Chapter Thirty-Eight
The following two weeks were surprisingly quiet and therefore nerve-racking. Jade had her interview with the police, an emotionally grueling experience that would likely scar him for life. So many horrid details put into words… It had a way of carving each syllable into his heart. For now, he was content not to broach the subject for a while, finally understanding why Jade always seemed to avoid the topic. Everything she went through… It was simply too much to process in days or weeks. Maybe even years.
He and Jade, in search of a distraction, went to register. She quickly became preoccupied with invitations, caterers, and paint samples. Giving her cart blanche, as far as decorating the house went, seemed the right move at the time, but now he wasn’t so sure.
She constantly wanted his opinion on fabric swatches and paint colors, asking him to choose between something called Mountain Dusk and another called Morning Dew. Whatever happened to good old dark blue?
He couldn’t complain though. All the excitement of their reception party and the redecorating of the house kept her mind off the break-in. She had yet to return to the cottage for any of her personal things and Jeremy doubted she ever would.
She didn’t like to talk about the things left behind and got defensive whenever he asked about moving some of her furniture to their home. When he made mention of her iPad, she purchased a new one the next day, stating her old one had a cracked screen, which was a lie. Knowing someone had intruded on her personal space and desecrated some of her items, but never knowing which ones, left both of them with an unsettled feeling, so he understood she’d be replacing everything she could.
Work also kept her positive. Had it not been for the break in, there’d be no reason to complain. But there had been a break in and there still was a threat to his wife, so things were far from perfect.
She came into the living room carrying the binder where she kept guest lists and menu samples—the binder that scared him. She slid onto the couch, tucking her feet beneath her knees. “What are you smiling about?”
“You,” he answered honestly, thinking of how incredibly resilient she was.
“Aw, that’s sweet.” She kissed him on the cheek. “But you still have to help me address invitations.”
And that was why he hated the binder…
They sat addressing envelope after envelope to people Jeremy never heard of before. “Who’s Hetish Patel?”
“Oh, he’s a nuclear tech that works with me.”
He nodded. “Is this supposed to be Francis with an I? You have it down as Frances and Joan Banning.”
“No, that’s right. Fran and Joan. They’re both women.”
“They’re married?”
She nodded. “I work with work with a lot of lesbians, so don’t be surprised if you see two women dancing together at the reception.”
He tensed. “We’re having dancing?”
“Well, not a dance floor, but you never know.”
Were they inviting the entire hospital? They already had three stacks ready to mail and were only halfway though her list. His attention was snagged on the invitation she was addressing. “What are you doing?”
Without stopping her pen, she said, “Addressing an invitation.”
“I see that. Why are you addressing one to him?”
She exhaled and put down her pen. Facing him, she drew in an irritated breath. “Are we really going to do this again? He’s become my friend, Jeremy.”
“I don’t want him in our home, Jade.”
“Fine! Then we’ll just stop wasting our time and cancel everything.”
“Because I said Nathan can’t come? You’re being ridiculous!”
“No, you’re being ridiculous. Why do you find him so threatening? Do you think if he had anything to do with what happened to me he would’ve told me to include so much detail in my statement to the cops? This is absurd. He isn’t the guy everyone thinks he is. You’re all wrong about him and I don’t know how to prove it—”
“Because you don’t know!” Jeremy barked. “You just believe the best in people and then you get hurt.”
“I know with Nathan!” she shouted. “I’ve seen proof. How many times do I have to say so before you actually believe me? Every time we have this argument, it only amplifies how little you trust my judgment.”
“What proof?” He raised his own voice. “Proof is finding the person who actually did it. Until you have a different suspect, you can’t say for certain he isn’t lying.”
“Do you know how twisted that is? Why would Nathan go to such extremes to convince me otherwise? That’s crazy!”
“Jade, do you think sane people rape women?” He regretted his words the moment they left his mouth.
They had referred to what happened to her as many things, but only in necessary situations, like when speaking to the police, did they use the word rape. The simple presence of that word destroyed her.
All visible anger melted into shame. Her shoulders sagged and her eyes lowered. He was an idiot. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re right,” she whispered, refusing to look at him. “A crazy person would lie. What kind of judge of character am I anyway? I’m the one who got myself into this mess. I’m too trusting.” She stood. “Invite whomever you want. I’m going to bed.”
He stood. “Jade.”
She kept walking, not even bothering to slam their bedroom door.
Easing back on the couch, he sighed. He hadn’t meant to upset her, but every instinct he had told him to keep that man as far away from his wife as possible. She was so sure he could be trusted, but without knowing why, Jeremy was reluctant to trust her judgment in this case. And there was the crux of it all.
He didn’t fully trust her. He did in thought, but not in action. He trusted her with his daughter, his money, his home, and his heart, but when it came to her safety, he was a control freak. He didn’t trust anyone to look after her the way he could.
Until they had her attacker, stalker, whatever, behind bars, everyone was suspect. Nathan was a prick who he hated all the more for causing all this strife between him and his wife.
He grimaced, unable to get past his initial gut feeling about the man. Based on what Kat told him, he slithered his way to the top social circles, objectifying women. He drove a car that was a testament to his little dick. And he was a sleazy divorce lawyer, making a living off others’ misfortune. What redeeming qualities could he possibly have?
Staring at the ceiling, knowing they could not continue to have this same tired argument, he went against every good instinct he had and addressed the last invitation to a Mr. Nathan Lithe. He’d mail it tomorrow and, so help him, God, if that guy tried anything out of line in his home, Jeremy would make sure he regretted ever being born.
He could smell her on the paper, soft linen and a hint of some floral fragrance he now identified with her and her alone. How quaint, a reception to celebrate the newly married couple.
When he first heard the news, he had to force himself to remain calm and not strangle the life out of her. Others had been present and that meant playing the supportive friend.
How could she do this? It was too fast. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to fall in love with him. Marry him, and have his children!
He lit another cigarette to calm down. This wasn’t the end. It was supposed to be the end, but Jade was more than a mere conquest. No matter how stupidly she’d been acting, he wanted her forever.
Now that she was home again things would return to normal. Although she wasn’t living at the cottage anymore, she was back to work and following her usual routine.
He’d find other excuses to make appearances in her life, ways to drive a wedge between the happy couple. He’d talk to her, comfort her, and in turn, she’d look to him as someone she could trust.
Women left their husbands every day. Who was to say Jade wouldn’t get tired of this guy and look for someone more successful, someone with more than one degree and some prestige, someone with their name on an office door?
He held the invitation to his nose and breathed deeply. Progress. Invited into her house.
Pulling out the response card, he checked off the will attend box and licked the envelope closed. Perhaps he could persuade Jade into a dance at her little soiree. The question was, if he held her in his arms again, would he possess the strength to let her go?