Page 30 of Don't Fall for a Grump

“Why didn’t she just leave Jackson if she wasn’t happy?” I say, still feeling a little dumbfounded.

“I told you. She liked his money. Anthony is a carpenter. Hardly comparable as far as bank balances are concerned,” Sylvie replies. The scowl has gone from her face, and she now looks a little sad. She obviously cares about him very much.

Sylvie has already said enough, but like some hungry beast, I want to know more. Perhaps it’s because I too now have feelings for the man. Maybe I want to garner all that I can from Sylvie, because I know for a fact that I won’t hear it from Jackson. On Sunday afternoon, he had told me the bear minimum about his divorce. Evidently, it was still a very sore subject for him.

“So, how did Jackson find out about the affair?” I continue.

“He came home early one week,” Sylvie replies. “He had told her he was going to stay in the city for three days, but since his work concluded earlier than expected, he wanted to surprise her and came back after two. In the end, it was poor Jackson who got the surprise. He walked into his house and found them in their bed.”

“Oh my God!”

He had told me he had found her in bed with another man, but he hadn’t mentioned it had been on their marriage bed. I now turn and look back at Jackson, my heart nearly breaking for him at what that must have been like. Claire has left, and he is talking to Mr. Shilliday alone again.

But then he turns and looks at me. He gestures me to hurry over to him. He clearly wants to get away from here ASAP.

“I better go,” I say to Sylvie. “Maybe I’ll give you a call later. We can meet up for some coffee.”

Sylvie is smiling again, and she replies with that hallmark movie delight that is her natural way of being. “Oh, I would love that.”

“OK. Well, I’ll see you later then.”

As I cross the street, my gut spins like the drum of a washing machine. What am I supposed to say when we get back into the truck? Should I say nothing? Would that not be weird? Jackson had seen me talking to Sylvie. And we both saw Claire. He’s bound to know she’s told me at least something about her.

I take a deep breath and slide into the truck feeling a little dread. I find Jackson’s mood to have made another 180. I had been excited to make this journey with him into the town. The journey back now did not hold the same appeal.

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