“I don’t think that’s legal, and I can’t imagine it’d stand up in court today.”
“It doesn’t matter, though. It’s too late. Blake’s gone.” She took a quick breath. “It used to make me so angry that John wouldn’t acknowledge Blake, but now I realize it was John who lost out. John had no idea what an incredible son we had.”
“It was his loss.” Boone reached for her hand, took it, gave it a squeeze. “Absolutely.”
“Excuse me,” a low breathless voice interrupted. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’d like a word with my husband.”
Lauren jerked her head up. She blinked, recognizing Sarah Walker, Meg’s sister. Boone’s wife.
Boone released her hand. “Sarah,” he said, swiveling in his counter seat. “What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d join you,” Sarah said brightly, chin lifting, lips pinched but still trembling. “But it seems you already have company.”
Sarah glanced past Boone, leveled her gaze on Lauren, who stood behind the counter. “Not that it matters to you,” she said quietly, fiercely, “but he’s married. And the father of two.”
Sarah looked back at Boone, pale, so pale. “I hate you,” she whispered, teeth now chattering. “I hate you, and I’m done with you. Done. Got it? We’re over. Through.”
She turned and walked out, the heels of her tall sandals clicking against the floor.
Boone shot Lauren an apologetic, and rather desperate, look before chasing after Sarah, grabbing his wife’s arm at the corner so she couldn’t dash across the street.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, spinning her to face him.
“You tell me, Boone!”
“I was having breakfast, Sarah, like I do every morning.”
“And now I know what the charm of Mama’s Café is. It’s not the food. It’s that hot little mama in there—”
“Stop it.”
“How long have you been fucking her?”
“You’re out of your mind, Sarah. That’s Lauren. Lauren Summer. She’s a friend of your sister Meg’s.”
“Sure she is.”
“You met her, Sarah. She was catering Jack’s funeral. Lauren said you two talked while she was bartending, and you discovered you were both the same age.”
Sarah was shaking from head to foot, shock giving away to heartbreak. “I’m not stupid, Boone. She’s very pretty—in a skanky, skinny-girl sort of way—and you’re into her. I could see it on your face.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I do, too. I stood outside watching, Boone, as she reached out and caressed your face and then you took her hand—”
“She was wiping powdered sugar off my face.”
“The bitch had no right to.”
“Sarah.”
“I’m serious. She had no business touching you. And you had no business holding her hand. Disgusting. Both of you.”
“You’re losing it, babe.”
“Screw you! I’m tired of being played. Tired of being the irrational one. Tired of fighting so hard to keep our marriage together.”
“Baby, you aren’t the only one fighting to keep our marriage together. For the past three years all I’ve done is fight for you, but it isn’t ever enough and just ends up as a fight with you—”
“You betrayed me!” she screamed, aware that they were standing on a busy street corner where everyone could see. But she didn’t care. She didn’t care who saw, who heard, because she was over it. Over all the anger and the fear and the pain. Over feeling only bad things and never good things. “You betrayed me and our marriage has never been the same!”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, babe. I wish I could take it back, I wish I could go back and undo what I’ve done, but I can’t. Jesus, I can’t—”
“I hate it when you sound like the victim,” she snapped, cutting him off, closing the distance between them to jab him in the chest. “You’re not a victim! You brought this on us. You did this to us. You destroyed my trust, and I hope she was worth it. Hope the thrill or chase or novelty of new pussy was worth it—”
Sarah broke off at Boone turned around and walked away, cutting so swiftly across the street that a car had to slam on its brakes to avoid hitting him.
Sarah cringed at the squeal of brakes. Boone didn’t even seem to notice. He just kept walking.
He was leaving her?
Pain surged through her, hot and sharp and livid. She chased after him, running across the street, lucky to have a green light. Her heels clicked against the sidewalk and she ran fast, around the corner to where she saw his black SUV was parked.