Page 16 of Season of Mercy
How could I be so wrong about him?
Mercy closed the door and stood speechless. Her heart dropped to the floor. For her, marriage vows were sacred, even if this was a modern marriage of convenience. But apparently, Ethan didn’t have the same opinion.
Her fingers fisted as she headed to the guesthouse. She was going to give him a piece of her mind. If he thought he could see other women behind her back, he thought wrong!
She opened the door with the key Ethan had given her and marched into the living room. Then she stopped in her tracks.
Ethan had his arm wrapped around her son’s shoulder as he was reading a book to Stevie. They both smiled, and her little boy had a look of wonder on his face. It tugged on her heartstrings. Her anger coiled deep inside her, not entirely gone, but not blindingly hot, either.
What am I to do?
She’d already had a marriage filled with lies. She wasn’t going down that road again.
Mercy squared her shoulders. “Dinner is ready. Stevie, please go wash your hands.”
“Just one more page, Mommy. Pretty please?” Her son lifted his pleading eyes to her.
She needed to start getting firmer with Stevie.Soon. She nodded. “But just one.”
“Thanks, Mommy.Gracias.” Stevie grinned from ear to ear.
“Thank you, Mercy.” Ethan sent her a half-apologetic glance.
Was he silently apologizing for being late to dinner, or could he guess his girlfriend could’ve paid a visit?
Mercy leaned against the wall as she listened to the adventures of a puppy. Unexpectedly, a wave of tenderness swept her whole. She resisted the urge to snuggle next to Ethan.
This could be happiness. Cozy evenings at home with freshly made dinners with mouthwatering scents, a children’s book, and a happy smile on Stevie’s face... Maybe add a fire in the fireplace and a cup of hot cocoa in her hand. She could easily imagine being close to Ethan, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, breathing in the spicy scent of his cologne and feeling more content than she’d ever been in her life.
It wasn’t about the opulence or not worrying anymore how she was going to put food on her son’s plate the next day. It was about being there for each other, no matter what, and loving each other.
So simple.
Yet so complicated.
One page quickly turned to two, but Mercy kept quiet. She wanted to hold this moment in her heart, store it for later...
She’d forgiven Cole many times, but then she hadn’t known about his gambling issue before she’d married him. She’d known about Ethan’s philandering ways before she’d accepted his proposal.
Have I made the biggest mistake of my life? And what now?
“Buddy, go wash your hands, please. We don’t want your mother’s dinner to go cold.” Ethan’s voice interrupted her musings.
Interestingly enough, Stevie obeyed Ethan without a word of protest.
When the sound of little footsteps died down in the hall, Ethan walked to her. “What did you need to talk to me about?”
Mercy’s eyes widened. “How did you guess?”
He brushed his fingertips along her jawline, making her heart flutter. “Come on. We’ve known each other long enough. I could read it in your face. You’re upset about something.”
Mercy took a deep breath for courage. She only had a few moments until Stevie would come back from the bathroom. “I have a reason to be upset. Yourgirlfriendstopped by.” She watched closely for his reaction, for the expression of guilt.
Ethan frowned. “I don’t have a girlfriend. I only have a wife. You.”
“Oh, please. Don’t try to deceive me. She said she was your girlfriend. Leah.” Mercy wondered if Ethan might’ve had several girlfriends with this name, so she hurried to refresh his memory. Anger uncoiled, getting stronger. “Long red hair, perfectly styled. Gold rings with diamonds. Designer suit. Shoes that probably cost more than my monthly salary was.”
Ethan folded his hands on his broad chest. “You don’t need to elaborate. I know Leah. Sheusedto be my girlfriend. I broke up with her before proposing to you.”
