Leah Braemel - Deliberate Deceptions

The rest of the letter explained about Tranquil Pastures, and her diagnosis, just as she’d said. She’d pleaded with him to phone her or write her back.

May 11, 2002

…I love you, Chad. I’m so sorry for what I said during that fight. I know Emily didn’t die because of anything you did. It was my fault, all mine, and I cannot beg your forgiveness enough…

The second letter continued, with yet another plea for him to write if he couldn’t phone, to let her know he was all right, and asked if he’d consider visiting her until she was well enough to come home. So did the third. And the fourth.

The fifth letter wasn’t written by Lauren but by her psychiatrist.

Dear Mr. Miller,

It is vital to your wife’s recovery…

Chad crumpled the letter in his fist. Damn Tom Jenkins. Lauren had needed him.

Dear Chad, He checked the date, this had been written six months after her first letter. I’ve been praying that you’d get in contact with me after Dr. Maudsley wrote to you. Since we haven’t heard from you, I can only assume you don’t want me to come home to live with you when I’m released the day after tomorrow…

He closed his eyes. I would have come for you if I’d known, babe. Nothing could have stopped me.

February 13, 2004

Dear Chad,

I received the divorce papers from your attorney today. I had hoped that perhaps we could work on repairing our marriage, but Thalia tells me that you’ve been dating someone else for the past few months and that the two of you have moved in together. I hope she is stronger for you than I have been, and that she makes you happy because you deserve happiness. I will always regret that I couldn’t be the one to give it to you. I love you, and always will…

He had to read the last line twice, then re-read the paragraph again. Thalia had told Lauren he was living with someone? Lauren had said once that she’d heard he was living with someone, but not once could he remember her saying that it was his own sister who had lied to her.

His BlackBerry rang. A quick check of the caller ID had him answering. “I was wondering how long it would take before you called, Coop.”

“Lauren said you were asleep.”

“I was.” Yet you called me anyway. Arrogant ass.

Cooper grunted, which would be as close to an apology as he’d get Chad supposed. “I heard Sam came to visit you earlier.”

“You heard or are you having us watched?”

“I ran into him and Rosie at the club, and he mentioned he’d dropped by. I thought I’d better make sure you completely understand that agreement you signed yesterday means you can’t tell him anything about what you’ve learned.”

Since I was still half doped up when you made me sign that fucking paper, you mean.

“I haven’t said a word to him or anyone else.” Yet. “I want your assurance you will never use the club for anything related to the Brigade ever again. Because if I ever find you have put anyone at that club in danger, I am coming after you.”

“Just make sure you keep your mouth shut to Sam. And anyone else.”

“Considering you threatened to take me into custody if I didn’t, I don’t have much of a choice, do I? Are we done?”

“No. I want you to convince Lauren to come back and work for the Brigade. She doesn’t have to go back into the field, but I need her.”

Tough shit. So did he. So had he for the last ten years. “That’s not my decision to make, Coop. It’s hers. If she wants to come back, I won’t stand in her way, but if she doesn’t, I’ll support her a hundred and ten percent.”

“Hmm, I’ll remember you said that if you decide things won’t work between you.” Cooper’s voice was cool, almost threatening.

“Whether we stay together or not, I’ll still support her.”

“Good to hear.” To his surprise, Cooper sounded approving. “By the way, I know Lauren doesn’t believe me but if I’d known what Thalia had done back then I would have told Thal to back off and made sure Lauren came home.”

“Thalia? What the-” Cooper had already cut the connection and Chad found himself talking to no one.

Just what the fuck had Thalia done?

Lauren opened the French doors and stepped onto the gray patio stones, the only ornament in the back garden. While Chad might have worked wonders inside the house, the yard had been left virtually untouched. In the spring, she’d plant daisies and black-eyed susans along the back fence. Maybe some sunflowers, and a rose trellis beside the patio so the fragrance could waft in when the door was open. And a fountain would be nice. One the birds could dart into and drink from or bathe in. There’s always been something soothing about listening to trickling water in the lazy summer days.

If she still lived here next summer.

Chad had changed. So had she. Not for the worse. They were just…different. Subtle changes they’d both have to adjust to, accept. Yet so much about them was the same. He could still read her moods, still knew what she found exciting in the bedroom and knew the exact amount of force to set her on fire. But a marriage couldn’t be built only on what happened in the bedroom.

The doorbell chimed, rousing her from her musings. After diverting to the kitchen to place her cup in the sink, she checked the monitor installed over the front door.

Thalia. Shit. She’d hoped it would be a couple more days before she’d face her again. Maybe she could just not answer the door. Pretend they weren’t here.

After a gesture from her sister-in-law, Thalia’s husband pressed the doorbell again. Damn it, they were going to wake Chad up if she didn’t answer it.

Cursing under her breath, Lauren turned off the alarm and flipped the deadbolt. Steeling herself, she opened the door. “Hello, Thalia.”

Thalia hissed and her eyes narrowed when she recognized who had opened the door. “What the hell are you doing here, Lauren? You’re supposed to be in Europe.”

“Nice to see you too. What do you want?”

“I heard that my brother had been shot. I came to see if he needed any help.”

While Lauren couldn’t fault Chad’s sister for worrying about Chad, she resented the unspoken implication that she was incapable of caring for him. “He’s fine. He may have to do some physio for a couple months, but he’ll recover.”

Ignoring her husband behind her, Thalia rolled her chair to the door. “I want to see him.”

For the first time, Lauren realized the step had been designed as a ramp. As much as she wanted to leave Thalia on the doorstop and close the door between them, Chad would never appreciate her treating his sister that way. She sighed and opened the door all the way. “I really wish you’d come back another time. He’s sleeping right now.”

“Good.” Thalia rounded on her. “I thought we had an agreement that you were to stay away from my brother. Permanently.”

“You lied, Thalia. Repeatedly. That voided any agreement as far as I was concerned.”

“You weren’t right for him. I couldn’t let you get back together so I did what I had to do to protect him.”

“I love Chad, Thal. I always did, and I always will.”

“You signed the divorce agreement quickly enough,” Thalia sneered.

“Only because you told me he wanted to get married again. If I’d come back when I wanted to, we might have had a chance.”

“He needed someone better than you. Someone stronger.”

Lauren ran her hand through her hair. Ten years before, she’d have agreed. Now? Not a chance. “I trusted you, Thalia. I thought we were friends, but we weren’t. Were we ever?”

“You were his wife-you were supposed to be on his side no matter what happened. You weren’t there for him the way you should have been.”