She cried through the rest of her manicure.
I had never imagined the reason behind his behavior would arrive wearing pink sunglasses.
My heart was pounding as I sat with Julian, but I forced myself to keep working.
She cried.
I wasn’t about to let him see how much that photo had shaken me, especially now that I knew exactly what I needed to do next.
“So,” I asked Julian, “how long have you two been together?”
“Almost nine months.”
Nine months.
Exactly when Taylor’s marriage started falling apart!
“Almost nine months.”
“Does his wife know?”
“Of course, honey! They’re basically separated. The legal stuff’s just taking forever.”
“Legal stuff?”
“The divorce.”
I almost looked up.
Taylor had never mentioned a divorce. Two days earlier, she’d asked whether buying Danny an anniversary gift might help their marriage.
“Does his wife know?”
“Has he filed already?” I asked Julian.
“His lawyer’s handling it. Apparently, his wife doesn’t want the public knowing yet.”
I kept filing. “When’s your next date?”
“Saturday! Bellamy’s restaurant! Eight o’clock!”
My stomach sank.
Saturday was Danny and Taylor’s 20th wedding anniversary!
“Has he filed?”
Taylor believed her husband was attending a business conference.
“Special occasion?” I asked.
“He says we’re celebrating our future!”
I forced a smile.
Julian leaned closer. “Honestly, his marriage sounds miserable. He calls his wife his ‘expensive roommate.'”
I nearly filed his nail crooked!
I forced a smile.
Julian frowned. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”
“Just hungry.”
“Girl, eat something!”
Despite everything, I laughed.
He had no idea what he’d revealed.
“Eat something!”
After Julian left, I locked my salon door and called Marcus. “I think Taylor’s husband is cheating!”
“Seriously?”
“With another man!”
Marcus gasped. “Does Taylor know Danny’s attracted to men?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That’s going to be difficult.”
“I know!”
“With another man!”
“Just make sure you handle things sensitively.”
He was right.
So I called Taylor and asked her to come by after closing.
Taylor arrived looking worried. “Raven, what’s wrong?”
He was right.
I took her hands. “Taylor, a new client showed me a photo of the man he’s dating.”
She stared.
“It was Danny.”
Her face went blank. “No.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“I wish I was.”
“You’re mistaken.”
She covered her mouth. “My husband’s seeing another woman?”
I shook my head. “A man named Julian.”
Taylor blinked. “A man?!”
“Yes.”
She sat back. “Oh, my God!”
For several seconds, she said nothing.
I shook my head.
Then she whispered, “Twenty years, Raven. I didn’t even know he was attracted to men.” She wiped her eyes. “I wouldn’t have judged him for that. Why couldn’t he tell me?”
“Yeah, he should’ve been honest.”
“Does Julian know about me?”
“Yes. But Danny told him you’re separated and getting divorced.”
“Does Julian know about me?”
Taylor laughed bitterly. “Really? Nobody invited me to my own divorce!”
Then I mentioned Bellamy’s.
“This Saturday?” she asked.
I nodded.
“Our anniversary?”
“Yes.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
I mentioned Bellamy’s.
Taylor wiped her cheeks.
“We can confront Danny privately,” I suggested.
“He’ll deny everything. He always does when I ask questions.”
I hesitated.
Then I said, “Okay. Then we’re doing this carefully.”
“He’ll deny everything.”
The following morning, I called Julian.
He’d mentioned wanting a glossy topcoat, so I offered him another appointment.
“Darling, you’re an angel!” he shouted.
Julian arrived carrying iced coffee for both of us. “One for you, one for me, because beauty requires hydration.”
I called Julian.
“That’s coffee, Julian.”
“Coffee is water with ambition!”
I laughed.
While working, I asked about Saturday.
He confirmed everything. “I’ve already rejected three outfits.”
Then I asked, “Have you actually seen your man’s divorce papers?”
I asked about Saturday.
Julian frowned. “No. Why?”
“If you’re planning a future together, you deserve to know where things stand.”
His smile faded. “You think he’s lying?”
“I think you should ask him directly.”
Julian stared at his nails. “You’re right.”
“You think he’s lying?”
Before leaving, he promised to speak with Danny.
I felt terrible.
Julian wasn’t cruel. He’d trusted Danny’s claim that his marriage was ending.
Friday evening, Julian called. “Raven, darling, we have a situation!”
“What happened?”
I felt terrible.
