tell you no sex?”
“No, he said, no intercourse. Sometimes, that’s…better. It prolongs the session.”
“I vaguely remember.” This from Alessia.
Julianne’s face grew serious. “We saw a snazzy car in your driveway that day.”
“Yeah. It was Derek’s real car.”
Kate and Julianne stopped abruptly. Alessia turned from where she’d kept walking. “What?”
“Why didn’t you tell us right away?” This from Kate.
“I did. We’ve only been here—”
“Never mind. What happened?”
She took her time detailing exactly what he’d done to her. When she finished, Kate sighed. “Honey, he’s a hero. He not only gave up his real life and went undercover, but he was instrumental in the raid of a brothel and saving all those people.”
“I realize that. You know, men can be heroes in their professional lives and shits in their personal dealings. I bought everything he told me.”
“We did, too. The whole family.” Julianne shook her head. “That explains why he was so good during the car rescue.”
“Yeah. But I can’t forget that he lied to me in the most elemental ways.”
“And endangered you.”
“Maybe.”
“So, did he grovel?”
“You know, that was the most maddening part. He came over expecting to sweep me off my feet with his true identity. I think he was confused when I kicked him out.”
“Men can be dense I’ll give you that.” Kate made a disgusted sound. “So, what does he have to do to grovel?”
Tears sprang into her eyes and she stopped walking. “I don’t even want that. I want him to have been telling me the truth all along.”
Kate linked their arms, and Julianne led them to a bench provided for rest. They sat a decent way away from other walkers. “You’re crying.”
She swiped at her cheeks. “No, I don’t cry over things like this after my meltdown when Billy died.”
Handing her a tissue, Kate leaned into her shoulder. “It’s okay to cry. We knew he’d come to mean a lot to you.”
“H-he said he was in love with me and thought I loved him back.”
“Do you?”
“Honestly, right now, I’m just so angry about the whole thing. I can’t stop thinking about how he told me he was going to date Jane Carlin, because he was falling too fast for me. And his wife, who doesn’t freaking exist, had only been dead eight months.”
Kate nodded. “That’s a pretty damning lie.”
“So, you agree I should have kicked him out.”
Julianne and Kate exchanged a meaningful look.
Julianne said, “Actually, no, sweetie, I don’t. Seth cheated on me with other women for years. That’s serious but I forgave him.”
“In fairness to my brother, he had some difficult issues from his past.”
“Yeah, I know. But in the long run, I didn’t want to live without him.” She took Kate’s hand. “Do you honestly never want to see Derek again?”
“Of course, I want to see him. I am in love with him. But how can I get over this?”
“I’d guess the same way I got over Seth’s transgressions.”
“And Rafe forgave my abandonment for five years,” Kate added.
“Is that your honest advice?”
Julianne said, “My honest advice is to follow your heart.”
“Mine, too, Ali. Life is short. You couldn’t do anything about Billy dying, but don’t lose Derek by your own choosing.”
* * *
Derek walked through the streets of downtown Brooklyn. He hadn’t been back to his condo here much since his undercover began, and the area had changed, become more built up. He passed by a market, where he’d stop on his way home, a flower shop, some restaurants and a knick-knack store. Something drew him inside the last one. High end gifts were discreetly placed, and hangings on the walls artistically arranged. A ceramics section was to the left. And his eyes were drawn to an area that said Items from Positano Italy. Two mugs with multicolored swirls beckoned. He pictured Alessia and him sitting out on his deck, enjoying morning coffee.
Get out of my house. And don’t you dare call me again. I’m horrified that you’d think I’d succumb to a man who’d lied to me in every single interaction.
She’d made it clear that the two of them would never be together. Should he give up on her? Wait until she was less hurt and more reasonable? He put the mugs back where they were.
Further down, were dry cleaners, offices, and a new tenant in a little building. Covington, Casella and Covitz.
He’d been to their wedding. Paul and Hayley. Liked them. On a whim, he pulled open the door and walked into a reception area. A man stood by the receptionist, showing her