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George burst out laughing.
Vickie gasped in shock at his reaction. Her hand moved to her chest as if to try and steady her rapid heartbeat. How could he think this was funny?
“You know I’m not inclined that way?”
“You’re not answering the question.”
“What has happened to make you think this? This is preposterous, to say the least. I can’t even think who would put this stupid idea in your head. If you had said Hazel, well, yes, we had been lovers, but you knew that, it was just before we met. I’ve never cheated on you.”
“Answer the question.” Her blood rose in anger.
George stopped smiling. He stepped back over to Vickie, took both her hands in his, his eyes locked with hers. “I don’t know any Miguel, and I don’t know why you would even think that.”
She looked into his eyes, and the edge of her anger began to cool.
“Vickie, I love you.” His voice was soft. It broke through to her, and she knew he was telling the truth.
Vickie sighed with relief. The stupid question had nearly cost her big time, and now it was answered, she felt silly having let it take over her thoughts as it had. But then her heart ached, and more questions came to mind. Miguel had been Ruby’s lover. Through and through. Why hadn’t her friend told her about him?
“I’m sorry,” she said hesitantly. “I had to be sure.”
“Is this why you’ve been distant from me?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t help it, not that it would matter if you did have a lover called Miguel. I just needed to know.” She stopped short of saying she needed to know to solve a mystery that she definitely didn’t want to tell him about. Not yet. She promised that she’d tell him tomorrow once she had attended one more meeting and found out more about what was really going on.
“I’m going to have to have more information than that,” he said firmly.
Vickie had a ripple of nerves flow around in her belly.
“We need to be open for this to work between us.”
“I know.” She rolled her lips, her mind sharpening. She’d tell him, eventually, but now she needed to put him off a bit.
“It was a little fun last night, and we tried… um… a bit of Spiritualism.”
George groaned as if in pain. “Let me guess, Ruby put you up to this?”
“Something like that.” She didn’t like being flippant with the truth, especially after their argument just now. But what choice did she have? If George came tonight, it would ruin everything. She needed to arrive with Ruby and keep up the pretense. It was the only way to find out answers.
“You know it isn’t true.”
Vickie nodded. “I know, but I… there was doubt. I guess that’s what they’re good at, causing people to feel, in order to pull off the performance.”
“Exactly.” He moved his hands up her arms. His strong touch felt good, and she stepped in closer to him, resting her head on his chest.
“I’m your husband, and I want to protect you.”
Vickie nestled in closer to him. “I know.” The problem was him wanting to protect her could get in the way of her solving a mystery, and she didn’t want to let that happen. She didn’t like the conflict that was roiling around inside of her, keeping information from him like this. But what choice did she have? She also had to support Ruby. That was important too. Besides, she reasoned, this was also her way of protecting George. She was trained in self-defense and could defend herself. This was part of her business as a private investigator like he didn’t tell her everything about the patients he saw. It was similar.
He’d understand when I tell him all about it later,she thought to herself.
“I love you.” His words melted through to her.
Vickie squeezed him tight. “I love you, too.”
“Now, how about you try on this new outfit for me?”
“Well, now, of course, Dr. Wenderlen,” said Vickie, more than ready to carry on with her husband, especially knowing that there hadn’t been any secrets he’d been keeping from her. This time they were going to have a whole lot more fun together.
