Noah stared at him then glanced back at Abel and Gio’s faces. He’d never seen them looking so serious. Noah turned back to Hector who was munching without a care in the world on a plate of nachos. “A picnic?”

“Yeah, I’d seen the couple at a table nearby where we were hanging out. They were there for a while but hadn’t noticed who it was until one of the guys pointed out Kratz and his old lady were there.”

Noah’s mind raced. Thursday? He remembered that night had been one of their heavier goodnights. She hadn’t mentioned a thing about Kratz since the day he showed up. “And you’re sure it was her?”

“Yep, she even smiled at me.”

Somehow that made it better. If she knew Hector saw her and she hadn’t been worried about it, then there had to be a reasonable explanation. Still, it was confusing as hell. “And they were having a picnic?”

The word picnic had a romantic connotation to it and that bugged the shit out of Noah. Why would she meet up with him at a park when she said she wanted nothing to do with him? He could see why Abel and Gio would be thinking the worst.

Hector laughed. “They didn’t have a picnic basket or anything but they were eating.”

“She’s been with her friend all day?” Gio asked casually enough but Noah caught the suggestion loud and clear.

Roni’s troubled departure that morning was no act. He had no doubt she’d spent the day with Nellie. He nodded and reached for his phone. There had to be a simple explanation and before he started jumping the gun he’d get it and put his concerns and his friend’s suspicions to rest.

CHAPTER 27

That morning’s call from Nellie’s mom Margaret had been alarming enough. Nellie had caught Rick red handed and was now in such a state of depression her mother refused to leave her alone, fearing Nellie might overdose on the sleeping pills she’d been taking. That alone was enough to send Veronica running to her side, but nothing prepared her for the shocking news that awaited her when she got there.

Her mother had only said Nellie had confirmed her suspicions about Rick being on vacation with his mistress, but when she arrived at Nellie’s the details of what she’d found blew her away. Nellie’s father sat just outside of Nellie’s townhouse as Veronica hurried up the stairs.

He was smoking, a habit Nellie had told her he stopped long ago. Veronica hadn’t seen him in over a year and in that time he seemed to have aged too much. At the moment he appeared tired and there was a sense of defeat in the way he sat, his back against the chair, shoulders drawn and limp. Before Veronica could ask him anything he began talking but he wasn’t really speaking to Veronica because he was staring out into nothing.

“You do your best to raise your kids to be honest, loyal, and God fearing. No parent should ever feel disgust or loathing for any of their children.”

Margaret came to the door just then. Veronica turned to her feeling even more upset now. Why would Nellie’s dad be talking about loathing her or being disgusted? Whatever she’d done in reaction to finding Rick with another women had to be justified. She wasn’t in jail so she hadn’t actually killed the bastard.

Margaret motioned for her to step inside. Veronica did, overcome by sudden feeling of dread.

“She’s in her bedroom but before you go in to see here there’s something you should know.”

Her mother’s eyes were full of pain and concern, but Veronica saw more in them. “This is a very hard time for all of us. The whole family is torn right now and it will probably never be the same again but right now our main concern is Nellie.”

Whole family?

“You have to understand that as a mother this completely breaks my heart to have to admit this to anyone but soon everyone will know anyway.”

Veronica stared at Margaret’s worn eyes. She’d obviously been crying, too. What in the world had Nellie done?

“What is it? What happened?”

“Nellie found Rick in Denver… with Courtney.”

Veronica’s heart had practically come to a standstill—Nellie’s own sister? Then Margaret continued—one jab after another making her feel like one of Noah’s opponents in the ring.

“They’ve apparently been having an affair off and on for years. Courtney said they tried many times to end it but were in love and just couldn’t. Then just when they decided it was just not something they could continue, Courtney was made aware of Rick’s other woman. That was the one she confronted him about that sent Nellie to the hospital.” Margaret paused to take a deep breath and wipe away a single tear before delivering the knock out punch. “Courtney found out a few weeks later that she was pregnant with Rick’s child. This was during the time that Rick and Nellie were really giving it a go to work things out.”

Veronica was furious and heartbroken all at the same time. How could Courtney do this to Nellie? Then she remembered this is how she’d always been, ever since they were kids. No matter how much more Courtney had than Nellie, she was never satisfied until she took what little Nellie had, too.

Margaret shook her head and sat down on Nellie’s sofa dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “After all the pain she’s caused her sister and the shame she’s brought to the family, Courtney says she and Rick are getting married just as soon as his divorce to Nellie is final.”

It was all too much to bear. Veronica could only imagine what poor Nellie was feeling. She didn’t even want to hear anymore. She’d heard enough. “I need to be with Nellie.”