Emma's Secret Read online

  “Megan,” she went on, “they loved her. You could see it. I rarely ever saw her cry, and I never heard a harsh word spoken to her or saw them discipline her. I know Jack…”

  Megan’s look silenced Sherri. She didn’t want to go there. She didn’t want to discuss those people with Sherri. All she cared about was Emma and whether she’d been okay.

  She took a deep sigh and let the tension in her shoulders release. The sounds of the girls’ laughter washed over her, and Megan realized that she needed to look beyond the last two years and toward the future. She had to stop holding on to the hurt she nursed deep in her heart.

  “Thank you.” Megan smiled at Sherri. “You brought my daughter back to me, and you…” Megan took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “you’ve eased my heart. My number-one concern has always been that she was unhappy or treated poorly. I might never forgive them for what they did, but I can be thankful that they loved her in their own way.”

  Sherri just smiled at her before leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. “I wonder what those two are whispering about.”

  Megan turned her attention back to the girls. They were huddled close together. Marie’s eyes were wide and a smile grew across her face moments before she reached out and swallowed Emma in a hug. The girls rocked back and forth for a few moments before Daisy got involved and jumped all over them.

  A sense of peace settled in Megan’s heart. Seeing her daughter act as any other little girl proved to her that despite everything, she really was okay. Inviting someone over from a past Megan knew nothing about was okay. It didn’t hurt and didn’t push her daughter back to a time she wished they could forget. Instead, there was laughter in her daughter’s voice and life in her eyes.

  If having secrets with her little friend was the result of this, then yes, it was okay.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Some days, Megan wished Laurie lived closer. On hot days like today, it would be nice to just hop over the fence and take a dip in her pool without having to pack things up and drive everyone over in the car. A few weeks ago, Laurie suggested she leave towels, sunscreen, and pool toys in her deckhouse instead. It made sense, since Megan and the kids practically lived there during the summer days.

  Hannah sat in the front seat beside Megan, holding a tray of iced coffees and smoothies. The street Laurie lived on was full of potholes, forcing Megan to carefully weave her way. Laurie lived in the older section of Kinrich, where the Victorian homes were either falling apart or being renovated. Her street was scheduled to be repaved in the fall, but that didn’t help Megan much at the moment.

  “Does Laurie have visitors today?” Hannah asked.

  “I hope it’s someone with kids.” Alexis leaned forward and yanked on Megan’s seat.

  Megan pulled up to the curb and saw a two-door car in Laurie’s driveway that she didn’t recognize. She followed the girls up the walkway and to the side of the house; then she slipped the lock of the wooden gate open and let the girls pass her by as they headed toward the pool.

  Laurie’s backyard was gorgeous. If anyone had a green thumb, it was her best friend. Compared to her own house, where chaos reigned, Laurie’s historical showplace home, with its award-winning English garden, was a peaceful oasis. Megan would be lying if she said she didn’t envy her best friend’s life. Laurie did bookkeeping part-time out of the comfort of her home, with the ability to make her own hours. Megan loved being a stay-at-home mom and taking control of the Safe Walks program, but there were times she missed doing the books for Peter and working alongside him as they built up his real-estate business.

  “Can we go in, Mom?” Alexis was in the process of flinging her flip-flops to the side and stood poised on the edge of the pool, ready to dive in.

  “First, I need to let Laurie know we’re here. You know the drill, guys.” Megan lifted Emma’s shirt and wiggled it over her head. Emma threw it on one of the white wicker chairs by the pool and dipped her toes in the water. Hannah rummaged in a bin off to the side of the pool and pulled out water toys and Emma’s water wings.

  Megan slipped off her flip-flops and pushed open the sliding door into Laurie’s spotless kitchen. With a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure none of the girls were swimming yet, she headed into the house.

  As she rounded the corner from the kitchen to the front hallway, the smile on her face fell until her mouth gaped open. If Laurie’s eyes had been open, she would have noticed Megan standing there in shock, but they weren’t. Her eyes were closed and her lips were joined to the one man who had stood by Megan’s side while Emma had been missing.

  Megan’s heart stopped for what seemed like an eternity as she watched her best friend wind her fingers through the black curly locks of Riley Thompson’s hair.

  Images flashed through Megan’s mind of a similar scene. Except she stood in Laurie’s place, with her own fingers threaded through Riley’s hair as his lips hovered over hers…

  She should call out to Laurie and Riley and let them know she was there. She should make some noise, clear her throat, or do something else. Anything else. Anything that would disrupt the scene she couldn’t ignore.

  “Laurie,” Megan finally managed to whisper while clutching the bag in her hands tight. She knew her cheeks flamed bright red as she bit her lip, waiting for that awkward moment she knew was about to occur.

  Time stood still as Laurie unwound her fingers from Riley’s head and shoved herself away from him. She blinked a few times before she looked up.

  Megan wasn’t sure who was more embarrassed.

  “Meg…”

  “Um, I just wanted to let you know”—Megan pointed behind her—“that we were here, but um…” She swallowed before taking a step backward. “I think we’re actually going to leave.”

  The silence in the room was overwhelming. Riley cleared his throat and took a step toward Megan, who in turn took another step back. She struggled to grab hold of the handle to the sliding door.

  “Megan, don’t go…” Laurie called out behind her.

  “Girls, change of plans. Let’s go get some ice cream.” She slipped her flip-flops back on and grabbed the purse she’d laid down on the patio table. Ignoring the drinks she’d placed there earlier, Megan slipped her purse onto her shoulder, her knuckles turning white around the strap.

  “But—” Alexis planted her hands on her hips and was about to argue but stopped. Megan wasn’t sure why, but she was thankful for whatever it was that made her girls reach immediately for their things and follow her without question back to her vehicle. It was all she could do to breathe and not allow the wash of emotions to drown her.

  “Megan, stop. Please?” Laurie called to her from the front porch, wringing her hands as Megan struggled to process what had just happened.

  “Are you okay?” Hannah slipped her hand into Megan’s as they neared the Jeep.

  Megan bit her lip and nodded. She opened the doors and waited for the girls to climb inside before she made her way to the driver’s side. She kept her eyes down, refusing to look back at the house. She didn’t want to see the look in Laurie’s eyes right now, didn’t want to hear any excuses. And she certainly didn’t want to know if Riley stood beside her.

  She wished the last five minutes of her life had never happened.

  When the bedroom door clicked shut, Megan sank to the floor. She drew her knees up to her chest, buried her head in her arms, and gave in to the sobs she’d held back for the last forty-five minutes.

  The memory of her best friend’s arms wrapped around a man Megan had once desired tore her apart. A heaviness settled over her as memories flooded of her own infidelity. No matter what anyone else said, she’d betrayed her husband with that one kiss. She knew it. Riley knew it, and even Peter knew it.

  She would never forget what had happened that day. It had been right after the first anniversary of Emma’s disappearance. She’d just dropped off a new flyer with a different image of Emma to be printed at the down
town photo shop. She stopped in at the library and grabbed a few books she’d placed on hold for Hannah and Alexis and decided to wait at a nearby park for the flyers to be printed. She sat on one of the park benches and browsed through a home decorating magazine she’d picked up earlier until she heard the laughter of children nearby. Two small girls were playing in the fountain that sat in the middle of the park, splashing each other while their mothers stood by. Megan smiled and was about to return her attention to the magazine when something caught her eye. Another little girl with blonde curly hair.

  Megan still recalled the way she dug her fingernails into the palm of her hand and forced herself to count to ten, just like Kathy had told her to do. It took everything in her not to rush over to see if it was Emma. She’d done that too many times to count, and it never ended well. But when the little girl looked her way and a wide smile covered her face, nothing could have held Megan back from rushing over to her. She could have sworn that little girl was her daughter…until she got closer and realized the curly blonde hair was the only thing Emma and this little girl had in common. But by that point, the smile had disappeared from the girl’s face and, instead, she stared at Megan in horror.

  Megan would never forget that look. Never.

  She rushed away and drove straight to Peter’s office, only to find out he was out with her for the afternoon. When she arrived home, she found Riley waiting in her driveway. All it took was one look; once inside, she found herself bawling like a baby in his arms instead of confiding in her husband.

  Maybe it was the way he stroked her hair or rubbed her back. Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t condemn her for thinking that that little girl was Emma or berate her for scaring the little girl.

  Or maybe it was just the fact that he was there when Peter was not, and all Megan needed was someone to lean on.

  Either way, one second Megan was crying against Riley’s chest, and the next, his lips were on hers and she found herself lost in the moment.

  It was one kiss, but the ramifications were endless. For both of them.

  Peter had walked in shortly afterward, when they stood there staring at each other trying to understand what had just happened. No words were said, but they all felt the tense undercurrents. To this day, Peter had never confronted her about it.

  Megan’s shoulders heaved as she acknowledged the wide range of emotions flowing through her. Maybe that was their problem. The many things she and Peter had left unsaid to each other were eating away at them, tearing them apart, and no matter how hard they worked at rebuilding their marriage, some things couldn’t be swept under the carpet. She was ashamed at herself for allowing the silence to grow between them, for thinking it would go away if it were ignored. Like everything else in her life.

  She was also angry with herself for feeling betrayed—and at Laurie for betraying her. It didn’t make sense for her to feel this way. And yet she did. While she might not have slept with Riley, there had been an emotional connection, and sometimes that could be stronger than a physical connection.

  Megan leaned her head back against the door. She loved Peter. With all her heart. But he hadn’t been there when she needed him the most, and that pain, that memory of feeling so…alone, seemed like it would never go away. But she couldn’t forget what it felt like to have someone else in her corner, someone who did believe in her. Someone who encouraged her to never give up instead of suggesting they hold a memorial service.

  Megan’s jaw clenched. Peter had given up. Megan sucked in air, drawing it deep into her lungs. Everyone else gave up, but she never did.

  Using the wall for support, Megan climbed to her feet. She needed to leave all that in the past. Her counselor had urged her to learn to forgive. And she had, or so she thought. But there was a difference between forgiving and forgetting. Forgiving was something she could learn to do, but forgetting? That would never happen.

  She climbed into the corner armchair in her room and reached for the knitted throw. A cold chill permeated her bones, and once the blanket covered her, she nestled beneath its heavy weight despite the warm wind blowing through the window.

  Was it wrong of her to feel betrayed by Laurie? Of course it was; it had to be. But why didn’t Laurie tell her? Why didn’t she come clean that night at the bakery instead of keeping silent and pretending it was nothing?

  Megan’s shoulders dropped. Laurie didn’t tell her because she knew how Megan would react. Did she blame her? No. The look in Laurie’s eyes when she realized Megan was standing there haunted her.

  But Laurie should have come clean.

  That was what hurt the most. Not that she and Riley were involved, but that Laurie had hidden it from her. Perhaps if Laurie had told her ahead of time and given her time to process what it would mean to Megan and their friendship, then maybe seeing them in such a tender embrace wouldn’t have affected her as strongly as it had.

  Or maybe it would have. But it would have been nice to know. She wasn’t sure what to do now. Confronting Laurie didn’t make sense. She’d only be admitting something that wasn’t true: that she was jealous when she wasn’t. She had no right to be. And telling Peter would be awkward. He wouldn’t just hear the words; he’d be looking for a hidden meaning or emotion, wanting to see whether she still had feelings for Riley. Needless to say, bringing him up to Peter wouldn’t be smart.

  Megan breathed in deep and exhaled. She should be happy for her best friend. It had been too long since Laurie had been involved in a relationship. This was a step in the right direction.

  But as Megan folded the blanket over the back of the chair, she couldn’t help but wish that Laurie would wake up and see how awkward this would be if their relationship continued.

  She winced when she realized how that sounded.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Peter squirmed in his seat—he was uncomfortable sitting at the corner table at the donut shop, where everyone and anyone coming through the drive-thru could see him.

  “Worried your wife’s going to drive by?”

  Peter almost dropped his coffee mug as he was raising it to his lips. Instead, the dark liquid spilled over the sides. He wiped it up, never glancing at Jack, who sat across from him, and struggled to respond without giving too much away.

  “Don’t bother trying to deny it. No man parks in the back corner of the lot if he doesn’t care about being noticed.” Jack chuckled before picking up a green crayon and filling in a tree outline in the new coloring book he’d bought Emma.

  Peter knew his face flushed.

  “You haven’t told her yet.”

  Peter glanced over in time to catch the small shake of Jack’s head. He shrugged. Jack didn’t know Megan; he didn’t understand the battle he’d be in if she found out about these little dates. He was actually surprised she hadn’t by now. He thought for sure she would have figured something was going on and would have called him on it.

  “Take it from one who knows: Keeping secrets from your wife always backfires. Somehow, she’ll figure it out. It might be a look on your face, or something Em here says, but trust me, when she does, there’ll be hell to pay.”

  “Papa!” Emma’s brows knotted together She shook her crayon at him, and it was all Peter could do not to smile. Apparently, it was the same for Jack.

  “Okay, princess. I’m sorry.” He rubbed the top of her head and winked at Peter before his face paled.

  “Are you okay?” Peter leaned forward. The look on Jack’s face was vaguely familiar. Peter’s own father had passed away from a heart attack, so he knew the signs. Tiny beads of sweat dotted the top of Jack’s head and forehead as his face grew white.

  Peter pushed back his chair, but Jack held up his hand. His nostrils flared before his color returned.

  “Daddy?” Emma sat back, her crayon clutched tight in her fist as her head rotated to look at Jack, and then Peter, and back to Jack.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. No need to worry.” Jack’s hoarse voice seemed to calm Emma d
own. She rose up to sit on her knees and placed her hand over his chest.

  “Is it your heart again, Papa?” She frowned at him. “Grandma said you have to be careful. Maybe you shouldn’t color with me.” She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips before she rested her head on his chest.

  Peter sat back down in his chair as Jack stroked Emma’s hair. There was so much to take in right now: Jack being sick, and Emma not only knowing about it but calmly accepting it. This obviously wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. “How bad is it?”

  Jack shrugged. “Doctor wants to do more tests.”

  And? Peter mouthed the word, not sure that this was something Emma should be hearing.

  Jack only shrugged.

  Peter swallowed and almost choked. It must be bad. He couldn’t imagine being so calm about something so serious.

  “What does your doctor say?”

  Jack raised his coffee mug and took a sip. “What do they know? I’ve got a little girl here to watch grow up. I’ll go when I’m ready to go.”

  “And you’re not ready.” Emma piped up. She pushed off Jack’s chest and sat back down in her chair, engrossed in her drawing once again.

  Peter still couldn’t believe how calm Emma was about all this. He would have expected her to be more stressed about Jack being sick, but she was as unfazed as if this were an everyday occurrence. Maybe it had been. Peter winced at the thought. He hated that his little girl had known so much grief in such a short time.

  “There you go; the boss has the final say,” Peter said. Jack’s hand shook slightly, and Peter tightened his lips. Maybe he should insist Jack go to the hospital.

  “Do me a favor?”