Page 73 of Noticing Natalie
I felt Sabine stiffen, and I looked at her in surprise. She recovered quickly, pasting a smile on her beautiful face. “Yes. Jack and I… we go way back.”
I studied her face for a second, then decided to let her off the hook for now. “Ah, Jack Crenshaw seems to go way back with everyone in this town. He’s such a great guy. I can’t wait to start working with him.”
Sabine patted my hand as we pulled out of the parking lot and headed out for the night. “He’s even better than you know,” she said quietly, looking out the window.
Okay. What the hell? There was a definite story there. Did Sabine and Jack have a fling at some point? Then I pushed the thought aside. There was no way. Jack had been so devoted to his wife Diane for years and years. They were the poster children for a perfect marriage in Indigo Falls.
She quickly changed the subject, telling me all about the new job at Delta on the short trip to Melinda’s parents’ house.
“Have fun,” I said, leaning in for a hug before she got out of the car.
“Don’t I always?” she asked with a wink.
***
“You look… amazing,” Tim said, pulling me into his house and into a hug. I was wearing a sparkly red cocktail dress and stilettos.
“Thanks,” I said, intoxicated by the familiar smell of him as I leaned my head on his strong chest for a brief moment. I stood back. “You look great, yourself.”
He did. As usual. He wore dress pants, a button down with a couple of buttons open at his neck, and his sleeves rolled up. It was the epitome of dressy casual, and he wore it well.
“How’s your week been?” he asked.
“I’ll catch you up on it sometime.” At his look of worry, I added, “It’s been great, though. It couldn’t have possibly worked out better.”
Someone needed him, and he went to handle whatever party crisis he was needed for, while I started mingling.
I looked around with fresh eyes at all these people who’d become so important to me over the years. I was staying. They weren’t temporary friends. These were the people I was choosing. They were the people I’d raise children around, spend holidays with, and eventually grow old with. It felt good. I was more than happy with the decisions I’d made over the past few weeks and months.
I was reminiscing when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to see Blair Hastings standing behind me. “Can we go somewhere to talk for a second?”
“Sure,” I nodded, following her to one of the back rooms in Tim’s house that was unoccupied for the moment.
We went in and she closed the door. “What you overheard at the Christmas Eve ball…”
“Don’t worry. I would never tell anyone. I promise. I know you don’t know me as well as you know Sadie, but I guarantee I’m not the kind of person to spread gossip.”
She looked relieved.
I bit my lip. “But I do want to ask… is he hurting you?”
Blair looked taken aback. “Scott? You mean physically?”
I nodded.
She chuckled. “No. There are plenty of problems in my marriage but that’s not one of them, thank goodness.”
“The things he was saying to you were emotionally abusive…”
“I know what you’re saying. But he wasn’t saying themtome. He was saying themaboutme to a group of friends. He had no idea I’d overhear him. I’m not trying to make excuses for him, but he’s not as big an asshole as he came off as that night.”
I had serious doubts about that, and she must’ve seen it on my face. She sighed. “Our marriage isn’t great. I don’t think it’s a secret, either. But we’re doing the best we can.”
“Have you… considered leaving him?”
She pushed her beautiful dark curls over her shoulder. “So many times. But something always comes up.” She rested a hand on her abdomen. “I’m pregnant again. I don’t regret it, but it was a bit of a surprise. It’s just never the best time to leave when you’re pregnant. I don’t work, we’re on his insurance, and on and on.” She got a bright smile on her face that didn’t quite reach her pretty brown eyes. “Anyway, enough of that. Tonight’s about celebrating. So, let’s go do it.”
I grinned. “Sounds great.” Something caught my eye just as we were about to leave. “You go on ahead,” I said when she looked at me quizzically. “I want to look through this old yearbook.”
