His Secret Wife, His Public Shame

music box in Bernard's hand. That small wooden box

flew through the air and h

orted with jealousy and rage. "I don't want to see he

a soothing murmur meant only for her. "Sh

t!" Evelin screamed, pointing a trembling finger at

d to me, his voice flat. He then turned to the two hulking

They were rough, their fingers digging into my skin as they dragge

ravel driveway and slamme

top, miles from the city, with no car and no phone signal. Th

othing to d

dinner shoes pinching my feet. Each step was a f

r from here. I'd tripped and twisted my ankle. Without a word, he had crouched down,

, Addie," he'd whispered, his bre

hitting the asphalt hard. The sharp

hown me, the promises he'd made-they belonged to a ghost, a man with no m

rd stone in my gut. It was ove

d continued my long, lonely walk down the mountain. T

ad and managed to flag down a tax

the place that had been our

ration forms for Europe, my fingers flying across thekeyboard. I ne

ned, effective immediately. I tol

se. It was an unknown number. I almost

dis

ice. Cold an

otel. Pick up a gown for Evelin. It'

as an order. He was treat

You and I are done. The contract is being drafte

out your father's music box? It's a fragile little thi

in the air, thic

ed, "you will apologize to Eveli

cold. "Apolog

ng with contempt. "Be there in an hour."

athless. But the thought of my father's music box, the last pie

coat and went

slightly ajar. I pushed it open and stepped i

d their voices

d a large decorative

oneyed sweetness that made me sick. "My two years of amnesia... finding her, mar

lin's voice was a high-pitch

usiness meeting, I was disoriented. When I woke up next to her, I left immediately. She means nothing to me, Eve

f. That night, he had come home and made love to m

in asked, her

. "Now, come here. I'v

of sheets, a soft

.. the fitting.

urmured, his voice thick wit

you going to do about that woman? The o

e, dark and indulgent. "Whatever you w