Page 17 of One Last Night

So there you have it, diary. I cheated on my husband with his business rival. And his business rival was better. So now I’m going to keep sleeping with Robert and giving Parker the bestsex of HIS life so I can feel less guilty about sneaking off every weekend so that I can enjoy sex too.

I put the diary away without reading the following essays. I feel guilty for reading that, but I am grateful for listening to my hunch. The reason for the current conflict between the Cartwrights and the Bellamys is much clearer now.

And the squabbling between Julian and Robert is far more serious now. I wonder if the affair between Robert and Victoria is what Robert threatened to expose. Or maybe Julian threatened to expose the affair in retaliation for a threat Robert made. Or maybe…

The image of George Terrell kissing my mother in our backyard sears itself into my present thoughts. I stiffen, filled again with the certainty that George Terrell was Annie’s father and that she is only my half-sister.

That renewed revelation should tear my thoughts far away from the Bellamys, but it’s not my sister’s parentage I’m concerned with anymore. It’s Julian’s.

Julian takes after his mother. It’s impossible to tell by appearance if he’s Robert Cartwright’s son, but the timing is right. Granted, Victoria was apparently giving Parker more than his fair share of “attention,” but that doesn’t mean there’s no chance that Robert could be Julian’s father.

And if Julian is Robert’s son and they discover the truth of their relationship, then their conflict could vanish.

Or it could become deadly.

CHAPTER NINE

The following Sunday, a new emergency greets the family. I head downstairs at six-thirty, as I always do, and hear Victoria shouting. I stop halfway down the stairs, just out of sight, and listen in.

“How the hell does this happen, Julian?Listeria?Listeria? For God’s sake, do you understand that could be fatal?”

“Yes, I’m well aware. Mr. Pelton was very clear about that when he called to let us know he was in the hospital.”

“Then why are you sitting there so calmly? Why aren’t you outraged? Why aren’t you terrified?”

“Why isn’t shouting solving the problem?” Julian replies impudently. “I mean, doesn’t the bacteria know how angry you are?”

There’s a smacking sound, and I flinch. Victoria has just slapped her son. “This isn’t fucking funny, Julian.”

“I’m not laughing.”

He’s not laughing, but hedoesseem eerily calm. Considering that he’s been the more volatile one thus far and Victoria the more levelheaded one, the difference in their demeanors now is striking.

“This could ruin us, Julian. Damn it.”

“It’s not going to ruin us,” Julian says soothingly. Maybe that is the reason for his calm. “We’re going to shut down the winery, deep clean the hell out of everything, and put it back together. It’ll take two weeks, four tops. We’re well ahead of our production schedule. We’ll be fine.”

“And what happens when all of those professional wine tasters writes about how we almostkilledthem? What happens if theydodie?”

“No one’s going to die. We’re going to pay for everyone’s medical treatment, and we’re going to pay for their discretion as well.”

“Oh great. So we’re going to toss our morals out of the window too.”

“Now’s not the time to be concerned with morals, Mom. I’m being calm, but I’m very much aware of how much trouble we’re going to be in if this gets out.”

“Oh good,” Victoria scoffs. She sounds like she’s been crying. “Good, because for a little bit, it seemed like you didn’t give a shit.”

Finally, Julian shows some emotion. “I care, Mom, I’m just not going to panic. Panic won’t solve anything.”

“Nonchalance won’t solve anything either.”

“I’m not…” He sighs. “Mom, we’ll handle it. Businesses like ours deal with this crap all of the time.”

“If Robert hears about this, he’ll ruin us.”

“Noonewill ruin us, least of all that prick. Look, take the day off. Take the kids out. Let me handle everything. It’s going to be fine. I promise.”

Victoria sighs. “Okay. Okay, I’ll… God. I’ll tell Mary to take the day and the kids and I can go… oh Hell, I don’t know.”

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