Colby's Wife

It might have been easier if he had, she’d often thought afterward; easier to bear a physical punishment—for a sin of which she was innocent—than to have to bear the contempt he heaped on her the following evening.

Physical punishment might have broken her bones, but the punishment he did inflict on her—the withdrawal of his affection and friendship—had broken her heart.

And from that, she had never recovered.

‘Greer, darling, I’ve made a pot of tea!’

Startled back to the present, she saw Jem at the back door, and determinedly squashing her memories, she gave a quick wave, and walked along the path to join her.

‘The barbecue’s going to be such fun,’ Jem said. ‘Lisa has invited Colby, too. It’ll be just like old times.’

‘It will, won’t it!’ Greer said lightly as she tried to ignore the sudden jarring of her heartbeats. ‘Except, of course, that Brad won’t be there.’

‘Oh, didn’t Lisa mention?’ Jem patted her topknot. ‘Brad is coming later, in the Mercedes. He’ll be here by eight.’

CHAPTER FOUR

THE WRAPAROUND veranda at the Pierson cottage was roofed, its wooden furniture painted sage green to blend in with the surrounding landscape...and flowers were everywhere. Orange geranium spilled from clay pots on the deck and the stairs; bowls of lupins adorned the low casual tables; and ivies, sapphire lobelia, and fuchsia trailed in profusion from hanging moss baskets suspended by hooks from the eaves.

Normally Greer would have delighted in looking at the colorful blossoms and inhaling their sweet and spicy scents, but—for her, at least—tonight was not normal. Her love for Colby kept threatening to spill over, and she was terrified it would show in her eyes, her voice, her body language...but along with that love smoldered a burning resentment at the way he was treating her, and the constant effort to control her conflicting emotions had stimulated a pain in her temples that showed no signs of letting up...

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