Page 80 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

She patted my cheek with her ice-cold hand, making me turn my head. “I think I’ve kept you in suspense long enough.” She reached into the satchel and pulled out a manila envelope. I was beginning to hate manila envelopes. “I’m going to give this to you as a little parting gift. It’s filled with great notes about how your sister measured just a little off from the dates she gave to the doctor. And that miscarriage of hers was indicative of someone further along than she claimed to be.”

My eyes betrayed me and filled with tears. “That doesn’t mean anything,” my voice unnaturally squeaked.

“But you have doubts. Don’t you?” She obviously relished that fact. “As you should. Believe me, I saw Brock when he got home from Afghanistan, and he was in no shape to be having sex. Think about it,” she coaxed. “You know something is off.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but she was right. So right. A single tear made its way down my cheek. I thought about how odd Dani had been acting, especially when she saw Brant and me together. How she’d freaked out when she’d heard about the break-in today. Add in her rushed wedding and how unhappy she was last year, to the point of sleeping at the loft most nights even though she was married. But why would Brock marry her if she were carrying Brant’s baby? I held on to that thought with all my might. I desperately wanted Jill to be a liar. I needed her to be. But another thought crept into my mind—what if Brock didn’t know? The little hope that had appeared died a painful death. Jill’s insinuation, unfortunately, made all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

Jill shoved the sealed envelope into my hands. “Take this. It’s all the proof you need. Really great reading,” she deadpanned, as if this were some kind of joke.

I gripped the envelope, holding back an onslaught of tears. I felt as if I was having my nightmare again. Rolling, rolling, rolling. I was dizzy and ready to vomit from all of it. Silently, I begged for Brant to wake me up and tell me this was all a terrible dream.

“I do feel bad for you, Kinsley. But take some comfort in the fact that at least you didn’t spend your entire life preparing to be Brant’s wife, only for him to lie and leave you.” She clenched her fists. “Do you know what I gave up for him?”

She didn’t give me time to answer. Not that I had any answers or could even speak.

“Everything!” she shouted. “And what have I been left with?” her voice trembled. “A man I can’t stand to have touch me. A career I hate. And a father who thinks of me more as a tool to get what he wants than as his daughter,” she spewed. “He promised me the man I love,” she cried. “He lied too.”

For a tiny moment, I felt sorry for her. It sounded as if she had, at the very least, been emotionally abused. Even so, any goodwill toward her was lost when she narrowed her eyes at me and said, “I can’t believe he chose you and your sister over me. Who are you both, anyway? Some pretty faces. How far has that gotten you? I”—she pointed at herself—“I am everything he needed. I’m the one with the connections and education. I know kings and queens, dignitaries, presidents. And what do you do? You bake,” she spat.

I stood as tall as I could, indignation swelling within me. “You can go now.”

She shrugged. “My work here is done anyway. Happy holidays, Kinsley.” She smiled. “Tell Brant I said hello.” She waved like we were old friends and skulked off into the dark.

I watched her go, along with all of my dreams. She was right. Who was I? It was so apparent that I was just the consolation prize. And, apparently, the fool also. How could Dani . . . I couldn’t even think it. And Brant . . . he’d been lying to me this entire time. How could I be so blind and not see they were lovers? But hadn’t I noticed? I knew Brant loved her. I was just stupid enough to believe him when he told me he didn’t want her. I was a tool, too, in this sick game.

Once Jill was out of sight, I bent over, gripping the envelope, trying not to lose it. I was startled when my phone started vibrating violently against the asphalt a few feet from me. I positioned myself so I could see the screen. It was the last person I wanted to talk to at the moment. But I had to. He was going to tell me the truth once and for all.

---