Page 11 of The Liar's Wife

“Just you?”

“Well, I took Gray, obviously. As much as he wanted to stay behind…Palmer, you’re scaring me. What’s this about?” Hereached for my knee, his finger tracing the pattern on my pants.

I pulled the receipt from my pocket. “Were you hungry enough to eat two meals?”

His brows knit together as he reached for the receipt, reading it over. When he looked up at me, his eyes were wide. “I forgot, I’m sorry. I…paid it forward, or whatever it’s called. There was a woman there with a young girl, maybe four or five. She ordered the girl’s meal but didn’t have enough for her own. I felt bad. It was just a couple bucks, Palm. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

My hands were shaking, my stomach tight as I stared at him, trying to decide whether to trust him. He’d never given me any reason not to. Besides the suspicious phone call, I guessed.

“She told you she couldn’t afford it?”

“No. Of course not. She wasn’t like…a panhandler or anything. She didn’t even want to take it when I offered.” He shook his head, standing from the table. “She ordered two meals, but when they told her the total, she asked them to take hers off. I just figured…I’d hope someone would help you out if it were you there without enough money.” It was reasonable enough, I couldn’t deny it. “Becoming a dad has softened me, I guess,” he teased. “You aren’t mad, are you? I know it’s your money.”

“It’s notmymoney, Ben. We talked about this. It’s both of ours. And, of course, I’m not mad. I just…I was worried you were cheating on me or something.”

His expression went cold with shock, and he shook his head once again, leaning in so his forehead rested on mine. “Hey,” he said. “I could never cheat on you. I’m not that guy,Palmer. You know that. I know you were hurt in the past…but I would never do that to you. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” I whispered, feeling tears well in my eyes. I hated talking about my past, but we both knew it affected everything I did then. Being cheated on after an eight-year relationship causes everything you thought you knew to go to shreds. I’d only recently begun to accept myself again. Ben coming along a year ago, Ben loving me like he had… It saved me. He saved me. Gray was our surprise, but Ben hadn’t run away. He’d loved me through all of it. Married me. Fallen for me despite my growing belly and flaws. I felt more foolish than ever. Of course he wasn’t cheating. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry, sweetheart. Just trust me, okay? I have no reason to cheat. You’re perfect.” He kissed my forehead, then lifted my chin to meet my lips. I kissed him back, the ice in my intestines warming quickly. We still weren’t cleared to have sex yet, which only made this torture. He lifted his hands up to my neck, drawing out our kiss. When we broke apart, he rested his forehead on mine for another second. “I love you.”

“I loveyou,” I told him.

“Now, what do you say the three of us get to bed?” he asked, breaking away with a yawn and a laugh. I stood in agreement, yawning as well and following him toward the bedroom.

I loved Ben. I trusted Ben. But I couldn’t deny the nagging feeling that reminded me I’d trusted and been burned before.

Chapter Six

The next morning, I walked out the front door with a few less tears than the day before. I’d chosen a dark, patterned shirt to prevent any leaks showing. I was more prepared, ready to deal with whatever came my way. Or, so I thought.

I crossed the street and climbed into my car, glancing up at the window of our apartment. The curtain moved, like maybe they were going to wave goodbye, but no one was there. The pit in my stomach was back. Had he been watching to see me leave?

I didn’t want to be weighed down by all that had happened to me. I didn’t want to be fearful in every relationship I was in, but I had to deal with the feelings I was having. I had to prove to myself Ben wasn’t cheating—wasn’tgoingto cheat. I had to trust him, but I had to make myself believe I could.

Still, I pulled away from the apartment building, but rather than turning left to head to work, I went up a street further and made a U-turn. I pulled into the parking lot ofanother apartment building, parking in a visitor’s parking space. I texted Cumberland, letting him know I might be a little late. I had no idea how long I needed to sit and wait, how long I’d even be allowed to sit and wait. Until the lump in my throat disappeared, I supposed.

Luckily—or rather unluckily, however you chose to look at it—for me, I didn’t have to wait long. After twenty minutes had passed, the front door of my apartment building opened, and I watched as the familiar lime green and gray stroller came into view. Ben was on his phone, talking away as he turned the corner, oblivious to me watching him.

I pulled out when he’d disappeared from view, driving slowly and keeping my distance, turning down streets full minutes after him. He walked past the park, not stopping, and continued on toward the next set of apartments. Was he going to visit someone? If so, who? His family lived out of state and, as far as I knew, he didn’t have any friends in Oceanside. Apparently, I’d been wrong.

He kept walking past the apartment, and finally I realized where he was headed. The red and white sign came into view.Gary’s Grill.

It was a rundown, outdated building with dull, white parking lot lines that needed to be repainted, and smoke billowing from the vent on the roof. It was not any place I would’ve chosen. There was an awning, where the kitchen could be seen; you could choose to order and either eat inside or out. Ben walked to a picnic table with Gray, taking a seat outside.

I parallel parked behind a white work van, my view only partially obstructed.What are they doing?

I wrung my hands in my lap, watching with an uneasyfeeling as Ben continued talking on the phone, occasionally putting his hands in the stroller to soothe Gray.

After a few moments, Ben stood, his eyes locked with something in the distance. The smile on his face was wide, warm, and utterly heartbreaking.

I followed his gaze to where a woman approached from the opposite side of town. She had strawberry-blonde hair, her roots dark brown, and wore blue jean shorts and a tiny, white cami with no bra. She was smiling as she grew nearer, her arms outstretched as my husband pulled her into an embrace.

I watched in pure horror as the scene unfolded.Not again. Please, not again.

I was going to be sick, I was sure of it. My body was tense, tears blurring my vision as I watched her take a seat next to Ben on the picnic bench, both of them cooing over my baby in the stroller. He kept one arm around her, smiling proudly as she reached in, touching Gray.

My hands balled into fists, my whole body shaking with adrenaline and anger. Everything in me wanted to shove open the door, run over there, grab the stroller, and run, but I had to remain calm. I had to do better, be better than last time.