He leaned forward and patted her hand. “I know it’s hard, but we all need to know what happened.”
Of course. She should have understood. Everything said might help find Sam so he could be arrested before he hurt someone else. This wasn’t about Roy and her, or their marriage. The truth mattered which was funny as she’d been lying since she met them. And she’d been manipulated into more lies instead of helping, but that needed to end. “Sam Zandi found me on the beach and dragged me upstairs. He said he’d kill me and I fought to get into the safe room.”
His palm and fingers traced her face. “You did the right thing, but clearly he hurt you.”
“I’ll be fine, just sore,” she whispered, not wanting to break the spell she was under.
Roy’s deep voice stirred something inside her but also woke her from the daze she’d been in as he asked, “Did he say anything?”
Fair. Her mind became sharp. She needed to explain how she’d ruined everything but she also needed to give him all the information she had. “Officer Baxter works for Kirno. He’s been helping Sam and Adam Lepour all this time.”
Roy pulled the covers higher and motioned for her to lie down. She did as he asked while he said, “Lepour left the country. Jake is chasing him.”
The last person that tucked her in to bed was probably her mother and that was at least a decade ago. She fluffed her pillow and said, “I’m assuming Sam intends to leave.”
Roy gently smoothed her hair out of her face. “Beau’s been checking all flights for his name on a passenger list.”
Her body was completely alive. She could feel every cell, but she wasn’t sure what to do. She stared up at Roy as she asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He smiled down at her. “No, rest. I’ll handle getting the police to turn on one of their own.”
Wait. She was too awake to sleep as he seemed to think she needed to do. She sat up fast and reached for his hand. “How?”
He used his hand to motion that she needed to lie down again. She did as he asked while he said, “Baxter betrayed them too and used his badge against the law. Despite the news, the police don’t always back the officers who play hard and fast with the internal rules. Miami PD has some great officers. Now I can talk to them as legal counsel.”
He stood up to leave her bedroom, but she called out, “Roy?”
“Yeah?” He stilled. Waiting.
Goodness, he was hypnotic, and he deserved someone better than her. All she could muster herself to say was, “We’ll talk soon.”
At the door, he turned and stared at her while he smiled. “I’m glad you’re okay, Caitlyn.”
“I’m glad you found me.” She meant that far more than just today. Since she’d married Roy, she’d had to look at herself and see that she wasn’t who she wished but knew who she wanted to be.
He shut the door and she stared out the window in her room.
The evening was at best dusk. There were hours until her normal bedtime.
And the more she lay there and the minutes ticked past, the more she was sure it wasn’t time to sleep. She stood, checked her body for anything out of the normal, but felt fine. Her dress was only slightly wrinkled.
She slipped out of the bedroom and found Roy standing on the balcony that overlooked the ocean, drinking something amber-colored in a tumbler.
He turned toward her and just how handsome he was hit her hard while he said, “You should stay in bed.”
The concern on his face was something she didn’t deserve. After what had happened this morning he had every right to hate her. She held her head higher as she said, “We need to talk, Roy.”
He left his drink on the balcony and came inside, sliding the glass door closed as he said, “It can wait till morning.”
Perhaps he was right, but then she’d waited too long already. “I don’t want to wait.”
His pace quickened, and he took her hand like she needed his help. “Then let’s get you on the couch.”
She pulled free but walked beside him with measured steps. “I’m not weak.”
He placed his hand on his heart like he was making a pledge. “Seeing you faint scared me and normally nothing scares me.”
She tucked her dress around her knees as she sat and then waited for him to sit beside her.
Her skin felt tighter. She had no right to his empathy so she pressed her knees together and said, “I lied to you. I lied to my parents. I lied to your family. I don’t like me right now and I don’t know when lying became my thing, but it needs to stop.”
He leaned backwards and stretched while he said, “Agreed, the lying needs to end. I wanted to talk to you about that.”
More nerves tingled now. He needed to take this more seriously as she shook her head. “You should want to talk to me about that. I was wrong. I didn’t know running from my life would make me turn out like this and I wanted to first, apologize.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He leaned forward with both hands between his legs.
He might be relaxed but every part of her felt like shaking. She inhaled and said, “I should have told you about Officer Baxter. I honestly believed I was doing the right thing. I am thankful I didn’t tell him anything that might hurt any of you.”
“I’m happy about that too.” He gave her that small smile of his that pulled at her heart strings.
This wasn’t fair. She shouldn’t feel this conflicted. She’d made mistake after mistake and it was time to stop the merry-go-round she’d caused. So she sat straighter while she said, “Second, I don’t want to hurt you again.”
He brushed his leg against hers, accidentally, but the comfort it offered wasn’t something she deserved as he said, “Then don’t.”
“Which brings me to my next point.” She spoke fast as if running a marathon.
His shoulders were relaxed while he asked, “Okay, what?”
Now. It was time. She loved him and it was time to prove it and let him go. She swallowed and said exactly what she thought. “I think we should get divorced. You don’t need a wife and you’re not the oldest for that throne your father doesn’t even sit on. Even if your father reclaims his title, Oliver is next in line and then his son Leo.”
This time she saw a tick in his face and his body became more rigid. “I want to ensure you’re safe first and that no matter where you go, no one will ever hurt you because of me or my family again.”
He hadn’t told her something silly like he loved her. That had never been what held them together. The weight in her body felt more like iron chains that rattled while she hugged herself and said, “Glad we agreed so easy then.”
Without another argument, he jumped out of his seat and said, “For now, please go to bed. We’ll figure out the logistics tomorrow.”
“Night, Roy.” She stood.
He headed right to his office but waved at her as he said, “Good night.”
Right. Her feet dragged on the floor. She’d done the right thing. They weren’t in love anyhow. This was for the best. She didn’t need to say anything else.
Tomorrow, she’d be alone again. She’d messed up Roy’s life too many times and told too many lies for her to ever be happy here.
Roy hadn’t been in his office or at home when Caitlyn finished packing her suitcase the next day.
She tried to take off the temporary wedding ring, but it was stuck.
She ran it under the faucet for a good five minutes, but the ring never budged from her finger.
Somehow in the struggle with Sam yesterday she must have injured her hands. Once she took the ring off, she’d send it back.
She paced the condo one last time and hoped Roy returned before she left.
However the quietness struck her like bullets as the minutes ticked past.
She’d worked out her departure with security to ensure her own safety without putting anyone in needless danger.
This plan meant staying with her parents for a few days and eventually movi
ng out to a place she’d pick out because she liked it. Even in DC, she’d stayed in that rundown building because it had three vacancies so she could be near her friends. Now she’d find a job she wanted and live for herself.
When the hour passed, Caitlyn grabbed the handle of her suitcase and headed to the door.
Security took the bag and she looked in the condo one last time.
She’d been so happy here. Every nook and cranny was clean and in order.
Perhaps Roy would find his own happiness too now that she was gone.
She closed the door and followed security to the elevator.
Not once did she let herself feel, but inside her heart it seemed like a huge rift was growing and she’d never be able to put herself back together.
She kept her mouth shut the entire flight down, through the lobby, to the car and even the limo ride across town. What could she say?
The old adage that if you love someone you let them go played in her mind but the thought left her cold. Her mind sharpened when they parked on her parent’s driveway.
This was it. She opened her own door and steeled her nerves. The driver removed her bags from the trunk. It was time. She took the handles to her suitcase and waved the driver goodbye.
Without knocking, she used her old key and unlocked the front door.
This was temporary. Her parents were in tennis clothes as they walked down the brown-carpeted steps toward the front door. She closed the door behind her, looked up and said, “Mom, Dad.”
Her mother’s gaze was fixated on her suitcase as she asked, “Caitlyn, is that your luggage?”
There was no getting around this situation. If she’d called ahead and asked, they’d have talked to her about the dinner party and being a faithful wife. This time love meant leaving. She swallowed and said, “Roy and I are getting divorced.”
Her parents had identical pursed mouths, but they finished descending the stairs. Her father hugged her and then her mother kissed her cheek as she said, “But then you’re no longer a princess, dear.”
Now that Roy’s family name was clear, her mother had likely intended to tell all her friends in the community that Caitlyn had married royalty, but that was too bad. Caitlyn didn’t blink when she met her mother’s stare. “Mother, I didn’t marry Roy to be a princess in the first place.”
Without discussion, her father opened the door and her mother kissed his cheek—he would go play tennis, while Mom would stay with Caitlyn Once he was gone, her mother said, “No, you married Roy to anger us. But at least he proved his innocence and it’s on television that there was a big mistake in the legal system. My friends have been calling all morning with the news.”
The news that the Bentleys were billionaires and cleared of all charges, meaning they had their money and prestige back.
Caitlyn sneezed. Her reaction to her mother wasn’t good. She ignored how her nose itched as she said, “My marrying Roy wasn’t just about you though.”
Her mother crossed her arms and tapped her tennis shoe on the marble floor. “Well, why did you marry him then, and what will it take to get you to go back?”
Goodness, her sinuses were stuffing fast. Outside she’d been fine but inside? “You’ve always seen me as a bargaining chip in your social standing with your friends.”
Her mother brushed her hands through her short blonde hair. “That’s not entirely true. We love you.”
Maybe they did in their own way, but her mother’s narcissism always held Caitlyn at bay. She swallowed and said, “That’s the rub. You both love a part of me, but you want me to be someone I’m not.”
Her mother directed her toward the kitchen and put the water in the coffeemaker as she said, “So you want to be known as Harry’s runaway bride or Roy’s divorced wife, rather than stay next to one of these good men?”
Caitlyn took the oil from the cabinet and then the bacon from the freezer that her father would want after his tennis match. “Mother, there is more to life than being married.”
“There is.” Her mother turned the pan on, adding oil as she said, “There is more to being a parent too and we want what’s best for you, just as you must want for your unborn child.”
Oh. Now was the time to tell the truth and cleanse her soul. She took deep breath and then said, “I’m not pregnant, Mother.”
“But you still look plump, dear.” Her mother placed the bacon in the microwave to unfreeze it but didn’t hit the button. Instead her eyes widened and she took a deep intake of breath. “Did something happen? Why didn’t you call me?”
Caitlyn scoffed, pressed the button to thaw the meat, and headed to the refrigerator for the muffin mix the chef had made last night, as her parents only paid for staff to come to the house for a few hours a day. She turned the oven to preheat and placed the mix next to the pan. “When have you ever stuck around to care for me when something happened?”
Her mother rolled her eyes but dug out the cups for juice and coffees as she said, “When your teeth fell out.”
Really? Of all the comebacks, that was what struck her mother first, taking a turn as the tooth fairy? Caitlyn took the bacon out of the microwave and shook off the question. “Every time I was sick, you had the nanny stay with me while you continued your social life.”
Her mother put the first coffee cup in the machine and added the pod on the top. “We checked on your progress.”
Of course. Caitlyn picked up the spatula and added the bacon to the hot olive oil. “Well, there is that I suppose. I shouldn’t be giving you a hard time about the past. Listen, my staying here is temporary. I need to find a job and a place to live near whatever hospital I choose.”
“Working is so middle class.” Her mother picked up a second frying pan and added the oil. “If you intend to move in here, why don’t I look around to find you a husband, dear?”
Caitlyn got the eggs from the refrigerator without being asked. If she moved in, breakfast would be her job again in a day. Roy also had a chef, and all the food delivered. There she’d only cooked, if she wanted. She shook off the comparison and said, “Temporarily. I’m not even divorced yet and not looking for someone to take care of me.”
“You’ll need to lose a few pounds first anyhow before we can look.” Her mother took the eggs Caitlyn offered and Caitlyn checked on the heated oven and scooped out the muffin mix to add it to the pan. “Why are you doing this, Caitlyn? I don’t understand. Roy seemed like he loved you.”
Love. If he had cared, then she’d destroyed it. She stiffened but forced herself to continue with the truth. “I asked him to lie to you. I didn’t want to face you or Dad, but I can’t continue to lie to you, myself or anyone anymore.”
Her mother stood there holding the second empty cup in her hand and just stared at her for a moment. Then she took out the old pod, put a new one in and switched the coffee out as she asked, “Does Roy know you lied? Does he still believe you’re having a baby?”
Wow. She’d never do that. Her skin was awake with awareness until she sneezed again. Drat. She ignored the reaction. “He knows everything, Mother.”
Her mother brushed her hand against Caitlyn’s shoulder. “He’s a good man, Caitlyn.”
Good meant rich to her mother. And it’s not like they were ever poor in her life. She finished adding the muffin mix to the pan and put it in the oven. “That he is. And that’s the reason I need to leave him alone.”
Her mother stared down at her as Caitlyn leaned over the oven. “Do you love him?”
Heat grew from inside out and her pulse quickened. No one knew this—not even Hannah. Hopefully her mother couldn’t read her mind. She returned to the refrigerator, looking for juice. “That doesn’t matter.”
Her mother switched out the pod and made a third cup of coffee for her as she said, “You love him. I can see that and that’s my best weapon to get him back for you.”
Her mother might try something behind her back. She poured herself a glass of orange juice. “Why is everyth
ing a weapon to get what we want here? Why couldn’t you just ever be happy for me?”
Her mother put the juice back in the refrigerator. “We were happy for you—but now you’re getting divorced. We wanted to throw you another wedding where everyone might see how lovely you are.”
Again, Caitlyn’s nose itched. She checked on the bacon as she said, “You mean you want to host a party and show off your pretty daughter who has snagged a prince, as if that reflects on you.”
As soon as she put the spatula down, she sneezed. The air around her mother had always done this to her. She’d forgotten, but the stuffiness gave her an aching head. Her mother said, “Fine, if you’re staying here, then you follow our rules. Tonight, we’re telling everyone that you and Roy are simply attending separate events because you missed us.”
More lies. Perhaps this was how it became so easy for her. The thought stuck in her brain like a donut stuck in her belly. “Tonight?”
Her mother flipped the eggs and checked the bacon as she said, “Yes, your father and I are throwing a dinner party, remember? You’re not to tell anyone about this dirty divorce business.”
Caitlyn’s spine tingled as her hands curled at her sides. “I’m not lying anymore.”
Her mother came closer. Caitlyn sneezed as her mother said, “Then don’t lie. Just pretend everything is fine.”
The lack of distinction was how she’d ended up in her mess. Her head began to pound. She needed to get away from whatever perfume her mother wore. She backed out of the kitchen as her eyes watered. “Everything is fine, I guess. Roy never loved me. I’ve accepted that.”
The tears were from that perfume. It wasn’t because she was sad. Definitely not. She closed her eyes and ignored that her cheeks were wet.
Her mother stayed at the oven. “On that you’re wrong my dear, just as you’re wrong about leaving the man you love.”
Caitlyn turned her head and reached for her suitcase. “I’m going to my room now, Mother. I’ll wear a dress to your party but that’s all I can promise.”
“It’s a start,” her mother replied from the kitchen. “And I’ll set up an appointment with my trainer so you can start exercising that pouch off today.”
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