Read Online A Taste of Sin by Jennifer L. Jennings, Vicki Lorist - Free Book Online Page B

wondering why they weren’t around to help their daughter in her time of need.
    She shook her head. “Honestly, talking to them makes me even more depressed.”
    “You know, it might be a good idea to confide in Linda. I know she’s Paul’s friend, too, but you can trust her to keep a secret.”
    “She’s so busy with her other patients. I hate feeling like a burden.”
    “But she’s one of your best friends,” I said, and almost mentioned the depressing fact that she appears to be the only friend.
    Emily swallowed hard. “You haven’t mentioned anything to her, have you?”
    “I promised I wouldn’t.”
    She seemed relieved as she exhaled a long breath. “Did she ever tell you about our wedding in Hawaii?”
    “A little. Something to do with your brother and the wedding cake.”
    Emily nodded as a spark of anger lit up her eyes. “Do you have siblings, Sarah?”
    “No.”
    She glanced over at Max, who was just out of earshot. “Benjamin and I barely tolerated each other growing up. He was the young prince and our parents spoiled him. No wonder he became such a drama queen.”
    “Drama queen?”
    “Oh, did I forget to mention he’s gay and proud?”
    The blunt comment left me speechless.
    “He knew he was gay at an early age,” she continued. “And that was fine, but he had no shame. For instance, when he was ten, my parents had a group of friends over to the house for a party. Benjamin decided it would be an excellent time to come out of the closet and tell everyone he was gay. It was so embarrassing. No one knew what to say.”
    “Awkward.”
    “Even so, everyone loved Benjamin despite his crass nature. I could never stand him. He’s like Richard Simmons on speed.”
    “So what precipitated the blow-out at the wedding?” I asked.
    She rolled her eyes. “It’s a long story. I’d rather not get into it if you don’t mind.”
    “No problem.”
    Emily turned her head to watch Max install the cameras. “Do you believe in soul mates, Sarah?”
    “I don’t know. Sometimes yes and sometimes I think love is random. In my personal experience, it’s all about timing.”
    She nodded as if she understood implicitly. “You’re very pragmatic, aren’t you? I wish I could be more that way. Problem is, I’ve put all my eggs in Paul’s basket. What would I do without him? Especially in my condition.”
    “You have other people in your life to turn to,” I said. “No matter what we find on the surveillance footage tonight, you won’t end up alone. Have you thought about what you’ll do if Paul is arrested?”
    “Well, if we lose the house, I’ll probably have to go stay with my parents.”
    “Where do they live?”
    “Florida. They’re both retired, but my dad has emphysema, so they don’t get out much.”
    No wonder her parents weren’t around to help her out.
    A few minutes later, Max joined us at the table. “It’s all set, ladies. The cameras are in place.”
    Emily looked around the kitchen. “Nicely done, I can’t even see where they are.”
    “Good, then I’ve done my job,” Max said, smiling. “I’ll just need a few more minutes to confirm the transmitters are working. Other than that, I’ll have to come back in a few days to replace the batteries, or remove the devices, depending on the outcome.” He turned away to type something on his tablet computer.
    “Well then.” Emily placed both palms on the armrest and pushed herself up shakily. “I should go lie down. I’m feeling very tired today.”
    “Keep your cell phone handy tonight,” I said. “Just in case.”
    “Thank you both for everything.” She touched my hand and gave me an apologetic look. “I need to write you a check, dear. I know you’ve been working so hard to help me with this. I feel awful that I haven’t given you any compensation yet.”
    “Don’t worry about that right now. We’ll discuss it later. You need to rest.”
    “Thank you. I want you to know how much I appreciate everything