Page 112 of Her Dark Lies

Jack didn’t talk about his wife, so I didn’t talk about my father, or Shane, or my former drug habit, nor why I got my tattoos.

Jack didn’t talk about his wife, and I kept my simmering rage at being his second choice to myself.

Jack didn’t talk about his wife, and I didn’t question him about why.

I realize now that if Jack had told me he killed his wife, I would have told him I killed my father. We would have been murderers together. We would have cleaved together with our biggest secrets.

Instead, I will suffer alone. I guess that’s marriage though, isn’t it? You can only cleave together so much.

64

Only You

It was dumb of me to go out in the rain. Not only did I manage to kill someone, it ruined my beautifully done hair and now I’ll have to do it myself.

But Harper and Katie are in my room, waiting for me, when I get out of the shower. They’re both dressed in their elegant sea mist bridesmaid gowns, so beautiful a lump forms in my throat.

“Ana told us what’s happened,” Harper says. “Let’s get you dressed. We can figure everything else out later.”

I don’t tell them what went down with Malcolm. I don’t tell them what Jack has shared about Morgan. I will be locked in my own silence about the family forevermore, but I want Jack badly enough to make that trade.

It surprises me, this passion for someone who is clearly not what he seems. But I sense he’s now told me the truth, at least all that he can, and that’s enough for me.

Honestly, he could have told me he slaughtered Morgan with a paring knife, and I would still love him. It’s not like I’m an innocent in all of this. It’s not like I’m perfect.

As they get started, I ask them, “Did anyone ever get in touch with either of you about me? A reporter, say, or a stranger?”

“What do you mean?” Katie asks.

“You said earlier that this was the wedding of the century. I just wondered if someone said that to you, or if you thought it yourself.”

“You know there were articles written about the wedding, Claire. Remember the one inNashville Editthat welcomed Jack to Nashville and gushed about how you two were going to be the society couple of the year? It’s all anyone was talking about that week.”

“Seriously?”

“Girl, you are so dense sometimes. How can you not see these things? Do you never Google yourself?”

The vision almost makes me laugh, almost, though it is not me I’m searching for online, it is my predecessor.

“God, no. I know plenty about myself, thank you very much. Why, have you Googled me?”

“Of course, I have.” I must have looked aghast because Katie laughs. “I Google you, me, Harper, Jack, Taylor Swift, Chris Evans, the Kardashians. Like the rest of the free world. There were a ton of stories about your wedding. It was the hottest ticket in town. How can you not know this?”

“Because I knew we were only having the closest friends and family. It didn’t seem important.”

“Why are you asking all this, Claire?” Harper asks.

“I’m curious how much this Ami Eister imposter could have learned from what was in the public domain versus what she could get from spying directly. Don’t worry, it’s not important.”

Harper looks radiant in her dress; the color is perfect for her. She seems chagrined, and I know she’s got to be wildly embarrassed by her actions.

“Can I help?”

I am determined to let bygones be bygones. I smile, and hold out my hand, which she crosses the room and takes. “Could you fix my hair? It’s kind of a disaster.”

“Curls, or straight?”

“Curls are fine. Just sweep it up, out of my eyes.”