There are moments in every person’s life that change everything. Moments that take what we thought we know and completely skew them into something we no longer recognize. For me, this was one of those defining moments.

“I’m sorry, how rude of me.” The pretty brunette standing in front of me smiles. Only it’s not the friendly kind of smile you give someone you’re happy to meet. It’s more of one of those I’m sizing you up and I think I have the upper hand kind of smiles. “Stephanie Demasi,” she says, extending her hand.

Like a bolt of lightning it hits me. I know where I’ve seen her before. Thrive. She was the brunette in Hudson’s lap that night. I don’t know how I know that. How I could possibly remember someone I only saw once for a brief moment over five years ago, but I swear it’s her. I can feel it to my bones.

“Demasi?” I question, a sort of fog settling over me.

“As in Mrs. Hudson Demasi.” Her words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest.

At first I think she’s messing with me. She has to be. There’s no way he’s married. There’s no way after all these weeks he failed to mention he has a wife. I’ve met his family. Who never once mentioned a Stephanie. Certainly if this were true I would have found out before now.

“That’s enough, Steph,” Colton snips and my eyes dart to him, the reality finally starting to sink in.

“It’s true?” I ask, fighting back the tears welling in my eyes.

“It’s not what you think, Len.” 

“Is it true?” I ask again, my voice shaking as it rises.

“Yes, but...”

Not willing or desiring to hear anything more he has to say, I spin on my heel and run through the courthouse as fast as my two feet will take me.

“Lennon, please.” Colton catches up to me just as I pull open my car door.

Spinning toward him, he instantly takes a full step back when he sees the look on my face.

“You knew,” I seethe, pointing my finger at his chest. “You knew he was married and you never once thought that I deserved to know?”

“I did think you deserved to know. But it’s not what you’re thinking. Steph and Hudson...they were a long time ago.”

“And that makes lying to me okay?” I scream, not caring who hears me.  “He’s married, Colton. Do you get how messed up that is?”

“I do. Trust me I do.” 

“You knew she’d be here. That’s why you tried so hard to keep me home.” Everything suddenly makes perfect sense.

“Lennon, please. Hudson loves you. Just give him a chance to explain everything before you write him off.”

“His chance for telling me he was married was weeks ago. I’ve been down this path before. Being lied to and betrayed. I won’t do it again.” I spin, dropping into the driver’s seat. “You can tell Hudson I hope his wife is more forgiving than I am.” I slam the door in his face and fire the engine to life, ignoring Colton’s pleas as I pop the car in gear and quickly speed away.

—-

“I don’t get it.” Emma paces the carpet in front of me, her eyes locked on her cell phone in her hand. “There’s nothing here about him being married. How would that information not have gotten out?” She looks at me with pity in her eyes and I swear it only further fuels the anger bubbling inside of me.

After I left the courthouse, I came straight to Emma’s, knowing she’d be the only person in the world who could talk me down. I expected her to make me feel better, to make me see something I wasn’t seeing, but thus far she’s been no help.

Not that it’s her fault. There’s one person that can give me the answers I need and right now he’s the absolute last person I want to see.

“There has to be a reasonable explanation,” Robert offers from his place on the couch. “You said Colton knew she would be there. Why would Hudson have her come? Did he seriously think you wouldn’t show at the courthouse? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t,” I agree. “None of this makes any sense.” I pull at my hair, feeling like I want to claw my way out of my own skin.

“Robert’s right, Len. There has to be a reasonable explanation. Especially after what happened last night with Gage.”

“When Colton asked me not to go I thought it was because Hudson was angry with me. That maybe he thought he saw me as a willing participant and blamed me for the whole thing. But I was adamant about going and Colton almost became desperate. I knew something was up. I could feel it in my gut. I just never in a million years dreamed that this is what he was hiding.”

“Of course you didn’t, sweetie.” Emma slides down on the loveseat next to me. “There’s no way you could have seen this coming.” She gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “The question is what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know,” my voice breaks. My chest tightening to the point I feel on the verge of hyperventilation. “I can’t see him right now. I just need... I just need time to think.”

“Lennon,” Robert whispers and I look up to meet his dark gaze. “I can’t presume to know what you’re feeling right now, and I’m so sorry you’re hurting. But putting this off will only make it worse. You need answers and until you get them you’re going to drive yourself crazy.”

“He’s right, Len. I get that you need time to process, but you need to talk to Hudson.”

“I can’t even think about that right now.” I shake my head, swiping angrily at the tears sliding down my cheeks.

“You’re exhausted. Why don’t you go lay down in the guest room. Try to get a little sleep. Maybe you’ll wake with a clearer head and have a better idea of what you need to do.”

She’s right. I’m both mentally and physically exhausted, but the thought of sleep doesn’t sound appealing. How can I sleep when all I can see is her face? Hudson’s wife. God it doesn’t even seem real.

“I think I’m going to head home,” I say, feeling like I need some time to collect myself and try to gather my thoughts.

“I’ll come with you,” Emma immediately offers.

“No.” I shake my head and stand. “I love you for offering, Em. But right now I think I need to be alone.”

“You’ll call if you need anything?” she asks and I can tell she doesn’t want to let me go.

“I will.” I nod.

“And you’ll keep me posted the moment you know anything.”

“Promise.”

“And if you need someone to give him a good ass whooping?” Robert chimes in.

“You’ll be the first person I call,” I tell him, a smile managing to find its way to my lips.

“You sure you’re okay to be driving? You look like hell, Len,” Emma says, following me to the front door of the beautiful two story home Robert had built for them.

“I’m sure. Thanks for letting me vent.” I shrug, knowing vent is a stretch of what I just put her and Robert through. More like an hour long meltdown where I screamed and cried like a lunatic for ninety percent of the time.

“Always.” She gives me a soft smile as I pull open the door and step onto the front porch – the afternoon sun way too bright for my sensitive eyes. “Hey, Len,” Em calls out right as I reach the steps leading down to the sidewalk. “I love you.”

“Love you too.” I force a smile before turning and quickly walking away.