Chapter 6

The abortion was brief. Julia felt as though she had fallen asleep and awakened to discover something gone from her body, as though it had never existed.

Everett did not return to the hospital. Julia was discharged alone the next day. The front door stood partly open, and before she entered, she saw Everett and Lydia wrapped around each other.

Lydia's breathing came in broken gasps. "Everett, it's broad daylight."

"So what? Peter is at school. What are you afraid of? You're the one who tempted me."

Julia stopped, rooted where she stood. Inside, Everett drew Lydia's hand toward his belt and murmured, "Go on."

Julia made herself watch, punishing herself with every second of it. Her eyes burned and her chest seized, and still she did not move.

Veins stood along Everett's forearms, his ears flushed, and his broad shoulders covered Lydia almost completely. Julia knew every detail of the way he looked when desire overtook him.

Remembering the countless nights he had looked at her the same way made Julia violently ill.

Her retching interrupted them. Everett pulled his clothes together and hurried to the door, where he found Julia crying and struggling not to vomit.

He reached for her shoulder. "What's wrong, Jules? Why aren't you still at the hospital?"

The heat of his palm reached through her coat. Julia shuddered and struck his hand away. "Don't touch me. You're disgusting."

Her vision darkened, and pressure closed around her chest. Everett caught her before she fell.

"Even if you're furious, you have to protect your health. This is my fault, not Lydia's. Now that you've seen us, I won't lie. She has endured a great deal for years. Hit me or curse me if you need to."

Julia had imagined this moment. She thought he might beg endlessly, kneel, or plead for forgiveness. She had never imagined this calm entitlement.

There may have been guilt in his eyes, but he spoke as though his betrayal were reasonable.

Her disappointment became so complete that it left her strangely calm. "Continue. I came for something and still have to go to the school."

Her composure irritated him. Everett grabbed her arm. "What else do you want from me? You couldn't give me children, and I still kept this home with you for years. Everyone knows how well I treated you.

"You're almost thirty. Who's going to want you if you leave me? If you love me, why can't you accept the people who matter to me? I made the mistake every man makes. Can't you forgive me once?"

"Of course. You did nothing wrong. This is all my fault. I was blind enough to save you from that knife." The words tore Julia apart even as she spoke them.

Seeing the grief in her eyes, Everett regretted lashing out. He softened his voice. "I lost my head. Forgive me, Jules. You're going to school? I'll drive you."

Julia ignored him and walked away. Everett followed close behind. Neighbors greeted them with the same familiar praise: "Colonel Warden certainly treasures his wife. He escorts Ms. Fenner everywhere."

Julia had heard those words for years. Once, they filled her with happiness because the whole town seemed to recognize his love. Now they sounded cruelly ironic.

She said nothing on the way. At the school gate, Everett forced an embrace around her. "We'll discuss this tonight. I'll pick you up after classes."

"No."

Julia had come only to complete the transition to the new teacher. She no longer had lessons and spent the day organizing records in the office.

Classes had been over for some time when she handed over the final materials.

Only seven days remained before her secured transport would arrive.

At the school gate, she looked automatically toward the old tree, then laughed at herself. Seven years, and her body still looked for him without being told. Whenever Everett came home, he had always waited under that tree.

As she stood distracted, Lydia appeared suddenly, seized Julia's arm, and dropped to her knees.

"Ms. Fenner, if you hate me, I'll leave. But you cannot hurt my son. Peter is my whole life."