I Was Done Begging novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Meeting She Could Get

Simone waited for me to say something.

I stayed by the door with my hand on my cane.

"Here is what I think," she said softly. "Julien would be very hurt to know you went behind his back."

"Would he?"

"I don't want to hurt him. I only want us all to be safe."

She smiled, wet-eyed and kind.

"Sign the form tomorrow and I will never say a word. My son needs a future, Celia. You don't want to take it from a baby."

So that was what the warm voice and the white lilies had been for.

In the other life I had seen it too late.

She did not care about me or about Julien.

She cared about the fifteen percent, and she had cared about it from the start.

"You're right," I said.

Her face loosened.

"It is dangerous to keep things from Julien."

"I'm so glad you understand."

"So I'll tell him myself, in the morning."

Her smile stopped halfway.

"Celia, I don't think you've understood me."

"I understand you perfectly, Simone. Goodnight."

I opened the door.

She stood there with her hands twisting in the sash of her robe, and for one second her face showed what was underneath.

Then it was gone and she was a sad girl in a satin robe again.

"You're making a mistake," she said, and went out.

I did not sleep.

Julien came at eight, as I'd known he would, without knocking and without his wine.

His tie was crooked.

"Simone says you went to the Everhart building."

"I did."

"You lied to me. You said you went for a walk."

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