Page 75 of The Banned Books Club

“Gia?” her mother pressed.

Shoving the image of a gorgeous and very naked Cormac out of her mind for probably the hundredth time since she woke up, she turned off the stove and reached into the cupboard to get three bowls. “Yes, she finally called me.”

Her mother nudged Miss Marple to encourage the cat to leap down. “And? What’s going on?”

Her father put his phone aside so that he could listen, too.

“She’s left Sheldon.”

“We guessed as much,” Leo said. “When’s she coming back?”

Gia knew her parents wouldn’t like the answer. “It didn’t sound as if she plans on coming home anytime soon.”

“What about the kids?” Ida asked. “They’ll miss school. And she doesn’t have any way to support them. How will she get by?”

“She has enough money for now.”

“How?” her father asked.

“She took what they had in their savings.” Gia didn’t mention the amount. If Margot was leaving everything else to Sheldon, he’d gotten the best end of the deal, but the amount sounded shocking and taking the money without getting his agreement would hit her parents wrong.

“So...she’s moved away from Wakefield permanently?” her father said. “Where’d she go? And why did she feel it was necessary to take such a drastic step?”

“She didn’t say as much as I wanted her to. She was on someone else’s phone and wouldn’t tell me where she was or what she plans to do—except that she’s worried about the two of you and wanted me to tell you how much she loves you.”

“She couldn’t call us to say that?” her father asked, clearly offended.

“She doesn’t have a phone, and she’s traveling. But that doesn’t mean she won’t call when...when she can.”

Ida pulled the shawl she’d brought from the bedroom tighter around her shoulders. “Did she say when she’s coming back?”

“I don’t think she plans on it. She’s done with Sheldon, and she’s afraid of what he might do when he finds out she’s gone.”

“Oh, my God,” her mother said. “What will his parents say? They’ll be furious to think she’d do such a thing. Those boys are their grandkids, too.I’dbe furious if I were them!”

“He’s clearly having an affair, Mom. They have only their son to blame.”

“I agree. Margot’s been a great wife,” Ida said. “But she needs to come back and take care of their property and custody issues legally, just like everyone else.”

“She can’t,” Gia said. “At least, that’s what she says. I told her to come home, that we’d help her. But she was too terrified.”

“What is she so scared of?” Leo asked. “Has he been violent with her?”

“I don’t get that impression. He hasn’t yet, anyway. She did tell me that he’d discredit her and take the kids, and she won’t allow that to happen—won’t allow him the chance to even try.”

Her mother dropped her head in her hands. “Oh, dear.”

“Let’s call her,” Leo said.

Gia dished up the oatmeal and carried two bowls to the table. “How?”

“You have the number she called from, don’t you?” he asked.

“It came in as an unknown number. Which means she blocked it,” Gia explained.

Her father looked as though she’d struck him. “So there’s nothing we can do?”

“Not right now,” she confirmed. “I can’t even break into her phone, so that’s useless to us. But the fact that she did call is a good sign. I’m hoping she’ll calm down and try again in a few days.”

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