“Nothing. There’s nothing to tell him right now.”
“But if you find something, then what?”
“Then you have to sit him down and tell him the truth. Tell him the plan going forward. And you understand that he’s going to have feelings he needs to work through. That he’s going to have to make some of his own decisions when it comes to where he spends his time.”
Natalie looked horrified. “You think he’ll pick Jim over me?”
“No, I’m not saying that. But he might want to spend some time at a friend’s while he deals with all of this, I don’t know. He’s welcome to come stay with me for a weekend, if he wants. But there’s no reason to get too worked up about this yet. There’s no proof of anything. Unless…”
Cece realized she hadn’t asked the big question. “What makes you think Jim might be cheating? What gave you that idea?”
Natalie took a breath, her grip on the wheel relaxing a little. “He’s been traveling more. Always going to some conference. And when he’s there, he’s so busy he rarely has time to talk much. When he’s home, he’s preoccupied. I’ve caught him texting a few times, smiling while he does it, and if I ask him about it or he notices me watching, he always brushes it off with some comment about work. I have no real proof. But I do have a gut feeling I can’t ignore.”
Cece nodded. She’d taught her daughter to listen to that small voice in her head, taught her how trusting your own instincts could often keep you out of trouble. “I’ll do my best to find the truth.”
“I know you will.”
Cece didn’t want to ask what Natalie would do if it turned out Jim was cheating. Not because she didn’t want to know but because until there was proof, she didn’t want her daughter dwelling on the worst possible outcome.
It seemed that possibility was already on Nat’s mind.
“If he is cheating…” Natalie shook her head. “I don’t think I can stay, Mom. I don’t think I can forgive that. Not after what you went through with Dad.”
“You went through that, too.”
Natalie nodded. “You had it worse, though. But I mean, what kind of example would that set for Tyler? That fooling around with someone else while you’re married is okay? That’s no way to raise a boy into a good man.”
Cece agreed. “Whatever you decide, you know I’ll support you.”
“Lorraine will…” Natalie paused. “Actually, I don’t know what Lorraine will do. Probably find a way to blame me.”
Lorraine was Jim’s mother and while she was a nice enough woman, Cece knew she’d been critical of Natalie in the past. His father, Gerald, seemed more easygoing. He seemed like he actually liked Natalie. Lorraine acted as if her son could have done better.
The very idea made Cece want to spit. “There’s no way Jim having an affair is your fault.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I don’t show him enough attention. Maybe I’m too busy with Tyler and all of his stuff. I get tired, Mom. I don’t always feel like being the best wife, if you know what I mean.”
Cece thought she did. “Sweetheart, being a mother is demanding work that often goes unsung. I know Jim works hard, but when he leaves the office, he can turn it off. Motherhood is twenty-four-seven. I’m sure he knows that. And I’m sure he understands. At least, I hope he would.”
“I don’t know,” Natalie said again.
She looked so defeated. So sad. “This is easier said than done, but until there’s proof, try not to dwell on what could be. Try to focus on the present.”
“Innocent until proven guilty, right?”
“Something like that,” Cece said. She changed the topic to give both of them a break. “Tell me about Tyler’s science project. I want to know all about what my grandson is working on.”
Natalie smiled like she understood exactly what her mom was doing, but she launched into a full account of the project, sparing no detail.
By the time Cece hugged her daughter goodbye, Natalie seemed to be in better spirits. Cece hoped Nat’s suspicions were unfounded, but she had her own nagging feeling.
She went into the house, grabbed her laptop, and settled down on the couch to work. And, hopefully, find out the truth about her son-in-law.
Chapter Eight
With Frank off golfing, Essie did a little light housework, then went to Publix to get groceries. Not only did she need the ingredients for the potato salad she’d promised to make for church, but she had to figure out what to bring for the book club this evening.
All while pondering what to do about Sophie and her not-so-subtle social media digs.
