On Second Thought(131)

“Here,” he said, handing me a bottle of water. “Rinse and spit.”

I obeyed. Realized I was gripping his hand.

“Rough night?” He knelt down in front of me and smiled, his eyes kind.

“You’re a good guy,” I whispered.

“That’s what they tell me.”

For a second, I just looked at him.

“It’s gonna be all right,” he said, and I believed him. “I know it’s complicated, Kate, but we’re in this together. I’ll be a good dad, you’ll be a great mom and...and this is gonna be fine. Okay?”

“Okay.” I took a deep breath and looked at the Club’s front door, where people were still streaming in. “You know what? Maybe it’s best if you just drop off the swing at the Coburns’ house. I sort of missed the moment. Is that okay?”

“You bet.” He stayed where he was a moment longer. “Feeling better?”

“Yes.”

He smiled, and I loved him a little then.

Daniel helped me out of the truck, held me by the shoulders for a minute to make sure I was steady.

“Their house is on the same street as mine,” I said. “Half mile down. It’s a big brick place with a white front door.”

“Got it. I’ll call you later.”

I could feel his eyes on me as I walked back to the main entrance. Up the four stairs, holding my gown up so I wouldn’t trip. Then I looked up and saw Madeleine.

“You nasty whore,” she said. “You’re pregnant with that man’s baby.”

*

Why she’d been invited, I didn’t know. Maybe she hadn’t been. It hardly mattered now.

We went into the room where I’d just been with the Coburns.

She’d seen me from the window, leaving when everyone else was coming in, she said, and suspected something was off. It was one of the many things Nathan had loved about her, she said—her uncanny intuition. And so she’d spied.

“I guess we know what kind of a person you really are,” she said, her lips white.

“Madeleine, I...I would appreciate you not telling the Coburns.”

“Oh, believe me, they’re going to know.”

“Not tonight, please. This day is hard enough.”

“They should know what kind of pretender their son married.”

I closed my eyes. “I’ll tell them tomorrow.” My hands were shaking, and I felt dizzy and starving and wretched. “I’m moving soon. Back to Brooklyn.”

“Good. I hope they never see you again. You never deserved their son.”

“Why are you here, Madeleine?” I asked.

“Because I support their foundation,” she said. “Because I love them.”

Because she would never recover from having drawn that line in the sand with Nathan—children or her. She’d never get over the fact that he didn’t desert me. She thought they’d have more time.

Just as I did.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I whispered. “I know you loved him so much.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits. “I don’t need your pity,” she snarled. “Just make sure you tell the Coburns. I’ll call Eloise tomorrow night to make sure.”

“Kate!” Brooke stood in the doorway. “There you are.” She looked from me to Madeleine. “Is everything okay?”

“We’re fine,” Madeleine said. “Excuse me.” She left the room with her head held high, her gown swishing.

“I’m sorry if she upset you,” Brooke said, putting her arm around me. “You’re white as a ghost. She wasn’t invited. I think she’s a little...psycho.” She gave me a smile. “Come on. Mom and Dad are worried about you.”

And so I spent the rest of the night with Nathan’s family, Eloise occasionally holding my hand, Mr. Coburn making sure I had enough to eat, Brooke sitting next to me at dinner, Miles climbing onto my lap.

For the last time, I was one of them, and it hurt more than I could have ever imagined.

*

The next day, dressed in jeans that were feeling a little tight, I went over to my in-laws’ house.

“Kate! That swing! Oh, darling, it’s beautiful,” Eloise said. “And last night...it was special, wasn’t it? I think it was the right thing to do. I think Nathan would’ve approved. We raised so much for the scholarship fund! Someone donated more than a million dollars, can you imagine?”

“That’s wonderful,” I said. “Um, Eloise... I need to talk to you and Mr. Coburn.”

“Hi, Kate!” Brooke was here. “How are you?”

So they’d all hear at once. Maybe it was better this way.

“Are you all right?” Brooke asked, her face changing from a smile into concern.

“I need to tell you something. All of you.”

“Come, come, let’s all sit. Nathan, where are you, darling? Oh, there you are.”

We sat in the living room, a vast, chilly place. On the mantel was the photo Brooke had given them last night.

“We’ve already called a contractor,” Eloise said. “We’re just so excited to start Nathan’s plan for the house. It’s like having a little bit of him back, in a way.”