Free All Fall Down by Erica Spindler Page B

live that way, Mia.”
    â€œI know.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “When I met him I thought he was…everything. A real Prince Charming. Just for me.”
    â€œAlmost a god.”
    â€œYeah, almost.” She sighed. “In my eyes he was perfect. My knight in shining armor. I thought the rumors circulating about him were based on jealousy, not fact. All that stuff about his wife’s mysterious death, about his being questioned by the police, I ignored all that.”
    â€œSo did I.”
    â€œMelanie didn’t,” Mia murmured, her tone bitter. “But then, Melanie always knows best.”
    Ashley looked away. It did sometimes seem that way. Melanie was always the smart one. The strong one. The one who made the right choices, good decisions. And even the rare times she did make a mistake—her marriage to Stan being the most notable—she corrected the mistake on her own, without help from anyone. Even her sisters.
    Ashley’s gaze landed on the pile of shopping bags by the front door. “Looks like you dropped major bucks today. Anything spectacular?”
    A brilliant smile lit her sister’s face. “A little black dress. I’d show it to you but Boyd—”
    â€œIs going to be out late tonight. A meeting. He left a note on the refrigerator.” At Mia’s wounded expression, Ashley made a sound of regret. “Sorry, sis.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault.”
    â€œNo, but I can still be sorry.” Ashley touched Mia’s arm, heart breaking for her sister. “You’re too good for him. Dump his ass.”
    â€œI wish it were that easy.” She looked at Ashley, her expression suddenly fierce. “And don’t you dare say it is. Don’t you… dare. I’ve already heard that from Melanie and I’m sick of it.”
    Turning, she strode to the shopping bags, snatched them up and started down the hall that led to the bedrooms.
    Ashley stared after her, stunned. Her sister had always kept her emotions safely hidden—from others and herself. Ashley had decided long ago that Mia found it easier to deny her feelings than to deal with them. And a lot less frightening as well.
    So, where had that very unMia-like outburst come from?
    Ashley went after her. She found her in the master bedroom, unpacking her purchases, laying each lovingly out on the champagne-colored satin spread. Shedidn’t acknowledge Ashley’s presence with so much as a glance.
    Ashley leaned against the door frame watching her for a moment before speaking. “Okay, so it’s not easy. It’s bloody complicated. Happy?”
    â€œDon’t be a bitch.”
    Ashley arched her eyebrows and folded her arms across her chest. “Seems to me I’m not the one who’s hormonal here. Which is okay, I applaud you expressing your emotions. It’s high time. But I’m not the one who hit you. So don’t take it out on me.”
    Mia’s movements faltered, but she didn’t look up. “I know. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just mad at the world.”
    â€œI can dig that, Mia. I really can.”
    Her sister looked up, her expression defiant. “But?”
    Ashley drew in a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “The man hit you. He threatened you and frightened you. Maybe I’m simpleminded, but it doesn’t seem like you’re facing that tough a decision here.”
    â€œI know, but Boyd promised he wouldn’t do it again and…and it was just that once.”
    Ashley made a sound of dismay. “My God, Mia. Wasn’t once enough?”
    Ignoring her, Mia returned her attention to her purchases. Ashley watched her, silently tallying what her sister must have spent. It added up to hundreds of dollars, maybe more than a thousand. In one afternoon. Mia shopped several times a week.
    Suddenly, she got it. Suddenly, she understood. “You know,”