Page 126 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

She allowed herself to be pulled inside. Had something happened to Sissy? Had they called him about the wrong Mrs. Stevens?

“Zach called to congratulate me. He said you’d left the office. Remy, that was over three hours ago. I kept calling your cell, but it went straight to voice mail.”

“Oh, shit, I never thought. I turned it off when we were in court. I forgot to turn it back on.”

“Well, there are about ten desperate messages on your phone. What the hell happened? Did you have car trouble?”

She used the moment it took to remove her coat to think. “I needed some time alone. To think. I‘m sorry, Rusty, I didn’t realize I would worry you.”

“You needn’t apologize. You’re free to take time if you need it. It’s just that today, of all days…” He gazed at her. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re pale.”

“I need to sit down.” And she did. His absolute acceptance of her excuse only intensified her guilt. That he trusted her so completely compounded her unease.

He guided her to the sofa and wrapped a blanket around her. “You’re shivering. You’re scaring me, sweetheart.”

I can’t lie.Oh, she could lie—a technique she used often in her job. Bluffing and sometimes outright lies were just part of the game she had to play sometimes. But here, in this moment, she had to be honest. She’d never be able to live with the guilt if she didn’t come clean.

“I wasn’t honest with you.”

He looked baffled. “About what? Look, let me make you some hot chocolate. It’ll soothe you.”

“I don’t need more hot chocolate, and I’m not a three-year-old. I don’t need soothing.” His expression of hurt hit her in the gut. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. It’s a nice thought, but I need to tell you something, and it can’t wait.”

The concern on his face only deepened.

“You can tell me anything, you know.”

You can tell him anything, you know. He won’t judge you. He’ll love you just the same.

Sissy’s words came back to haunt her. She took a deep breath. “I had lunch with Sissy.”

He sat there staring at her, as if waiting for her to say something that’d make sense. “I’m sorry, I thought you said you had lunch with Sissy.” He frowned. “Sissy Smith? You’re talking about my ex-wife? Today? I mean, just now? That’s why you were late home? Because of Sissy?”

“I need to explain.”

“You’d better talk fast, Remy.”

There was an underlying tone in his voice she’d never heard before. Rage. He’d skipped right over angry and moved straight to rage.

She shifted, trying to put some space between them. She felt crowded. His closeness, reassuring mere moments ago, stifled her. “I went to my office, and Zach convinced me to come home. All I could think of was getting home to you and the girls. But then traffic stopped me on the highway, and I saw her. She was walking in the pouring rain without a coat. How was I supposed to not stop? Hell, you would’ve stopped.”

“I wouldn’t have. I would’ve let her walk in the rain. I would’ve let her catch pneumonia and die.”

“Rusty—”

“No, really, I would have. You don’t seem to get this. Mira could’ve died. My child, my precious child…”

“You weren’t feeling sympathy for her today?”

His eyes widened and his jaw slackened. “Sympathy?” He took a deep breath. “No, Remy, there’s no sympathy in my heart for her. She doesn’t get what she’s done. She doesn’t understand that actions have consequences.”

“But she does. I think she gets it more than any of us. She’s sorry for what she’s done.”Just say it.“I believed her when she said she was sorry. It’s all a moot point.” She grasped his hand, shocked at the iciness. “After she signed the papers, she went into the ladies’ bathroom, crushed two Oxy, and snorted them.”

All the color drained from his face. He pulled his hand away from hers and ran it through his hair, still staring at her. “Please tell me you misunderstood. Please tell me she’s lying to you.”

I wish.“I believed her. She didn’t want to get into the car. You know why? Because she knew it’d look bad if she overdosed in my presence. It’s funny, I think today was one of her most lucid days yet. There was a clarity to her. Everything made perfect sense.”

“She’s an addict.” He blew out a deep breath. “Even sober, I don’t believe she’s capable of clarity. Those drugs took away my smart, beautiful, and logical wife, leaving behind someone I don’t even recognize.”

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