The Other Woman

by Brenda Novak

Rocky sent a fleeting glance toward his mother, as if he hated letting her overhear him. But she didn’t look like she was going anywhere. “A guy named Keith paid me a hundred bucks to do it,” he said. “That’s all I know. He didn’t want anyone hurt. He just wanted me to mess up the place.”

  Carter couldn’t believe it. He would’ve bet money that it wasn’t Keith. Keith had acted so indignant about being accused. But how else would Rocky know Liz’s ex-husband’s name? “Where’d you meet Keith?”

  “At a bar here in town.”

  “At a bar.”

  “Yeah, man, he and I played a game of pool, okay?” Bradley jammed his hands in his pockets, and his voice revealed a touch of panic as he asked his next question. “So, are you gonna turn me in?”

  Bradley’s mother gasped and pressed a hand to her heart. “I can’t take no more,” she muttered.

  Carter felt sorry for her. Her son clearly didn’t amount to much and would probably cause trouble again. But Carter decided to give him one more chance. “If you can pay for the damage, I’ll let you do that instead.”

  “He’ll pay,” the mother said, pushing Bradley out of the way and dragging the dog inside. “He helps his father with the lawn service four days a week. We’ll take the money out of his checks.”

  Carter nodded and gave her his card. “Fine. I’ll send you the bill.” He craned his head to catch a final glimpse of Bradley. “Stay away from Dundee,” he said. “Or next time I won’t be so nice.”

  LIZ STARED AT REENIE, who’d just arrived at her house with a brown paper sack. She knew what was inside. She’d asked Reenie to get it for her.

  The moment of truth had arrived.

  “I can’t believe this,” Reenie breathed, her eyes filled with worry.

  “Neither can I.” Liz pulled the pregnancy test from the sack. As she gazed down at it, the anxiety sitting low in her stomach turned painful. She’d asked Reenie not to tell Isaac about this and hoped against hope that her sister-in-law had respected that. She needed Reenie to be her best friend and not her brother’s wife. But she knew it wouldn’t be easy for Reenie to keep quiet. “Are you sure this kind of test will give me accurate results? I’m probably only a week or two along—”

  “A week or two?” Reenie cried. “You just started dating Carter a couple weeks ago!”

  Liz winced at the shameful reminder. How did she explain? She couldn’t. Life and loneliness had simply gotten the best of her. And now she was floating down the river, just like the Lady of Shalott, doomed to destruction. “I don’t know what happened. I dated Keith for months before I slept with him. And my high-school sweetheart and I were together a year before we did anything. But it was different with Carter.” She didn’t mention Dave, but she’d known him a long time before she’d slept with him, too.

  Reenie squeezed her arm. “What will you do if you’re pregnant?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Whatever happens, I’ll help you.”

  Liz let Reenie pull her into an embrace. What Reenie had said was exactly what she needed to hear—that she wouldn’t be completely alone. “Somehow I’ll get through it,” she said as she drew back, but she certainly wasn’t convinced.

  “Of course you will.” Reenie hurried her toward the bathroom. “Go see. Maybe we’re freaking out over nothing.”

  Liz wanted to believe that was the case. But she knew she was pregnant before she even took the test. She’d never been so late before.

  And the test confirmed it.

  THAT AFTERNOON, Liz went through the motions of making her mother’s special fudge, caramel apples, rocky road and other candies, but she wasn’t sure there was much point in it. Unless all this candy-making helped her sell the shop. She’d already decided she’d marry Dave and head to California. If he’d have her after she told him about the baby. She couldn’t imagine he’d want a real marriage at that point. But she hoped he might be softhearted enough to lend her his name for a few months. That would help. It would give her the appearance of respectability, for her children’s sake, and it would provide an excuse to leave Dundee. It would also guarantee that no one would ever suspect the truth. Especially Carter.

  Guilt made her gut twist. She hated the fact that she’d be keeping such a secret. But maybe it was best for now. It wasn’t as if Carter wanted to have a baby. She’d have to tell him eventually, of course, but she had nearly nine months to decide how and when. And it would be easier if she didn’t live in the same town.

  She gazed at the shop she loved so much. Her father and Dave had been there all day, painting over the writing they’d been unable to remove from the walls, and now the place looked as good as new.

  Her future could have been so different, if only she’d been more careful. But it wasn’t as if she’d planned on having an extended affair—with anyone—or she would have gone on the Pill.

  “You’re quiet today,” Gordon said, ducking out of the bathroom, where he’d been rinsing off his brushes and rollers.

  Dave looked up from where he was fixing a piece of baseboard that had been pried loose. “She’s thinking,” he said and winked at her.

  She smiled, even though she felt sick to her stomach, and wondered if she’d be able to work for the airlines again, so she could support her little family.

  The back door opened and Carter strode in. Liz had been expecting him, waiting for him, and still the sight of him stole her breath. He was wearing an amber-colored shirt that brought out the gold flecks in his eyes and a pair of blue jeans.

  He smiled when he saw her and came toward her as if he’d kiss her, but she quickly put the table between them. “You’re back,” she said, forcing another friendly, if strained smile. “Good to see you.”

  He couldn’t miss her standoffish reaction, and then he caught sight of Dave, who stood up and dusted off his hands before offering to shake.

  “I’m Dave Shapiro.”

  Carter said nothing. Neither did he accept Dave’s hand.

  Liz cleared her throat. “Dave, this is Carter Hudson.”

  Carter’s mouth tightened at the edges, but he finally shook hands. “Dave’s from California?”

  She couldn’t seem to formulate any more words at the moment, so she nodded.

  “And what are you doing here in Dundee?” Carter asked.

  His voice was amiable enough, for Carter. But Liz could sense the blunt question beneath his calm tone: What the hell is going on?

  Dave might have sensed it, too. He hesitated for a second before answering. But then his easy smile returned and so, evidently, did his confidence. Or maybe he was making sure, now that he was here, to stake his claim. “I came to ask Liz to marry me.”

  Gordon, who’d been gathering up the last of his tools, straightened and stared.

  “And what answer did she give you?” Carter asked, stone-faced.

  Dave grinned warmly at Liz. “She hasn’t told me yet.”

  Carter’s cheeks flushed with some emotion, but Liz was at a loss to identify it. In any case, she knew he couldn’t be experiencing anything more painful than what she was feeling.

  “I see. Well, presuming she says yes, I hope you’ll be happy together,” he said and stalked out.

  THAT NIGHT CARTER STOOD at the window of his cabin, staring out at the view he’d shared with Liz. He had one hand in his pocket. The other clasped a beer—but it was warm. He hadn’t taken a sip of it in probably thirty minutes. He couldn’t seem to move.

  He knew it was Keith who’d vandalized Liz’s shop. And yet he hadn’t told anyone. In his mind, it hardly mattered if Liz was going to marry Dave and head back to California.

  If she married Dave… How could she even think about being with Dave after what they’d shared? Had she told him that they’d been sleeping together? God, he could still smell her on his sheets!

  He glanced at the phone. He wanted to call her but wasn’t sure he could trust himself not to say something cruel. Evidently, he’d had different expectations of
their relationship. He wasn’t sure what those expectations were, exactly. He hadn’t thought them through. They’d only just started seeing each other. But he’d considered the two of them a couple. Even if he hadn’t communicated that to her, he was pretty sure it went without saying, when they’d had sex so many times within a two-week period.

  Picking up the phone, he called information. He was completely confused and angry and had no answers on his own. But maybe Reenie could help him.

  “Hello?” She answered on the first ring, but he could tell he’d called too late. She sounded half-asleep. He almost hung up, when she lowered her voice to a whisper and said, “Liz? Is it you? I’m here, honey, if you need to talk. It’ll be okay. You have to believe that. It’s the only way to get through this.”

  Carter pinched the bridge of his nose. “Get through what?” he asked.

  Dead silence.

  “Reenie?”

  “Carter?” The sharpness with which she’d said his name told her she was far more awake now.

  “Yeah. Remember me? The guy who works for your father? The guy who was dating your sister-in-law three days ago?”

  “It’s late, Carter.”

  “I know that.”

  There was an awkward silence. “So why are you calling me?”

  The panic in her voice confused him as much as Liz’s strange reaction had when he’d arrived at the shop today. Reenie wasn’t easily intimidated. She would have no trouble telling him to go to hell if she wanted to. But she felt bad about something. He could tell. “When I left we were friends. Has that changed?”

  “No,” she said, drawing out the word.

  “Good. Because everything else has.”

  There was another long pause. “I’m sorry.”

  “Does she love this guy?” he asked. “Does she want to marry Dave Shapiro, or whoever the hell he is?”

  A long sigh greeted this question. “I don’t know what to tell you,” she said at last. “Because…I—that’s up to Liz.”

  “Just tell me if she’s in love with him,” he said.

  Silence. Finally, “No, she’s not in love with him.”

  He blinked in surprise. “So that means she’s going to turn him down.” The anxiety tightening every muscle eased and Carter felt as if he could breathe again.

  Until Reenie answered.

  “Actually, I’m pretty sure she’ll say yes.”

  “What?” He sank onto the couch. “Why?”

  “I’ve already told you too much. I can’t say any more,” she said and hung up.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  THE PHONE RANG, but Liz ignored it. She’d already spoken to Dave. She’d explained the whole painful situation, and now she was giving him time to think. She had no idea what he’d say. He’d grown quiet when she’d told him, and revealed little of what he was feeling.

  But she could easily imagine his disappointment. He loved a woman who was pregnant with another man’s child. Although she hadn’t cheated on him—they hadn’t had any commitments between them—her news couldn’t have been a pleasant surprise.

  Liz felt drained from the decisions she’d had to make and the tears she’d shed. She wanted to sleep. Sleep and forget the look on Carter’s face when Dave had announced that he’d proposed and that she might accept. But she’d barely dozed off when a knock on her door jarred her awake. Grabbing her robe, she tied it as quickly as possible and went to answer before whoever it was could wake her children.

  It was Dave. Sweeping her into his arms, he kissed her passionately. “I’ve decided,” he said, smiling broadly. “I want you badly enough to make this work.”

  She returned his hug. This was the first time she’d been in his arms since Vegas. But she felt none of his enthusiasm or eagerness. Just a vague sense of relief that she had a plan. She would not allow herself to think of Carter.

  LIZ’S FATHER WAS WAITING for her when she arrived at the store the following day. “What are you doing here so early?” she asked curiously.

  “I came to help out. You need someone else around for the busy times. And for when you go to lunch or take a break.”

  She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for his support. He’d been wonderful the past few days, perfect. But she was still afraid to trust his change of heart. And now that she was moving out of state, she saw little point in struggling to voice the appreciation she felt. He’d be in Dundee with Isaac and everyone else that she loved. And she and her children would be in L.A., trying to make a new marriage work.

  She cringed, but it was the best way out of her predicament, and she knew it. At least it seemed like her best choice. Her thoughts were so muddled she couldn’t be entirely sure. “Thanks for all you’ve done,” she said simply.

  He studied her face and frowned, as if he definitely didn’t like what he saw. So Liz focused on unlocking the front door. “If you have something to say, say it,” she said as she drew back the bolt.

  “I will,” he replied. “But I’ll wait until we’re inside, because you won’t like it.”

  “I know what it is. I look tired, I need to take better care of myself and get more sleep. You’ve been saying it since you moved here.”

  “That’s true. But that’s not what I have to say this morning.” He held the door so she could go in ahead of him. Then he followed her inside.

  “What?” she said when the door swung shut behind them.

  He took a rather combative stance. “Are you going to marry Dave?”

  She clasped her hands in back of herself so he couldn’t see them shake. “Yes.”

  “Which means you’re moving to California.”

  “It does.”

  “When?”

  “Soon. As soon as we sell The Chocolaterie, if we can sell it.”

  “What about Mica and Christopher? If I remember right, you wanted them here close to their father.”

  “I’ve done my best. They’ll…” Knowing how badly she had let them down caused searing disappointment. They were going to hate being dragged away from Keith, Isaac, Reenie, Jennifer, Angela, Isabella—and Reenie’s new baby. They didn’t even know about the baby yet. Liz had accidentally ruined Reenie’s good news by getting pregnant herself.

  “They’ll adjust,” she finished weakly. “But please don’t tell them about it just yet. I need some time to come to terms with my decision. Dave’s promised to go to California and wait for me. He needs to get back to work, anyway. So I don’t need to explain his presence or anything he says. I’ll break the bad news in a few weeks.”

  He gaped at her. “Bad news? Isn’t a wedding supposed to be good news?”

  “Bad news to them,” she said, trying to cover her mistake.

  “I don’t think so.”

  She scowled at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “You don’t want to do this. I can tell. What I can’t figure out is what’s behind it.”

  She headed to the kitchen and started pulling trays of truffles, chocolates, brownies and caramels off the rolling cart so she could arrange her displays. “Sometimes you do what you have to.”

  “No one’s making you do this.”

  “Dave’s in love with me.”

  “So? You’re not in love with him. You told me so, remember?”

  “I said I was infatuated. That’s close.”

  “You said ‘a little infatuated,’ and you didn’t sound particularly sincere.”

  “Dad—” She hesitated. She’d been calling him Gordon, for the most part, but he was acting like her father and the word had slipped out.

  “I am your dad,” he said. “And that gives me the right to say this.”

  “I know who you are. But don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”

  “Liz—”

  The urgency in his voice made her look up even though she didn’t want to. “What?”

  “Don’t do it.”

  “I have to.”

  “Why? What are you running from?”

  She
didn’t respond. Because the answer to that question had just walked through the door.

  CARTER TOLD HIMSELF he shouldn’t care about Liz. If she could make love to him one weekend and marry someone else the next, she wasn’t the woman he thought she was. But that kind of thinking hadn’t lasted once he’d spoken to Reenie. Her words troubled him because they hinted at something deeper. And as he entered her shop, he decided it was time to find out what was going on.

  “Mr. Russell,” he said.

  Liz’s father nodded a greeting, but it was clear Carter had just interrupted a private conversation. He would’ve asked Liz to call him later and left, so that Russell and Liz could continue whatever it was they were discussing, but he couldn’t trust that she’d ever give him the audience he craved. He’d sent her several e-mails and tried to call her, too. She seemed determined to avoid him.

  “Would you mind giving me and Liz a few moments alone?” he asked.

  Before her father could respond, Liz said, “I’m sorry but now’s not a good time. We’re about to open.”

  Gordon Russell’s gaze shifted between his daughter and Carter. Then he smiled as though he’d read something in their expressions that finally made sense. “Actually, I think now would be ideal. I’ll be down at the doughnut shop if you need me.”

  “I’d like a doughnut,” Liz called after him. “Maybe I’ll go with you.”

  Carter felt his eyebrows slide up. What was she so afraid of? “He can bring you one. Right, Mr. Russell?”

  “You bet.” Her father scooted out, and Liz’s eyes went wide when Carter locked the door behind him.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, putting the table between them for the second time since he’d been home.

  Carter remembered them using that table in a very different way, not as a barrier to keep them apart. If she didn’t remember that encounter as fondly as he did, maybe he could accept what she told him and leave her alone, as she obviously wanted him to do. “Insuring our privacy so we can talk.”

  “We don’t have anything to talk about.”

  “Sure we do. For starters, I know who’s been vandalizing your shop.”