Part 13 (1/2)
Caroline glanced sideways at me. ”That didn't sound good.”
I didn't say anything, debating whether to tell her the whole truth.
”Trouble in paradise?” she asked.
”Oh, I don't know.” I slid to a stop and unzipped my f.a.n.n.y pack, pulling out the water bottle. Caroline stopped too.
I took a long drink, then made my decision. ”I think Trevor is having an affair.”
She didn't react right away, then shook her head. ”What?”
”I think he's s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g someone.”
”No. What makes you think so?”
”The weekend I was away, for that art show in Denver, I think he had her over to the house.”
”How do you know?”
”I came home and he was asleep and he'd left like two dozen roses for me in the kitchen, and this romantic note, but he hadn't had time to call me all weekend, and then I climbed into bed and I smelled her.”
”Huh?”
”Her perfume was on my pillow.”
”Her perfume was on your pillow. You're sure?”
”Positive.”
”Did you recognize it?”
”No.”
”Have you ever smelled it on anyone, anyone you know?”
”No. I don't think I've ever smelled it before. It was sort of sweet, but light. Expensive, I think. I'd know it if I smelled it again.”
”But that's all it was? Perfume?”
”Yes. Why? Don't you think that's enough?”
”Well, I guess so. But it's not a lot to go on. Is there any other way it could have gotten there on your pillow?”
”I don't see how.”
I was beginning to think she didn't believe me. Maybe she thought I'd imagined all of it, considering my history. I'd gone off the deep end in a big way after Kelly died. Caroline hadn't forgotten.
I could feel a rush of emotion filling my chest, and I didn't want her to see me cry. I picked up my poles and pushed off, charging down the trail-fast.
”Hey, hold on,” she called out. ”Come on, Gwyn, slow down.”
I kept on going, but eventually braked, sliding to a stop.
She finally caught up. ”Listen, I know you're ... upset with me. But you have to admit, it's not a whole lot of evidence.”
”No? Then why would perfume be on my pillow? I didn't put it there. And I didn't imagine it either.”
”I don't know why, but let's talk about it, okay?”
We resumed skiing at a steady walk speed.
”Okay, you smelled perfume on your pillow. You're absolutely sure, right?”
”Yes.”
”I mean-maybe Trevor washed the sheets with a new detergent or something. It's possible, isn't it?”
”Not a chance.”
”I want to believe you, Gwyn. But sometimes ... sometimes you let things get blown all out of proportion. You know? You do ... do that sometimes.”
”I'm not doing that. I used to do that. I don't do it now.”
”Did you confront him?”
”No. I don't want him to know that I know.”
”So what are you going to do?”
”Nothing. At least right now. He'll give himself away sooner or later. Then I'll decide.”
She nodded slowly.
We didn't talk for a while, just kept skiing, then I remembered something. ”Did you tell Josh where I lived?”
”Ah, I don't know. Let me think. I guess I could have.”
”He said you did, but ...” I was going to say that I'd gotten a funny feeling about the way he knew about my house and the studio, but figured Caroline would think I was overreacting again.
”But what?”
”I wondered, that's all. I wondered why he didn't call and ask me.”
”When did you talk to him?”
”A while ago. He called.”
She stared at me. ”Well, he did come over to the Wild River one night, just hanging out. In fact, it was the weekend you were in Denver. I probably did tell him about your house. Did he come over?”
”He wanted to, but no. Trevor wouldn't want him there.”