Chapter 31
Hannah
Private Investigator Mark Wilson sat across from Derek, listening intently to everything he said as he looked through photographs and heard about my lengthy history committing fraud against both small businesses and larger ones. It was so matter of fact, it almost seemed like he was talking about someone else...like it wasn’t me.
Although technically maybe it wasn’t me...not anymore.
I wished I could detach myself from that person as easily as he seemed to have forgotten everything she did to hurt him. Mr. Wilson glanced at me from across the living room, unable to hide how well he was studying me...like he couldn’t believe I was truly the person Derek was talking about. He nodded once before sitting back and running a hand through his dark brown curls. He seemed friendly enough, but with the way things were going I didn’t trust him.
I didn’t trust anyone.
“Do you have a list of previous clients for your marketing firm?” He finally asked.
I blinked a couple of times, shocked. How hadn’t it occurred to me to look at the list of clients?
“I have one,” Derek said, forcing a smile as he opened his laptop. My brows furrowed but he placed a hand on my knee, easing my worries. “Evie sent it to me.” His attention returned to the private investigator, handing over another file he’d set to the side. “We also have the police report for the break in at the gallery a few weeks ago. I’ve thought about it and I think it may all be connected.”
I hummed, watching the PI’s face as he skimmed the list Derek had sent on his phone.
“Quite a list, huh? Glad to see you turned your life around.” Derek tensed next to me but didn’t say a word. It wasn’t a backhanded comment, simply the truth. “Is there someone in particular that you think would try to hurt you?”
“I...uh...several of us settled out of court so I don’t think so...” I paused, running a brief list of people through my mind...
There were too many of them and my mind swarmed with all the possibilities. Perhaps it was too far-fetched to think that everyone had joined forces to destroy me but there had to be one...just one...
“Oh my god,” I gasped, standing up with my heart thundering in my chest. “Mark, I can call you Mark, right? Eugene Calvin. Look into Eugene. He—he found me when I worked at your restaurant, Derek, remember? He was so upset...it has to be him.”
I’m glad to see you”re still in the game.
Still.
Eugene hated me—I’d cost him his family, cost him his company and reputation. There wasn’t anything he cared more about than his reputation.
“She’s right,” Derek nodded. “He would show up at my restaurant and cause a fucking scene every time she was there.”
Mark smiled as he typed something in on his phone, like he had hit the jackpot.
“Continue to live your life as if you haven’t hired a private investigator,” Mark said, standing up and typing out a text. ”I will be following you to see if I notice anyone doing the same thing. In the meantime, get your attorney on board...we’re going to need one when this all boils over.”
The man walked toward the door with resolve, as if he had everything he needed to get this situation under control. I cleared my throat, gaining his attention once more.
“How long is this going to take?” Bile crept up my throat at the thought as I admitted out loud what I feared for the first time. “I don’t feel like time is on our side and we have two daughters and...”
Mark offered a smile...a confident one. “I’m very good at what I do. I’ll have your answers sooner than you think.”
Did I really want to know?
I fell back onto the sofa as Mark closed the door, leaving the house quiet. The girls still slept and though Derek was awake, I could tell he was also flooded by concern. He disappeared into the kitchen and when I heard the door to the backyard close, I knew he needed to be alone.
Just like I did.
This couldn’t be easy for him, either.
In an ideal world, I would have paid for my mistakes and moved on. None of this would have followed me, everyone would have forgiven me and we would have lived happily ever after. And though I told myself I wouldn’t dwell on what was happening, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I couldn’t sleep with the thought of everything that could happen.
I could barely even breathe.
I looked at the picture that hung on the wall, one from our wedding, in which Derek embraced me as we danced, his loving eyes looking at me as if I was his whole world and it tore at my heart.
I licked my lips at the sudden dryness in my mouth as my mind raced.
I wanted to make him happy.
But what if I wasn’t the one?
What if all I brought to him was heartache?
A quiet “mama” pulled me away from my thoughts and immediately, a smile formed on my face. Eager to see my princesses, I raced to their bedroom, greeting both of them with a kiss to their foreheads.
I wasn’t sure how the hell we’d get out of this situation, but for them I would figure it out.
I spent most of the morning alone with the girls after Derek left to go to the restaurant. Of course, he’d told me to keep the door locked at all times and to call if anything, absolutely anything, happened, but I didn’t miss the way he’d kissed me or the way his emerald eyes had dimmed with so much going through his head.
I’d give him as much space as he needed.
Nothing I could say would make things better.
My girls crawled on the blanket I’d set in the backyard, giggling as they imitated each other when my phone vibrated next to me.
Evie.
Evie: I hope you’re doing okay. Let me know if you need anything.
Rolling my eyes, I set my phone back down. She meant well, but should have never told Derek.
I didn’t bother trying to make sense of the situation anymore.
Instead, I laid down on the blanket with my girls and focused on them, their smiles and their warmth and told myself eventually...everything would be back to normal.
Whatever that was.
***
There wasn’t anything I hated more than our situation but...cooking was pretty close. After spending the afternoon actually cooking from scratch, trying to prepare something for Derek, I set the table in the hopes of lightening up the mood between us. The girls babbled as they watched me set down the jar of homemade lemonade I placed in the center of the table, followed by the utensils.
Outside, I heard the door of a car closed and I smiled, knowing it was Derek. Sure enough after a few seconds the door opened and he appeared in the entryway, holding a large bouquet of red roses. He made everything in my body flutter when he offered me a grin, one that lit up his eyes despite the craziness surrounding us.
“An I love you and an apology for being so distant today.” I took the roses in my hands and stood on my tippy toes, reaching up and placing a kiss on his lips. “Sorry for leaving.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “They are beautiful.”
“As are you.”
Rolling my eyes, I stepped back and watched as he greeted our daughters with a kiss. “I have something for you, too.”
“I see that,” he replied, eyeing the table. “You cooked?”
Sheepishly, I shrugged, setting the vase down on the island before walking over to the stove. The pasta looked like...well, pasta, so that was a good sign but truthfully...I wasn’t sure how it would taste.
“I made spaghetti and a side salad.”
“Ah, good. You started small.”
I gasped, but didn’t deny it. Cooking was not my forte and he knew that.
“Are you hungry?”
Derek sat at the table next to our girls and nodded, watching me as I served spaghetti for all of us. He watched me intently, a hint of playful amusement in his expression. I placed a plate in front of him and then sat next to him, waiting for him to taste it.
Few things had given me as much joy as this moment. As simple as it was, having him with me, sharing something as small as a meal made everything right.
He took the first bite out of the dinner I prepared, and I waited for his reaction. He stifled a smile, one that shone through his eyes.
I loved seeing his happiness.
“So? How is it?”
“It’s great, baby. You should try it.”
I did.
I winced when saltiness hit my taste buds, so much I had to very quickly spit it out. Derek chuckled as he stood up, looking at the mess I’d left behind in the kitchen until he found what he was looking for. He picked up a tablespoon, holding it up as he leaned against the counter.
“What did you use? A recipe?”
“Yes.”
“It said teaspoon, not tablespoon, baby.”
My brows furrowed until he opened the drawer and showed me the smaller item.
He held it in as long as he could, I could see it in his expression, but in the end, he let out a small chuckle that quickly turned into full blown laughter. It was so free, so genuine, that I couldn’t bring myself to care that I had screwed up something as simple as spaghetti.
Feigning frustration, I walked past him and picked up my phone, and dialed a number I should have memorized by then.
“Hello, I’d like to order a pizza.”
We ended up eating on the living room floor, the girls enjoying a breadstick that would probably have me placed on the list of worst mothers on earth, but who the hell cared. One time wouldn’t cause any harm, especially with how much they giggled. Derek took a bite out of his slice of pizza and draped his arm over my shoulders, holding me close to him despite the craziness of the day.
“Stick to the recipe next time.” I nudged him slightly, embracing his chuckle once again.
He’d laughed a lot in the last hour, and the sound made me fall in love with him all over again.
My eyes followed his movements as he took the empty pizza box to the kitchen and threw it away.
Life wasn’t perfect, far from it...but with him it was worth it. He smiled from the kitchen, one that told me he felt the same way and deep down I knew, I felt it in every cell of my soul, everything would be okay.
It had to be.