Page 76 of The Wife Stalker

“I have to poop again!” Stelli called as he jumped up and down.

Leo ran to the front door, punched in the code, and opened it. Piper took it all in as she entered. This house was everything their Westport one wasn’t—open and sleek, with beautiful wood floors and moldings, enormous windows with views to the water below, and inviting French country decor. She dropped her bag on the staircase and walked into the living room, where almost an entire wall was taken up by a charcoal-colored stone fireplace. She froze when her eyes traveled up to the portrait above it, which must have been taken at least four years ago. Stelli was a toddler, and Evie looked to be about four. She moved in to examine it more closely—handsome husband, adorable kids, beautiful wife. Pipertook in her long, dark hair, the luminous brown eyes framed by long, thick eyelashes. The same eyes that Stelli had. They looked like the perfect family. Leo’s arm was wrapped protectively around his wife, her hand on Stelli’s shoulder, his on Evie’s. Piper really didn’t want to have to look at it all weekend, but she didn’t think she could ask him to take it down without seeming insensitive.

Sighing, she walked into the kitchen and was pleased to see there were no reminders here. It was smaller than she’d anticipated, almost rustic, but with top-of-the-line appliances. There was a granite island with four stools neatly lined up, and Piper found herself wondering about all the meals the four of them had shared here, as a family, before she’d come along.

She had to stop this. Leo had had a life before her, just as she had had a life before him. The difference was that he didn’t have to live in the shadow of her last husband. She was starting to understand his reluctance to bring her here. She took a deep breath and decided that it was time she began leaving her own imprint on this house. Tomorrow, she’d begin by picking up some housewares and replacing a few things—just a few. Over time, she could make sure that very little remained of another woman’s touch.

Continuing her tour, she opened a set of French doors to the sunroom, a cozy space that looked out to the immense deck spanning the entire length of the house. Moving through, she walked outside, where the bracing sea air made her hug herself even though it was unseasonably warm. Tomorrow it was supposed to be in the fifties again, which would be perfect for their hike.

Breathing deeply, she took in the panoramic view. She could see herself spending hours out here, looking at the water, meditating, doing yoga. Walking to the steps, she went down and walked closer to the edge, looking down at the ocean. She could see why Leo was nervous about the kids wandering too close to the edge.They were at least three hundred feet above the jagged rocks. She shuddered and turned back to the house.

Everyone was already installed in the kitchen when she walked back inside—Leo stirring something on the stove, Stelli building a Star Wars Lego set, and Evie coloring.

“What smells so good?” she asked.

“My famous chili.”

“How did you get the groceries? We haven’t even gone to the store yet.” She walked over to the sideboard, poured herself a glass of wine from the open bottle of Rutherford, and took a sip.

“I called ahead, my dear. Lloyd, our caretaker, filled the refrigerator for us. I even made sure he got the carrot juice and some of that other rabbit food you’re so fond of.”

“Well, thank you. I guess after we eat, we can just relax and get a good night’s sleep so we’ll all be ready for our hike tomorrow.”

Stelli looked up from his Legos. “What hike?”

“We’re going on the Gorham Trail tomorrow. It’s very easy; it even has steps in places. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

“How high is it?” Stelli asked, his voice shaking.

Piper groaned inwardly. “Around five hundred feet. But it’s perfectly safe. We’ll all be together.”

He looked skeptical. “I don’t know. I don’t really like hiking.” Looking past her to his father, he said, “Daddy, I don’t wanna go.”

“It looks fun,” Evie said.

Before Leo could respond, Piper spoke again. “You know, Stelli, I used to be afraid of swimming.”

He looked at her, eyes wide. “But you’re a really good swimmer. You always do laps in the pool.”

She nodded. “Yup. But I wasn’t always. I didn’t learn how to swim until I was ten.”

“How come?” he asked.

She shrugged. “My parents never taught me, and my mother was afraid of water. She passed that fear along to me. But I decided one day that I wasn’t going to let fear ruin my life. You see, I wanted to learn how to sail, and you can’t do that if you can’t swim.”

Both children gave her their full attention.

“How’d you learn?” Evie asked.

“I talked my father into taking me for swimming lessons. At first, I was afraid even to put my face in the water, but I took it one step at a time, and within two months, I could swim. And now, it’s one of my favorite things to do.”

“Well...” Stelli bit his lip.

“How about if we try tomorrow? It’s an easy trail, and if you don’t like it after an hour, we can turn back. But I think you will. I’d hate for you to miss out on something really terrific because you’re scared. Deal?” She stuck her hand out.

“Okay,” he said, and shook her hand.

She looked over at Leo, and he winked at her, a pleased expression on his face.

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