Page 64 of The Senator's Wife

“Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading downstairs. The senator and Miss Karras will be needing dinner soon.” Doris shut the door behind her as she left.

A flash of resentment filled Sloane. Even though she knew she hadn’t meant it that way, Doris’s phrasing made it sound like Whit and Athena were a couple. She ate a few bites, then pushed the tray aside and rose, walking to the window. She flushed with anger when she saw Whit and Athena strolling along the back gardens. They were walking close together, and Athena shivered. Whit stopped, took off his scarf, and wrapped it around her neck. Fuming, Sloane called downstairs to Doris.

“Please ask Senator Montgomery to come see me.”

In a few minutes, the bedroom door opened. “Everything okay? Doris said you wanted to see me.”

“No, everything’s not okay. Can you explain why you and Athena were out walking together, and why you felt the need to give her your scarf?”

Whit sat down on the bed and spoke calmly. “We were just getting some fresh air. We’re both so worried about you, we just needed to walk it off. It was cold out, and I took it off and lent it to her.”

Sloane pressed her lips together, anger still burning in her chest. Yet what else could she say without sounding like a jealous shrew? “Whatever. Listen, I want my computer back. I asked Athena to get it, but your office lock has been changed. Why did you do that?”

“I told you. I had them changed before Athena moved in. I didn’t want to take the chance of a stranger going through work I bring home. There are sensitive government documents in there.”

Sloane was stunned. She didn’t remember that. “When did you tell me?”

“Right before your surgery. You said it was a good idea.”

Sloane bristled. He had never said any such thing. Was he trying to gaslight her? There was no reason to change the original lock, and besides, she knew he kept anything sensitive at his Senate office. It was clear that he was lying, but she wasn’t going to get anywhere by confronting him.

“Oh, that’s right,” she said, playing along. “Can you please give me a key to the new lock?”

“I already did, but I’ll give you another set.”

She suppressed the urge to tell him he was full of shit. Instead, she smiled sweetly. “Thank you. Until you do, will you please bring me my computer now?”

Whit furrowed his brow. “What? No. Look at you. You’re too sick, and if you start working again, you’ll get even worse.”

“It’s not up to you to decide what I can and cannot do. You’re my husband, not my doctor. Whether I work or not is my decision, not yours.”

“Okay, listen. How about we compromise? You rest tonight. Get a good night’s sleep and I’ll bring it back in the morning. What do you say?” His tone was conciliatory.

Sloane clenched and unclenched her fists. “No. I want it now,” she insisted.

“Come on, Sloane. You’re just being bullheaded. It’s too late to do any work tonight. Why can’t it wait till tomorrow?”

“Because I want to have it now.”

“All right, you win. I’ll bring it up to you later.” He gave her the famous Whit smile, but something in his expression told her the laptop wasn’t going to appear anytime soon. Why was he so intent on keeping it from her?

“Oh, by the way, I saw Brianna today and she said you asked her about a new shelter in Ohio and the grant for $150,000. You remember, we agreed to fund the expansion of an existing shelter in Cleveland. I’d even found a large donor to contribute to theproject at the time. Anyway, Brianna and I got it all straightened out. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Brianna had already gotten back to Sloane with the same information. But as for the new donor, Triad III, Brianna told her she had no information. Whit told Brianna he was still reviewing the file. “Yes, she told me. What about Triad III? Who are they?”

“Sloane, why are you interrogating me? You’ve asked me to step in for you, and I have. But I have to say, being questioned with suspicion is something I don’t appreciate. Would you prefer I not be involved anymore?” His eyes were hard.

“No, of course not.”

“Well, then please stop second-guessing everything I do. Focus on getting better. Any other questions?”

“No,” Sloane said, still wound up.

She glanced at the phone on her nightstand. It was a poor substitute for her computer, but at least she had internet access through it. The downside was that the small print tired her eyes, and the words on her phone began to blur after just a short time.

“By the way,” Whit’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Athena said Camille was here earlier. You didn’t tell me.”

“Maybe Athena should mind her own business.”

---