Walter. The man she’d loved; the man she had held up against all other men; the man who’d married her sister. Charming and smart and full of adventure. And yet, and yet, there he was doing to Hallie exactly what he’d done to Colleen.

•   •   •

“I’m finished!” Colleen set the final stories on Shane’s kitchen table. “I finished this morning after Hallie and the girls stopped by and then took Dad shopping. So the book is done now, right?”

Shane grinned at her and leafed through the sheets. “I knew I could count on you.”

“You did not know that.” Colleen slapped his arm. “But you could.”

He nodded while skimming the stories.

“Shane.”

“Hmmm . . .”

“I need to tell you something.”

He glanced up, a lock of hair falling over his forehead just as it had when he was a child, making him appear younger. “What is it?”

“Last night I think I saw Walter with a woman at the river park.”

“You think you did or you did?” He set the papers on the table and gazed directly at Colleen.

She hesitated but knew the answer. As surely as she knew it was Walter in the alcove of the church. “I did. He was holding her, kissing her, consoling her. It was clear they were intimate. They drove away in her car before I could confront him.”

“Just damn.” Shane slumped into a chair. “I would never have thought or guessed this. Honestly, he’s been like a model husband and father, a great son-in-law to Dad. Are you sure?” He held up his hand. “Don’t answer that. Of course you’re sure.”

“You like . . . him?” Colleen leaned forward. “I mean, you two get along well and all that and you’ve never suspected this?”

“They’re both under a lot of stress. Jobs. Kids. The move to the new house. Maybe it’s the first time.”

Colleen almost, but didn’t quite, laugh. “First time?”

Shane cringed. “Second.” He slapped his hand on his leg. “Just damn. I trusted him, too. He’s been a help to all of us. He’s been such a part of the family.” He rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “It took a while for me to forgive him, you know? I blamed him for your leaving. I still do. But at some point I had to trust him for Hallie. What now?”

“Remember when Hallie said she was exhausted and had ‘enough crap’ to deal with? Maybe this is what she meant.”

“Maybe, but they have a really busy life. It could have been a load of other things.”

“Well, I . . .” Colleen stopped as the door handle made a clicking noise and Hallie entered the room, her satchel over her shoulder and a take-out coffee cup in hand.

“You what?” Hallie dropped her things on the table directly on top of Colleen’s stories.