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Then, I struggle into a new outfit and turn to face myself in the mirror. There are tears streaking down my face and my hair looks askew, so I try to fix things as best as possible even as my heart shudders. What the hell was I thinking? How could I let myself fall for someone like Luke? Of course, he never really cared about me. I’m just a girl he paid for, and yet, here I am entertaining his family like I might become part of their clan someday. Stupid, stupid, stupid. This has all gone to hell in a handbasket.
Then, I hear the front door open outside and Martha joyfully exclaims, “Luke! Honey, you’ve had a long day.”
My heart sinks because he’s home. Quickly, I hurry to the bathroom, wipe my face with some tissues, and then slap my cheeks a few times. The cracks are loud, but at least they knock some sense back into my head. Then, I return to the kitchen and grab the cheesecake and wine before straightening my shoulders. It’s show time, but waves of dread and angst fill my soul. Am I about to burst into tears? Or worse, start blubbering about how I feel? I squeeze my eyes shut, gripping the tray tightly.
You’re okay, Patty, I think to myself. You’re a tough cookie, and things are going to be fine. All you have to do is get through this for a little while longer, and then you can leave and never look back.
I take a deep breath, plaster on my best fake smile and head outside to greet my fake fiancé, even if inside, I’m crumbling into nothingness.
10
Luke
The next day.
I sit in my car in the building’s below-ground parking lot. My cell rests limply in the palm of my hand as I stare sightlessly straight ahead. I’ve just gotten off the phone with a police officer, and it’s the most incredible news. My brain shuts down as it replays the conversation, and with an excited jolt of electricity, I throw open the car door and jump out.
To be honest, today’s been crap up until a few minutes ago. James was a total ass at work, irritable and snarly, not to mention borderline unprofessional. I had three meetings in a row, and my personal assistant called out sick, leaving me to fend for myself. Plus, they didn’t have my usual turkey sandwich in the cafeteria, which pissed me off. But I don’t have to think about that now because there’s good news, and we can celebrate
I burst through the front door, looking around wildly. Where’s Patty? She’s usually at the piano, surrounded by sheets of music and holding a pen behind her ear, but the instrument sits abandoned. Weird. I peek in the kitchen, but she’s not there either. Normally, she’s within arm’s length, but the penthouse feels strangely empty today.
“Patty, sweetheart,” I call. “Where are you?”
“I’m here,” she responds in a muffled voice. “In the bedroom.”
I bolt to the master, and find her curled under the covers, in much the same position when I left this morning. Her eyes, her nose, and her cheeks look red, like she’s been crying, but maybe it’s a cold. After all, there’s a trash bin next to her side of the bed that’s full of tissues.
My eyebrows knit in concern as I sit next to her. I push away the hair from her forehead and look deeply into her eyes. “Are you alright, sweetie? What is it?”
She nods. “I’m just feeling a little under the weather is all.”
I touch her forehead, but she doesn’t feel warm. Then again, she’s seemed a bit off ever since the dinner last night. I frown. “I don’t think you have a fever, honey. Do you want me to take you to the doctor?”
She shakes her head. “No, no. I’m sure it’s just allergies. It’ll pass soon enough, and I’ve already taken some Claritin.” Then, the curvy brunette sits up and wipes at her watery eyes with another tissue before shooting me a small smile. “So, what’s up? You sounded like you were really excited just now.”
It takes me a moment to switch gears, but then I grin.
“Yeah, I’ll say. Jocelyn’s been arrested,” I say. “The police just called to tell me.”
The beautiful woman’s eyes go wide. “Really? What for?”
I shake my head. “One of our neighbors caught her trying to break into the mailboxes downstairs. He called the police and they arrested her because actually, tampering with mail is a federal crime. Can you believe it?”
A smile spreads across Patty’s lips and her eyes sparkle. “OMG, that’s great news! Are you planning on pressing charges?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think I’ll need to because a night in jail should have her rethinking her life. In fact, the police mentioned that Jocelyn’s parents have finally gotten involved. They said there’s been some preliminary talk about moving her back to Idaho to live with them, and putting her in therapy or home care. If that happens, she should be out of my hair for good.”
