Read Payback and a Bottle of Merlot: Like Sisters Series Book One for Free Online Page A

shaking as she took a sip of water. She stammered as she began. “Well, first off, I’m really surprised you live here.”
    “Excuse me, why is where I live any of your business? I’ve lived here for almost four years.”
    Mia’s eyes began to well up. “I’m not trying to get on your nerves, and I really don’t know why you’re being hostile toward me. I’m just surprised you live here, that’s all. Jack tells me how often he stays over in the city so he can be with Claire. Now you’re saying you’ve lived here for close to four years?” Mia burst out crying. “I don’t even know my own husband. The only thing I do know about him is, he’s cheating on me, and he’s a liar. That much I’m certain of.”
    “You should know a cheater will always cheat, Mia. After all, you are the woman that took him away from me, aren’t you? You have long blonde hair now, but didn’t it used to be dark?”
    “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve always had blonde hair, and I met Jack at the beginning of 2011. He said he was divorced for a year at that time. He said you grew apart, but it was an amicable divorce, and you remained friends. Jack told me about Claire. You have shared custody, and he visits her all the time in the city. That’s all he’s ever told me about either of you.”
    “Would you like to meet Claire, Mia?”
    “Well sure, if it’s okay with you.”
    Karen left the room and came back a minute later with a Persian cat tucked in her arms. “This is Claire.”
    “No, this can’t be happening,” Mia said, as she sobbed out loud.
    “Mia, it’s obvious that Jack has serious issues. I didn’t know he went this far with the lying and betrayal though. I’m sorry. Jack and I divorced because he was cheating on me with someone. When you showed up, I thought it was you. After you started talking, I realized you weren’t the same woman. I divorced Jack because I gave him an ultimatum. He could either stop cheating and quit being so controlling, or we were finished. Well, it’s obvious how far that got me. We haven’t seen each other since we divorced. Greenwich is beautiful, and I didn’t want to run into him in the city, so I moved here. I’ve always loved this area anyway.”
    “But I got your phone number off his cell phone. I figured you saw each other regularly because of Claire. Oh… never mind. I guess that doesn’t mean anything, now that I know Claire is your cat.” Mia began crying again.
    “Mia, what can I do for you?”
    “I don’t know… I’m confused. I saw Jack last week at the Grand Central Terminal with a dark haired woman. They were kissing in front of everyone. Of course he didn’t see me. Then I found emails to her, going back years. And now, the lies about Claire are unforgivable. What a horrible thing to do to someone. To make up a daughter that doesn’t even exist.”
    “Mia, describe this woman to me.”
    “Well… she is beautiful, with long dark hair. She looks exotic.”
    “That sounds very familiar. Give me a second.”
    Karen walked over to a cabinet in her dining room and pulled a box off the top shelf. She returned and sat next to Mia on the couch. Karen opened the lid and Mia stared wide eyed at its contents. Pictures of Jack and Sasha filled the box.
    “Oh my God, you had him followed?”
    “Yes I did. Is this the same woman you saw?”
    “Yes. Her name is Sasha, but that’s all I know about her. When are these pictures from?”
    “These pictures are from 2009. Who knows how long he was seeing her before that. The question is, why did he marry us, and why does she accept it?”
    “Maybe she doesn’t know he’s married. The emails sound like he’s stringing her along with all the lies he’s told, but she could be the one he actually loves.”
    “Then why didn’t he marry her a long time ago?”
    “Karen, do you think Jack is sick? I mean mentally?”
    “No, I don’t. Jack is a sick son of a bitch, and he thinks nobody