by Amy Brent
I had to give it to Lily. She was a lot more observant than I gave her credit for. Amber and I both had agreed to refrain from physical contact in front of the kids. We didn’t want to arouse their suspicions. And because it was complicated between the two of us, we didn’t want to drag them into a situation that could possibly end in disaster at any moment.
Which, it had in a way. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something drastically wrong with Amber.
“It’s complicated adult stuff,” I said as I backed out of the parking spot. “It’s not something you should even think about until you’re at least twenty-five.”
Lily’s face pulled into a disgusted grimace. “I don’t even like any of the boys in my class, Dad. They’re all jerks.”
“That’s right. Don’t go for the jerks. Even when you’re older, don’t even go for them.”
We arrived at Raychelle’s in time for a delicious fried chicken lunch. I ate heartily, starving from the past few days of not being able to eat properly. I waited for Lily to dart upstairs to play with a few Barbies that Raychelle had purchased over the weekend, before I sank back in the small kitchen chair with a heavy sigh.
Raychelle eyed me knowingly as she finished washing up the dishes. She started a pot of coffee before taking a seat across from me.
“Spill,” she said simply. “I can see that you need to talk about something that’s bothering you.”
I smoothed a hand over my face in exhaustion. “I’m just confused about everything, that’s all.”
“Confused about what?”
I spent the next ten minutes talking about the details in Florida, but I was mindful not to reveal who Amber was. Raychelle listened patiently, only stopping me once to pour us both a cup of coffee. She reached out to place a hand on my forearm.
“Honey, you need to put yourself in her shoes,” she said. “Just for a moment. You’ve had plenty of time yourself to come to terms with my sister’s death. Divorce is death too, in a way.”
“He was an abusive piece of shit,” I said coldly. “He beat her. I don’t understand how divorce in that situation would feel like death.”
“It’s complicated either way, Gage. It sounds like she is just having some typical confusing emotions. I don’t think it’s necessarily anything you need to worry about.”
“She won’t return my phone calls, Ray. I’ve tried everything to make her feel like she can trust me.”
“I’m sure that with time, she’ll see what you’re doing,” Raychelle said calmly. “Trust me on this, Gage. Just have faith and hope that she’ll take the time to sort things out. That’s all it sounds like to me is that she needs some time to herself. It’s not a sign of a break up to me.”
“I hope not,” I muttered, clutching my coffee close. “I don’t know if I can handle losing another woman.”
Raychelle patted me on the forearm. “Just be patient, dear. I don’t think she’s slipping out of your fingers.”
I turned away to look out at the sad sight of Raychelle’s rosebushes dripping down underneath the weight of the heavy, wet snow. That was exactly what it felt like. Amber was slipping out of my fingers.
Chapter 22
Amber
“Sex with Gage Devlin on the beach? Priceless.”
Those words haunted me for the next few days. No matter what I did, I couldn’t convince myself that Scott was bluffing. He never bluffed. He always had evidence that he liked to dangle in front people, in hopes that he could catch them in a lie. I didn’t take the bait, and he knew it was true.
I stared at the closed curtains of the guest room while I waited for the entire house to go quiet. My father was due to meet with the mayor in Colorado Springs, so it would give me a few days to myself. The past few mornings of constant bouts of nausea and headaches were enough for my father to convince me that Ethan could tag along with him. I didn’t put up a fight, even if a part of me squirmed nervously at the thought of being away from my son. But it was better this way.
If something happened to me, then Ethan would be with my father and security. They would protect him.
Knock. Knock.
I looked to the bedroom door that was locked. I could see the shadow of a person standing on the other side through the bottom crack.
“Yes?” I called out, not willing to move from the center of my bed. “Who is it?”
“It’s Joe. I just wanted to make sure that you were all right before we leave for the next few days.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Thanks, Joe. I’ll honestly just stay in bed the entire time.”
“I’m leaving a few security members here that can take you anywhere you need to go,” Joe replied, concern in his voice. “Including a doctor if you need to go see one this week.”
I stared down at the three positive pregnancy tests on the center of my bed. Tears filled my eyes while another wave of nausea came crashing over me. I did need to see a doctor. Just not the doctor Joe was thinking of.
“Thanks,” I managed to say in an even voice. “I think that I’ll be okay, though. I just need to get some rest.”
“Call me if you need me,” Joe said.
I waited until I heard his footsteps retreat back down the hallway. Slipping off the center of my bed, I walked to the window to push away the curtains. The SUV’s were parked directly in front of the house. There was a flurry of movement as my father carried Ethan out on his hip, both of them dressed in nice suits, and slipped into one of the SUV’s with Joe right behind them.
Pregnant.
That little word echoed in my mind. There was no doubt in my mind that I was pregnant with Gage Devlin’s child. A torment of emotions crashed over me as I scanned the mountainside for any sign of that PI that Scott claimed he had hired. It was already going to be a shock to my parents’ system about my relationship with Gage, but adding an unexpected pregnancy to the mix? Both of them were going to be furious with me.
Guilt bubbled in me. A part of me longed to let the shit hit the fan. At least I would have Gage at the end of it all, but then it would leave my father’s reputation tarnished. Our wholesome image would be destroyed. Scott followed through on his threats. I knew that from our marriage of three years.
I gathered up the positive pregnancy sticks to hide them in a locked box that I kept beneath my bed. The staff would never say a word directly to my father if they found them, but they would gossip about it. That gossip would spread to the tabloids.
My stomach churned nervously as I ran my fingers through my tangled hair. I had ignored Gage for a few days now. He was undoubtedly furious with me, given what an amazing time we had together in Florida. It killed me to see the hurt and confusion in his eyes, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. Not when Scott had photographs. Gage had nothing to lose. His reputation didn’t ride on public polls and opinions. His reputation relied solely on writing computer software to combat cyber threats to the government. I couldn’t let Scott ruin my family because of my own selfish desires to be with Gage and start our little family like we had talked about.
I took a long shower before convincing one of the security details to drive me to the strip mall. I left instructions for him to return within an hour before heading in the direction of the small coffee shop that Scott and I had first met at nearly four years ago. Clutching the strap of my purse tightly, I slipped into the crowded shop. The smell of roasted coffee beans filled my lungs as I scanned the seating area for Scott. My stomach lurched when I found him sitting calmly in a booth in the corner, nursing a cup of coffee with a smile that made my blood go cold.
He appeared to be the same as ever. His blonde hair was slicked back as usual. There wasn’t a shadow of a beard on his jaw. His clothes were neatly pressed as well. The group of young teenage girls giggled to themselves as they gazed over at Scott with googly eyes that instantly made me want to throw up. Scott turned to wink at them, earning a chorus of excited whispers, before he waved me over.
My legs were
leaden as I approached the booth with a wildly beating heart. I sat down in the seat across from him with the group of teenage girls staring at me. My cheeks flared hotly at their hushed whispers, but I refused to let my nerves show. Not with Scott sitting across from me with a triumphant smirk.
“So glad that you could make it,” he said. “I was beginning to wonder if I needed to make some phone calls to the press.”
“I’m not running on your time,” I spat out, clutching my purse to my upper chest as a shield. “What is it that you want, Scott?”
Scott pulled up a briefcase to his side. He pulled out a manila envelope before tossing it across the table at me. The corner of it poked my forearm as I glanced down at it with a sinking heart.
“Pictures,” Scott said, threading his fingers together in front of him on the table. “You came here to see if I was bluffing. There’s your answer.” He nodded at me with glittering eyes. “Go on. Open it up, Amber. See what I have in there.”
My fingers were trembling when I pried the envelope open to peer inside. There was a stack of glossy photographs in the folder, but I couldn’t find the strength to pull them out.
“For Christ’s sake,” Scott snapped, grabbing the folder from my hands. “Don’t be a bitch over this. You know what’s in there. Are you afraid to face it?”
“No.”
He pulled the photographs out to slap them onto the table in front of me. I stared down with vomit bubbling in the back of my throat at the picture of Gage and me on the beach together. There was no mistaking the position we were in, even with a towel protecting us from passing eyes.
“Disney World,” Scott said. He slapped another picture on the table. “Here’s one of you and Gage together at a hotel. Recognize the hotel room? You should, because that’s your bare ass, naked underneath Gage.”
“Stop it,” I choked out, trying desperately to keep control over my wavering emotions. “Scott, please. Don’t.”
“Here’s a good one of you and him in the backyard at Gage’s house,” Scott continued on, ignoring the tears coming down my cheeks. “I think this one speaks kindly of how much you two have been seeing one another behind your father’s back.”
The shot was pixelated. Whoever had taken the photograph had done so from a distance. Like on one of the mountainsides that surrounded Gage’s cabin. We were both sitting on the back porch, with me in between Gage’s legs and leaning back on his chest as shared a kiss. Our lips were stretched into happy smiles.
I tore my gaze away as fury shot through me. For months, I had thought I was free to enjoy my relationship with Gage in privacy. I felt violated in the worst way possible.
“What do you want?” I asked as Scott gathered up the pictures to place them back in the envelope. I didn’t even bother reaching for them. I knew he had extras somewhere.
Scott placed them back in his briefcase. He gazed across the table at me with a cold and calculated smile.
“The settlement,” he said. “I want that dropped immediately.”
I stiffened in my seat at that. “Why? That money is for Ethan. You’re going to punish your own son by taking away his cushion for the future?”
“How do you think our son is going to like it, knowing that his mom is a whore?”
“I’m not a whore,” I hissed, fingers clenching into fists. “Screw you, Scott. What is it that you really want? I know you don’t give a flying fuck about me or your son.”
“You’re right,” he said, shrugging. “I don’t care. I care about having my name slandered because of you talking to the press. Fair is fair.”
“I’m not the one who hit you. I’m not the one who abused you, day in and day out.”
“Quit crying,” Scott snapped. A sneer tugged at his lips. “Those tears don’t affect me. I’m only going to offer this one time, so you better think about it wisely.”
He leaned in across the table to grab ahold of my wrist with clammy fingers. I could smell that usual scent of soap that Scott used, along with his aftershave. He was so close that I could count the freckles on his nose. For a moment, I was tempted to let the vomit in the back of my throat come loose, but I forced it back down with a painful swallow.
“If you come back home to me, recant this story of yours, then all of these photographs will be burned,” Scott said. “It’ll go away. Your father will be free to keep running for his seat in Congress without any more scandals attached to his name. Understand?”
“You want me to come back to you?”
“Call the divorce off. Come back with me. It’ll all go away, and nothing will be leaked.”
His fingers released my wrist then. I slid out of the booth with a gasp, shaking my head at him.
“Think about it,” Scott said cheerfully. He picked up his cup of coffee. “Have a good day, Amber. Smile for the cameras outside.”
I turned to find a group of paparazzi standing at the front of the coffee shop. Their cameras were aimed directly at us. Flashes filled the tiny shop. I glared at Scott as he put on that best shit-eating grin of his before ducking out past them. Ignoring the hurl of questions, I hurried in the direction of the SUV parked out front.
I climbed into the back seat to tell my father’s security to drive me back home. Along the way, I watched the snow-covered greenery blur together through the tears in my eyes. There was nothing that I could do. Scott had the pictures. He had the proof that would destroy my family. He would do it willingly too, even if it took him out in the process. I couldn’t let that happen. Not after all my father’s hard work.
A few hours later, I called the lawyer to inform him I was dropping the settlement. I had plenty of money from my own projects to get through the next few years of my life. I called my father next to tell him about what I planned to do.
“I don’t understand what you’re telling me,” he said, concern filling his voice. “If Scott is harassing you, then we need to go to the police. Extortion is a crime. You don’t need to go into hiding.”
I stared down at my packed suitcase along with a bag for Ethan. I felt numb as I zipped it up with trembling fingers. It was already dark outside which suited my plan perfectly. If that PI was somewhere in the mountains, he wouldn’t see me sneak out the back door to the garage.
“I do though, Dad,” I whispered, clutching the phone tightly. “Scott won’t ever stop until I figure something out. You have to trust me on this.”
“What evidence does Scott have that can ruin my career, Amber? I have a PR team meant for things like this.”
“It’s enough to cause an uproar,” I replied, grimacing. “Trust me on that. I don’t want to talk about it right now, but just trust me when I say that it will cost you your seat in Congress.”
“Good Lord, Amber. What the hell is going on?”
“I’ll tell you when the time is right,” I said and rubbed at my swollen belly with a sigh. “Trust me. I’ll be fine. I’ll keep in touch with you until I figure out something. I don’t want you to give your career up because of me.”
“I can see that I’m not going to win this,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I’ll arrange someone to meet you with Ethan. Just promise to tell me what is happening, Amber. I don’t care if it’s my job that gets ruined. You are my daughter, and I love you more than anything in the world.”
“I love you too, Dad,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “It’s our little secret for now, okay?”
“Okay.”
I hung up the phone before gathering my suitcases from the bed. I powered my cellphone down next. My heart threatened to crack when I placed it on the small table next to the bed. This secret needed to be kept from Gage, too, and that killed me more than anything.
Chapter 23
Gage
I knew something wasn’t right the moment pictures of Amber and her ex-husband, Scott, surfaced in the newspaper after two weeks of silence.
“Two political families reuniting?” the headline read.
The picture showed
Amber and Scott in a booth inside a small coffee shop in Bozeman. I wanted to punch that leering smile off Scott’s face. It didn’t take a body language expert to see that Amber was clearly frightened at something that had been said during their exchange. I didn’t even know why Amber was meeting her ex-husband in the first place. Their divorce settlement had been called off, too, from what I read in the paper as well.
All of it concerned me. All of it stung.
Amber’s phone was shut off. No one answered at the Roselynn house, no matter how many times I tried to reach out. Beau had left Colorado Springs to fly back to D.C. His wife had also flown back to France shortly afterwards.
“This shouldn’t bother me,” I remarked, throwing the old paper of Scott and Amber into the fire. “It shouldn’t bother me. Amber is a grown woman. She can do what she wants. We never agreed to anything.”
I watched the flames consume the paper quickly. Something had happened to Amber for her to pull away like this. She was virtually a ghost at this point. I didn’t see her at church. I saw no sightings of her in Bozeman, either, for press coverage other than that day in the coffee shop.
Unable to stand it any longer, I retrieved my computer from my office to sit down in front of the fireplace. The nights were still cold, not nearly as warm as they were in the city. I still had to build a fire every night, but I couldn’t fight off the chill inside of me.
