LITMIR.BIZ

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dealing with Byron, I deserved a treat.

      I was anxious to ask Cynthia what she’d uncovered. But I decided to let her eat a bit of her scone first while I munched on my carrot cake.

      That resolve lasted thirty seconds before I had to speak. “I’m dying here. You said the news is good?”

      “Very.” A devious spark lit Cynthia’s eyes.

      “How good? Or should I ask—how scandalous?”

      Cynthia swallowed a mouthful of coffee before speaking. “Tassie Johnson has been a very bad girl.”

      “Meaning?”

      “Meaning she was far from being a grieving widow.”

      My heart was so full of excitement, I thought it might burst. “The guy I saw her with at the funeral. He’s her lover?”

      “Ray Carlton,” Cynthia said, nodding. She broke off a morsel of her scone and put it in her mouth.

      “I knew it.” I lifted my cup of coffee, but didn’t take a sip. “She had the nerve to talk about Eli being unfaithful while flaunting her lover at her husband’s funeral.”

      “It’s worse than you think,” Cynthia said. “Or perhaps I should say better.”

      I lowered my coffee cup. “Oh?”

      “When I say Tassie Johnson has been a very bad girl, it’s not just because she and Ray are lovers. It’s because of how long they were an item. Long before she and Eli split.”

      “How long?”

      “Try before she walked down the aisle.”

      My eyes narrowed in confusion. “What—like an old boyfriend?”

      “Old boyfriends aren’t scandalous. Everyone’s had at least one lover before getting married. I’m guessing the average these days has got to be between ten and twenty other partners, but I don’t have the hard data to support that claim.”

      I could care less about the average number of partners a person had before settling down. I moved a hand in a rolling motion to indicate that I wanted Cynthia to continue with the news about Tassie.

      Her eyes danced with humor. “But it is scandalous when you marry someone, continue to see your old boyfriend and even have an abortion when you’re still very much living with your husband.”

      “Tassie had an abortion!” I couldn’t help exclaiming, then glanced around. A handful of people were suddenly intrigued by my conversation. “Wow, that’s progressive for a soap opera, isn’t it?” I continued loudly, hoping to kill any eavesdroppers’ interest in what I was saying. “I thought people always end up having the baby or miscarrying on those shows. But a real abortion.”

      Cynthia edged across the table, and continued speaking in a lower tone. “I’ve got the records to prove it.”

      I wanted to jump up and down and scream hallelujah, but I remained seated. Remained calm.

      “When?” I asked, keeping my voice down.

      “A year and a half after she’d had her first child.”

      My excitement fizzled. “Then the baby could have been Eli’s,” I pointed out. “Maybe the timing wasn’t right, and they decided they didn’t want to have another baby.”

      “Eh, eh, eh.” Cynthia waved a finger. She was clearly enjoying this, as though she’d always imagined herself being some sort of secret spy. I guess that’s what journalism entailed…to a degree. “It was Ray’s baby.”

      “It’ll be my word against hers.”

      “But will she be able to explain why her ex-boyfriend took her to the abortion clinic? Why he paid for it with his credit card?”

      I gasped, but quickly covered my mouth. “Oh, my God.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “So she was having an affair right from the start,” I said quietly. Another revelation hit me. “Do you think she was never in love with Eli? That she married him strictly for his money?”

      “If I were a gambling woman, I’d guess exactly that. It doesn’t look like her relationship with Ray has ever waned.”

      I sipped my latte, stewing over Cynthia’s words. This was good. Very good. Once, I’d been dreading the meeting with Tassie and her lawyer, but now I couldn’t wait to see her and let her know the skeletons I’d dug out of her closet.

      “So, is that helpful enough?” Cynthia asked.

      “Are you kidding? It couldn’t be any better if you had photos of them in the act.”

      “Good. I’m glad.”

      “How did you find all of this out? Abortion clinic records?”

      “A journalist never reveals her sources.”

      “Okay,” I said. “I understand.”

      “But, I will say that it helps to track down a former housekeeper with an axe to grind.”

      “Oooh, you’re kidding?” I asked, my eyes as wide as saucers.

      “Not at all. Gotta love the hired help.”

      I laughed out loud.

      “I won’t tell you her name—since it’s not important—but she pointed me in the right direction. It took me a while to find her, which is why I didn’t get back to you sooner.”

      “Hey, you got back to me with gold. I’m not complaining.”

      Cynthia sipped her latte. “Keep that whole tidbit about the former housekeeper to yourself, though. I promised the woman I wouldn’t say anything. In fact, don’t tell Tassie where you got the information. She doesn’t need to know.”

      I mimed pulling a zipper across my lips…then burst into laughter.

      Cynthia sighed with contentment. “Ah, sometimes, my job is deliciously fun.”

      “I’ll remember to stay on your good side.”

      Cynthia’s expression grew serious at my comment. “You were never on my bad side. And for the record, I’m sorry about how the story of you and Eli played out in the press.”

      I waved away her apology. “I didn’t mean that personally.”

      “Still, I’m sorry,” she went on. “I was just doing my job, but I know that’s little comfort.”

      “It’s okay,” I told her. “That’s all behind me, and I’m moving forward. With your help,” I added with a smile.

      “Speaking of which, I have a copy of all the proof you need.” She reached into her large purse and withdrew a manila envelope. She passed it across the table to me.

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