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“Jamie, I’m so happy for you,” said Janine. “But I’m just a little worried. You don’t think this is a bit sudden?”
I sighed. “It is, but …”
“But …?”
I shrugged. “It feels right,” I said. “Besides, it’s fine. I mean, no one thinks we’re engaged, right?”
“No, that’s where you are wrong. They do,” said Janine, pointing outside my window. I went to the curtains and peered out at the reporters who had gathered on the street. They have been taking photographs all morning, hoping to catch a peep of Eric Slade’s elusive fiancée.
“You shoulda seen the face of the guy from CelebTV,” said Janine. “I practically knocked him over when he tried to get a picture of Cassie.”
I sighed. It was one thing pretending with Eric in public. But this was something totally different. The press has invaded my life. Overnight, I went from being a single mom on the corporate ladder in Boston to an object of scrutiny. And it was getting harder and harder to hide from Cassie what was going on.
“Momma?” my daughter said behind me. I turned around.
“Hey, Cass!” I said. “Aunty Janine and I were just wondering when all those people are going to go away, huh?”
“I sure hope they find out we don’t have any buried treasure soon,” said Cassie, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
I turned and shot Janine a guilty look. She raised her eyebrow.
“I’m gonna do the school run today,” she said.
“No, it’s my turn,” I said.
“And you filled in for my last night.”
“And you babysat while I went to see Eric.”
“Went dancing with Eric,” Janine corrected me. “But right now, you need some privacy. And so do the kids. KYLE! Come on, honey. I’m gonna take you guys to school.”
On the way out, she turned to me.
“I know you’ll do the right thing,” she said, smiling weakly. And then she was gone with the two kids, past the reporters who were crowding outside.
I felt guilty as I closed the door, hiding behind it. I knew it was wrong. I couldn’t keep up the lie any longer. But at the same time, I couldn’t hurt Eric. And the damage it would do to his business if our lie were found out was too much for me to contemplate.
I promised myself I’d tell him today.
Just then, my phone rang from down the hall. In all the confusion, I hardly looked at it. But when I saw Eric’s name was on the Caller ID, I rushed to it and picked it up.
“Hello, beloved,” he said.
“Stop it,” I said. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the Hiltman.”
“But it’s Tuesday,” I said. “Shouldn’t you be in the office?”
“I had a few things to take care of,” said Eric. “Can you meet me here in an hour?”
“I would love to,” I said, looking through the peephole in the doorway. “But unfortunately, the press is here. I can’t get out.”
“I’ll send a car in ten,” said Eric. “Go out through your garden onto Westport Street. I’ll have them pick you up there.”
“Okay,” I said uncertainly. There was an odd tone to Eric’s voice, as though he was … happy … about something.
“Oh, and Jamie? It’s cocktail wear. Do you have something?”
