Capital Wives (26 page)

A year later…

B
ethany, Deanna and Marisol sat in the enclosed porch in Falls Church, Virginia, while Paige Paxton had volunteered to babysit Harper Tyson and Zara Sheridan.

Bethany had invited her friends to her home to tell them something she knew might destroy their friendship, but guilt had nagged at her like a toothache. She'd watched their expressions when she told them her involvement with
The Dish
and that she'd been the blogger known as the Insider.

“Even though I knew a lot of stuff about you guys I told my editor that I would never out any of you,” she whispered.

“So, that's why you warned me about that woman outing Spencer,” Deanna said accusingly.

“Think about it, Dee. If it hadn't been for me, then Spencer would've been ruined or in jail instead of that skank.”

Marisol leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “I find it to
be a little coincidental that drugs were found at her house days before the story was going to break.”

Bethany sat stone-faced. “I know nothing about that.”

“Yeah, you do,” Deanna said. “There's no doubt you and Damon keep very few things from each other.”

Shaking her head, Bethany drawled, “I ain't saying nothing.”

Marisol winked at Bethany. “You did good, Barbie.”

“I'll do even better when you and Wesley finally tie the knot.”

“He proposed for the umpteenth time last night and I finally accepted.” When she'd presented Bryce with divorce papers he hadn't contested it. He had also pled guilty to domestic assault and was placed on probation with a mandate he attend anger management counseling. Within a month of their divorce he'd remarried, and Marisol hoped he would tell this wife about his inability to father a child.

Deanna and Bethany stared at Marisol. “Have you set a date?” Deanna asked.

Marisol nodded. “Thanksgiving weekend. We're going to have a destination wedding. So everyone's invited to come down to Puerto Rico and hang out at the house. By that time it should be fully furnished. The adults can sleep upstairs while the kids can take over the first floor. It's going to be one big sleepover. Some of the relatives who don't live too far away will open their homes for the overflow.”

“Do they speak English?” Bethany asked. “Because you know I can't understand a lick of Spanish.”

Marisol rolled her eyes. “No, you didn't go there, Snowflake.”

“You'll choke on that word once my son marries your daughter. Connor told me he's in love with her.”

Marisol laughed. “Speaking of daughters, Paige asked if she can babysit Zara.”

“You'll have to talk to Damon about that. Damon took her away on a father-daughter weekend last month and when they got back she'd changed so much that I thought she wasn't the same girl. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but so far so good.”

“Would you mind if she works with me once the B and B is up and running?” Deanna asked. “She could work the front desk during school holidays and recess.”

“Now that she's come out of her shell, I'm certain she would love that.”

A tapping on the door got everyone's attention. “Come in,” Bethany called out.

Damon walked in, his gaze lingering on the two women who'd changed his wife's life. He'd done things he wasn't proud of but were necessary to protect her and her friends.

“We've fired up the grill and Wesley wants to know how you want your steaks.”

Marisol stood up, the others following. “Tell Wes we're coming out.”

Damon smiled. “The bar is open, so you're going to have to let me know what you want to drink.”

Deanna and Marisol shared a look. They'd just stopped breast-feeding, so they were ready to get their drink on. They left the sunporch and walked to the rear of the house, where a large tent had been set up to ward off the damaging rays of the sun.

Damon had invited many of his associates and their wives, but none could compare to the three women who'd become the consummate D.C. wives.