She could ask Jess to lie, but that would be unfair and Jess might refuse.
As Cassie frantically considered her options, she realized there might be another way out of this that wouldn’t put such an unfair burden on her innocent friend, especially since she didn’t know where Jess’s loyalties lay.
That would mean telling Jess that she, Cassie, was a liar.
Cassie’s hands shook as she composed a hasty reply.
“Jess, I feel so embarrassed. I ended up saying things that weren’t true.
“I thought there was a spark between Ryan and me. I believed that helping him out on a business trip meant we were dating. Look, we had an amazing dinner and we chatted and shared lots of stuff and he gave me the biggest hug before I went to my room.
“And I ended up assuming the rest!
“Luckily he took me aside yesterday and reminded me he’s happily married and although he’s a friendly guy, he knows that I’m lonely and that I might be reading too much into the friendliness.
“I cried buckets afterwards but it was mostly out of embarrassment, as I knew he was right and I’d been such a fool.
“Please tell your friend it was a misunderstanding. I’ll be leaving soon and I’d hate to think that my own silly imagination had caused any damage to such a wonderful family!”
Cassie looked down at the screen and felt nauseous.
It wasn’t true. What she had said in this letter was a total lie. She was lying to protect a man who didn’t deserve it, who was in all probability a serial liar, and who was still doing his utmost to string her along.
On the other hand, if Trish found out, there’d be no sympathy from her, Cassie was sure of it. Sleeping with a married man, in his marital bed, in the house where his two children lived, was unforgivable, and nobody would believe her if she said she hadn’t known.
She couldn’t risk this situation blowing up in her face, especially since she didn’t have the correct visa to be working at all. If Trish found out that Cassie had been having an affair with her husband, she would be looking for any excuse to stick the knife in.
Cassie sensed Trish was a stickler for the rules. It was evident in her whole demeanor. If she learned that Cassie had taken this job while on a visitor visa, she wouldn’t hesitate to report her.
Cassie didn’t think Trish liked her much anyway, and might even instinctively suspect that things between her and Ryan were not what they seemed.
She gritted her teeth. Unfair as this was, she was going to have to do it because there was no other choice. If she didn’t she would suffer the consequences and they would be harsh.
Pressing her lips together, Cassie stabbed the Send button and watched as the email disappeared.
Then she turned her phone off, not wanting to face any more incoming emails, and went to get the children ready for their day.
She checked Dylan’s bedroom with nervousness uncoiling inside her, and was relieved to find he wasn’t there and had already made his bed.
Cassie woke Madison, and when she was dressed, the two of them walked to the kitchen together. Pasting a fixed smile onto her face, Cassie wished she could be anywhere else. Anything was better than having to interact with the man who’d slept with her and lied to her and led her on, while pretending nothing was wrong.
“Morning!” Ryan greeted them. He was at the stove making omelets while Trish, seated at the kitchen table, was busy with a large book. Dylan, on the other side of the table, was finishing his food.
Cassie looked at Dylan uneasily, wishing he was the one who’d lied about what he had done and that it had been Ryan who’d told the truth.
Dylan glanced at her briefly and then returned his attention to his plate, without giving her any hint of the disturbing conversation they’d had last night.
“Morning,” Cassie replied in a faux-cheerful tone, wondering how she would manage to survive this meal. She already felt as if she was about to snap from stress. She looked from Ryan to Trish and back again, vainly hoping to pick up signs of conflict or estrangement.
“Coffee’s on the counter,” Trish said. “It’s a help-yourself morning. I need to keep my hands clean.”
“What are you doing, Mum?” Madison asked curiously.
“I’m creating a scrapbook. One of the speakers on a recent tour talked about the importance of creating physical memories and not just digital ones. We’ve been bad that way because our photos are mostly digital, but I found one album in the lounge. I’ll go into town later and get more recent photos printed out.”
Madison looked over her shoulder, but Cassie noticed she wasn’t as fascinated by the scrapbooking as she’d expected her to be. Since she loved working with her hands, Cassie assumed she’d join in and offer to help, but she didn’t.
Cassie found herself fuming all over again at the mention of family memories. This was not what you did when you were getting divorced—was it?
She felt tears prickle her eyes and worried that she might lose control and burst into hysterical sobs in front of the family. She concentrated on imagining a high brick wall in her mind, where thoughts about Ryan were imprisoned, unseen and unfelt. With the wall in her mind, she tried to maintain composure as she made tea for Madison.
“Omelet?” Ryan asked. “We’ve got a choice of ham, mushrooms, and cheese. What’s your preference, Maddie? Dylan had the works.”
Madison shook her head.
“I’m not hungry, Dad.”
Ryan laughed. “You’re the most un-morning person I know. I’m going to make you one anyway, and when you come back from school, Cassie can heat it up for you in the microwave. Sound good?”
“OK,” Madison agreed. “Ham and cheese, please.”
“For you, Cassie?”
She couldn’t bear to look at him, never mind speak to him.
“I’ll pass, thanks,” she said. “I’m feeling a bit sick this morning.”
She realized it was
