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Home / After the Fog Lifts / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of After the Fog Lifts: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

17 Chapters

Chapter 1

Julia Fenner sat frozen before the counter, her head buzzing as if a knot of wire were rolling around inside it, tightening with every turn.Lydia Warden? Wasn't she supposed to be the widow of one of Everett's men? Why was she listed as his wife?Julia read the record the clerk had turned toward her one more time.Wife: Lydia Warden. Son: Peter Warden.Julia's name did not appear anywhere on Everett's dependent record with the Army.She left the housing office in a daze and went to the address the clerk had given her, the residence listed on Everett's dependent record.She could not make herself approach the door. From outside the yard, she heard warm laughter filling the house.Everett handed the boy a large bag of candy. "Look what Dad brought you."Peter jumped up and wrapped his arms around Everett's neck. "I love you, Dad."Lydia emerged from the kitchen smiling. "Wash your hands. Dinner is ready."The scene inside was warm and complete, while Julia felt frozen to the b

Chapter 2

The next afternoon, Julia submitted her resignation to Walter Harris, the school principal, after classes ended.He valued her deeply. She had taught at Latchford Community School for years, and her students adored her, but he knew he could not force her to remain."None of us wants to lose you, but everyone knows how devoted you and Colonel Warden are. Sooner or later, you were bound to join him near his post. He must hate leaving you alone. I won't stand in your way."Everyone believed Julia and Everett shared an enviable marriage. No one knew the entire thing was a performance built on forged papers."Principal Harris, that isn't why. Everett..."He waved with the confidence of someone who thought he understood. "I was young once too. Besides, you and the colonel have been together long enough to start thinking about children."Years earlier, Julia had been badly injured protecting Everett, and with that injury she had lost her chance at motherhood.Everett's relatives had al

Chapter 3

By the time Julia returned home, blisters had risen across the burn on her hand. Her hollow expression frightened Mrs. Dawson."Ms. Fenner, what happened? That burn needs treatment. I'll call Colonel Warden." The housekeeper reached for the telephone.Julia stopped her. "Please don't. Just put some burn ointment on it.""You don't want to worry him, do you? He normally returns every six months, but this time it has only been two. He must have come because he heard you were ill. If he sees this burn, he'll be beside himself."Mrs. Dawson brought the ointment and applied it carefully. "Am I pressing too hard? Does it hurt?"Everyone believed Everett loved Julia completely. No one knew his devotion was divided between two women.Julia touched her cheek with her uninjured hand and discovered it wet with tears. She wiped them away and forced a smile. "Thank you. It doesn't hurt."After Mrs. Dawson left, Julia began packing and realized how little of Everett actually existed inside th

Chapter 4

Everett's grip tightened when Julia tried to pull away. He refused to release her and stared into her eyes. "Where are you going?""Let go. I need to..." She struggled, but the suitcase belonging to Lydia and Peter remained in Everett's other hand, and the truth nearly escaped her.Lydia placed one hand over Everett's and pinched Julia's arm lightly with the other. At that small touch, Everett loosened his grip."Everett, don't hold Ms. Fenner so hard. She must be going to school. Don't worry. I'll replace whatever Peter broke.""Don't bother," Julia said coldly.She shook Lydia's hand away and left the house. She told herself again and again not to care, yet her mind kept replaying the intimate sight of Lydia's hand resting over Everett's.The memory made acid rise in Julia's stomach.Fighting the nausea, she organized her class's progress and recorded every detail in a notebook. She was leaving, but she still wanted to make the transition easy for her students.That afternoon

Chapter 5

Julia felt as if she had lived through an endless dream. It began with Everett giving her every tenderness she had ever wanted and ended with a woman and child proving that all of it was false.Their seven-year marriage was false. Everett's love was false. Every promise from beginning to end was false.She woke to nurses talking in the hallway."That boy only scraped his ankle. Why does he come back every day for a bandage?""He's the son of one of Colonel Warden's men, killed in the line of duty. The colonel dotes on him. He comes in for every dressing change.""The mother seems far too attached to the colonel. I don't understand him. The woman he calls his wife is lying here pregnant, and he hasn't visited once.""He may not even know she is pregnant."Julia's heart lurched. Her hand moved slowly to her abdomen. She was pregnant?Tears slipped down her cheeks. Once, she had wanted a child more than anything, but now—This child had arrived at the worst possible time.Mabel

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

Chapter 7

Julia had not even understood Lydia's accusation when Everett hauled Lydia to her feet. Lydia kept trying to kneel, and he had to half carry her away from Julia."Jules, no matter how angry you are with me, you cannot punish a child. Tell me where Peter is. Lydia will not press charges if he comes back safely."Everett spoke loudly enough for everyone at the school gate to hear. Curious and condemning eyes turned toward Julia, but she ignored them and met his gaze with her head high."I have no idea what you're talking about. I haven't seen Peter today.""Ms. Fenner, I know you cannot have children and hate seeing Peter in Everett's home, but he is innocent. Please tell me where you hid him."Lydia broke away from Everett and dug her nails into Julia's arm. Julia stepped back, trying to shake her off, and Everett's mother struck her across the face."You barren little tramp. It wasn't enough to cling to my son for years? Tell us where you hid my grandson. If he has so much as a s

Chapter 8

Everett had been on his knees in the old family chapel at Warden House for two days.His back remained straight, but unease followed every thought of Julia.On the second day of Julia's confinement, Everett asked Nora Dawson to prepare food and blankets for the discipline room. Estelle stopped the delivery."Punishment is punishment. If you send a hot meal and bedding, is she being disciplined or enjoying a retreat? What do you think that room is for?"Estelle sent him to the chapel to reflect on questioning her, but he worried about Julia. Years earlier, she had taken a knife meant for him and had never fully recovered. When Lydia brought him food, he asked her to visit Julia in his place.Guilt rose whenever he thought of Julia. He had been married to Lydia before he met her. The marriage had been arranged by their families, and he had never expected to meet the person he considered his true love.Julia was stabbed protecting him, and the physicians warned that she might never

Chapter 9

Early the next morning, Estelle released Everett from the chapel. Lydia and Peter followed quietly at her side."Mother, will you release Julia from the discipline room and let her join the family for your birthday?"Estelle refused at once. "I won't have that miserable face at my party, and I don't want to hear her name from you either."She took Peter's hand, stroked his hair, and placed a small gold locket in his palm."My precious grandson. Just looking at you makes my heart ache. This is Grandma's gift to you. Keep it, and if you don't like it, I'll buy you something else."Peter grinned and called her Grandma, delighting her.Lydia took the locket and pretended to return it. "Estelle, this is too valuable. It's your birthday. Peter should be giving you something, not the other way around."Estelle stopped her and slid an heirloom emerald bracelet from her own wrist onto Lydia's. "Peter is the only child of the next generation. One day, everything at Warden House may belong

Chapter 10

Everett knew his mother intended to reveal Peter's identity publicly that day. He and Lydia had obtained a lawful marriage license years earlier but never held a public ceremony. Because the town knew only Julia, they claimed Peter had been taken in from a distant branch of the Warden family.Everett had fought hard for his command. Too many eyes watched for scandal, and secrecy had protected his career. Lydia had endured years of humiliation for him.The thought weakened him. He surrendered to her tears and drew her close. "You have suffered because of me."He closed his eyes and decided. "After the banquet, I'll tell Julia everything. I will persuade her to accept you."Lydia held him without answering. He did not know that, as far as she understood, Julia had already burned to death. After that day, everyone would recognize Peter as the Warden heir. Lydia had waited years for this moment.With a living son and a dead rival, she believed nothing could stand against her.Everett

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