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“I can’t. I just… I can’t.” I had ruined everything. Everything I had worked so hard to hold together was unraveling before my very eyes.
The home we had built.
The marriage I had built.
The community we had found.
Jamie’s job.
“Oh, God!” My breath hitched on a sob as the weight of it all crashed over me. My legs shook, knees buckling as I sunk down to the floor, crumbled and broken. I had ruined everything.
“Sadie! It’s okay. It’ll be okay!” Danielle rushed to my side, but I batted her away.
“Nothing is okay. I knew better. I fucking knew better. I knew I should never have started anything with anyone here in Apple Grove. I knew it was a disaster in the making. And now look at what’s happened!” I flung my hands wildly, flailing around as I spoke. “I’ve ruined everything.”
Danielle pulled her phone from her pocket, fingers flying as she texted. A moment later, her phone buzzed, and she nodded to herself.
“Jamie is on his way home.”
“You told Jamie!” I shrieked. “Oh God, Jamie’s job! Everyone is going to know. News like this spreads like wildfire. What are we going to do?” I hung my head in my hands as the tears began to pour down my face. This was everything I had worked so hard to avoid.
“I haven’t told him anything, but love, you aren’t okay.” She soothingly rubbed her hand over my shoulder, but I flinched away. I didn’t want comfort. I wanted to run away and hide from the firestorm that I knew was coming.
Time stood still as my mind whirred with dread and regret. After what felt like days and only minutes all at once, the garage door was buzzing, signaling Jamie’s return. He rushed into the house, finding us there still in the kitchen.
“Sadie, what happened? Did you have another panic attack?”
“Not this time, Jamie,” Danielle said, muttering quietly as she stood and stepped back, giving him room to swoop in and comfort me. His strong arms wrapped around me.
“They know,” I whispered against the crisply pressed linen of his shirt.
“Who knows? And know what exactly?”
“Everyone. Everyone here knows everything.” I mumbled into his shirt.
“Technically, that’s not true.” Danielle interjected. “They don’t know the truth, Sadie. They only know what the she-devil told them, which isn’t at all true.”
“Does someone want to clue me in here?” Jamie asked.
“Lisa saw Sadie leaving Thatcher’s house a few weeks ago. And then she saw them again the other night, kissing at Biancheria.”
“I’ve always wanted to try that place out,” Jamie said. “I’ve heard they have incredible chocolate cake.”
“That? That’s what your takeaway was from that sentence?!” I pushed back away from Jamie, looking at him in shock.
“So she told some people about you and Thatcher.” Jamie shrugged. “It’s okay, Sadie. It’ll all be okay.”
“How? How onEarthcould it possibly be okay?” I cried.
“Technically, she told everyone that Sadie is a part of a sinful, amoral swingers’ club. And that you are aware and don’t care.”
“Well, that last part is true, at least.” Jamie laughed lightly and I just looked at him like I’d never seen him before.
“What is wrong with you, Jamie Day? Where is the outrage? The fear? The panic?” I demanded answers.
“I guess I just don’t care all that much.” He explained with a light shrug. Danielle sat down on the kitchen floor with us, crossing her legs neatly underneath her.
“I mean, it’s not like it’s 1950 here, Sadie. The world has changed.”
