Page 1 of Found By You

Prologue.

Maci

The funeral procession comes to a halt along the gravel drive at the center of the cemetery, and my gut roils.

I tried to prepare myself, knowing I’d see Evan’s wife—or widow, I should say—but being here now…it’s overwhelming. My head still swims at the realization for the hundredth time in the last week.

My life has been turned upside down and I’m now standing on the outskirts of the catalyst that ruined it all. None of this would have happened if I had known Evan was a married man. I would’ve never ever started a relationship with him, and in turn, there’s a good chance he’d still be alive today.

You can’t carry that on your conscience, Maci, it wasn’t your fault.

It doesn’t feel that way.

I can’t help wondering if I hadn’t told him, maybe then he wouldn’t have been driving so recklessly, maybe then he wouldn’t have had a blood alcohol level of 0.2—maybe then he wouldn’t have been black-out drunk and speeding down the freeway.

The only upside for my weighted conscience is he didn’t hurt anyone else besides himself.

He hurt you…

I give my head a light shake to clear the thought. Evan hurt a lot of people, not just me. I mean, he ruined my reputation, my family refuses to speak to me, the people I once called my ‘friends’ continue to ignore my calls, I lost my job—one might say, he ruined my life.

All because I fell for a pretty boy in a pretty uniform, who promised me forever when he was already taken.

I sigh, watching silently as six, fully-dressed military men act as the formal pall-bearers of Evan’s coffin. Family members solemnly follow the casket to the assigned plot in the fifth row where the funeral is set to take place any moment now.

My hand rests over my low belly, shielding it. I’m not welcome here, I know. But it didn’t feel right to not come. So here I’ll stand, far enough away that I won’t cause a scene while paying my respects to the man I thought I loved, but who never loved me.

“You shouldn’t be here.” The words are a harsh, feminine hiss filled with hate and anger and grief. My heart aches at the emotional wave as I face Evan’s widow. I was so lost in the moment, I didn’t hear her approach.

She’s beautiful even in the throes of her loss. Tall and blonde with exceptional features. I’d only seen pictures of her in the paper—their wedding photos, nonetheless.

“I’m sorry I—” The echo of her slap registers before the sting across my cheek.

“Leave,” she shouts with venom as a man comes up behind her, gently escorting her away from me with hushed words.

I suck in a sharp breath. Tears pool in my eyes as an older man lingers nearby, likely making sure I heed the widow’s warning and go, but not yet.

I stare out at the vast green of the cemetery, forcing myself to take it all in. The greying sky, the solemn crowd continuing to grow in attendance for the fallen war hero, and the hateful glares in my direction as Evan’s widow reunites with her family across the way—I accept it all.

You didn’t know. And they don’t care.

I’m the dirty mistress in their eyes. The one who seduced their beloved husband, son, friend—then killed him with my existence.

With our existence.

My hand falls back to my side. There’s no use in dwelling over it any longer. What’s done is done, as they say. I tug my coat tighter around me as I head to the parking lot. The older man gives me a stiff nod when I pass, as if he approves of my retreat.

Guilt nearly chokes me once I reach my car and get inside. The realization that no one wants me—not here, not anywhere—hits me all at once with a wracking sob.

I’m just the whore who had an affair with the governor’s son-in-law—his daughter’s husband. I’m no longer welcome here. The entire state of Oklahoma has made that glaringly apparent.

Leave, she said.

And I intend to.

One.

Duke

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