The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda (speld decodable readers txt) 📕

had better. I make two different batches of margaritas. One in a glass pitcher I’ll leave in the kitchen. This one is to celebrate if we strike a deal. I tuck the thermos with the special batch inside the picnic basket and take it to the garage.

This is the batch to serve if we don’t. I pile freshly rinsed cherries in a crystal bowl and carry them to the living room. I fluff the couch pillows, and as I do, I dream about Paris. I’ve always wanted to visit. I thought it would be with John, he promised me we would go see the City of Light.

But like a lot of his promises, it was just another illusion.

CHAPTER 58

KATE

In the dressing room, my pulse is racing as I slip off the formal gown they had me wear for the photo shoot.

I’m not sure if it’s brilliant, or stupid, or both, but I am going to see Tish tonight. I know Bob wouldn’t approve, but someone has to get control of the situation. Despite the fact she knows we can prove the will is fake, and we will reinstate his real one, the problem remains: she is still around. I realize for my life to get back to some semblance of normal, she can’t be here.

I need to be the one to deal with this once and for all.

I walk out of the dressing room with a smile and hand the gown to Nathan, the shoot director.

“I wish I could keep this,” I say.

“Don’t they all.”

Ashlyn rolls her eyes. “It’s a little fairy tale for you, Mom.”

“I can still believe in happily ever after,” I say. My phone rings as we walk out into the late afternoon sunshine.

“Mrs. Nelson. It’s Chief Briggs. Do you have a minute?”

I stop walking and put the phone on speaker so Ashlyn can hear.

“Do you have the report?”

“We do, someone poured water in Ashlyn’s gas tank,” he says.

“Like a water bottle?” I ask.

“No, much more than that. Like someone turned on a garden hose full blast,” he says. “So much water. Whoever did it wanted to fry the electrical circuit, and they succeeded. She could have been killed if she was on a highway.”

Ashlyn gasps. “I can’t believe her. She’s out of control.”

“Who?” Briggs asks.

I raise my finger to my lips and mute my phone. “I think we should handle Tish ourselves, Ashlyn. It’s the only way. I’m meeting her tonight.”

“Mom, that’s too dangerous,” Ashlyn says.

“I’ll be fine,” I say and unmute the phone.

“Oh, Chief, Ashlyn thinks a boy she broke up with might have done it. We’re not going to press any charges. He feels terrible I’m sure,” I say.

Ashlyn shrugs but goes along with me. “That’s right, Mom.”

“Well, you all let me know if you change your mind. You’ve had a lot to handle, Mrs. Nelson. Call me if you need me,” he says and hangs up.

Ashlyn stares at me.

“I’ve got this. Don’t worry.” I give her a hug. “I’m going to go visit your dad’s grave, if you want to join me. I haven’t been there yet, and I need closure.” I don’t even know where Tish put him. I still cannot believe he isn’t in the family plot as we planned. I clench my fists. It can wait, but it needs to be done, if for optics only.

Ashlyn shakes her head. “I’m not ready to do that. It’s weird. I’m mad at Dad right now. Really mad at him for falling for Tish. And what he did to you.”

“I understand. I do. Feeling angry is completely normal, honey,” I say. “I’ll be home by eight. And I’ll drive you to the airport. I love you.”

“Come home after the cemetery, OK? We’ll go to Tish’s house together tonight.”

I lean forward against my car. “There’s nothing to worry about. Everything is under control. And I’ll handle her myself. Do you need a ride home?”

“No, thanks, Seth’s on his way. Don’t go there without me. Promise?”

I shrug and smile. “Sure.”

But I’m lying. I will visit Tish alone.

As I slip into my car, I remember the last time I saw John. He needed me, again. He was growing tired of Tish’s lack of depth, her attachment to material things, her refusal to read. Anything. John and I, at our last secret rendezvous before the IPO, before she yanked him to Colorado, were both making fun of his wife. We sat at our favorite restaurant downtown, joking about our clandestine get-together.

I’d spotted him in his favorite back booth and waved as I made my way to him. “Hey. Is the coast clear?”

He stood up and touched my shoulder. “Good to see you, Kate, or should I say, Mabel? And yes, the coast is clear. Although I do feel a little terrible about it, the sneaking around.”

I slid into the booth. I said, “She made us do it. She’s the one who insists I call her to speak to you. It’s crazy. That’s no way to do business.”

“Or anything else. I know. She’s over-the-top jealous of you. Of your career, your success. Everything. She comes from a very different place than you and I did. She had a really tough childhood. I don’t have many specifics. I only know that she was poor and her mom was neglectful, but I’m starting to believe it was even worse than she lets on. Tish has a really violent temper just beneath the surface. I’m not used to that. You were always so calm, so understanding.”

I remember thinking, How nice. I was so considerate you decided to leave me. I said, “We built everything we have. It wasn’t easy for us, either. She has it really good now, but she’s acting like a toddler having daily temper tantrums,” I said, grabbing the menu before I said any more. I wanted to keep our line of communication open, the relationship growing again. “I’m starving. You?”

“Yes. Lately, my blood pressure medicine makes me famished. I’m just feeling off. It’ll be good