Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“No,” Sean said, with an agitated shake of his head. “Mom doesn’t have anything to do with Dad’s business. Has never had any interest in it. And I have no idea who he was. I’d never seen him before.”
“So this happened a couple months ago, and you’re just saying something now?”
Sean sighed. “I didn’t want to think that’s why Mom was there. I couldn’t believe she’d do anything like that, so I put it to the back of my mind. But after last night, when she barged in on Caroline and me, well…I was worried about her. She seemed pretty shocked.”
Declan and I both laughed, but with one searing look from Sean, we instantly sobered.
“Sorry,” Declan stated, as he motioned for Sean to go on.
“I stopped by the house this morning. I knew Dad would be out of the house early, so I thought it would be a good time to talk to Mom before I also headed into the office.”
“What happened?” I asked.
Sean’s face turned white. “I just used my key to get in.”
“Oh God,” Declan mumbled.
“Mom was in the kitchen being…well…this guy was…he was… Oh God, I can’t even say it.”
Declan and I both exchanged a look.
“Was a pickleball paddle involved?” Declan asked with a deadpan look.
Sean rolled his eyes. “I wish I never would have told you that!”
I covered my mouth in a sad attempt not to laugh. This was serious. Maddie was having an affair.
“Declan, the guy had Mom leaning over the kitchen table that we grew up eating at, and he was…they were having sex!”
Declan shuddered before taking a bite of his breakfast.
“Are you sure it wasn’t your dad?” I asked.
Sean snapped his head in my direction. “My dad was leaving for work early this morning, Harper. And they don’t do things like that.”
“Maybe Dad doubled back, and it was him. Are you a hundred percent sure it wasn’t Dad?” Declan asked.
Sean’s brows drew in. “Well, no. I’m not a hundred percent sure. I didn’t stand around and watch. I instantly turned away.”
Declan let out a groan. “So you thought the first thing you’d do after seeing Mom and Dad getting their freak on was come here and tell us?”
“I’ve had a pretty traumatic twenty-four hours, Declan!” Sean sputtered.
“I imagine so,” I said, earning a dirty look from him.
“While you two are over here playing house, I’ve got Mom walking in on me having sex, and then I walked in on her and…fuck, I hope it was Dad.”
I held up my finger. “Question. Did they see you?”
“Um, I don’t think so. I turned around and hightailed it out of there.”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?” I asked, gesturing to my half-eaten omelet.
“No.” Sean held up his hands, then put one on his stomach. “I don’t have the stomach for it.”
Declan pulled out his phone. “Let’s just get this figured out once and for all.”
A look of horror passed over Sean’s face. “What are you going to do? Call her and ask if she’s having an affair?”
Declan put the cell on speakerphone, and I found myself leaning closer, as did Sean.
“Good morning, sweetheart!” Maddie called out, clearly in a good mood.
“Hey, Mom. I’m here with Sean and Harper. We’re having breakfast.”
“Really? Oh, that’s nice to hear that you both worked things out.”
“Mom, I’m going to cut to the chase.”
Sean started jumping around and waving his hands as he mouthed the words don’t do it!
“Oookay. I’m thrilled, if you’re worried about what I think of you and Harper. I’m glad to see both of my boys happy. And if that means you’re with Harper, and Sean is with Caroline and her freaky ways…”
Sean dropped to the floor and covered his face as I clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
“Yeah, I heard about that. Guess you’ll want a new pickleball paddle for your birthday, huh?”
I lost the battle and started laughing. Sean shot his brother the middle finger.
Maddie drew in a breath and exhaled. “I don’t think I’ll be playing anytime soon.”
Declan laughed, then reined it in. “Right, don’t blame you. So, Mom, who were you having sex with in the kitchen this morning?”
My mouth fell open as Sean stared at his brother, blinking rapidly.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The table sex this morning?”
Maddie gasped. “How did you know? It was only me and your father at home!”
Declan pointed to Sean as if to say there’s your answer.
“Sean stopped by, heard you, and then turned around and left. He had this crazy idea you were having an affair, since he saw you leaving a Lake Placid hotel with someone a while back.”
“Oh my God,” Sean said, cradling his head as he rocked back and forth. Sean was really having a bad twenty-four hours and I got immense joy in knowing I got to witness every glorious moment of it.