***
Three days later, Michelle finally mustered up enough courage, and borrowed Yasmine’s car to go back to Erik’s house for the rest of her clothes. For three days, she had been calling, and each time he picked up, he’d just remain silent, listening to her begging, pleading, and apologizing. At least he hadn’t hung up on her, nor had he blocked her calls from his cell or the house. That alone told her that he still cared about her in some way. It gave her hope.
Dwight Carter was in jail waiting to face charges on first-degree manslaughter, fleeing the scene of a crime, theft, and for driving while under the influence. And she was left to, once again, salvage the life he’d ripped apart. Robert had stopped by yesterday to talk about what he’d discovered about Dwight, but she was in no mood to discuss him. The damage was done. Whether or not, Dwight was their biological father was not important at the moment. What mattered was that Dwight had killed Erik’s wife, and she’d lied to Erik about him.#p#分页标题#e#
Her lies, not Dwight, had torn them apart.
Michelle felt a powerful throbbing in her head as she got out of the car and looked up at the house. Memories of the first day she set foot on this property assailed her.
She recalled, vividly, the first time she saw Erik, sitting behind his desk in the library, all virile, potent, and dangerously male. She remembered the sharp brilliance of his piercing eyes, and how her heart had lurched as her female hormones had soared to an all-time high. It was definitely love at first sight.
As she walked up the stairs to the porch and rang the doorbell, Michelle tried to control the shivers that ran through her. This was probably the last time she would set foot in this house. She hoped Precious was home from school. She longed to see her. She wondered how Erik had explained her absence, and the fact that she wouldn’t be her nanny anymore.
Erik might not want her in his life, but at least she had Precious, and in spite of what might happen between her and Erik, Precious would always be a part of her life. She would not turn her back on her.
“Michelle, sweet child.” Mrs. Hayes opened wide arms and Michelle fell into the motherly embrace.
“Hi, Mrs. Hayes. How are you?”
‘Don’t worry about me, honey. I want to know how you’re holding up under this mountain of trouble. I pray day and night to the Good Lord to lay His mercies on you.”
“Thanks. I need all the prayers I can get.” She glanced warily around. “I came to get the rest of my stuff. Is Erik here? I didn’t see his car in the driveway.” She was actually surprised he hadn’t packed them up and mailed them to her.
“He went to get Precious from her music lessons.”
“How is Precious?” she asked, her heart aching with longing for the child.
“She misses you. She cries for you every day. I don’t understand why the doctor is punishing you for what your father did. You had no part in it.”
“He knows that,” Michelle defended her secret husband. “He’s just hurting. I should have told him that my father was a drunk and a possible suspect. I can’t blame him for feeling betrayed. You, Robert, and Yasmine warned me that my lie would backfire. I have no one to blame but myself.”
“Give him time,” Mrs. Hayes said, touching a cool frail hand to Michelle’s cheek. “I’m sure he’ll come around and realize how important you are to him and Precious.”
Michelle stared at the older woman who’d brought her into Erik’s life, and wondered just how much she knew about Erik’s and her relationship. She was certain she didn’t know they were married, but did she know they’d been intimate? “Maybe he will,” she said, “and if he doesn’t, I’ll have to live with it.” Needing to escape the wise woman’s scrutiny, she headed up the stairs.
Michelle packed hastily, trying not to think about the life she was leaving behind. As she opened the walk-in closet and gazed at the dress she had worn to the party in Boston, sweet memories of her one-night honeymoon echoed in the black stillness of her mind. Memories were all she had now. Nothing would ever erase those feelings of completeness, of oneness with Erik.
For once in her life, she had been truly happy. She would cherish those moments forever.
Leaving the dress where it was, she turned and gazed at the bed where they’d made love. Erik might try to make himself believe that he hated her, she thought, but deep, way down deep in her soul, she knew he cared for her. The way he had cradled her in his arms after the passionate storm was over was all the evidence she needed. She would cling to that thought.#p#分页标题#e#