Page 80 of Unbreakable Vow

Dinner was nice.

“No.”I pause when I realize I’ve snapped the word. Looking back at her over my shoulder, I tense. “It’s going to be a while. Don’t wait up. You need sleep.” She’s been spending all of her time helping the nurses with her mother.

The reports sent to my email at the end of every day aren’t painting a good picture. Marion is losing more of herself every day. The more help she needs, the more Cora insists on doing. Even with the staff there to take care of it all, Cora has remained fully hands-on.

“Yeah. All right.” Cora straightens up and pushes on a fake smile. “I’ll just check on Mom then head up.”

“Cora.” I stop her when she turns away. “We have nurses for her, let them do their jobs.”

Her expression hardens. “You have your work. And I have mine.”

The back door of the kitchen slams behind her.

My phone goes off again.

I could usea nightcap if you’re still up.

“From what Izzy told me,she broke off the engagement the night before the wedding.” I hand Krista the bowl of popcorn for our movie and follow her to the media room.

“So, what did she need to talk to him about now?” Krista asks as she climbs into the reclining sofa, pulling a blanket over her lap.

“He said it was financial. They had a property together or something.” I grab the remote and join Krista.

“Didn’t you ask him for details?” She takes the remote and begins searching the movies.

“No. I mean, it’s his business, not mine.” I’ve told myself so often over the last week that whatever he’s doing isn’t my business, I’m sure I’ll start to believe it any day now.

“And he met her at his club?” Krista turns to me with suspicion in her gaze. “Have they met other places?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to him about it. He’s been really busy with work. I only saw him for a few minutes last night when he came home.” Minutes I wishedhad gone differently. He was so tense, and not his usual grumpy demeanor. It was something different. Something deeper.

It was like he’d gone off to a place where I couldn’t reach him.

Something is definitely off.

I just wish he’d tell me. It’s only been a short time, but I thought we’d reached a place where he could trust me.

“And she was insanely pretty.” The statement falls from me before it can run through the proper filters.

She shrugs. “He has you, though. And you’re fucking gorgeous.”

“He does have me, at least for another eleven months.” I laugh, but it’s not a sincere one. Ever since we got home from the children’s hospital benefit, it feels like a dark cloud hovers over me. Over us.

“I wouldn’t worry about it.” She pushes on a positive tone, but I’ve known her since we were kids, and I can tell when she’s trying too hard to make something seem like nothing.

“Yeah.” But I’m also not ready to fight the demon of doubt hovering over my shoulder.

“Things were going good, right?”

“They were. I mean, he actually smiled a few times. I even heard him laugh,” I point out.

“You like him.” She pokes me.

“Well, I don’t hate him.” I can allow that much.

“No. Cora, you like him, like a lot.”

I want to deny it, but she’s always been able to see right through me. A single paned glass window is harder to look through than me when it comes to Krista.

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