Chapter 8
Pumpkin placed a paw on Lauren’s knee.
Lauren kept her eyes on the screen of her laptop but reached down to ruffle Pumpkin’s ears. “I’m just checking this last order,” she said. “As soon as I hit send, we’re heading home. I know we’re an hour past your usual supper time.”
She glanced from the order screen to the notes on the note pad beside her computer. “Okay,” she muttered. “That’s everything.” She clicked Place Order. The confirmation screen populated with an order number. Lauren printed it, closed her laptop, and stood.
“You’re such a good girl,” she said, smiling down at Pumpkin. Her gaze flicked to the untidy stack of papers on her desk. Kathy was comfortable leaving chaos behind at the end of the day; Lauren was not. She checked her watch, hesitated, then shook her head. Tonight, Pumpkin came first.
Lauren grabbed her purse, clipped Pumpkin’s leash to her collar, and headed out the back door. Kathy had departed after the meeting with Susan Hunter. The only car in the lot should have been Lauren’s. Instead, a familiar luxury convertible sat idling near the curb, top down despite the chill.
The heavy metal door of K + L Interiors slammed shut behind them. Lauren and Pumpkin stopped short.
Darren stepped out of the car with an easy confidence that instantly raised Lauren’s guard. “Hey, girls,” he said. “I was starting to worry about you. You haven’t answered any of my texts since Thanksgiving.”
Lauren straightened. Pumpkin pressed firmly against her leg, her body rigid, offering none of the enthusiastic greeting she bestowed on almost everyone but Darren.
“As you can see, we’re fine,” Lauren said evenly.
“That sounds chilly,” Darren said, stepping closer. He lifted a hand toward her face.
Lauren took a deliberate step back.
“You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” he said, exhaling dramatically. “All because I got sick and couldn’t come to Thanksgiving dinner.”
Lauren narrowed her eyes.
“Come on, babe. That’s not fair. I didn’t want you to get sick.” He leaned in again.
Lauren inhaled slowly. “You’re half right, Darren. I am angry. But not because you canceled at the last minute for being sick.” She met his gaze steadily.
His grin held, but the skin around his eyes tightened. “What then?”
“There was someone else with you on Thanksgiving,” Lauren said calmly. “And you clearly weren’t worried about making her sick.”
He tilted his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The car in your driveway.”
“You mean my sister?” He straightened, indignant. “Have you been spying on me like a teenager stalking her boyfriend?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I made you a plate of food and drove to your house to drop it off. I planned to text you after I left it by the door.”
“Oh. I didn’t find anything. And I never got a text.”
“No,” Lauren replied. “You didn’t. Because I didn’t leave it.” She held his gaze. “And if the woman I saw you kissing was your sister, then you’ve got far bigger problems than I realized.”
The color drained from Darren’s face. “You—”
“I saw everything,” Lauren said. “And that woman was not your sister.”
He looked down, swallowed, then lifted his head. “I owe you the truth.”
Lauren gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
“That was a woman I dated before you,” he said.
“I broke it off before you and I got serious. She called me Thanksgiving morning. Her mother had died. She was devastated and asked if she could come over. I didn’t have the heart to say no.
She didn’t know about you, and it felt cruel to tell her then.
” His eyes searched Lauren’s face, hopeful.
Lauren stepped to the side and made a show of studying his profile. “Is your nose okay?” she asked.
He blinked. “What?”
“I can see it growing from here,” she said lightly, her tone cool. “Pinocchio would be impressed.”
He frowned. “You don’t believe me.”
“Of course I don’t.” Lauren threw up her hands. “That story is complete nonsense. I’m amazed you thought I’d be foolish enough to believe that explanation.” She tugged gently on Pumpkin’s leash and stepped past him.
“That’s it?” Darren asked. “You’re breaking up with me?”
Lauren turned back, composed. “Yes. I am.”
“You’re just throwing away what we had?” he insisted.
“You still don’t get it,” Lauren said, her voice rising just a notch. “I was happily married. I know what makes a real, loving relationship: honesty, integrity, and trust. We clearly don’t have that, and I won’t settle for less.” She turned her back on him and walked toward her car.
“You’ll change your mind,” Darren called after her. “You’ll calm down and call me in a couple of days.”
Lauren unlocked her door and stepped aside to allow Pumpkin to jump in.
Pumpkin turned, fixed Darren with a low growl, bared her teeth, and then hopped into the car.
“Pumpkin never liked you,” Lauren called over her shoulder. “That should’ve told me everything.”
She got in, shut the door, and drove away, leaving Darren standing alone in the lot, staring after her retreating taillights.