Chapter 5 - THE BABY SHOWER
On the morning of the shower, Madison supervised every detail like a theater director preparing for opening night.
Balloons framed the fireplace.
Cupcakes stood in perfect towers.
Designer gift bags covered two long tables.
A photographer adjusted lights near a flower wall bearing the words Welcome, Baby Whitmore.
Madison wore a pale-pink maternity dress and silver heels. Her blonde hair fell in carefully styled waves.
Kyle wore the light-green shirt she selected for him.
“Try to look happy,” she told him.
“I am happy.”
“You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep.”
Madison lowered her voice.
“The bank called again.”
Kyle stiffened.
“What did they say?”
“They need additional verification. It’s routine.”
“Maybe we should stop.”
“We can’t stop now.”
“I want to talk to Mom.”
Madison stepped closer.
“You will ruin everything over a question that has already been answered.”
Before Kyle could respond, the doorbell rang.
Guests began arriving.
An hour later, Eleanor entered carrying a rectangular white box.
Her pale-blue cardigan was buttoned neatly over a floral dress. She had spent the morning wondering whether she would see guilt on Kyle’s face.
He greeted her with a quick embrace.
“Mom, you look beautiful.”
“So do you.”
Kyle glanced at the box.
“Is that the blanket?”
Eleanor nodded.
For one second, his expression became warm.
“I remember Dad talking about it.”
Madison approached and kissed the air beside Eleanor’s cheek.
“You made it.”
“I did.”
“That must have taken a long time.”
“Almost a year.”
Madison looked toward the mountain of expensive gifts.
“We’ll open it with the others.”
Eleanor watched her walk away.
She could have left then.
Instead, she stayed because the investigation had not yet answered the most important question.
May you like
Was Kyle deceiving her?
Or was he being deceived too?
