Page 29 of His Loving Wife

“Don’t you think if I knew he was capable of something so demented I would have offered up his name from the very beginning?”

“That’s exactly what you should have done!” he yelled. “Or you should have at least involved me!”

“I didn’t believe we were in danger.” Her voice was flat, her eyes averted. She wanted it to be true. She wanted to believe Paul wasn’t capable of violence, but she was wrong, and now Andrew wouldn’t let her forget it. “I wish I had acted sooner. I wish I had said something before this got out of hand, but I didn’t think Paul would go this far. Even after that night, I still thought it was more likely some random burglar than my ex-boyfriend!”

“Maybe you had reasons to stay quiet.”

There was a pregnant pause.

“What does that mean?”

“It means maybe I’m not concerned about what happened that night or after. I’ve been wondering what happenedbefore.”

“I told you what happened before. We ran into each other at a restaurant. He got all weird. Then he started trying to reach out to me, but I ignored him every time.”

“You didn’t tell me about any of this until after he had broken into our home.”

“I didn’t want to worry you. You can get so judgmental at times.”

“Judgmental?”

“Like the way you’re acting right now! Like I’ve done something wrong.”

“Have you done something wrong? I’d much rather hear about an affair now than have it dragged out at Paul’s trial.”

“You’re drunk,” she said, hoping to end the argument. She’d rather have this conversation when they both had clear heads.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m drunk or sober. I think about the two of you all the time. I think you know more than you’re letting on. I think you’ve always known.” He plopped back down onto the sofa and crossed his arms. “Maybe I needed some liquid courage to finally ask you about it.”

“I was not having an affair with Paul Gunter. I’ve always been faithful to you.”

“Then I need you to explain to me why, Kate.” He hunched forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Why did this man that you’ve not seen in almost twenty years pop back into our lives in such a sinister way? You know what the officers told me they found after he was arrested? Tape and zip ties and blindfolds. It’s like he planned on taking you away with him. Why would he do that for some girl he dated back in college if there wasn’t more to it?”

Kate blinked hard. She’d tried to forget what Detective Marsh told them about what they found in the car. And after she learned Paul was the person in their house that night, she’d tried to pretend she didn’t know what it all really meant.

“You’re my wife, Kate. I can tell when you’re holding back from me.”

Kate revisited everything that had happened in her mind. From her meeting with Paul to the first phone call to the moment she found out it was him who had invaded their home. She thought of the fear that creeped up her spine when she realized he’d made contact with Willow, that he’d concocted this fantasy in his mind, and he was deluded enough to act on it. In that moment, she realized maybe she’d done Andrew a disservice in trying to keep this to herself. Maybe she needed him to know the ugly truth about Paul and his allegations.

“Paul didn’t plan on taking me that night,” Kate said, crossing her arms across her body. “He planned on taking Willow.”

“Willow?” For the first time during their conversation, Andrew appeared genuinely shocked.

Kate took a deep breath, preparing to say the words she’d hoped she never would have to say. Preparing to witness the pain she had hoped she would never cause.

“Paul has this crazy idea that Willow is his daughter.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t make sense. That’s why I completely shook him off. I mean, the timelines don’t even add up.”

For several seconds, he remained silent. She hoped, even in his drunken haze, he was finally piecing things together. She hoped he was finally realizing how delusional Paul Gunter was. Maybe he’d start forgiving her.

“How long had we been together when you found out you were pregnant with Willow?”

“Don’t you remember?” She waited a beat before answering. “It was months.”

“And you left him for me?”

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