Page 30 of His Loving Wife

“Like I said, the timing doesn’t make any sense.”

“And you weren’t ever with him again? After we started dating?”

The question might as well have been a slap. “How could you even ask me that?”

In some ways, this accusation was more hurtful than the one from earlier. An affair was one form of betrayal… but this? He was accusing her of building their entire lives together on a lie.

“I’m just trying to understand. Paul must have some reason to think she’s his daughter. He wouldn’t break into our home intending to kidnap her otherwise.”

“He’s crazy, Andrew! None of it makes sense. He came up with this bizarre theory and targeted our family. Maybe he’s still bitter about how everything ended between us years ago. I don’t know! But I shouldn’t have to defend my actions against a madman.”

The front door opened and they both jerked their heads. Dana walked in carrying a Tupperware container. Willow and Noah were behind her.

“We have cookies!” Dana raised the container. Her smile fell when she picked up on the tension in the room. “Everything okay?”

“Fine.” Kate touched her cheek, turning so the children wouldn’t see. Thankfully, they were both plugged into their devices. Ignoring their parents, as usual.

“We need to finish talking about this,” she said, lowering her voice.

Andrew drained the rest of his glass and stood. He marched past her, nudging her shoulder as he did. She couldn’t tell if the shove was intentional.

Chapter 14

Now

Last night, Andrew and I made love in a way we hadn’t in years. Over time, sex becomes a series of familiar motions, greatest hits you’ve played again and again. It’s hard to be present with your partner for the thousandth time when you have everyone else’s worries bouncing through your head. And in the past year, especially, there’s been a distance between us that’s been hard to ignore.

Last night, none of that mattered.

When I wake, I smell coffee before I even open my eyes. I smile, bracing for the bright sunlight pouring into our room. Andrew is seated at the foot of the bed with a cup in his hand.

“Coffee?”

I lean up and reach for the mug. “That was nice of you.”

“I made breakfast, too. Nothing special, bacon and eggs. It’s in the kitchen.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“You’ve been running around this entire vacation taking care of us. You deserve to be spoiled every now and then.” He looks down. “Last night was pretty great, huh?”

“It was.” I place my coffee on the bedside table and stretch, falling back on the downy mattress. “We shouldn’t have waited so long to have a night like that.”

Andrew laughs. “Time just gets away from us, I guess.” His expression changes. “About Aster—”

“Don’t even worry about it. It’s about time someone put her in her place.”

“But she’s your sister. I could have held back, but when I heard her going on and on about her book deal… I don’t know. Something just came over me.”

“You only said everything I was already thinking. Really, I’m the one who should have put her in her place years ago. You’re right. I give her too many passes.”

“It’s easy for an outsider to judge your relationship. I don’t know what it’s like, growing up alongside someone, watching your family be torn apart. That’s why I care so much about you guys. You’re the only family I have.”

I lean up, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. “Promise me this. Can we not think about Aster for the rest of the trip?”

“It’s a plan.”

He leans forward and kisses me. I lean into him, then pull him on top of me, the white comforter between us. I’m on the brink of pulling him underneath the covers and reigniting the passion from last night when I’m interrupted by the sound of bickering in the other room.

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