The Confession by Erin McCauley Read Free Book Online Page B

window display talents in staging the venue for the auction.”
    “And doing a fantastic job,” Emily added.
    “Aimee can do anything. She has the magic touch, I always tell her. I think she was born with it.” Luther tilted his head, batted his eyes and reached over to pat Aimee’s hand.
    “Has there been any news in regards to your mother?” Mark asked, surprised when she almost appeared panicked by his question. “Have you had a chance to call home?”
    She slowly released a breath. “No changes. It’s still touch and go.”
    “Is your mother ill?” Emily asked.
    “She is. The doctors say it’s only a matter of time.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry, Aimee.” Reaching over, she took Aimee’s hand in hers and squeezed.
    “It wasn’t sudden,” Aimee said. “I’ve had time to prepare myself.”
    “Are you very close to her?” Emily asked.
    “We have a very … well … tumultuous relationship. I wouldn’t say we’re close.”
    “She’s a bitch, and treats Aimee like crap,” Luther interjected before sitting back, his arms folded across his chest in a defiant pose.
    “Luther!” Aimee choked.
    “I’m sorry, girl, but the truth is the truth, and that woman is the spawn of Satan.”
    Aimee’s cheeks flushed, and Mark noticed she didn’t attempt to dispute her friend’s statement.
    “I’m sorry you don’t have a better relationship with her,” Emily said. “I had such a wonderful bond with my mother. I think there’s a connection between mothers and daughters that can never be broken. Even after losing her, I can still feel her and see her smiling like she was standing directly in front of me.”
    “When did you lose her?” Aimee asked.
    Mark watched the uncertainty that crossed Aimee’s face. He was beginning to wonder if his previous behavior had anything to do with her hesitancy in asking about Emily’s life. It was almost as if she were afraid she’d be prying if she did.
    “It was about fifteen years ago. Both of my parents were killed in a plane accident. As hard as it was to lose them both, I almost had a sense of comfort knowing they were together. Isn’t that strange?” Emily asked.
    “No, not at all, in fact it sounds … well, sweet. I can easily see how that could be comforting,” Aimee replied, her eyes misty. “Excuse me for a moment.”
    Aimee pushed away from the table, rose, and walked through the swinging door leading to the kitchen.
    Luther stood up and excused himself, following her into the kitchen.

Chapter 11
    Mark sat at the bar and opened the folder. He felt guilty for hiring a private investigator, but he had to be sure about Aimee. Emily was already opening her heart to her, and, if he were to admit it, so was he. She pulled at him, kept him awake at night, and thoughts of her had him so distracted during the day that his work was getting further and further behind.
    The first page of the report was about her life and family in North Carolina. So far, there was nothing questionable about what she’d told him. She’d lost her father two years ago to a heart attack, and her mother was very ill. Her sister, Joan, was staying with her mother after her third divorce. The ex-husband had a gambling problem as well as an addiction to cocktail waitresses. He didn’t have to question why the marriage hadn’t lasted.
    He knew Aimee paid her bills on time and it didn’t appear she had any loan sharks looking for her, or the same gambling addiction as her ex-brother-in-law. It helped in some small way to know she wasn’t destitute, but even a millionaire could be lured by Emily’s wealth.
    He looked through old school photos of her. The private investigator was thorough; he had to give him that. When he flipped to her senior prom photo, he paused. There was something chillingly familiar about the photo. He stared at it, trying to remember if he’d seen the photograph in her cottage. He knew he’d never seen it before, so why did he still feel as if he had? He