Page 38 of The Anniversary Party

Behind Bethany’s back, Leeza pulled a face. “We decided to divide and conquer.”

“That works out because we wanted to interview Paul next anyway,” Sasha said.

Leeza pulled Leo to the side and spoke in a low voice. “I told Paul that I know about the gambling debt and that I told you.”

“How’d that go?”

“He’s upset, but he understands why I did it.” She gnawed at her lower lip for a moment and then added, “It helps that I told him I’d give him another chance.”

Leo patted her on the shoulder. “It’s tough when someone you love is fighting demons.”

She gave him a curious look. “It is, but I’m surprised that you’d know anything about that.” She glanced at Sasha’s departing back.

He shook his head. “Not Sasha. My dad died in federal prison.”

“Oh. Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. The point is, I do know what it’s like.” He didn’t see any reason to elaborate that Duc Than Nguyen was a murderous Vietnamese gang kingpin whom Leo had personally turned in to the authorities. He just wanted her to know he understood the struggles she was going through. “I hope it works out.”

“Thanks. Me too.”

As he walked out of the room, he heard Maisy pumping Tessa. “Tessa, whose room is at the top of the stairs?”

“What?”

“You know, in the farm manager’s residence. Who claimed the room at the top of the stairs?”

“Oh. Um, that was you and Grady, right, Joy?”

“Mm-hmm. Why?” Joy asked.

“No real reason. It was going to be my room before we switched, so I wondered who ended up in there,” Maisy lied easily.

Maisy was good. Leo hid a smile as he lengthened his stride to catch up with Sasha in the hallway. They found the men in the parlor sitting around a card table. Chance was shuffling a deck of cards.

“What are you guys playing?” Sasha asked.

“A little Texas hold ‘em,” Chance told her.

“For money?” she asked.

Paul’s eyes flashed. “No, just for fun.”

“Money and fun aren’t mutually exclusive, dude,” Grady laughed.

Brian and Chance exchanged a look as if they’d noted the change in the atmosphere, but they didn’t appear to know what it was about.

Leo figured he’d be doing Paul a favor if they took him away from temptation. “Paul, we need to talk to you.”

“We’re getting ready to play. How about after this hand?” Paul countered.

“How about now? Maybe they can deal you in later.” Leo tried to tamp down his agitation. If Paul was stupid enough to throw away a second chance with his wife over an ad hoc poker game, then there wasn’t much hope for him.

Paul growled low in his throat but pushed his chair away from the table as Chance dealt the cards to the others. They led him into the office, and Sasha flipped on the light. She hoisted herself to the shelf built over the top of the steam radiator, which was hissing hot air. Leo took the chair behind the desk, leaving the other chair in the room for Paul.

“Are you sure you don’t want to sit?” Paul asked Sasha.

“Oh, believe me, I’m happier up here on top of the heat.”

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