Paige curled her legs onto the sofa, covered her body with a leopard-print blanket, and turned the channel on her television. There was absolutely nothing like watching Lifetime Movie Network, and Paige could already tell this was going to be a great movie. She liked it because the protagonist was a woman she could definitely identify with—a woman who’d made the smart decision to go after what she wanted. Like Paige, she’d decided to take the man of her dreams from some privileged wife who didn’t deserve him, and Paige applauded her. She had the highest respect for the woman’s courage and God-given right to be happy.
Paige watched intensely, but about forty minutes in her cell phone rang and she reached over for it. She saw the number clear as day but was almost too excited to answer. It was Pierce, and she wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and answered. “Hey.”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?”
Paige sat up straighter. “No, not at all. Is everything okay?”
“No, and I really needed to talk to someone. I considered calling my mom or my brother, but for now, I just think it’s best not to tell them.”
“I understand. But I have to be honest about something. Even though I don’t agree with what Camille has done, she’s still my sister, and I don’t want to be caught in the middle of you guys.”
“I get that, and if you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll respect your decision.”
“I don’t mind talking to you, but if Camille finds out, she’ll feel as though I’m betraying her.”
“I won’t say a word. Camille will never know that you and I spoke.”
“I hope you mean that.”
“I do.”
“So, what hotel are you staying at?”
“One of the Westins downtown. Not too far from my job.”
“I know a couple of travel folks who might be able to get you a decent rate, and I’m glad to call them if you want.”
“My hope is that I won’t be here for very long, but I’ll let you know.”
“Sounds good.”
“You know,” he said, changing the subject. “I had my suspicions about your sister long before I received those email messages.”
“Really?” she said, pretending Camille hadn’t told her. “I had no idea.”
“Well, I did. I know you and I chatted about all the time she was spending away from home, but what I didn’t tell you was that I always felt like she might be messing around. The thought of it was unbearable, though, because this kind of thing seemed so unlike Camille.”
“I agree.”
“And then there’s the fact that I’ve always loved every inch of her and have never once had an affair. I’ve never even touched another woman in the wrong way since I married her.”
“I believe you, and you can’t blame yourself for any of this.”
“Still, I’ve never been more hurt in my life, and I don’t understand how we got to this point.”
“Maybe this is some sort of a mistake,” Paige said for lack of anything better to say.
“Oh yeah? Well, email messages with dates and times don’t lie.”
“Maybe they’re fake.”
“They look authentic enough to me. And did she tell you about the flowers?”
“No, what flowers?”
“William had roses delivered to our home while I was there, and the card said something about her leaving me.”
“No way. I spoke to her this afternoon, and she never said a word.”
“Wait a minute. She didn’t tell you?”
“No. She told me you came by this afternoon and had already left. That was it.”
“Then she was definitely lying.”
“About what?”
“About the flowers and how she had no idea who this William person was or how someone had gotten our address.”
“Maybe she doesn’t.”
“No, she’s lying, because if she didn’t know who they came from, she would have told you about it. She would have called you as soon as I walked out the door.”
Paige didn’t say anything.
“Why are you quiet? Because you know I’m right?”
“Pierce, I don’t think we should talk about this anymore.”
“Wait a minute. You know something, don’t you? I can hear it in your voice.”
“Pierce, please.”
“Okay, look. I know you love Camille, but I really need you to be honest with me.”
“About what?”
“Camille and this William cat. Is she seeing him or not, Paige?”
“I think we’d better end this.”
“Paige, come on.”
“Pierce, please don’t do this.”
“I promise you. Our conversation will be kept completely confidential, but I really need to know.”
Paige sniffled and tried mustering real tears. “She’s my sister.”
Pierce sighed. “I know that, and I’m sorry for placing you in such a tough position. But if Camille really is seeing this guy, don’t you think I deserve to know?”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” she said and hung up.
But only seconds passed before her brother-in-law called her back.
“Pierce, I’m begging you to please leave this alone.”
“All I’m asking is that you please just do this one favor for me. Just this one time.”
Paige paused for a few seconds and finally said, “Yes. She’s been talking to him for months now, and then she finally started sleeping with him.”
“Gosh,” Pierce said. “This can’t be happening.”
“But I think it’s over now,” Paige hurried to say, trying to sound positive.
“Even if it is, the bottom line is that it happened, and Camille has been lying to me all along.”
“She made a huge mistake, but I know she’s sorry for it.”
“Well, sorry isn’t enough. Not with this.”
“See, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. And why did you make me betray my sister like this? My sister who means everything to me.”
“I’m sorry I asked you to do that, but I’m also glad I know the truth now. I’m glad I know who and what my wife really is.”
“Camille is a good person, Pierce, and you know that.”
“Yeah, well, she definitely has a funny way of showing it.”
He didn’t comment any further, and Paige knew this painful news of hers had broken him. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but I do appreciate your honesty. It hurts like hell, but at least I’m not in the dark anymore.”
“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.
“I hope, but regardless, I’m going to hang up now.”
“I wish there was something I could do, and I hope you’ll call me if you need me.”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
“You take care of yourself.”
Paige ended the call and was amazed at her luck. Not once after those flowers had been delivered had she expected Pierce to move out and into a hotel. She certainly hadn’t expected him to call her this evening either. Things were falling into place rather nicely and a lot quicker than she’d planned on, but she definitely wasn’t complaining. She welcomed all that was happening and looked forward to what would evolve tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that. She wouldn’t seduce Pierce immediately, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he came to her willingly and innocently. He would come to her as a brother-in-law, and Paige would play the kind and sympathetic sister-in-law who only wanted the best for him. She would do everything he expected until it was time.