False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [76]
CHAPTER 24
Vanessa stood at the railing on the Langleys’ half of the gallery above Zoe B’s, watching the horizon blaze pink on the first day of August. The morning breeze, lukewarm and almost damp enough to wring out, was scented with the delicious smells of coffee, warm beignets, and something spicy.
She wondered if Zoe and Pierce had reached Sheriff Prejean and told him about Shapiro’s threat and the frightening case of mistaken identity. How had they fared through the night—were they able to sleep? Were they talking to each other? Had they decided to split up? Had they called a truce?
Ethan came up behind her and put his arms around her, his cheek next to hers, the leathery scent of his aftershave overpowering the breakfast smells.
“Thinking about Zoe and Pierce?”
Vanessa nodded. “I hope they had a restful night, but I doubt it.”
“I’ll give them a call before I get to the clinic. There’s a pay phone at the convenience store on the corner. Maybe you can check in with them too, before you pick up Carter.”
“I will.” Vanessa smiled. “I sure miss our little guy.”
“Me too.”
“Something tells me he’s ready to come home. Four is young to handle a sleepover. I’m just glad he seemed enthusiastic about it since we needed the space to deal with the Broussards’ situation.”
“It worked out perfectly.” Ethan kissed her cheek, then moved over next to her at the railing and looked down on rue Madeline. “I imagine they’re pretty scared, now that they’ve had time to think about it. There’s a lot more at stake than just their physical safety.”
Vanessa sighed. “I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for Zoe, living with the deception and all those secrets.”
“Or for Pierce, who’s now looking back on his entire married life as a lie.”
“It’s so sad, because they really do—or at least did—love each other. If only Zoe hadn’t lied to him.”
“She learned to lie to cover her shame,” Ethan said. “She’d been doing it so long, it became second nature. I doubt it was a difficult decision to steal the ring and lie to Mrs. Woodmore. Zoe felt justified because she saw it as her way out. She’s responsible for that. But this thing with Shapiro really isn’t her fault.”
“Do you think Pierce will ever be able to understand why she made the choices she did?”
Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know, honey. He may not care why she did it, especially when it’s impacted him so deeply. If they’re going to make it through this, they’re going to have to look beyond themselves for the strength to forgive—Pierce to forgive Zoe, and Zoe to forgive herself and the parents who abused her. I’ve never seen forgiveness on that level come from human nature. It takes God.”
“They go to church, but I don’t get the sense that Zoe and Pierce really know the Lord or make Him a part of their everyday lives. Did you see how they looked at us when we joined hands and prayed?”
Ethan slid his arm around her. “Yeah, I think they were uncomfortable with it. But if they ever needed to know that God’s there for them, it’s now. They were probably more receptive than they let on.”
“I know Zoe’s afraid Pierce will leave her. Or worse yet, try to have the marriage annulled.”
“We know God doesn’t want their marriage to end over this,” Ethan said. “But it’s going to take Him to keep it from happening.”
Zoe sat at the antique table in the dining room at Langley Manor and looked out over the green cane fields, hoping the cereal bar and orange juice she’d consumed a half hour ago would stay down.
Why was she thinking of her mother? She had put the woman out of her mind for more than a decade. Was it because she was afraid? Almost as afraid as she