Page 68 of She Didn't See It Coming
Sam stares back at Paige.Her eyes are large, her hand is still on his cheek. It’s intoxicating, her wanting him. She’s like Bryden used to be, before she learned what he could be like.
She leans forward and kisses him on the mouth. And it’s like before, he hesitates for a fraction of a second, and then he gives in to it, relaxes into her mouth, pushing her up against the door, wanting to lose himself in pleasure, to forget everything that’s happened. It’s a long, sensual, probing kiss, and when they break apart, they are both out of breath. He stares into her eyes, sees the longing and arousal there. He takes her by the hand and leads her to the bedroom, avoiding the windows so that they can’t be seen. Once they’re in the bedroom, he closes the door.
They start tearing off each other’s clothes. “We have to be quiet,” he breathes into her ear, “in case Angela comes to the door.” She nods and undoes his jeans. And somehow, it’s even better this time, as theymake love in near silence. He’s missed her, missed this. It’s the first time since what happened to Bryden that Sam has been able to put everything out of his mind, and it’s bliss.
But right after, Sam gets out of bed and begins dressing, his back to her.
“What are you doing?” Paige asks.
“Get dressed,” he says. “Angela might bring Clara back soon.”
She climbs out of the bed, reaching for her clothes strewn across the floor as Sam slips out of the room, closing the door behind him.
What the hell is he doing?He can’t be having sex with his wife’s best friend days after she’s been murdered. With his daughter at the neighbor’s down the hall. He must be out of his mind. He goes into the kitchen and drinks a glass of water, trying to pull himself together. When he returns to the bedroom, Paige is dressed and brushing her hair in front of Bryden’s mirror, with Bryden’s hairbrush. He starts making the bed. Once that’s done, he says, “Let’s go out to the kitchen.”
He makes them coffee and they sit at the table. He has to say something about this, make things clear. “Paige—”
But she reaches out and places a finger against his lips. She says, “I know what you’re going to say. And you’re right. We have to be careful.”
“What if Angela had brought Clara back, and I had to answer the door doing up my pants, and you’re here?” He can’t believe how reckless he’s been. But that’s what he is. Reckless. He’s someone who gives in to his impulses. That’s always been the problem.
“She didn’t. Nobody knows but us. Bryden was my best friend.” Her eyes begin to well up. “I’m Clara’s godmother. It’s perfectly reasonable that I spend time with the both of you. Especially now.”
He looks back at her. He doesn’t love her. She could never replace Bryden. He’d been worried that the detectives would find out about their affair, but she’s not going to say anything.
He says, “We have to be very careful.”
•••
Jayne has been thinkingabout Alice. Why would she approach Lizzie? What’s to be gained from it? It might suggest she’s more worried about Derek possibly having killed Bryden than she’s let on. People can be protective of their partners, even if their behavior seems unforgivable to anyone else.
Jayne stares again at the picture of the iceberg on the wall across from her. What is she missing? Maybe Alice already knew about the affair between Bryden and her husband. Maybe she’d followed him one day, seen them together. Alice strikes Jayne as that kind of woman. She can imagine it playing out.
Maybe she’s been looking at the Gardners all wrong. Is it possible thatAlicekilled Bryden, and now she’s toying with them all?
45
Lizzie has stuck a chair up under the handle of her bedroom door to prevent her mother from coming in unexpectedly and seeing what she’s doing. She sits at her desk, turns on her computer, and puts on headphones to play music in the background. Without even reading to catch up on everything that’s been posted, she starts typing a new post as Emma Porter, again using her photo of the front of the building.
It’s been three days since Bryden Frost’s body was found at 100 Constitution Drive. Why haven’t they made an arrest? They’re not saying much publicly, as usual. What dowethink?
She hits post.
With that off her chest, she reads what people have posted since she was last online, late the night before. There are many more peoplein this group than there were. There are more comments to her posts now, too, and some of them are a bit disturbing.
Mel Schep
I think she deserved it. It’s wrong to sleep with another man when you’re already married.
Ange O’Neil
Mel SchepOh fuck off. No woman deserves to be murdered.
Mel Schep
Ange O’NeilShe got exactly what she deserved!
Now something new comes in. Deep Diver has posted a picture of a uniformed officer outside a Dunkin’ Donuts shop and accompanying text.
