Authors: Ann Everett
Tell Me a Secret (31 page)
“Let’s say you’re right and somewhere down the line that happened. But what if it didn’t? Think of what you’ve given up. Is that what you want?”
Jace laid the envelope on the bedside table. “If you don’t mind, bring me one of those sleeping pills.”
“I’ll give you half. That will provide some rest and when you get up, we’ll do another workout. Okay?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Later that afternoon, after a nap, Jace rolled from room to room. There wasn’t a place in the house untouched by her. He recalled spending hours moving furniture into every possible arrangement before she decided where each piece should go. Swatches of fabric and paint chips stayed taped on walls for weeks in order to make the perfect selection. She’d fussed for days over area rugs. Unless he gutted the place, he’d never get her out of his head. Unable to eat, think straight, or sleep without medication, he’d read her old letters so many times, he had them memorized. He wanted to call and ask her to come home, but each time he reached for the phone, he reminded himself how another man could give her children, a family. The one thing she’d always wanted. He couldn’t be that selfish.
Sitting at the window, he stared out into the yard. Even the red, orange and gold leaves clinging to the last days of autumn reminded him of her hair. Damn, at this rate he’d never get any relief. Then suddenly, his heart jumped to this throat. He rubbed his eyes and tried to decide if the vision was a remnant of the drugs or real.
“Kyle!”
He rushed into the room. “What’s wrong?”
“Hurry! Look.” He pointed toward the drive. “Is that Maggie?”
Kyle stepped to the window. “Yeah, that’s her all right.”
She got out of the car, pulled her long winter coat tight around her, and headed toward his parents’ house. “What’s she doing? Why is she over at Mom’s?
“Why don’t you call and ask?”
“I can’t do that.”
“What you mean, is you
won’t
do it. This is your chance, man. Maybe your only chance.”
Jace jerked when he saw movement across the lawn. “It’s Mom. She’s coming over here.” He rolled to the door to meet her. “What’s Maggie doing at your house? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, which is more than I can say for you. You look awful. I’m here to get a few things.”
“What things?”
“She wants me to finish packing her closet and here’s a list of furniture.” She handed the paper to Jace. “Read it and make sure you’re okay with the pieces she wants to take. The mover is coming tomorrow and she’d appreciate it if you arranged to be gone.”
Sadness washed over him. His chest constricted, squeezing the air from his lungs. He hung his head and wept.
His mom placed her hand on his shoulder. “Call her. You’ve got to do something. She wants to come home, so let her. Please listen to me.” She picked up the phone and offered it to him. “Do it. Do it now, before it’s too late.”
He stared at it. His heart pounded so hard, he grabbed his chest. Pain shot up his throat and he strangled trying to get a breath. His mom grabbed the phone and punched in the number, then held it to his ear.
At the sound of Maggie’s voice, he froze.
“Hello. Hello? Jace, are you there?”
He sobbed harder but managed to choke out. “Maggie.” Minutes later, when she rushed into the room and knelt in front of him, he was still repeating her name.
Kyle and Elizabeth left them alone and Jace buried his face in Maggie’s hair and sobbed into her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. I’ve tried, but I can’t live without you. You’re better off with someone else, but I can’t do it. Don’t divorce me. Please don’t divorce me. I need you.”
She pulled away from him and looked him eye to eye. “I’m not
divorcing
you. Hush, everything’s going to be all right. I promise.”
“Then why are the movers coming?”
“They’re not. I lied.”
“What?” Did he hear correctly? She didn’t lie—ever. It wasn’t in her nature. But then again, he recalled what she’d written about not being honest. “You lied? Why?”
“I had to force your hand. I couldn’t wait any longer, because if I did, everyone would know the secret I’ve been keeping.”
He focused on her face and wanted to look at her forever. To hold her and kiss her and never be without her again. Then he realized what she’d said. “What secret?”
She stood and removed her coat. Her sweater clung to her bulging belly. “I’m pregnant.
We’re
pregnant. Twins.”
He wiped his eyes and said nothing. The words hung between them. Finally, he sucked in a weak breath. “Pregnant? We’re pregnant? How? When?”
She giggled. “You know how. As for when, it must have been the week of your accident.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“At first, I just thought my missed period and nausea was due to the stress of your injury and coming off the fertility drugs. By the time I found out, you’d made me leave. Then I couldn’t tell you, because you said if we had children you wouldn’t have asked me to go because
they
would need me. I wanted
you
to need me—to want me.”
He leaned his forehead against her stomach. “I do want you, and I’m sorry for everything. I said things and…” His voice trailed off and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “Maggie, I…”
“Shh. You don’t have to say anything. We’ve both made mistakes. I wasn’t honest with you about my trust fund. I inherited a ton of money, Jace. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid it would change things between us.”
“Thank God. I thought it had to do with Jared.”
She shrugged away from him and locked her eyes on his. “There is nothing between Jared and me. I want you to stop being jealous of him. Can you do that?”
“I’ll try.”
“Good. Besides, I have a girl in mind for him. A new friend. Beth Ann Blevins.”
Jace’s heart stopped. Blevins? Was she related to Amanda Blevins? Oh God. “I need to tell you something.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Please, I have to. It’s eating me alive.” He took her hands and held them. “There was this woman at work. Someone from college. I’m sorry…”
Maggie put her fingers to his mouth. “Stop. I don’t want to know. Even if you slept with her, it won’t make any difference. I love you and our children are going to have a mother and father who love them. No matter what.”
“I didn’t. I swear. But I think I would have and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. She’s nobody. She means nothing and I was willing to throw away what we have…”
She stopped him again. “That’s all you have to say.”
“I love you, Maggie. I’ve always loved you and I always will.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and removed her winter boots. “Will you lie down with me? I want your arms around me.”
He leaned forward and removed his shoes, then transferred from his chair to the bed. He wrapped her in his arms and she rested her head on his chest, then ran her hand across his bicep. “Wow, you have muscles.”
“Yeah, Kyle works me hard.” He held her tighter, loving the way she felt against him. Then he jerked away and pushed up with his hands, leaned in and kissed her belly. “Hello, in there. This is your daddy and I love you.” He lay back and rested his hand on her stomach. “Whoa! Did you feel that?
She laughed. “She kicked you.”
“She?”
“Girls. You’re not disappointed are you?”
“No. I’m happy. I’m the happiest I’ve been in months. Mom will be thrilled. She’s always wanted a girl.”
Maggie leaned away again and rested her chin in hand. “I have one more secret. I’m using funds from my trust to build a rehabilitation center and we’re going to name it after you. I hope you’ll be the director. Run the place. That’s part of the contract. The job is yours if you want it. You can even start a basketball team and get back into coaching.”
“Anything you want. I’m so happy to have you home.” He kissed her. A hungry, urgent kiss and when it ended, he did it again. “God, I love you so much, but life isn’t going to be easy. You know that, right?”
She took a deep breath and smiled. “Oh Jace, have a little faith. Before I’m done with you, you’ll be thanking God and Google.”
If you enjoyed Tell Me a Secret, reviews on online book retailers and Goodreads are always appreciated!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many thanks to the members of thenextbigwriter.com for taking the time to read and critique this novel. A special thank you to my Beta Readers, Rebecca Ball, Nancy Kuykendall and Christina Jean Michaels.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ann Everett frequently performs humorous presentations for businesses, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations. She lives on a small lake in Texas with her husband, where she drinks too many Diet Dr. Peppers and bakes way too many sweets!
Stalk Ann!
