“What the hell? When did that happen? Why didn’t you call me?”
“We tried. Three times. You’re in the middle of a major deal, remember?”
“What time is her plane arriving?”
“We’re not sure. The direct flight from Calgary was delayed. Apparently there’s a snowstorm. Anyway, she may not even be on the direct flight. And she’s not answering her phone.”
“You think she’s the one who alerted the media?”
“It’s possible.”
“Okay. Look, I’ll be there as soon as I can. In the meantime, don’t answer the door. Don’t answer the phone. Don’t say a word to anyone.”
“Of course I’m not going to say anything,” Caroline began, but he’d already hung up. “What—am I an idiot?” she asked as she handed the phone back to Michelle. She’d taken her landline off the hook immediately after Aidan’s phone call.
“Is he coming over?”
“As soon as he can. Try Beth again,” she directed Lili.
Lili used her cell phone to place another call to Beth, shaking her head as a recorded voice announced the line was temporarily not in service. “She’s probably still in the air.”
“She’s just waiting until more troops arrive,” Michelle said, glancing back at the street. “The woman clearly knows how to make an entrance.”
“You’re wrong,” Lili insisted. “The last thing she wants is for anyone to know about this. She just wants me to come home.”
A car pulled up in front of the house and a woman with long, shapely legs and wavy blond hair emerged from the backseat, a microphone in her hand. A bearded man trailed after her, half a dozen cameras draped around his neck. “Damn it,” Caroline said, her eyes following them up her front walk.
The doorbell rang.
“What do we do?” Lili asked.
“What can we do?”
It rang again.
“We just let them keep ringing?”
“They’ll get the message eventually.”
“It’s like being held hostage,” Lili said as the ringing continued on and off for the next five minutes.
“They know we’re home,” Caroline said. “They probably saw us at the window.”
“Maybe we should close the drapes.” Michelle indicated the heavy beige panels framing the sheer curtains.
“Maybe we should call the police,” Lili said.
“Great idea,” Michelle told her. “Let’s make the story even bigger. Maybe we can make the national news.” The doorbell rang ten more times in rapid succession. “God, aren’t they ever going to give up?”
“Thought you didn’t believe in God,” Lili said with a smile.
“Shut up,” Michelle said.
Caroline found herself stifling a laugh.
“What? What’s so funny?”
“You’re starting to sound like sisters.”
“Okay, that did it,” Michelle said, moving away from the window. “I’m out of here.” She headed for the front door.
“Wait, Michelle. You can’t go out there.”
“Then I’ll go out the back.” She turned on her heel, heading for the rear of the house.
“Michelle,” Caroline pleaded, following after her. “Please…”
“Relax, Mother. You won’t even know I’m gone.”
“You’re being foolish…”
“I’m being foolish?” She pushed open the rear door.
A man was standing on the other side.
“Who the hell are you?” Michelle asked, startled.
“Dear God,” Caroline said from behind her. “Shut the door, Michelle. Now.”
“Caroline, wait,” the man said, grabbing the door to keep it from closing. “I know you don’t want to talk to me and I can’t say I blame you…”
“Is this that fucking reporter?” Michelle demanded.
“I’m Aidan Wainwright.”
“The creep who wrote that awful story? Get the fuck out of here.”
“You must be Michelle.”
“You must be fucking kidding. Let go of the door, asshole.”
“Look. I know you all hate me, but I think that if you go back and read that story again, you’ll find it’s not so bad. You actually come off very well,” he said, speaking directly to Caroline. “I portrayed you in a very sympathetic light.”
Caroline stared at the not-quite-handsome man she hadn’t laid eyes on in five years, the man whose story, whose betrayal, had cost her not only her job but what was left of her self-esteem. His hair was shorter than it had been the last time she’d seen him, and graying slightly at the temples, but other than that, he looked essentially the same. She was somewhat mortified to realize she still found him attractive.
“Is it true?” he asked. “Is Samantha back?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What’s going on?” Lili asked, coming up behind Caroline.
“Is that her?” Aidan asked, pushing harder on the door, trying to worm his way inside. “Talk to me, sweetheart. Who are you? What’s your story?”
“Get back in the living room,” Michelle told Lili. “Now.”
Lili spun around and ran out of the room.
“You might as well tell me, Caroline,” Aidan said. “You know I’m going to write something anyway.”