In a Book Club Far Away(89)

“I’m already here,” said a low voice at the door. Regina’s husband sauntered in with flowers and a teddy bear, then gestured at Sophie. “What are you doing here?”

Regina didn’t like Logan’s tone, especially because he was just recently in the doghouse. “She’s here to meet Miko and possibly stay overnight. I thought that since you said you were so tired—”

“I didn’t say that.” He set the items on the windowsill. “And I don’t like the idea of her staying.”

Regina bristled at the implication that she’d misheard and didn’t have a choice, and embarrassment filled her that she was being disrespected so fresh postpartum. “Um, I think that I can make that decision.”

His gaze swung to her. “I’m your husband, and the father of this child.”

“But I am my own person, and Miko is my son, too.”

“It’s okay, Regina. I… I’ll go,” Sophie said quietly, gathering her coat off the bed.

This was wrong, so wrong. Regina sat up in bed. “Sophie, no. Please stay.”

“I absolutely forbid her to be here,” Logan said.

“But why?” Sophie whispered softly.

“You should ask your partner,” Logan said.

“My partner?”

Regina’s eyes darted between Sophie and Logan as bits of information from the last two weeks collided. Logan had mentioned that the cheating allegation was brought to the commander from someone they knew. “It was Jasper?” she asked the both of them.

“Jasper what?” Sophie stood straighter. “What are you saying, Logan?”

“He’s the one who went to the commander and told them that Becka and I… you know. He probably told everyone. It’s his fault that I have a target on my back.”

Sophie seemed to rise onto her toes. “Don’t bring Jasper into something you did. He hasn’t even said a word to me about it. He had the respect to keep it from even me. The reason you have a target on your back is because you painted it there yourself.”

“Excuse me?” Regina scrambled to try to catch up with what Sophie had said. Did she just accuse Logan of having an affair?

“I said what I said,” Sophie whispered. “I saw it myself, at the festival. He was talking to a woman. They were fighting.”

“You what?”

“Get out. Take your lies and get out of here, Sophie,” Logan growled.

Regina shook her head, unable to sort the truth from the lies, who she should believe, her husband or her friend. No, not just her friend, but Sophie, who was more like a big sister.

Sophie looked back at Regina. “I’m sorry, Regina. I’m telling the truth. I wanted to tell you but didn’t know how.”

Regina understood, then. She felt in her soul that her suspicions were true. Sophie didn’t lie.

She touched her belly, a habit.

But she didn’t say a word. Stunned, she simply watched as her husband ushered Sophie out.

When the door clicked shut, it cracked Regina’s heart a sliver.

“You can’t believe her,” Logan said. “C’mon, babe. I’ve been home—you know nothing’s going on. Yes, I was talking to a woman at the festival. You remember that night—so many of our friends were there.”

The man was so smooth, so unflinching. Regina searched her mind’s cupboards for how he’d acted since he’d returned. Where else had he been spending his free time?

“I don’t want any more lies, Logan.”

The smile died on his lips. With it, the crack broke Regina’s heart clear through.





PART EIGHT




I realize that just because I want to settle down doesn’t mean I have to settle.

—Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan





CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Regina




Present Day, Friday

Regina checked her watch; she had thirty minutes left until go time. The guests would arrive soon, and Henry was on his last trip back, with the cake. She’d successfully put Genevieve down for a nap, and in the last hour, Regina had gotten started with the decorations.

She twisted the pink tulle through the banister, her mind already on the next task: covering the tables with white tablecloths.

Her phone beeped a text, the fourth beep in probably ten minutes. Then again, her phone had been beeping nonstop since yesterday between Missy and Henry, preparing the final touches for the party. If she stopped each time someone texted her, she wouldn’t get anything done. What she did know was that Sophie and Jasper were stalling Adelaide in Old Town until she got the signal from Regina. So she ignored the texts for now, and focused on tying the last bit of tulle at the top of the banister so that it looked like a bow.

The front door opened, spilling light into the foyer. Henry came through, this time followed by Carolina.

“Regina, cake’s here,” he said, with a whisper.

“Yay!” she whisper-yelled from up top. “The cake table is that circular one right there. Thank you.”

“Have a great party,” Carolina called up.

“You’re not staying?”

“No, I’ve got another cake to deliver. See you soon?”