Married to my suspect

I glanced at the spread in front of us, knowing again for sure, Camille was a superwoman. If I hadn't come early and seen the work it took for all the meals to be prepared, I would have assumed it had come in from a restaurant. There were roast beef and lamb, potatoes, stuffings, gravy, vegetables across the table and I knew dessert had already been prepared. I was about to dig in when a yell from across the room stopped me.

"Why aren't we saying grace?" A child yelled from across the room, where the children were settled by their table. Their table also held a spread of roast beef, masked potatoes, chicken nuggets, something about pigs that was sausage wrapped in bacon and chips. There was no wondering how they were going to finish the assortment of meal on their table, as the kids that had come down earlier barely made a half of the kids that were present. As if it wasn't enough that Camille had to take care of the many in her care, she had gone out of her way to invite as many outside as were interested. From everyone's reaction, it wasn't a strange occurrence.

I looked up and quickly bowed my own head, realizing everyone was doing the same. I shook my head, I had been focused on the food. I kept my mind quiet, no easy feat, as the other woman that had been with Camille whose name I no longer remembered started saying a prayer that didn't seem to end soon. Thankfully, a series of cleared throats came from the kids table which resulted in silent laughter, and she took her cue to end the prayer.

I lifted my head and my eyes met Jonathan's. His eyes seemed to be asking me a question, but when I widened my eyes in question, one of the teens I hadn't met the day before, who was seated beside me, Chizor cleared his throat.

"No conversations at the dinner table. Either with mouth or eyes."

Scott, seated on Chizor's other side, patted his back. "Just say you're jealous, boy."

Camille shot a look at our side of the table and Scott dropped his head. "Sorry ma'am." He said sweetly, and Camille rolled her eyes in reply.

From Jonathan's and Scott's interaction after I'd noticed he had been in the living room with Jonathan and me while we were enjoying our solitude, they seemed to be more relaxed with each other. At least, I couldn't observe any of Jonathan's previous tensing in Scott's presence again. That made me remember Lucas. If they could solve whatever had happened to them, there was no reason for me not to try to reach out to my best friend. After all, when the lies all exploded, I would be left with nothing except my old life. I made a note to call Lucas as soon as I checked on Eleni. Perhaps, Lucas could give me more insight on what was going on with Lillian as well. I needed my friends back.

The meal went on uneventfully, and then it was time for desserts. I could finally understand the usefulness of all that batter I was mixing when some teens I hadn't met went to the kitchen and brought out deep-fried dishes and fritters.

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Camille hugged me and I held her tightly. "Thank you so much for coming. It was really nice seeing your face. And thank you so much for being with Jonathan." She said softly and I shook my head.

"Thank you for inviting me. I had a lot of fun this weekend because of you." I replied sincerely.

Camille patted my cheek in a way that made me miss my own mother. She had teared up when she had seen the flowers and the note I'd written, appreciating her for her work in the home. "You're always welcome here. Whenever you happen to be in the area, just come. I can't wait to see you again."

I nodded, even though I knew I was never coming back. "Of course. I'll miss you."

She released me and I hugged Steph. "Thanks for bringing Jonathan home."

I shook my head. "I didn't have anything to do with that. And I enjoyed my time with you guys."

Steph raised her eyebrow. "Really? I thought you would hate it. Most people do."

I smiled at her. "I'm not most people." She smiled back at me and I could tell she believed me.

She moved closer to me and whispered something in my ear. I arched my brow. "Really?" She smiled serenely.

"Yes. But don't tell Jonathan. Watching you two over the weekend made me want to be treated the same way Jonathan treats you."

My eyes widened as it filled with tears. Steph, Camille, and everybody else, I doubted either of them would forgive me after finding out the truth about me. I never should have started this.

Steph released me and I said goodbye to the other people that were standing outside to see us off. As much as noise and chaos didn't go with me, I knew I was forever going to miss this family. Most people may focus on the fact that the people there were mostly orphans or abandoned by their parents, but I could see how much of a family they were. In their cooking together, talking together and talking crap about each other, joking with each other, playing games with each other, and even the way they all accepted me simply because I was Jonathan's 'wife'. I didn't think any other family could compare to theirs. They'd been through circumstances, both individually and together, and have emerged victorious. That was more than I could say about mine, even though we were just two.

I sat down and Jonathan closed the door and hugged Camille for the last time before getting into the car and starting the engine.

The sounds of their yelled Byes followed us as we drove out of the compound, and eventually the estate.

I sneaked a look at Jonathan and realized he was also looking at me. "What?" I asked, when he simply smiled and refocused his attention to the front.

"Nothing. It was nice to see you have fun, even though you lost multiple times. I mean, who didn't play monopoly or scrabble growing up." He teased.

I was tempted to lie, but I just said the truth. "My family was grieving and too poor to afford anything whose only value was to have fun. There was enough of that with the teasings I went through."

I should have lied, was the thought that kept on reverberating in my head as I turned to look out the window. It seemed that was all I did whenever I happened to be in a vehicle with Jonathan.

JONATHAN'S POV

I shouldn't have asked.

The car was silent for the next few minutes, with the only sound the soft purring of the vehicle as we sped down the highway.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin the mood like that." Danielle apologized, and I shook my head, even though I knew she wasn't looking at me.

I forced a laugh that didn't sound too bright for the occasion. "I guess I got my answer."

Again, the car was filled with silence. While I was comfortable with silence, preferred it most times, I knew ending the conversation like that wasn't something I was willing to do. Plus, I couldn't get a read of Danielle over the past day, but it was obvious something was either bothering her or had changed in her. And I was extra sure it wasn't my family. That left me.

"I was the one that motivated Camille to build her dream of becoming an orphanage mother when she picked me up from where I was asked to wait for my parents when I was four. Camille raised me and eventually put me up for adoption to my parents because Ethan had seen me and liked me immediately. I guess this shouldn't come as a surprise given our obvious relationship." I closed my mouth and doctored my breath so it didn't come out as labored as I Knew it would. This was the first time I'd ever willingly told someone else about me.

I felt rather than saw Danielle's eyes on me but couldn't bring myself to meet her gaze, so I wasn't looking at her when a quiet word filled the air. "I can't do this anymore. Let's get a divorce."