Page 65 of Married With Lies

I knew Cale’s parents had died. Obviously, I also knew that he and his brother were sent to live with their uncle. He and Baylor became best buddies overnight.

Back then in my little girl mind I thought of Cale as practically an adult but of course he wasn’t. He was only a kid and the course of his life had just altered in a terrible way.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

Sorry that in spite of the fact that I’d seen him hundreds of times at my house, I never really knew him.

Sorry that no matter how much I’d things to be different, I truly don’t know him much better now.

“Luca doesn’t remember our folks too well,” Cale says. “He was only four. And…well, I’m sure you know what that’s like. I can tell him all the facts, like how our Dad loved washing his old Mustang every Sunday and our Mom never started her morning without a cup of tea. But Luca will never know the way they used to look at each other. He doesn’t remember our mother singing along to Madonna songs while she washed dishes or how our father looked as he stood in the doorway when he’d check on us in the middle of the night after he finally got home from a long shift.”

An immovable lump lodges in my throat. Cale has never said so much to me at once. I’m not sure he says this much to anyone at once.

“Luca is very lucky to have you. You’re an excellent big brother.”

He sighs. “Not sure I’d agree with that. But I’ll keep trying my best to earn the title.”

“You have earned the title, Cale. You’d do anything for him, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d fall on a sword to keep Luca safe,” he says. “The day my mother died she told me to look after my brother. Then she started talking about my father. She got this far away look in her eyes and she smiled. Then she said…”

He trails off and turns away.

“What? What did she say?”

He exhales and shakes his head. “It sounds like the storm is passing.”

He’s right. The roar of the rain hitting the roof has lightened to a gentle patter and the booms of thunder grow fainter. For the first time ever I’m not glad to hear a thunderstorm fade. No doubt the end of this moment with Cale is also ending.

And I truly don’t want it to end.

I could happily remain here, crouched uncomfortably on the floor of The Doghouse with a sleeping Ginger in my lap until tomorrow afternoon. As long as Cale stayed beside me.

This, of course, is out of the question. Any minute now Cale will grow restless and the tentative spell will be broken. After all, it’s the middle of the night and we’re sitting on the floor of a dog kennel. I’m sure he has things he’d rather be doing.

However, as long as we’re both still here and still talking, there’s an unpleasant subject I need to mention.

“Cale, I have a favor to ask you.”

“No, I will not submit to another veterinary exam.”

“That’s not the favor.”

“Then ask away.”

“There’s a Wingate family thing coming up. And the man who is pretending to be my husband ought to show up.”

“What kind of family thing?”

“Hadley’s wedding. It’s the last week in May.”

“Hasn’t she had a few of those already?”

“It’ll be her third. She’s marrying a hedge fund manager. Maybe this one will stick.”

“Anything is possible.”

“That’s the spirit. Anyway, Hadley ran out of friends to alienate so I’ve been drafted as her maid of honor. I’ll be wearing a peach dress. I’m supposed to dye my hair blonde to better match the color scheme.”

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