Page 12 of The Wife Stalker

He put his hand on her back and guided her in. I felt my cheeks burn, my hands clench into fists.Breathing in and out, I forced myself to calm down. He was either lying right to my face, or he was lying to himself—if they talked about the case at all, I’d be shocked. But this all seemed so outside of his personality—at least, his old personality. I was worried that this was more the doing of Piper, this stranger with no Internet history, than his.

My next move needed to be calculated. I sat there for a long while, trying to decide what to do. Finally, I realized that I wanted to be with the children, to remind myself of everything I had at home. But first I had to return my mother’s car.

When I pulled into her driveway, I saw that the lights were still on. She was sitting at the card table working on her jigsaw puzzle while a rerun ofThe Golden Girlsblared from the large television in the corner. Her hearing was getting worse, I realized, and made a mental note to make an appointment for her with the audiologist. She clicked the remote, and the TV went silent.

“Those girls have the right idea. Everything would be so much better if I lived in a nice house in Florida with some good friends. Look at all the fun they have. My life is the pits,” she grumbled, taking a long swallow from the glass of wine on the table next to her. I sighed. Mom wasn’t supposed to drink with her condition.

“Thanks for lending me your car,” I said as I put her keys on the table.

“You’re welcome. What’s wrong with your car? Couldn’t thatbig shot Leo let you use his?” She’d never thought much of Leo. She didn’t think much of any man, really, not after what my father had done. There was no way I was going to tell her about his dinner. I knew what she’d say.All men are liars. You can’t trust any of them.

“I’m low on oil,” I lied. “I had an appointment and didn’t have time to stop. I’ll swing by a gas station now.”

“Make sure you do. You don’t want your engine to burn out.”

I nodded absently. “How are you feeling today?”

She shrugged. “Not great. I think I need to go back to the doctor this week, see if he can give me something for these headaches. Can you take me if I get an appointment?” She gave me a pitiful look. “I’m sorry to be such a burden.”

I walked over to her and put my hands on her shoulders. “You’re not a burden, Mom. Of course I’ll take you. But... the doctor did tell you that alcohol can exacerbate the headaches.” I looked at the glass of wine again.

She gave me a sheepish look. “I only have it sometimes. I’m lonely, and you’re always so busy. If your father hadn’t up and left—”

“It’s okay.” I didn’t want to hear her rage against my father right now. He’d left years ago, as in over twenty of them, and I had other things on my mind. “I understand. Just let me know, and I’ll be happy to take you. I’ll stop by and check on you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, dear.” She unmuted the TV and went back to her show.

***

He got home before the sun rose but notmuchbefore. I was waiting for him when he walked in, and he was clearly startled to see me there, pacing in the hallway. I didn’t wait for him to speak.

“I was worried. Do you realize how late it is?” My voice was shaking. “I couldn’t sleep.”

He put a hand up, looking at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Whoa. I got a call while I was at dinner. One of the firm’s clients was arrested, and they lost his paperwork. I’ve been at the jail all night. His attorney’s in the hospital, so I had to go. It’s been a hell of a night.”

Then I noticed his disheveled appearance, the tie askew, his usually perfect, thick, black hair out of place. He did look like he’d been up with a client all night, and certainly he had been many times before. This whole thing with Piper was making me overreact. “I’m sorry. You know how I worry.” I took a deep breath. “Why don’t you try and get some sleep? I could certainly use some.”

He shook his head. “I need to get to the office early today. I’m just going to take a shower and get going.”

In spite of my restless night, the morning went off like any other. I got the kids ready for the day, made coffee, gave instructions to the maid service, and took care of all the little minutiae that comprised my life—our lives. As I did so, I told myself that I had nothing to worry about. After all, Leo had been a loyal and devoted family man for years. But was I underestimating how his depression might have changed him? He may not have been looking for anything, but I had a feeling she was.

I went to the computer and pulled up his Outlook. When I saw her name in the sender line, I clicked on it. I suppose it didn’t occur to her that I’d have access to his work in-box. The message was from a few days ago.

You’re never going to believe what happened today. I was at the dentist, in the waiting room, flipping through aPeople, when I came across an article about YOU! It was about the case you won two years ago, the woman accused of killing her in-laws. A whole spread. The woman sitting next to me glanced over (a bit nosily) at the picture of you and said, “Oh, my, he’s a handsome one.” I told her you were even better-looking in person.

Even when I try not to think of you... it’s impossible.

Have a wonderful day and do remember to take a break from your desk. Use the app I showed you and remember the quote from Anatole France: “If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.” Xo P

I felt like my entire body was on fire.

One thing was for sure: Piper was interested in much more than court cases and conservation, whether Leo realized it or not.

11

Piper

Piper opened the door, and Leo stepped into the foyer, bringing in the steamy July humidity with him. He kissed her lightly on the cheek, and she tried to restrain herself from letting him see how much she wanted him already.

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