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Authors: Trice Hickman

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BOOK: Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies

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“Thank you, Parker.”

“Didn't I tell you he was in the best hands?” Even though he didn't feel like it, he made himself smile, because he needed something to hold on to.

Victoria looked at him through serious eyes. “You saved my husband's life, and I'll be forever grateful to you for that.”

“I did my job.” Parker didn't tell her that as he rode in the back of the ambulance, looking down at Ted, a small part of his mind drifted to thoughts of a future that he and Victoria could share if her husband wasn't around. But just as quickly as it came, the fleeting thought passed. The man who he despised, whose wife he coveted, was lying before him with his life in his hands. He'd been trained by profession and groomed by nature to handle the situation in front of him. Right after they closed the ambulance doors and headed to the hospital, Ted had stared up at him, wanting to speak but unable to. Parker had seen the same desperate look that was etched on Ted's face hundreds of times on other patients. “I need to live. I can't leave my family,” was what their eyes said when their mouths couldn't.

Parker had stared back, and they'd locked eyes, like two bulls locking horns. “You'll make it,” he told him.

Ted had closed his eyes, letting the IV drip work its magic. Parker turned his head and looked out the back window, watching Victoria as she trailed in her car behind them with a determined look on her face. At that moment his own heart sank as the realization settled in that he would never have her.

“You did more than your job, and you know it,” Victoria said.

Instead of telling her what he really wanted to say or what he thought she wanted to hear, he simply nodded. “He's in recovery. It'll be another hour before they can take him up to one of the rooms. I'll make sure that his nurse lets you know when you can go up and see him.” He turned to walk away, then stopped. He leaned forward, giving Victoria a small kiss on her forehead. “Take care of yourself.” And with that, he walked away.

Mistakes Have Been Made....

Three days later Victoria sat perched by Ted's side in a large reclining chair. He had just finished his second walk down the hallway and was a bit winded. They looked up as the nurse came in, carrying a large vase of flowers and two balloons. “We're going to have to start sitting them on the floor,” she joked, clearing a spot on the crowded windowsill. “You have a lot of people who care about you, Mr. Thornton. You're a very blessed man.”

“Yes, I am.” Ted nodded.

Victoria stared at the cards, flowers, and balloons that covered Ted's room. She concentrated on them because she couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes. She'd been by his side since he awakened in recovery and was brought to his room a few days ago. She had smiled at him then, and he had smiled back. But aside from that initial tender moment, they had kept their emotional distance and had not spoken to each other about anything other than the perfunctory matters concerning his health.

She had been the dutiful wife, asking questions as the nurses and doctors flowed in and out of Ted's room. She had held cups of water up to his mouth when he was thirsty and had helped him in and out of bed when he needed to use the restroom. But she had yet to look at him the way she wanted to, or the way she knew that she should. Half of her was afraid of upsetting him, fearing that she'd cause him to have a setback, and the other half of her was afraid of looking into his eyes and seeing the finality that might be resting there.

After the nurse left the room, they were all alone.Victoria could feel Ted staring, boring holes through her. “Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“I'm fine.”

“Are you thirsty?”

“No.”

She would feel better if he cursed her out and called her a cheating whore, because anything would be better than experiencing the pain of his indifference. She braced herself, worked up her nerve, and looked into his eyes. “I'm sorry.” She rose from her chair and sat next to Ted on his bed. “I kept secrets from you, and I lied. I've made some terrible mistakes, and I expect to pay for them. But I love you, Ted. I love you more than you can possibly know.” Victoria held her head low, waiting for him to say something.

Ted had carried on numerous, very discreet affairs during his first marriage. He hadn't believed he would ever experience true love; then he met Victoria and his entire world changed. He still admired beautiful women when he saw them, but the thought of being with anyone other than her was like a foreign concept to him.“Why,V? I know things have been rough lately, but haven't I been a good husband to you? What did I do to drive you into another man's arms?”

Aside from when he was lying on the gurney, it was the first time that Victoria had ever seen him look and sound helpless and vulnerable. “You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who messed up, not you. I jeopardized our family, and I'm so sorry. I was weak and careless.”

Ted let out a deep, labored sigh.

“My conduct with Parker was, um ... inappropriate, but I didn't sleep with him.”

“Do you love him?”

Victoria forced herself to look into Ted's eyes again. She wanted him to know that even though it was going to be painful for her to speak it, and for him to hear it, he had to know that what she was about to tell him was the complete and honest truth. No more hidden secrets, no more lies. She nodded her head. “Yes,Ted.There's a part of me that loves him. But if I'm hearing you, you're asking me if I'm in love with him? If I want to leave you and be with him?”

“That's exactly what I'm asking.”

“Then the answer is no. I have no intention or desire to leave you, ever. Even while everything was happening and I was making all those bad decisions, I never thought about ending our marriage.” She sighed, shaking her head, as if trying to pull herself from a bad dream. “Sometimes the fantasy of something is more enticing than the reality.”

“This was a fling?”

“It was a colossal mistake.”

They sat in silence again.

Victoria swallowed hard, asking the question that had been on her mind. “Do you want a divorce?”

There was silence. Finally,Ted spoke. “No.”

“Do you think you can forgive me?”

“V ...” Ted paused, bringing his hand to his head. He looked at her without responding, because he didn't know what his answer was going to be. He knew that if she could forgive him for what he had done, then he should forgive her, too. He knew that she loved him, and despite the overwhelming hurt she had caused him by her betrayal, he still loved her more than he could put into words.

“Ted, I know that I've hurt you, and I know it's going to take a long time for me to regain your trust. But the only way we can survive this is if you can forgive me.”

“I feel like everything that we've built together over the years suddenly crumbled in just a matter of days. I lied to you, and you lied to me. We both kept secrets from each other. We both betrayed each other's trust.” That was his way of telling her that he didn't have clean hands, either, and that they had each made mistakes. “Betrayal is a hard thing. How do we get past this?”

“Together ... that's the only way we can move forward.”

“When I was lying on that stretcher, the only thing I thought about was you and Alexandria, and how I wanted to live because I didn't want to leave you.” A small tear escaped the corner of his eye. He wiped his hand across his face, talking in a steady tone as another tear rolled down his cheek. “I don't want to lose my family.”

“You haven't lost us. I'm here, where I'm supposed to be.” Victoria reached for Ted's hand and held it. “I'm gonna work hard to fix this ... this mess that I've made. We can get through this. If we can forgive, we can heal.”

Ted nodded.

“Do you think you can forgive me?” she asked again.

“I love you,V ... but it's going to take time.”

“That's all I can ask for.”

Victoria slipped off her sandals and curled up in bed beside him, gently resting her head on his shoulder. Ted planted a soft kiss on her forehead as she draped one arm around him. It didn't feel like old times to either of them, and they knew that it might never feel that way again. But what they were sharing now was real, and it was pure, and it was love, and they were ready to ride it out to wherever it was going to take them.

Don't miss Naomi Chase's
Deception

On sale in March 2012 from Dafina Books

Turn the page for an excerpt from
Deception ...

Chapter 1

Tamia

T
amia Luke's heart pounded violently as she watched the twelve jurors file into the jury box and reclaim their seats. She was so nervous she wanted to throw up. These men and women held her fate in their hands. Their verdict would determine whether she spent the rest of her life in prison, or walked out of this courtroom a free woman.

She searched their faces, hoping for somethingâ
anything
âthat would give her insight into the decision they had reached. But their expressions were unreadable, and none of them would make eye contact with her. Not even Juror Number Eight, an attractive, middle-aged black man who'd hardly been able to keep his eyes off of her throughout the trial.

But today he seemed to go out of his way not to look at her.

Like the other jurors.

With mounting anxiety, Tamia leaned over and whispered to her attorney, “They won't look at me.Why won't they look at me?”

“Relax,” Brandon murmured soothingly. “It doesn't mean anything.”

Tamia hoped to God he was right. She'd spent the past five months behind bars, serving time for a crime she hadn't committed. She didn't know
what
she would do if the jury found her guilty of Isabel Archer's murder. It was unthinkable.

When the judge emerged from his chambers, Tamia and Brandon rose from the defense table. Her insides were shivering, and her legs were so wobbly she thought she'd collapse to the floor. Without thinking she grabbed Brandon's hand and held it tight, comforted when he squeezed her back.

As the judge silently read the folded note that contained the jury's verdict, an expectant hush swept over the packed courtroom.You could literally hear a pin drop.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” said the judge, “have you reached a verdict?”

The jury forewoman stood. “We have,Your Honor.”

“What is your verdict?”

Tamia closed her eyes, her heart slamming against her ribcage as she braced herself for the woman's next words.

“We, the jury, find the defendantâ”

Tamia held her breath.

“ânot guilty.”

Pandemonium erupted in the courtroom, loud cheers from Tamia's supporters dueling with shouts of protest from Isabel Archer's outraged relatives. The judge banged his gavel, calling for order. But it was the sight of Brandon's beaming face that gave Tamia permission to believe the verdict she'd just heard.

“WE WON!” she screamed, throwing her arms around Brandon's neck as he laughingly lifted her off the floor. As he spun her around, she caught a glimpse of Dominic Archer, seated behind the plaintiff's table across the aisle. He looked so stunned that Tamia might have felt sorry for himâif she didn't despise his motherfucking ass.

“Thank you, Brandon,” she said earnestly as he set her back down on her feet. “Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for saving my life!”

“You're welcome,” he told her. “I never doubted your innocence.”

“I know. And that meant
everything
to me.”

His expression softened. “You know Iâ”

“Congratulations,” a new voice interrupted.

Tamia and Brandon turned to encounter a pretty, brown-skinned woman dressed in a navy Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit that hugged her slender figure. Her dark, lustrous hair seemed longer, flowing past her shoulders in a way that made Tamia more desperate than ever to get into her stylist's chair. Sporting months of nappy new growth and wearing a pantsuit that did nothing for her shape, she felt raggedy next to Cynthia Yarbroughâthe scheming hussy who'd stolen Brandon from her.

She forced a smile. “Hey, Cynthia.You're looking well.”

“Thank you, Tamia.” Cynthia didn't insult her intelligence by returning the compliment. “Congratulations on your acquittal.”

“Thanks.” Tamia smiled gratefully at Brandon. “I couldn't have done it without this man's amazing legal prowess. I don't know if I can ever repay him, but I'm determined to try.”

Brandon chuckled. “You might feel differently after you receive my final bill.”

Tamia laughed, then leaned up and kissed his smooth, clean-shaven cheek. She didn't miss the way Cynthia's eyes narrowed with displeasure.

Don't get it twisted, heffa
, Tamia mused.
He was
my
man first!

Soon she was surrounded by a group of supporters who'd been there for her throughout the trial. Lou SaldaÃ±a scooped her up and swung her around, while her best friend, Shanell Jasper, took one look at her attire and promised to take her shopping ASAP. Distant cousins Tamia hadn't seen in ages had shown up, along with a few of her neighbors.

Everyone who mattered was there.

Except Fiona.

And
she
didn't matter anymore,Tamia thought darkly.

“YOU BITCH!”

The enraged outburst came from the other side of the courtroom, where a sobbing woman was being restrained by several members of Isabel Archer's family. As Tamia watched, the woman pointed at her and screamed, “You're not gonna get away with this, bitch! You're gonna pay for what you did to Isabel!”

Before Tamia could open her mouth to defend herself, Brandon silenced her with a warning look. “Don't say anything. The jury has spoken for you, and that's all that matters.”

Nodding grimly, she watched as the hysterical woman was led out of the courtroom. Although Tamia knew she was innocent, it bothered her that there were people who would always believe the worst of her, that she'd killed her lover's wife in a fit of jealous rage. The worst part was that she
knew
who the real killer wasâand there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. She'd sworn not to tell anyone, and no matter how horribly she'd been used and betrayed, a promise was a promise.

After accepting more congratulatory hugs and kisses, Tamia followed her small entourage out of the courthouse and into the bright November afternoon. She and Brandon were met by a buzzing swarm of reporters who shouted questions at them.

“Miss Luke, do you feel vindicated by today's verdict?”

“Mr. Chambers, do you stand by your strategy to portray Dominic Archer as the real killer?”

“Do either of you believe he really murdered his wife?”

“Miss Luke, do you regret having an affair with a married man?”

Taken aback by the barrage of questions, Tamia looked askance at Brandon. He gave her a reassuring smile, then stepped to the cluster of microphones. Calmly he surveyed the crowd, waiting for the noise to die down before he spoke.

“Miss Luke and I are pleased that justice was served today. I commend the men and women of the jury for weighing all the evidence and coming back with the only verdict they could have: not guilty.”

The reporters fired more questions at him.

“With all due respect, Brandon,” one voice rang out above the rest, “how difficult was it for you to defend the woman who cheated on you? Throughout the trial, you were forced to hear the lurid details of Miss Luke's affair with Dominic Archer. How in the world did you remain objective?”

Tamia's face heated with shame, while Brandon didn't so much as flinch. “My prior relationship with Miss Luke wasn't on trial,” he answered evenly. “If I didn't think I could handle hearing the âlurid details' of her affair, as you put it, I wouldn't have taken her case. But I did, because I believed in her innocence. Clearly the jury did, too.”

Tamia beamed at him.

“Is there any chance that you and Miss Luke might reconcile?”

Brandon paused, giving Tamia a sidelong glance.

She met his gaze, holding her breath as she waited for his response.

After several moments he turned back to the reporters, chuckling and shaking his head. “You guys are always looking for a romantic Hollywood ending. All I want to do is celebrate this victory, which reaffirms my belief that the justice system can and
does
work.”

“Given your winning track record,” someone retorted, “I'd say the system works just fine for you.”

Brandon grinned as laughter swept over the crowd.

Tamia was also grinning, but not for the same reason as everyone else. For the first time in several months, she had reason to hope that all was not lost between her and Brandon. Because whether he realized it or not, by dodging the reporter's question, he'd left the door open for the possibility of him and Tamia getting back together.

Today's verdict had given her back her life. Now that she was a free woman again, nothing would stop her from trying to reclaim the only man she'd ever loved.

Nothing.

And no one.

Turning her head, she saw Cynthia standing off to the side by herself.

Their gazes met.

Tamia smiled.

Cynthia's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

That's right, bitch
, Tamia thought.
I'm taking back what you stole from me. And this time, I'm never letting him go!

BOOK: Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies

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