“I have Taz,” she added feebly. “I can’t move to an apartment with him, and I’m sure I’d never be able to afford a house in Los Angeles.”
They’d had this conversation before, but the last time Kaelin had genuinely dismissed the idea. Now, though, she actually let herself think about it. But just for a minute. Leaving everything she knew, everything that was safe and secure and stable, to move across the country to a strange city where she knew no one—that was terrifying.
But once again, that feeling of vague dissatisfaction nudged her. She wasn’t close with Aunt Lara. Her job was fine. She enjoyed it. She had friends in Mapleglen. But not close friends. Her best friends had moved away, all over the country. And her relationship with Brent hadn’t worked out so well. Her insides twisted a little thinking of what she’d wanted from him but had been too afraid to ask for.
She was safe here. Better to stay with what she had and what she knew than to risk it all by leaving.
She shook her head, still with that smile pasted firmly in place. “Well, you never know,” she said. “Maybe someday.”
Avery’s eyes widened. “Well, at least that’s not an out-and-out no. You know I’d love it if you moved closer.”
“I’d like to be closer,” Kaelin admitted. Though she wasn’t sure how well she’d fit into Avery’s new world. She and Scott, and Hardeep and Maddie, formed a neat little foursome and she’d be a…what? A fifth wheel?
“Think about it,” Avery urged her. “I know it’s a big decision. I’m not saying quit your job tomorrow. But think about it.”
And Kaelin found herself agreeing to that, although she suspected it was mostly just to keep Avery happy. She couldn’t seriously think about doing something so life-altering.
“So tomorrow, what time will you come over, Kaelin? To get ready.”
“I don’t know. I have lots to do tomorrow. We have to decorate, pick up flowers, and make sure the cupcakes are delivered and—”
“I’ll help,” Maddie said.
“I will too,” Avery added.
“No, you don’t have to.” Kaelin smiled. “You’re the bride.”
“Thank you, Kaelin. You’ve been so sweet about all this.”
Kaelin just shrugged and smiled, uncomfortable with the praise.
They planned the schedule for the next day. The ceremony was at four o’clock. Kaelin knew she could not get into the hotel ballroom where the reception was being held until noon, so she could pick up the flowers in the morning and bring them to the Wirth house. There were also decorations for the church, and she had to make sure the flowers were delivered there and arranged properly.
A few hours later, Maddie left to go back to the hotel where she and Hardeep were staying and Kaelin smothered a yawn. “I should go too,” she said just as Avery’s cell phone buzzed.
Avery set down her wine and picked it up. “Hi, hon,” she said, surprise tingeing her voice. Then she frowned. “What?” Her voice changed to sharp. “Are you serious?” Then Avery bit her lip and glanced at her mother. “Oh, honey, okay,” she said, smiling, but Kaelin could see how tight that smile was. “Um…okay, we’ll be there in a little bit.” She listened, her eyebrows drawing down and her eyes flickering. “Yes. Yes. Got it. Okay, bye.”
She closed her phone, still smiling toothily. “Kaelin, hon, are you okay to drive?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“The guys want us to join them for a drink.”
Now it was Kaelin’s turn to frown. “You’re kidding. Now?”
“Yes. Come on.” She grabbed Kaelin’s hand and yanked her up off the couch. Kaelin stumbled a little and scurried after Avery’s long strides.
“Avery!” her mother called. “Where are you going?”
“Just out for a drink,” Avery snapped over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mom, won’t be late. You go on to bed. It’s a big day tomorrow.”
Kaelin grabbed her purse and Avery hustled her out the front door. Her car was parked on the street and she dug for her keys in her purse. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“Hold on. Get in the car.” Avery’s voice was tight.
Kaelin started the car and put it into gear. “Where are we going?”
“To the police station. Scott’s in jail.”
Chapter Five
Margot washed her face and brushed out her hair, looking at herself in the mirror. Without her makeup she looked washed-out and tired. She clicked off the light of the ensuite bathroom and moved into the bedroom where Ken lay, reading a magazine.
“The dinner was nice,” he said, as usual not effusive with his praise.
“Thank you.” She climbed under the covers.
“And you looked beautiful.”
Her head whipped to the side to stare at Ken. “Ah…thank you.”
He laid down the magazine and closed his eyes. “Margot.”
“Yes?” Her heart stuttered.
“I don’t want you to leave me.”
Pressure built in her chest and her eyes ached. “I don’t want to leave you. But I can’t go on like this.”
“But why? I don’t understand…you have the perfect life. You can do whatever you want to do…”
“I can’t do whatever I want!” Outrage had her sitting up straight, staring at him. “Are you kidding me? Our whole life is what you want me to do! You want me to belong to the country club, to associate with the wives of the other doctors, to host dinner parties. You want me to do charity work, and not that I begrudge the children’s ward at the hospital one moment of my time or one cent that we’ve raised, but that’s what you want! When I want to go to the carnival, we can’t because it’s not done. When I want to drive around to the wineries in the hills and taste wine, we can’t do that because it’s too touristy. When I want to go for a walk on the beach in the moonlight, we can’t because you have to get up early the next morning. When I want to travel, we can’t because you can’t take time off work. I can’t do anything I want!”
He opened his eyes and stared back at her, eyebrows drawn down.
“And on top of that, you don’t even want me anymore,” she cried, fingers curling into fists. “I try so hard to stay in shape, to look nice for you, and you don’t even care!”
She almost felt sorry for him at how shocked and uncomfortable he looked at her outburst. “I…I do care.”
She remembered his compliment from moments ago, not the first he’d ever given her but the first in a long time.
“You care because you want me to look good so you look good!”
“That’s not true.”
“It is true. Don’t deny it.”
He closed his eyes. He couldn’t deny it. It was true.
“But I do still care about you,” he said. “I love you, Margot.”
Her eyes stung and she blinked at him through a blur of tears. “Oh, Ken.” He reached for her then, and she fell against him, tears falling. “I love you too. I do. But I need more.”
He tipped her face up and kissed her mouth, once, twice, then longer, deeper. She sank into the kiss, slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She still loved the feel of his arms around her, strong and warm. A tingling started down low inside her, quickly turning into a sharp ache of desire. She still loved him.
His hands moved on her body, sensitizing her skin, her breasts.
“You are beautiful,” he murmured against her mouth. “Margot. We’ll figure this all out.”
At that moment, she thought maybe they could. He rolled her to her back and moved over her, heavy and warm on top of her, solid and reassuring as they made love. It was familiar but still hot, comfortable but still exciting. He knew just how to make her come, and she writhed beneath him as pleasure rippled through her, held him tightly through his own release. These moments of closeness were what gave her hope, what made her think they could get through this. They’d had marital problems before—what couple didn’t?—and if it hadn’t been for their physical intimacy, she wasn’t sure they would have made it. Maybe they’d make it this time too.