Chapter 1

The first proof that my fiance had been sleeping with my younger sister was written in blue ink on his mother's kitchen calendar.

I found it the afternoon before my wedding while looking for the unity candles. Elaine Holloway kept them in a cabinet beside her sewing room, but I opened the kitchen drawer beneath it by mistake.

Three old calendars lay under a stack of dish towels. Blue stars marked certain Thursdays. Beside each star, Elaine had written the same two initials.

G and C.

Grant and Celeste.

I turned to the first marked page.

March 14. Ridge House, 7:30.

I remembered that night. Grant had told me his father needed help after physical therapy. I'd made chicken soup, canceled dinner with my parents, and stopped by Arthur's house before work the next morning.

Arthur had been alone by nine.

Grant had been at the Holloway family's mountain cabin with Celeste.

The next calendar held another blue star.

July 6. C needs Mara's car.

Celeste had claimed her car was in the shop. I'd loaned her my SUV and rearranged three patient visits so I could take a bus across town. The calendar showed that Grant had collected her from my apartment and driven her to Ridge House.

Another page held a third entry.

December 19. Mara stays with Arthur. G and C at cabin.

Elaine had asked me to stay with Arthur while she attended a church dinner. I'd helped him with his exercises and prepared his meals for the weekend. When Elaine returned, she'd hugged me and said she didn't know what the family would do without me.

Now I knew.

They'd used my help to hide the affair.

The earliest blue star was dated almost three years ago.

"Mara?" Elaine called from the living room. "Did you find the candles?"

"Not yet."

My voice sounded normal. That frightened me.

I photographed every marked page, closed the drawer, and entered the sewing room.

The candle tray sat on the top shelf. When I pulled it forward, a brass key scraped against the wood. A narrow yellow ribbon was tied through its handle. Celeste used the same ribbon on her camera cases.

The tag read RIDGE HOUSE.

I photographed the key and returned it beneath the tray.

Footsteps entered the kitchen.

"Where is she?" Grant asked.

"Still looking," Elaine said. "Keep your voice down."

I stayed behind the half-closed door.

"Celeste says she can't stand beside Mara tomorrow and pretend," Grant said.

"She's managed for three years. She can manage one more day."

"You don't understand how hard this is for her."

Elaine lowered her voice. "Celeste makes you feel alive. Mara makes your life possible. Don't confuse the two."

Grant didn't answer.

"Your father trusts Mara," Elaine continued. "She handles his appointments and exercises. She remembers every birthday, every bill, every problem before it becomes one."

"I know what she does."

"Then marry her. Once the wedding is over, she won't leave. Mara is too mature to throw away six years and embarrass both families."

"And Celeste?"

"Keep that part of your life private."

I gripped the wooden tray until its edge pressed into my palm.

Grant wanted my sister because she excited him.

He wanted me because I made his life easy.

His mother believed my patience would trap me after the truth came out.

I carried the tray into the kitchen.

Grant smiled and kissed my cheek. "There you are."

I looked at the man I'd planned to marry.

"I found what I needed."

His smile flickered.

As I reached the front door, Elaine called after me.

"One more thing, Mara. Celeste will be wearing the Holloway hummingbird brooch at tonight's rehearsal. Grant asked her to. I hope you don't mind."

I stopped with my hand on the door.

Elaine had once promised that brooch to Grant's future wife.

Tonight, I would find out whether Grant had already given my place away.