Page 57 of The Perfect Hosts

Chapter 28

Madeline

Madeline comes in from the stables, puts water on the stove for tea, and moves into the office to check her emails. She dreads the thought of what she might find but knows she needs to keep on top of things. When she opens the app, the screen floods with emails. She quickly deletes the junk mail and anything that looks like they might be media inquiries. There are several more messages blaming her and Wes for the explosion, calling themshamefulandout of touch, and mocking their gender reveal. She forwards the threatening ones to Agent Saldano.

From the kitchen comes the breathy whistle of the kettle, but Madeline sees an email with the subject line that readsNaughty, naughty.It sounds like porn, but she decides to open the message.

An image fills the screen, and it takes Madeline a moment to figure out what she’s seeing. Her vision blurs, and the room spins. She clutches the desk to keep from falling out of the chair. It’s a photo. A photo of Madeline and Trent on the sofa. Trent is wrapping Madeline in his flannel shirt, their faces nearly touching. They look as if they have just embraced or perhaps kissed. The circumstances around the image are completely innocent, but if anyone saw it, they would think the worst of her. The last thing Madeline needs now is word gettingout that she’s cheating on Wes. She’s not. She would never do that.

Who would do this? There are only two options—Lucy or Mellie. It had to have been Lucy—payback because Madeline controlled her finances now? Or was she simply trying to stir the pot? She must have been hiding in the shadows and took the picture after they thought she’d gone off to bed. If Wes saw this, he would be furious and go ballistic on Trent, who would surely lose his job, no matter how innocent the actual scenario was. But that’s the point of the photo, Madeline thinks. For Lucy to show Madeline exactly how much power she has over her, over everyone in this household.

Unless, Madeline thinks, looking over her shoulder, Mellie sent the photo. But why? There is no message, just the damning picture. She moves the email into a folder labeledRecipes, knowing that Wes will never look there, and then gets to her feet.

Lingering outside Mellie’s bedroom, Madeline taps on the door. “Mellie,” she calls through the door. “It’s Madeline. Are you hungry?”

“Coming,” comes a muffled voice. The door opens, and Mellie stands before her wearing yet another of Madeline’s outfits. Madeline tries not to let it bother her. The poor girl came to the ranch with only the clothes on her back; of course she needs something to wear. Still...

“You should eat. Come out to the kitchen, and I can get you something,” Madeline offers, and Mellie follows her to the kitchen.

“Are you in any pain?” Madeline asks, opening the refrigerator. Their Sub-Zero Pro is depressingly empty. With all the chaos, they haven’t had the chance to go grocery shopping. Madeline opens the freezer and pulls out a container of homemade beef stew and transfers it to the microwave, then pulls a glass from the cupboard and fills it with water.

“I’m okay,” Mellie says, sitting gingerly at the breakfast bar. “Just a little bit sore from hitting the ground so hard.”

“I’m so glad your baby is okay,” Madeline says. “When do you go back for a recheck?”

“Recheck?” Mellie asks. “Oh gosh, I don’t know. The other night is such a blur. I’ll call the doctor later today.”

Madeline nods. “That’s a good idea. Who’s your obstetrician?” she asks.

Mellie frowns. “Actually, I don’t have one yet. I was going to ask Johanna Monaghan if she would be my midwife but...”

“Well, you need an OB,” Madeline says. “Do you have your phone?”

“Yeah. Why?” Mellie asks, pulling her phone from her back pocket.

“I’ll give you my doctor’s contact info,” Madeline says.

“But I thought Johanna was yours,” Mellie says with confusion.

“Johanna was my midwife, but I also have an OB. You need one even if you use a midwife,” Madeline insists, holding out her hand for the phone.

“No, I can do it,” Mellie says, keeping the phone close to her chest.

Madeline gives her the information and watches as Mellie keys it into her phone. “Oh shit,” Madeline says, “I left the stove on. Can you grab it?” Mellie hops to her feet and hurries toward the copper kettle atop the bright red burner. “You are going to love Dr. Williamson, I promise.”

“I’m sure I will. Do you want me to boil more water?” Mellie asks.

“Yes, please. The tea is in the pantry.”

Mellie opens the pantry door and scans the shelves. “Green or chamomile?”

“There’s some rooibos in there that’s very good,” Madelinesays, trying to figure out how to ask Mellie about the photo and decides the best way is to jump right in. “Mellie, I got a strange email today.”

“Oh? What kind of email? I can’t find the rooibos,” Mellie says, stepping from the pantry. “Chamomile, okay?”

“Chamomile is great,” Madeline says. “Someone sent a picture of me and Trent.”

“That’s weird.” Mellie hands her a tea bag.