to get overwhelmed.

The guys from the fire station come in minutes later. I spot the Deputy Chief, Lucas, Michael, Jason, Collins … almost the whole crew is here. Park and Rachael come in next, and I spend some time chatting with them. I work the room, making sure everyone is comfortable and that they’ve ordered what they want.

I glance at the door just as Judy and Josh walk in. I’m pleasantly surprised as I hadn’t thought they’d make it all the way from Arlen so early. I excuse myself and go to them.

“Judy,” I say and kiss her cheek and then shake hands with Josh. “I didn’t think you’d make it.”

“Nothing would keep us away,” Judy says. “We’re family.” She looks around. “Those are gorgeous colors.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. We talk a bit about the pizza shop. “Marian is coming up to Arlen this coming week,” I tell Judy. “I’ll drive up with her.”

She grows solemn. “You’d better if you want to keep her.”

“What?” I say.

“She never told you, did she?” Judy says.

I have no idea what Judy is talking about.

“Judy,” Josh says in a warning tone.

Judy glances at him, defiance in her face. “He should know. I believe in openness in relationships.”

Josh sighs. “Excuse me; I’ll go order a pizza.” He disappears.

“What’s this about, Judy?” I have a bad feeling about this.

“Do you remember when Marian came to Arlen a few weeks ago?” Judy says.

I nod, and she proceeds to tell me an unimaginable tale. I try to reconcile the Marian I know and the one Judy is telling me about. As I was worrying about Marian and hoping that Leonard was not making life difficult for her, she was contemplating going back to him.

I feel cold and then hot. My eyes dart around the room, but I take nothing in. I feel as if I’ve been dipped in a tank full of ice. My dreams melt at my feet as Judy talks.

She pats my shoulder, bringing me back to the present. “Leonard is an evil man, and he seems to have some sort of hold over Marian. I don’t understand it.”

I hear the sound of her happy laughter before I see her. Something tightens in my gut. I hear her voice as she talks to people and makes her way to where Judy and I stand.

She takes my hand and goes on tiptoe to kiss me. I ignore the softness of her lips and her sweet familiar scent. I say hello to Brooke. Judy wants to introduce Brooke to Josh. They go off, leaving Marian and me alone.

“So many people,” Marian says.

I nod. “Yes.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you all right? You seem different.”

“I’m fine, just busy. I have to check how things are going in the kitchen.” I turn around and leave her standing there.

I’m fuming. I feel like a fool. An idiot who believed that his wife was over her ex-husband.

In the kitchen, I grab a knife and start dicing peppers. I can’t quite remember whether Marian stayed in Arlen for two or three nights. Did they have sex at that time? Agonizing pain rumbles through me at the thought of Leonard touching my Marian. I correct myself. She’s not mine. She’s never been. She has always been Leonard’s.

I can’t think about Marian’s treachery now. There’s too much at stake. The new branch has to be a success. More so now. My business is all I have left now, and I intend it to be a roaring success.

The PR company we hired did a great job with the media. I sit down at the corner table for several interviews. One with the local TV station, a couple of radio stations, and two magazines.

I catch Marian’s gaze a few times, and I can see the worry in her eyes. I don’t get her thinking. No one is forcing her to stay in our marriage, so why is she still with me?

The baby is not enough of a reason. She can get pregnant with Leonard if she wants.

“We need some promotional pictures, Declan,” my manager says, bringing the photographer with him.

“Sure,” I say. “How do you want to do this?”

“I’ll take a few of you in the kitchen with the backdrop of the employees and the pizzas being prepared, then I’ll take another with your wife and then friends and family,” he says.