Chapter 2

Dustin had held me close, aching for me as he made his promise.

"Rosie, just wait a little longer. Once I've made it, I'll never let you set foot in a kitchen again for the rest of your life."

I cupped his face in my hands and teased him.

"So you'll cook for me instead?"

He took my hands in his, his voice gentle.

"My cooking's hopeless. When that day comes, we'll hire the best chef there is."

And now, here he was, making pregnancy meals for my best friend.

The surge of emotion clogged my throat, until I couldn't stand it another second, and I turned and went to the home of my childhood friend, Aiden James.

When he opened the door and saw me, his face filled with worry.

"Rosie, what are you doing here?"

"Did that bastard Dustin hurt you again?"

Our mothers had been close friends for decades. We'd known each other since before either of us was even born.

He'd always protected me like a little sister. Whenever I was in danger, he'd appear right in front of me.

I looked at him, my nose stung, and the tears spilled over. My voice shook.

"Geraldine never died at all!"

"And she's having a baby with Dustin…"

"What am I supposed to do? Why would they do this to me?"

Any other time, hearing this, Aiden would have rolled up his sleeves and gone to teach Dustin a lesson.

But now his expression was strange, almost disappointed as he said,

"I told him this plan wouldn't work. I told him you'd find out sooner or later."

I froze, then slowly raised my head to look at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"What do you mean, I'd find out sooner or later?"

The tears came harder. I grabbed his sleeve and screamed at him.

"Aiden! Say something!"

Something reluctant flickered through his eyes and was gone, and then he spoke like a man who'd given up holding it back.

"I'm sorry, Rosie. I never meant to keep it from you."

"The truth is, the night you got drunk at your wedding, Dustin and Geraldine had already slept together."

"And the day you found out, you were so out of control, so unhinged, that the two of them were afraid you'd do something to yourself. That's why they came up with this."

He paused, steadied my shoulders, and looked at me as he spoke.

"Rosie, take my advice. Don't hold on to some things so tightly."

"You don't have to hide and run the way Geraldine does. Being the Mrs. Sullivan everyone recognizes is already a good deal."

"It wasn't easy for Geraldine to finally find someone who loves her. You two had it so good. Stop making things hard for her."

My breath seized. I let out a scoff, flung his hand off, and my voice turned scornful.

"I'm making things hard for her?"

"Ha. Ha. Ha. You've all lost your minds!"

And with that, I turned to leave.

But Aiden seized my wrist.

"Rosie, calm down for a second."

"Today's the day the three of us meet, like we do every month. Dustin and Geraldine are already on their way here."

"Since you know now, it's better to just get some things out in the open."

"I've got nothing left to say to any of you!"

I kicked him in the shin and yanked the door open, only to come face to face with Dustin and Geraldine.

When my eyes fell on their tightly clasped hands, I stared hard at the faint swell of Geraldine's belly and let out a soft laugh.

"Geraldine. Long time no see."

Panic flashed across Dustin's face, and then, as if he'd spotted some wild animal, he pushed her behind him and watched me warily.

"Rosie, what are you doing here?"

I looked at him, my throat swollen shut, my chest heaving.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Didn't you say you were away on business?"

"Why are you standing in front of me with this dead woman?!"

Geraldine wrenched her hand free of Dustin's in a panic, her eyes brimming with tears.