Free LOWCOUNTRY BOOK CLUB by Susan M. Boyer Page B

it. “ It’ s possible. ” The words were almost a whisper.
    â€œ Tell me what you know and what you suspect.” I kept my voice gentle.
    â€œ You have to understand who Shelby was. She had such a big heart. But she never lived by anyone’s rules but her own. She was a free spirit, a bit of a wild child when we were younger.”
    I kept quiet, let her talk.
    â€œ She was crazy about Clint, would never have left him. But Clint kept Shelby on a pedestal. He treated her like a china doll. There was a side of her that craved excitement. If someone pursued her…maybe someone a little dangerous…she might’ve had a fling.”
    â€œ Did you ever know her to do this?” A meaningless affair seemed inconsistent with the nearly angelic image of Shelby I had so far.
    Jane shook her head. “ She wouldn’t have told me. It’s not the kind of thing she would’ve told anyone. Shelby would’ve seen that as disloyal to Clint, the telling.”
    Interesting. I sipped my tea. Either Shelby had been a complex woman, or Jane had an agenda of her own.
    â€œ I’m not saying she had an affair,” said Jane. “I’m saying it’s possible. And if she did, it wasn’t anything serious.”
    â€œ But the other person involved might not have felt the same way,” I said.
    â€œ Exactly. That’s the only reason I’m telling you. It feels like a disgraceful breach of her trust. But I know she’d want me to help Clint if I can.”
    â€œ If she were having an affair, could you venture a guess as to who it might’ve been with ? ”
    Jane mulled that for a moment. “ The only person I’ve heard her talk about who isn’t a part of our circle is Sonny. That’s the thing. It would never have been someone from inside our circle. That would’ve been a violation of family almost.”
    Something grabbed my insides and twisted. Sonny just couldn’t be a part of this. I tried mightily to wrap my brain around Shelby’ s code.
    Jane said, “ I’m afraid I’ve explained things badly. I wouldn’t want you to think poorly of Shelby. She was a beautiful spirit.”
    I nodded, sipped my tea. “Do you think Clint knew Shelby had this wild streak?”
    Jane was quiet for a moment. “He probably saw it. Maybe sometimes she’d want to kick up her heels—dance in the rain in her evening gown, or skinny dip late at night in a hotel pool—harmless things. Sometimes he went along with her. Sometimes she pushed him past his comfort zone, I think. But yeah, he knew her very well.”
    â€œHow do you think he would’ve responded if she did have an affair and he found out about it?” I asked.
    â€œI think it would’ve killed him. But he still would never have hurt her. I don’t care what she did.”
    â€œWhat if he confronted her, they fought, and it was an accident?” I asked.
    â€œHonestly? I don’t think he would’ve confronted her. I think he would’ve known it was just her on a tear. Talking about it would’ve made it real. As long as he never mentioned it, he could pretend it never happened. But that’s assuming she had an affair to begin with. I’m not convinced she did.”
    The waitress set our lunch in front of us. We oohed over it—men just don’t appreciate pretty food the way women do—then commenced tasting.
    After a few bites, I asked, “How did Shelby get along with her parents? Her brother?”
    â€œShe was very close to her parents. They’re such sweet folks. Like second parents to me. Thomas has been an insufferable ass his entire life. As much as Thomas has, he always wants more. More money. More power. Friends in high places—he’s a shameless name-dropper. I suppose Shelby loved him. He was her brother, after all. But they just lived separate lives.”
    â€œCan you think of any family