“Oh, you know it’s all right. The new place is great, and we’re still getting settled, but the boys seem okay. I’m having one of those play therapists come over this afternoon and spend some time getting to know them. She came highly recommended, and I don’t know . . . Maybe it’s all a little unnecessary, but I just want to make sure they’re really okay, that they’re adjusting. It’s all just so much. I know that. And I feel terrible about everything.”
Jessica squeezed Addie’s arm. “Are you all right, sweetie? I’m really worried about you. After I got your text about the crazy-guy incident, I’ve been so worried.”
Addie stared out the window for a while without speaking. “I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about this Jessica, as though somehow if I say it out loud it’ll all be true.”
“What will be true, Addison?”
“He’s watching me. I know that. I just feel it if that makes sense. Part of me thinks he’s just trying to scare me, to intimidate me before the trial. But the other part of me worries that maybe he’s up to more than that.”
“Listen to me, Addison. You need to go to the police. This is serious. The guy has called you, and now you think he’s following you. You just don’t mess around in a situation like this, not after, well, especially not after what happened before.”
Addie raised her voice. “I have.” She looked around and then calmed herself a little before continuing. “I have gone to the police, Jess. All they do is take my statement and tell me they’ll look into it. I don’t know what else to do.”
“What do the security people say? Do you have any idea why they wouldn’t have seen him if Connor did?”
Addie sighed and threw up her hands. “That’s the thing. If he were really there, they should’ve seen him. So who knows? Maybe he’s not really following me. I don’t even know what to think anymore.”
“And Patrick? How’d he take it when he got home?”
“The way you’d probably imagine. He’s pissed. He called, threatening me with all kinds of legal action. He’s picking the boys up from school tomorrow, and then we’re meeting to talk after I get off work.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.” Jess laughed a little and then straightened. “So tell me about the other night with lover boy.”
Addie bit her lip and blushed. “What’s there to tell?”
“Oh come on! This is the first time I’ve seen you perk up in weeks.”
“It was . . . It was, well, how it always it is—indescribable.” Addie smirked.
Jess frowned and then pulled out her phone.
Addie studied her face for a second and then spoke slowly. “I know, Jess. I know what I’m doing is wrong. And I know that you don’t agree with it. I could lie and say I can’t help myself, but we both know that isn’t true. I’m sorry I let you down. I just don’t understand why you’d ask if you’re just going to make me feel worse about myself. I already feel like shit. Can’t you see that?”
Jess inhaled sharply. “Oh, honey, I’m not trying to make you feel bad. Really, I’m not. I just want to know if you’ve fully thought through what it is you’re doing. I love you dearly, and I just want to make sure you’re ready for what it is you’re thrusting yourself into. I mean . . . You know men like William Hartman. They’re not exactly pillars of success when it comes to relationships and settling down.”
Addie crossed her arms. “I get what you’re saying, Jess, and I appreciate your concern, but I love him.”
Jessica leaned in close and reached for Addie’s hand, catching her off guard a little. “That’s what I was afraid you were g
oing to say and also why it kills me to have to show you this, but Addison, please, wake up. You want to divorce Patrick? Fine, I support you. But please, honey, really give this thing you’re getting yourself into some thought. I just want to be sure you’re ready for it.
Addie took the phone from Jess and hesitantly read what was on the screen.
WILLIAM HARTMAN, ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELORS, ATTENDS GALA WITH MYSTERY REDHEAD. SAID TO FINALLY BE READY TO SETTLE DOWN.
Addie handed Jess the phone back, stood, kissed her on the cheek, and walked out the door without another word.
Addie decided she needed fresh air and left her car in the parking garage near the coffee shop. It was a cold dreary day, especially for a place like Austin, Texas. She hadn’t considered the temperature when she took off, but the cold practically forced her to speed walk the few blocks it took her to get to her office. In heels, no less.
Addie’s mind raced. Damn it. How could she have been so stupid? All she knew was that she had to stop the letter from getting to William. Seeing him in the latest gossip rag smiling smugly with some busty redhead draped over him literally made her sick. She’d be damned if she were going to let him make a fool of her. And that’s exactly what she was: a damned fool. For so many things really. For not only believing that a man like William Hartman could love her but also for believing that he could be anything other than what he was.
Addie dialed Carl and asked him to call William’s guys and intercept the letter. He assured her he’d do what he could only to call her back a few minutes later, his voice solemn. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Greyer. Mr. Hartman has the letter in his possession. He’s also asked to see you and wants me to set something up with you.”
“You tell Mr. Hartman I said that he can go fuck himself. Tell him I’m done.”
When Patrick arrived home to an unexpectedly mostly empty house, he’d been too overwhelmed by everything that happened over the weekend to really do much about it. Had he not just been forced to swallow the news he had, he likely would’ve rushed over to wherever his wife was and demanded that she come home. But now, he wasn’t sure what it was that he should do. He’d dug himself in deep by knocking Michele up; that much was certain.
He needed to talk to his wife. He needed her to make this better the way she usually did, so Patrick cancelled his morning and headed to Addie’s office with a plan.