Page 20 of His Loving Wife

“There is no adjustment period. We’re fine. I just wish you’d stop going on about it.”

Most people would have backed off at that comment, stayed in their lane. Aster stepped closer and Kate could smell the wine on her breath. “I’m your sister. I can tell when something is bothering you.”

Kate pushed her tongue into the side of her cheek and exhaled. “I’ve been preparing this meal since yesterday afternoon. I’m tired.” She slung the dishtowel on the counter, worried that wouldn’t be enough. “And honestly, I’m missing Mom.”

“Oh, please. She’s not had to lift a finger all day and probably had a delicious meal served. Where was she going again? Karen’s or Sasha’s?”

“It’s not the same. She’s spending Thanksgiving without her family.”

“Which was her choice. You’re completely overreacting. She’s spent half of our Thanksgivings without us, if you remember.”

Kate furrowed her brow but didn’t say anything.

“If you’re going to miss someone, miss Dad,” Aster said. “If he were still alive, he’d be doing everything he could to be here with us.”

“He missed half our Thanksgivings, too. If you remember.”

“Of course, he did. But he missed thembecauseof her.”

Kate looked at the floor. She could feel an argument brewing. She had a lot of differences with her sister, but she couldn’t help but wonder if this was the root of every disagreement they’d ever had. When their parents had divorced, they unintentionally took sides. Kate supported her mother. Aster supported their father. And it was an argument that all these years later, even after their father’s death, didn’t seem likely to end.

“After all these years, do you still have to be so critical of her?”

“I’m not criticizing. You’re the one who is too forgiving. If she hadn’t tried so hard to change Dad, maybe he never would have left.”

Kate was about to go in for a response when she felt her phone vibrate. It was an email from Detective Marsh. She opened it, reading the introductory sentences, unaware Aster was still talking.

“Do you hear me?”

Kate looked up, putting the phone in her pocket. “Sorry, I need to read this.”

“Every time we get onto this topic, you shut down. I really think it would be much better for both of us, and our relationship in the long run, if you’d quit running away from this conversation.”

What was the conversation again? Oh, yes. Their parents. Kate’s mind was already focusing on Detective Marsh’s email.

“I’m sorry, Aster. I really need to get to the bottom of this.”

She untied her apron and left it on the kitchen island. She caught a glimpse of Aster grimacing, but she didn’t care. She walked through the noisy downstairs living room and entered the family study.

She logged into the desktop and pulled up the email again. Now she was able to read in relative quiet, and really take in what Detective Marsh had written:

Kate,

Sorry to bother you over the holiday, but I figured you’d want to know straight away. We’ve made an arrest. Turns out Paul Gunter returned to Hidden Oaks for the week. I can officially tell you he is behind bars. Hopefully, this will give you a little something to be thankful for. I’ll reach out Monday with more information.

Take care,

Anne Marsh

Kate read the words over and over again. She felt a wave of euphoria wash over her. It didn’t eliminate the fear she’d been holding onto since that night, but she did feel somewhat safer. Like wrongs could be righted.

After a few seconds, she switched over to the search engine and typed in the name Paul Gunter. After clicking through a few local newspapers, she found a recent mugshot. And there he was. A grimace on his face. Disheveled hair. His image trapped within the camera’s frame, just as he was presently trapped behind bars. He couldn’t get to them. Not anymore.

“Who’s that?”

Kate looked over her shoulder. Willow was standing in the doorway, her face fixed on the computer screen.

“What are you doing down here?” Kate’s voice cracked when she spoke.

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