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“Let me get you a towel, bud. I’m so sorry. I forgot how cold it is here with the air on.”
I lead him to the closet in the hall, tossing a glance at the window at Phoebe. Something’s going on in her head. I don’t like not knowing what it is, yet I’m afraid to find out.
TWENTY-TWO
HE KNOWS WHAT I NEED
I’m so angry at this mystery person for invading the happiness I’m trying to build. I had almost forgotten about everything, about the custody shit and Greg, and whatever this guy is up to, and then the flash of the camera from outside the fence brought me back to reality.
And the realizations that maybe this was too soon, and a bad idea.
When I kissed Isaac before he went into the house, it felt different. It felt like clinging. Like a last hope. Like something was about to go up in smoke.
And I know what that feels like because I’ve been there before, when Greg wanted a divorce.
I don’t know how long I stand at the railing, but then a familiar presence stirs me from my thoughts, and Ava pulls me into her arms.
“It’s okay, Phoebe.” She pats my back, squeezing me tightly once more before releasing me. “The police caught him. They’ve taken him down to the station.”
“Okay, so what’s going on?”
“He hasn’t confessed yet, but my investigator figured out what’s going on.”
“And?”
“You need to sit down for this.”
I nod, making my way toward the patio furniture. The seats where we had our cookout now seem like chairs with chains.
“Greg hired him to catch you in…inappropriate situations. Well, what the court might view as inappropriate. To say you’re an unfit mother.”
“What? There’s nothing—”
“He has pictures of you and Isaac. In your yard. And through a window in your house, apparently.”
Suddenly, I feel like I’m going to vomit, bile rising in my throat. “Are you serious?”
“I’m doing everything I can to have them destroyed, I promise.”
“Oh, Isaac.” I moan, burying my face in my hands. “I dragged him into this mess too.”
“No, you didn’t. Listen, this is on Greg, not you. You didn’t do anything wrong. Your son wasn’t even home when these events occurred. He has nothing.”
“But he has everything. My private, special moments.” I shake my head, clenching my eyes shut. “I finally felt liberated, and I wasn’t free at all.”
* * *
“Thanks for dropping us off,” I tell Ava as Chance and I climb out of her car. The police checked out my house and said everything was safe, but I tell Chance to wait for me anyway.
“No problem. You can get your car tomorrow. It’s not that far of a walk.”
Shit. That’s true. Another reminder that if I break things off with Isaac, he’ll be right down the road. Forever.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Love you, Phoebe.”
“I love you too, Ava.” I wrap my arm around Chance’s shoulders, and we walk into our house together and then securely lock the door behind us.
