A day for making good memories.
***
Mark had been cleaning the pool in their backyard all morning so that Megan could swim in it this afternoon, so he was hot and sweaty when he finally went inside. He took off his shoes in the utility room and padded through the house to their bedroom to clean up before he took Megan to lunch.
When he walked into the room, she was pushing a drawer shut in her dresser and jumped a foot when she realized she was no longer alone.
“Oh my God! You scared me. I thought you were still outside,” she said.
Mark frowned. “I’m sorry. I’m going to shower, and then I’m taking you to lunch, remember?”
Megan took a deep breath and then smiled. “Yes, I remember. You clean up while I change, and then I’m going to finish that grocery list in the kitchen before we leave.”
He nodded and went into the bathroom, turned on the shower, then stripped and got into the stall and grabbed the shampoo.
Megan’s heart was still pounding at the close call, and as soon as she was certain he was in the shower, she began pulling open drawers, stripping what was taped there, and stuffing it all into a tote bag. Then she ran through the house and out into the garage and hid the duffel bag beneath a fake floor in the trunk of the car before dashing back inside.
Living a life of lies was harder than she’d expected it to be, but Mark was amazing in bed, loved her to distraction, and except for his continuing guilt about Katie McGrath, they were fine.
Now that she had the drugs and cash hidden, she dressed and then touched up her makeup before coming out.
Mark was half-dressed when he saw her, and the temptation to take off what he’d just put on was strong. But Megan’s hair was done and her makeup was on, and he knew once she was primped, she did not like to be messed with.
“You look beautiful, darling,” he said. “Where would you like to go for lunch?”
“I’m thinking Pappadeaux. It’s been forever since we’ve been there. Does that sound good to you?” she asked.
“Sounds great,” Mark said. “I won’t be long.”
A few minutes later, they were in the car and on their way across town, chatting about a golf tournament, the fall balloon festival, and what they were going to order.
***
Katie was a little late leaving her apartment, but once she got out of the building, the drive and traffic weren’t bad. She was over halfway to Pappadeaux when her phone rang. She hit her Bluetooth to answer and kept driving.
“Hello?”
“Katie. This is Lila. I had a flat in the driveway. I called an Uber and I’m on the way, but I may be a few minutes late. Go ahead and get a table, and I’ll join you when I get there.”
“Bummer about the flat. I’ll happily get the table and get some appetizers ordered. I’m starving. Do you have any requests?” Katie asked.
“Ooh…either crab cakes or fried calamari?” Lila said.
“You’re reading my mind,” Katie said. “See you soon,” she added, then disconnected, braked for a red light, and then took a left on a green arrow.
A few minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot, glad they’d decided to come a little early because it was already filling up.
She grabbed her purse and got out, put on her sunglasses, and headed for the wafting aromas of Cajun cooking and seafood.
Once she was seated, she ordered fried calamari and iced tea for both of them, then settled back to wait for Lila to arrive.
It didn’t take long before Katie saw her come flying through the front door and lifted her hand. Lila saw her, and when she reached the table, paused long enough to give Katie a quick hug, before sliding into the seat across from her.
“Thank you for ordering! Is this tea for me?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Drink away,” Katie said.
Lila took a quick sip of the cold drink. “That’s nice. Maybe it’ll cool down my stress. Lord. A flat.”
“At least it happened while you were still home, or you’d be on the side of the freeway somewhere,” Katie said.
“True. And AAA was changing out my flat in the driveway when I left. I’ll take it to get fixed when I go home. Now…please tell me you ordered an appetizer already. I’m starving!”
“Fried calamari,” Katie said.
“Yes! My fave. You’re the best,” Lila said.
Katie laughed, unaware the sound had carried across the dining area.
***
Mark Roman was absently listening to Megan’s chatter when he heard that laugh. His heart skipped a beat as he looked past his wife’s shoulder to where Katie and Lila were sitting and felt the blood draining from his face.
Megan had paused in her conversation and was waiting for Mark to respond when she caught him staring across the room.
“What are you looking at, darling?” she asked, and then turned around to look for herself. Almost immediately, she spotted Katie. “Well, hell. What are the odds?”
Mark sighed. “Yeah, what are the odds?”
“Ignore her,” Megan said, and reached for his hand.
Mark frowned. “I feel like I should say something to her. I mean, she nearly died.”
Megan glared. “You do not go speak to that woman!”
Mark’s eyes narrowed. “We’ve already had this conversation. I will take orders from your father because he’s my boss, but I do not take orders from my wife.”
Megan blinked.
“Well, darling… Of course I did not mean to insult you. I just thought since the acrimony between you is so obvious, it would be in poor taste to disturb her. Especially since it appears she’s having a good time with that woman.”
“That’s Lila, her best friend. They teach together,” Mark muttered.
Megan swallowed the anger she was feeling. “Don’t blame me if they dump their food on you,” she said, and took another bite of her entrée.
Mark frowned. “She would never do anything that crass.”
Megan didn’t like it that he was defending Katie.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she snapped, and swallowed the bite whole.
Mark was already regretting the urge, but if he backed down now, Megan would assume he was buckling under to her, so he headed toward the table where Katie and Lila were sitting.
***
The waitress arrived with the appetizer Katie ordered, took their orders for their entrées, and was walking away when Mark suddenly appeared at their table.