Page 74 of Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters

“Amber’s birthday…” she whispered. Maya’s addled brain was filling in the gaps. PeterPan26.

“And so then, I couldn’t bring myself to tell you it was me. I know it was wrong, I know it was deceitful, but I liked you messaging me, telling me things you probably wouldn’t have confessed if you’d known who I really was. I really like you.” Sam’s brown eyes implored Maya’s. “It was nice not being the poor old widowed single dad, too.”

“Oh my God!” Maya couldn’t understand the ramifications. All this time she’d thought she’d been chatting to some stranger, when all along it had been Sam. Now she wondered what she’d told him, what she’d confided… “Oh my God!”

She panicked, gathering up the wine from her lap. Fumbling, she shoved open the door and scrambled out, slamming the door shut behind her.

“Maya!” Sam shot out of his side of the car. “I’m sorry. I know I should have told you sooner. It got out of control. I was worried how you’d react.”

“Well, obviously I’m going to react like this. It was deceitful.” Standing on the pavement, clutching the carrier bag and pushing the strap of her handbag over her shoulder, she burst into tears. Sam, the one man she’d learnt to trust, a man she’d thought was her friend, had also been lying to her. Did he think this was some kind of sick joke? This was too much.

“Look, I’m sorry, how can I make this up to you?” Sam stepped closer, coming around his car, but she held her hand up and shook her head, her tear-filled eyes narrowing on him, daring him to take a step further. He stopped, eyes glistening, and hung his head, hands in his pockets. “Maya, please… I’m so sorry. This is the last thing I wanted to happen. I never wanted to hurt you.”

Maya stormed up her driveway, and with trembling fingers she fumbled the key into the door, cursing it wouldn’t open quickly enough so she could get away from all the bad things happening to her that evening. Once inside, she slammed the door behind her and let her tears flow.

Thank God she’d bought two bottles of wine. What a crappy birthday!