Flawed Perfection (An Eve Sumptor Novel) (25 page)

“Why did you do that?”

They were driving back to the house after making plans to meet the Stantons there in two hours. Eve had been quiet for the first few minutes of the drive, but couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Adam glanced at Eve. “Why not?”

“You know why not,
amant
.”

“Eve, when Lainey stepped off that plane I felt anger.” He couldn’t miss Eve’s quietly sad sigh. “I need more time with her to figure this out. To see if I can deal with this.”

Eve bowed her head, unwilling to let Adam see the hopelessness she felt. He didn’t deserve that. But, she did. She was the one that hurt him, and although the mere thought of losing Lainey depressed Eve immensely, she would do as Adam asks if it meant saving her marriage.

Lainey studied Eve from inside the house. Adam, Jack and the boys were out by the grill, and though he looked tired and battered, Adam had seemed okay. Eve, on the other hand, seemed … broken. She was leaning on the railing of the back porch, shoulders slumped, head down. Lainey couldn’t imagine what she had been through—especially since she still hasn’t heard the story. Whatever it was had caused a complete shift in Eve. Unable to stay away any longer, Lainey went to her.

“Eve?” She saw Eve flinch, but change her posture to stand straighter. Lainey’s heart broke a little more. Eve was putting on a façade for her.

Eve didn’t turn to Lainey, but granted her a quick glance. It hurt too much to look at her. “Hi.”

Lainey leaned on the railing with her, tentatively reaching over to place her hand on Eve’s. She could be imagining things because of the tension she felt, but she could swear Eve stiffened in response to her touch. More, Eve looked … afraid, looking quickly at Adam before pulling away. Lainey followed Eve’s eyes, and saw Adam watching them intently.

“Honey …” Was that a whimper she heard from Eve? Lainey quickly checked on Bella who was quietly, and happily, playing on her blanket. If it wasn’t Bella, it had to be Eve. “Talk to me, Eve.”

God, the pain was almost overwhelming. How was she going to make it through this? After everything else that has happened to her, this is the thing that brings her down? It made Eve fear that Laurence would get what he wanted all along.

Just when Lainey thought Eve wouldn’t say anything, she spoke in barely a whisper.

“
He knows
.”

“Sorry?”

Eve took a breath, and tried again. “Adam knows, Lainey.”

“Knows what?”

“About us.”

A sharp gasp filled the air around them as Lainey tried to comprehend the ramifications of what Eve told her.

“H-how? W-why would you tell him?” Oh God! Jack! Adam is down there with Jack and her sons. He’s going to tell them!

“I didn’t. He already knew.” Another glance at Lainey told Eve what Lainey feared. It wasn’t losing Eve, it was Adam telling her husband. “He’s not going to tell him,” she said icily.

Lainey’s eyes snapped back to Eve. Why on earth was she mad at her? Did Eve blame her for this? She hadn’t been the only one to pursue the relationship.

“You’re mad at
me
?”

“Forget it. Perhaps you just made this easier.”

“Made what easier?”

“Saying goodbye to you.”

Lainey gripped the railing in a white-knuckled grip. She felt all of the air leave her in an instant. She hadn’t thought of the possibility of Eve saying goodbye to her, because she didn’t think Eve could do it anymore than Lainey could. Hearing the coldness in Eve’s voice only made it worse.

Eve watched the blood drain from Lainey’s face, saw the death grip she had on the railing as if she would crumble if she let go, and immediately regretted her harsh words. She had been completely wrong, and she couldn’t wrap her arms around Lainey to show her how sorry she was. “I’m sorry I said that.”

Through her own painfully thundering heartbeat pounding in her ears, she heard Eve’s pain and sincerity.

“
Are you saying goodbye to me?
”

A tear rolled down Eve’s cheek, followed by another. “That’s up to Adam,” she answered miserably.

Adam couldn’t concentrate on what Jack and the boys were saying. His eyes stayed trained on Eve and Lainey, watching the exchange. And, he was staggered by the tremendous grief he saw in each woman. Hell, he could feel it.

“Excuse me, Jack. I hate to leave you out here to cook, but I have to speak with Lainey for a bit.”

Jack cast a curious glance at Adam, then back at his wife and Eve. Something was definitely wrong. Why did Adam need to speak with Lainey?

“Lainey?”

“Eve is going through a lot right now. I just want to make sure Lainey understands what’s going on.”

“Ah. Right.”

Adam didn’t wait for more dialogue, instead he made his way back to the house. Fuck. He could see the fear in Eve’s eyes as he approached, and hated it.

“Can I speak with you?”

It took Lainey a few seconds to recognize that Adam was talking to her. She took a step back from him, bumping into the rail with her hip.

“I would never hurt you, Lainey,” he said softly, seeing her apprehension for going anywhere with him. “But, I think we need to talk alone.”

“Adam …” Eve didn’t want Adam saying anything to Lainey that would hurt her more.

“Alone, Eve.”

“It’s fine,” Lainey cut in before Eve could object again. “I owe him at least that much.”

Lainey followed Adam inside, grabbing her purse as they made their way to the office. Once they were closed in, she waited.

Adam took a steadying breath before turning to face Lainey. “I hate what you did.”

Lainey lowered her eyes and nodded. When he said nothing else, she looked up at him and saw he was waiting for her to say something. She chose her words carefully and honestly. “I can’t regret what I did, Adam, but I do regret hurting you. I care so much about you, and it kills me to see you and Eve hurting.”

“But, you wouldn’t change it?”

Lainey shook her head.

“Are you in love with my wife?”

Lainey hesitated, shutting her eyes briefly. “I love Eve. I can’t deny that. But, we both made our decisions, Adam, and I chose Jack. Because, I’m
in
love with him.”

Adam pulled a hand through his hair and began pacing. This would be so much easier if he didn’t care for Lainey. “How do I live with this? How can I allow you to be in my house, with my wife, knowing what I know?” He made a noise of frustration. “You helped me.”

Lainey frowned in confusion.

“When Eve and I were going through our problems, you told me not to give up.
You
told me to open my eyes. You were sleeping with her then, right?”

An embarrassed flush crept up Lainey’s neck. It was the only answer Adam needed.

“Why did you help me?”

“Because I knew you and Eve belonged together,” Lainey said simply. “What I had with her, I couldn’t stop if I tried. And, believe me, I tried, Adam. It was something we both needed, which is why I can’t regret it. But, oh God, I never wanted to hurt you.” She took a step closer to Adam. “She believed she didn’t deserve you. That you needed someone better, that could give you more.”

“There is no one better,” Adam muttered. Even now, after everything he knew, he still believed that.

“If she hadn’t felt that way, I doubt she could’ve been with me.” The admission hurt her, but she knew deep down it was true.

Adam softened. “She needs you.”

“She needs us. I’ve never seen her like this. But, she told me it’s up to you if she says goodbye to me.”

Adam blinked in surprise. Eve was serious. She would give Lainey up for him. Knowing that was more powerful than anything. “You’re right. She needs us. But, damn it, Lainey, I have to be able to trust both of you.”

Here goes. “Adam, she knew I was having those deeper feelings again. She’s the one who couldn’t do anything about it. She wouldn’t do that to you. And, despite what I just said, I couldn’t do that to Jack or you. I know it’s going to be difficult to trust me, but I promise you, Eve will not jeopardize her relationship with you.”

“I wish I could believe that.” He was beginning to get a throbbing headache. Sitting down and relaxing was probably the thing he should be doing, yet he’s here confronting his wife’s … what? Best friend? Former lover?

Lainey turned to her purse, digging around the enormous thing until she found what she was looking for.

“Before you make any judgments, please read these. I found them in Bella’s diaper bag. I probably shouldn’t have read the one addressed to me, but I did. I didn’t read yours or Bella’s.”

Adam narrowed his eyes, studying the three envelopes in Lainey’s hand. His, Bella’s and Lainey’s names were written in Eve’s unmistakable handwriting. When Lainey pushed them closer to him, he took them. Instinctively, he thrust Lainey’s back to her.

She pushed it back to him. “Read it.”

Eve sat alone in her studio, staring at the canvas in front of her. Adam was making her sweat with his decision about Lainey. He had been civil enough, even to Lainey, during dinner, but he still hasn’t said anything to her.

When Lainey and her family left, Eve waited patiently for Adam to come to her. Instead, he locked himself away in the office after they put an exhausted Bella to bed. With a broken heart, Eve came out to her studio. And, nothing. The aroma of canvases and paints did nothing to inspire her. She literally felt as though all of the talent she once possessed had just disappeared.

Eve unlocked the back room, forcing herself to go in. Everything in that room reminded her of the most inspired time in her life. After she met Lainey and began opening her heart, creativity flowed through her like never before. Some of her best work was in this room. Including the portraits of both Adam and Lainey. She wanted this back.

“Eve?”

Eve gasped, stumbling into some of the paintings leaning against the wall.

“You shouldn’t be here. Please, Lainey, you have to leave. If Adam finds you here …”

“I asked her to come, Eve.” Adam stepped inside and stood next to Lainey.

Her head was spinning. This was it. He was going to tell her his decision now. Did he bring Lainey here to say goodbye? She didn’t want to know. If he didn’t say the words, she could pretend everything was the way it was before.