Secret Obsession (7 page)

P
aige opened her trunk and placed two of her overnight bags inside of it but turned around when she saw Camille pulling into the driveway. She’d called Camille about two hours ago, letting her know she would be gone by noon, and Paige had sort of been hoping they wouldn’t run into each other. Not because she felt bad about leaving, but because she didn’t want to take a chance on Camille asking her to call Pierce again on her behalf. What she wanted was for Camille to accept that her marriage was over and simply get used to it.

Camille stepped out of her vehicle and closed the door. “I really wish you’d stay.”

“You’ve been very nice, and two and a half weeks is more than enough. Plus, it’s like I told you on the phone, you and Pierce need your privacy. Especially now.”

“But they still haven’t arrested anyone, and who’s to say this guy won’t come back?”

“I doubt he would do that, and to be honest, I’m just not afraid anymore. I’m ready to get back to my life and move on.”

“Nonetheless, I still wish you’d change your mind. And I’ll admit that part of me also wants you to stay for selfish reasons. I really need you to be my support system. Now more than I ever have.”

“I’ll only be a few miles away, and if you need me, I’ll be here in minutes.”

“It won’t be the same. I have girlfriends and women who I’m pretty close with at church, but there’s no one I trust more than you. There’s no one I can confide in the way I can with my sister.”

Paige slid her arm inside of Camille’s, and they slowly walked up the custom brick sidewalk. “Look, you know I have your back, but this is a time when you and Pierce need to be alone so you can work through your issues. This has to be about you and him and no one else.”

“Maybe.”

“Has he called?”

“No, but when I stopped by the bank this morning, he did come out to the lobby to say he would see me at home.”

Paige hoped this wasn’t true, but said, “Well, at least it sounds like he’s now ready to talk.”

“I think he is, and as a matter of fact, he’s going to leave work right before three o’clock so we can sit down and discuss things before the children get home. They won’t be here until later because of PJ’s game, and I’ve already asked Mom and Dad to bring them home when it’s over.”

Paige didn’t like this and knew she had to do something. However, all she said was, “I’m glad to hear you guys are going to try to work this out.”

“I am, too.”

“I also hope Pierce realizes he should have had a lot more trust and faith in you, regardless of what anyone sent him in the mail.”

“Yeah, I agree, but I have to admit, if someone sent me a stack of incriminating information about him, I’d probably believe them, too.”

“I guess. Well, anyway, I’m going to keep you both in my prayers, and I know you’ll soon get past this.”

“Thanks, Paige,” Camille said as they walked inside the house. “Because prayer is what we need most.”

Paige hugged her sister and thought,
I’ll be praying, all right. Praying that Pierce leaves your pitiful little behind so he can start his new life with me.

It was four o’clock, and Paige had been home for nearly three hours. She hadn’t thought so much about it while she’d been staying at her sister’s, but she’d missed being in her own space. She’d missed her own bed, her own everything, and was glad she’d made the decision to return this afternoon. Of course, her two-bedroom condo wasn’t nearly the size of the Montgomerys’ three-story abode, but it was hers and she was comfortable here. There was no question that she’d loved seeing Pierce every day and had even loved spending time with her niece and nephew, but she was glad she no longer had to see or stomach her sister.

She went over to the sofa table and sorted through her last couple of days of mail. She shuffled one piece after another but pursed her lips when she saw an envelope from Lexus. Now she sort of wished she hadn’t ended things so soon with Owen—and she wouldn’t have had he not made that foolish proposal to her. He’d messed up everything, and as of this statement, she’d have to begin paying the entire bill on her own. Although maybe she could smooth things over with Owen for the time being. It was certainly a possibility and something well worth considering.

Paige opened a few more invoices, a check from a client, and a couple of business letters, but then her phone rang. It was Camille, and she was right on schedule.

“Hello.”

“Oh my God, Paige,” Camille said between sniffles and tears. “You won’t believe what happened.”

“What?”

“I just can’t believe someone is doing all these terrible things.”

“Camille, what are you talking about? Please tell me.”

“Paige, someone sent me two dozen roses with a card that said, ‘Baby, I’m so glad Pierce knows about us now, and that you’ve finally decided to leave him. I love you with all my soul. William.’”

“What?” Paige said, feigning disbelief and major concern. “This is crazy.”

“I know, and even worse, Pierce had just gotten here when they arrived.”

I know, because I’m the one who sent them.
“Oh no, Camille. I’m so sorry. Is he still there?”

“No,” Camille said, crying again. “And this time, he packed some of his clothing.”

“So, he’s moving out on you because of a few flowers?”

“Can you blame him? I mean, first it was all those email messages, and now roses?”

“But none of this makes any sense.”

“No, it doesn’t, and I just wish I knew who hated me enough to do something like this.”

“But that’s just it, Camille. You’re one of the sweetest and most generous people I know, and everyone loves you. And hey, what if this isn’t even about you? What if there’s someone out there who is trying to get revenge on Pierce for some reason?”

“You know, you might be right. I hadn’t even considered that.”

“Stranger things have happened in the world, and nowadays you can’t put anything past certain people. Pierce makes a lot of money, and who’s to say someone at the bank isn’t behind this? I mean, it could even be someone who’s had it in for him for years and maybe something related to the last bank he worked at.”

“But would someone go this far? And why would they specifically try to hurt me?”

“It’s like I just said, maybe it’s not about you.”

“I just hate this, and I have no idea how I’m going to fix it.”

“Just keep praying, and keep trying to talk to Pierce.”

“I will.”

“Do you want me to come back over?”

“No, I’m going to contact the florist to see what information I can get, and then try and call Pierce. After that, I’m going to go pick the children up and take them to spend the night at Mom and Dad’s.”

“Well, call me if you need me, okay?”

“I will, and thanks, Paige. For everything.”

As soon as Paige hung up, she thought about calling Pierce, but decided it might be best to wait a day or two. So instead she picked up the latest Victoria’s Secret catalog and carefully turned through one page at a time, checking out the various negligees and panty and bra sets she knew Pierce would adore. She saw a number of them, and since she couldn’t decide on any one item over another, she would buy them all. She would go online in a few minutes, place her order, and request overnight delivery. She would do this because there was no doubt she’d be making love to Pierce any day now.

P
aige curled her legs onto the sofa, covered her body with a leopard-print blanket, and turned the channel on her television. There was absolutely nothing like watching Lifetime Movie Network, and Paige could already tell this was going to be a great movie. She liked it because the protagonist was a woman she could definitely identify with—a woman who’d made the smart decision to go after what she wanted. Like Paige, she’d decided to take the man of her dreams from some privileged wife who didn’t deserve him, and Paige applauded her. She had the highest respect for the woman’s courage and God-given right to be happy.

Paige watched intensely, but about forty minutes in her cell phone rang and she reached over for it. She saw the number clear as day but was almost too excited to answer. It was Pierce, and she wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and answered. “Hey.”

“Did I catch you at a bad time?”

Paige sat up straighter. “No, not at all. Is everything okay?”

“No, and I really needed to talk to someone. I considered calling my mom or my brother, but for now, I just think it’s best not to tell them.”

“I understand. But I have to be honest about something. Even though I don’t agree with what Camille has done, she’s still my sister, and I don’t want to be caught in the middle of you guys.”

“I get that, and if you don’t want to talk to me, I’ll respect your decision.”

“I don’t mind talking to you, but if Camille finds out, she’ll feel as though I’m betraying her.”

“I won’t say a word. Camille will never know that you and I spoke.”

“I hope you mean that.”

“I do.”

“So, what hotel are you staying at?”

“One of the Westins downtown. Not too far from my job.”

“I know a couple of travel folks who might be able to get you a decent rate, and I’m glad to call them if you want.”

“My hope is that I won’t be here for very long, but I’ll let you know.”

“Sounds good.”

“You know,” he said, changing the subject. “I had my suspicions about your sister long before I received those email messages.”

“Really?” she said, pretending Camille hadn’t told her. “I had no idea.”

“Well, I did. I know you and I chatted about all the time she was spending away from home, but what I didn’t tell you was that I always felt like she might be messing around. The thought of it was unbearable, though, because this kind of thing seemed so unlike Camille.”

“I agree.”

“And then there’s the fact that I’ve always loved every inch of her and have never once had an affair. I’ve never even touched another woman in the wrong way since I married her.”

“I believe you, and you can’t blame yourself for any of this.”

“Still, I’ve never been more hurt in my life, and I don’t understand how we got to this point.”

“Maybe this is some sort of a mistake,” Paige said for lack of anything better to say.

“Oh yeah? Well, email messages with dates and times don’t lie.”

“Maybe they’re fake.”

“They look authentic enough to me. And did she tell you about the flowers?”

“No, what flowers?”

“William had roses delivered to our home while I was there, and the card said something about her leaving me.”

“No way. I spoke to her this afternoon, and she never said a word.”

“Wait a minute. She didn’t tell you?”

“No. She told me you came by this afternoon and had already left. That was it.”

“Then she was definitely lying.”

“About what?”

“About the flowers and how she had no idea who this William person was or how someone had gotten our address.”

“Maybe she doesn’t.”

“No, she’s lying, because if she didn’t know who they came from, she would have told you about it. She would have called you as soon as I walked out the door.”

Paige didn’t say anything.

“Why are you quiet? Because you know I’m right?”

“Pierce, I don’t think we should talk about this anymore.”

“Wait a minute. You know something, don’t you? I can hear it in your voice.”

“Pierce, please.”

“Okay, look. I know you love Camille, but I really need you to be honest with me.”

“About what?”

“Camille and this William cat. Is she seeing him or not, Paige?”

“I think we’d better end this.”

“Paige, come on.”

“Pierce, please don’t do this.”

“I promise you. Our conversation will be kept completely confidential, but I really need to know.”

Paige sniffled and tried mustering real tears. “She’s my sister.”

Pierce sighed. “I know that, and I’m sorry for placing you in such a tough position. But if Camille really is seeing this guy, don’t you think I deserve to know?”

“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” she said and hung up.

But only seconds passed before her brother-in-law called her back.

“Pierce, I’m begging you to please leave this alone.”

“All I’m asking is that you please just do this one favor for me. Just this one time.”

Paige paused for a few seconds and finally said, “Yes. She’s been talking to him for months now, and then she finally started sleeping with him.”

“Gosh,” Pierce said. “This can’t be happening.”

“But I think it’s over now,” Paige hurried to say, trying to sound positive.

“Even if it is, the bottom line is that it happened, and Camille has been lying to me all along.”

“She made a huge mistake, but I know she’s sorry for it.”

“Well, sorry isn’t enough. Not with this.”

“See, that’s why I didn’t want to tell you. And why did you make me betray my sister like this? My sister who means everything to me.”

“I’m sorry I asked you to do that, but I’m also glad I know the truth now. I’m glad I know who and what my wife really is.”

“Camille is a good person, Pierce, and you know that.”

“Yeah, well, she definitely has a funny way of showing it.”

He didn’t comment any further, and Paige knew this painful news of hers had broken him. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No, but I do appreciate your honesty. It hurts like hell, but at least I’m not in the dark anymore.”

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.

“I hope, but regardless, I’m going to hang up now.”

“I wish there was something I could do, and I hope you’ll call me if you need me.”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“You take care of yourself.”

Paige ended the call and was amazed at her luck. Not once after those flowers had been delivered had she expected Pierce to move out and into a hotel. She certainly hadn’t expected him to call her this evening either. Things were falling into place rather nicely and a lot quicker than she’d planned on, but she definitely wasn’t complaining. She welcomed all that was happening and looked forward to what would evolve tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that. She wouldn’t seduce Pierce immediately, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he came to her willingly and innocently. He would come to her as a brother-in-law, and Paige would play the kind and sympathetic sister-in-law who only wanted the best for him. She would do everything he expected until it was time.