Page 56 of Forever King

I grab a couple and sit down at the kitchen table. Eleanor makes the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tasted, and these are no exception. While I savor the sweetness of each one, I silently pray that Matthias and his lawyers will have a good trip and return home safe and sound tomorrow night.

Glancing up at the clock,I see it’s already nine in the morning. I wonder how Matthias is doing at his meeting. It’s probably just some dry discussion of King Industries products. My husband always tells me these kinds of things bore him senseless, so I bet he’s struggling to keep his eyes open as someone drones on about some new idea.

My phone vibrates, and I look down at the table to see Kellen’s name. That’s strange. He rarely calls me lately, especially on a weekday.

“Hey, what’s up?” I say as I answer his call.

“Nothing much. Just wanted to get my brother’s input on something. I tried his phone, but it went immediately to voicemail. I promise it won’t take long, but can you pry him away from whatever he’s doing there to get him to talk to me?”

Now I’m confused. Kellen works at the same place as Matthias. Why didn’t his assistant tell him my husband wasn’t even in town?

“He’s not here. Didn’t Donna tell you he was on a business trip?”

Kellen sounds as baffled as I am when he answers, “Uh, no. All she told me was he was working remotely today. I figured that meant from home.”

Ah, okay. That makes sense. Donna always tries to be as discreet as possible when it comes to her boss and his schedule. Kellen is his brother, though, so you’d think she’d tell him, at least.

“Nope, not today. He’s on a business trip, but he’ll be home tonight, as far as I know.”

That answer doesn’t make Kellen happy. Humming into the phone, he says, “Well, I’m here with the lawyers, and you know how they are. They aren’t going to want to wait until tomorrow. Funny how everything has to be on their schedule, right?”

“These wouldn’t be the company’s lawyers, would they?” I ask, sure there have to be many lawyers who deal with King Industries’ issues.

“Yeah, and they’re all sitting in my office. I stepped out to call you, but I need to get back in there. Jesus, I hope Robert isn’t boring the hell out of everyone with stories about his granddaughter.”

Suddenly, my heart drops. “Robert, the older man who has a granddaughter who plays the violin?”

“Yeah. As if anyone wants to hear about that shit all the time. Okay, I better get back in there. Sorry to bother you, Ava.”

The call ends, leaving me wondering what the hell is going on. Matthias said he was going on this trip with the lawyers, and he even mentioned that Robert would be there. Why did he lie to me?

My mind begins to spin at the idea that Matthias intentionally lied to me. If he isn’t going on this trip with the lawyers, who is he with?

I quickly dial his office number to speak to Donna, who answers almost immediately. As always, she’s kind with me and starts off asking me how I am today. I’m polite, even as my emotions are unraveling.

“I’m fine, thank you. I’m just calling to find out something. I hope you can help me.”

“Oh, honey. I’m happy to help. What can I do for you?”

I swallow hard and try to lick my lips to moisten them before clearing my throat. “Uh, I was just wondering if you could refresh my memory about who Matthias is on his trip today. He told me, but I’m drawing a blank. All I can think of is that nice man Robert who has a granddaughter who plays violin.”

With a smile in her voice, Donna says, “Oh, not this time, but I know who you mean. Nice man. No, this time he’s traveling with Cynthia, his personal attorney. They flew out from Teterboro last night, and he told me to expect him back tomorrow morning bright and early at nine a.m. like usual.”

My stomach twists into an instant tight knot. Cynthia? Who’s she? I don’t know any Cynthia. Then it comes to me. Cynthia is the woman he dated in college who is now his personal lawyer. Why would he be on a trip with her? And why would he lie to me about it?

“He’s not traveling with anyone else? Just him and his lawyer?” I ask, not caring that it’s obvious all I said a few seconds ago was a lie.

“Just her. I don’t expect to hear from him, but if he checks in, do you want me to let him know to call you?” she asks, trying to be helpful, as usual.

I clear my throat again and try to get my emotions in order before answering, “No, no. That’s okay. I’ll just see him when he gets back and talk to him then. Thanks, Donna. You’ve been very helpful.”

“Oh, it’s my pleasure, Ava. Have a wonderful day!”

My hand trembles when set my phone down on the table again. My husband lied to me about this trip. He lied to me and made it seem like it was him and bunch of men traveling to this meeting when it’s him and his ex-girlfriend from college who now works as his personal attorney.

I never cared about that fact before now, but as I sit here with my head practically spinning from Matthias’s lies, I care a lot. In fact, I not only care, but I hate it.

Why would he lie to me about something like that?