Page 72 of Miracles and Marriage
“New business.”
Cal often presented the strategy for security to new clients, depending on the complexity of the assignment.
“Always good to hear. Have a great flight.”
She hung up and burst into tears. She hated the way her life was going.
“It’s freezing here,” Chloe said, opening the door to the cottage shortly after lunch. They’d stopped in Waterford for a quick meal. After which they paid a brief visit to the local grocery store.
“The heater works fine. There’s nothing better than curling up in one of grandma’s old quilts on the porch and letting the cold breeze try to get to you,” Zoe said as she deposited her bags of food on the counter.
“Yes, there is—warm summer evenings with a balmy breeze to cool you down and a crab feed in progress.”
Chloe put her own grocery bag down and rubbed her hands together while Zoe went to turn on the furnace.
“You’re such a fair weather gal,” she said.
“You bet.”
“I appreciate Gabe being okay for you to come for a few days.”
“That’s the third time you’ve said that. He was fine with it.”
Zoe glanced at her sister. Was there something in her tone? Maybe she was annoying her with her gratitude, but she did appreciate it. Not every husband was happy to have his wife take off for several days on a moment’s notice.
“Let’s get this place warm and start dinner. I love the smell of spaghetti sauce simmering all day,” Chloe said, already putting away the supplies they’d purchased.
Soon it was warm enough to take off their coats. Once settled in, they began to make their grandmother’s sauce. The pot was soon giving off tantalizing aromas.
“So tell me all,” Chloe said as she settled in one of the comfortable chairs in the main room.
Zoe sat on the sofa.
“It’s a dumb idea. I left it too late. There’s no guarantee that I can get pregnant. Dr. Wright tried to tell me that. She was honest when she said it’d be very unlikely.”
“But you haven’t tried for long. Maybe another couple of months.”
“No.”
“Because of Cal?”
“Because of how much I am falling in love with him. He’s more than the man I thought I knew at the office. Whenever we spend time together, I learn new things and admire him. Plus the physical attraction grows each time we get near each other. I have a hard time keeping from throwing myself at him whenever he’s in the same room.”
“And he’d object?”
“Duh. We didn’t marry for love like you and Gabe. The whole reason we kept quiet was just for this result.”
“What do you mean—you planned this from the beginning?” Chloe asked in surprise.
“I didn’t plan it precisely, but I think deep inside I knew it’d end like this. I didn’t want people blaming him for our divorce, so if no one knew we were married, no one could.”
“Does he want a divorce?”
“I’m not keeping a man tied to me when we can’t have children. That’s not fair.”
“Adopt.”
Zoe shrugged.
