False Pretenses by Kathy Herman

Author:Kathy Herman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Book 1, Secrets of Roux River Bayou
ISBN: 9780781403405
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Vanessa lay in Ethan’s arms, praying, aware that it had been almost five minutes since she had heard any shouting or door slamming coming from Zoe and Pierce’s apartment.

Lord, help them get through this. Don’t let it destroy their marriage.

“Ethan, are you awake?” she whispered.

“I keep dozing off. Is it still quiet over there?”

“Yes, for about five minutes now. Do you think we should knock on the door and let them know we’re here, in case they need us?”

Ethan stroked her hair. “No. Zoe knows that. We don’t know whether or not she told Pierce about your earlier conversation. It’s better if we stay out of it.”

“We can’t stay out of it. What if Shapiro knows she talked to me? We’re in this, whether we like it or not. At some point, we’re going to have to talk to them.”

“Well, not at two in the morning.”

“I hope Pierce doesn’t walk out on her,” Vanessa said. “No matter how wrong it was that she lied about her past, I know Zoe didn’t lie about her feelings for him.”

“Victims of childhood sexual abuse are so used to living with secrets,” Ethan said, “that lying becomes second nature. Maybe now that she’s had to confront the truth, Zoe will be able to move past it.”

“She may not get the chance unless the sheriff apprehends Shapiro,” Vanessa said. “I’m really scared for her. I wish I knew what she told Pierce.”

“Judging from the shouting, probably the truth.”

“I’ll never be able to sleep with this up in the air.” Vanessa sighed. “I was looking forward to going to church at Grace Creek in the morning, but now I’m thinking we need to stay home and help Zoe and Pierce.”

“I was looking forward to it too. I’m so ready to join a church and get involved again. But I guess we can put that on hold for a week. Pastor Auger will understand.” Ethan pulled her closer. “If we’re going to be of any help to Zoe and Pierce, we need to stay strong and not get paralyzed by fear.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I never said it was easy. But we’ve been through worse.”

Vanessa’s mind flashed back to the terrifying moments after his cousin, Drew, was gunned down, and the agonizing hours when Ethan was being pursued by the men responsible.

“The faith you showed in going to the police when Drew’s killers tried to shut you up amazed me,” she said. “You said if right is right, it’s right all the time and not just when it’s convenient.”

“It is. But it’s important to use wisdom in how you go to the police. It’s not like I went down to the station and wrote out a statement.”

“I know, Ethan. I just wish I had your faith. So how do we help Zoe and Pierce do the right thing without endangering their lives—or ours?”

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