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“For Paris? You just spent an hour convincing me not to go.”
“I changed my mind.”
“This is a crock,” she said. “You’re going to level with me. Right. Now.”
I said nothing.
“Fine. I’ll go to Joe, then. He’ll tell me.”
“No!” If she went to Joe, he’d know I let something slip. He’d also know about Marj and me.
“Sorry.” She stood. “I’m out of here.”
“Do you even know where we are?”
She plunked back down on the bed. “Fine. You’re in charge, but you still owe me an explanation. Quite frankly, you’re scaring the hell out of me. What exactly are you and Joe involved in?”
I sighed. “More than you can imagine.”
She took my hand and pulled me onto the bed to sit beside her. “Start talking. I’m here for you.”
Where to start? How could I put memories that had just resurfaced into words? And I’d be violating Joe’s trust.
Should I call him first? Did I even have service out here?
“If I tell you,” I said, “you have to promise never to tell another living soul. Especially not Joe.”
“I can’t do that. If you tell me, you have to tell Joe that you did. And what if I feel you’re in danger or something? I can’t promise not to say anything.”
“Then I can’t tell you.”
“Not an option. I’m in this now.”
He nodded, his brow wrinkled. “Tell you what. I’ll make you a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“I’ll tell you, in confidence, what’s going on with Joe and me, and you tell me about that cut on your leg.”
She bit her bottom lip.
Even in the darkness of the cabin, she was beautiful and enticing. Even when she was troubled. Especially when she was troubled. All I wanted to do was take away everything hurting her and banish it so she’d never be unhappy again.
Finally, she cleared her throat softly. “Deal.”
“You go first,” I said.
“We’ll go in shifts,” she said. “You’re right. The wound is self-inflicted. Now…you.”
I couldn’t fault the fairness of her idea. “Something happened about thirty years ago, while Joe and I were camping with my dad. Something we’d both forgotten until recently.”
“Oh my God!” She clamped her hand to her mouth. “He didn’t—”
“No, no, no. Joe and I are fine. He didn’t do anything to us.”
“Thank God.” She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know what I’d do. This has all been so awful.”
“Honey, you weren’t born yet when this happened, and I promise it has nothing to do with you.”
