Chapter 32

                                    

                                          
Everything happened so fast.
                          
One moment he was alone with Mary, the late afternoon sun illuminating her wavy golden hair, her hand within reaching distance. The next, people surrounded them and another man had his arm around Mary's waist.
                          
And everyone acted like that was perfectly natural. 
                          
It wasn't.

                          
Emily at least, was on his side. After hugging her sister, she'd pulled Simon into an embrace. "I had no choice; didn't know they were coming." Her voice was low, like her words were an admission of guilt.
                          
"Who is that?" He eyed the man holding on to Mary as if he let go, she might fly away. Or choose to leave him. Simon wanted her to choose to leave the newcomer. But she didn't. Instead, she grabbed on to his arms as he swung her around. Deep down in Simon's chest, the sight sliced at his heart.
                          
The tall man looked familiar, like he'd seen him before. Emily made the connection. "That's Hunter. He served with Finn."
                          
A memory laced with envy rose to the surface, watching Mary in the arms of this man as they danced at Emily and Finn's wedding. Had Mary been seeing him all this time? While they were having picnics and playing house, had Mary been hiding her relationship with this handsome stranger?
                          
Relationship? No. Mary would never be in a relationship with a military man. Her father would hate that, the military not being in the right status structure for Phillip Montgomery. He hadn't exactly been a fan of Finn at first, but he'd come around. Was it the same for this man?
                          
"What would we do without you Simon?" Emily saying his name brought him to the present.
                          
He tried not to look at Hunter, the arm around Mary, but failed. He shifted his gaze to Mary, searching her face for some explanation of what was going on. Wanting her to say she wasn't with this man. "You tell me."
                          
And out of nowhere, he was shaking the other man's hand, being introduced as Finn's brother. Hunter Locklear's handshake was firm and when Simon let go, Hunter's arm went right back to resting around Mary's waist. Simon dropped his eyes to his own empty palms.
                          
Emily took his hand and pulled him forward. "Finn'll be back any moment. Come inside, I know he wants to see you." A numbness settled over Simon, and he followed willingly, not knowing what else to do.
                          
Once out of earshot, Emily filled him in. "Dad introduced Mary to Hunter, and he's been encouraging her to—" Emily hesitated like she didn't want to say the word.
                          
"Date him?" Simon offered.
                          
Beside him, Emily sighed. "Yes. Hunter has a brilliant political career ahead of him and Dad thinks he could go all the way."
                          
"All the way?"
                          
"To the white house."
                          
Simon swallowed. There was no way he could compete with the potential next president of the United States. The prestige, the influence, the power Mary would have. He could see her now, in a pill box hat and matching purse, negotiating a peace treaty while solving world hunger. She'd be good at the role of First Lady. She may have been born for it.
                          
Emily tugged on his sleeve. "Don't think like that."
                          
Shaking his head, Simon groaned. "I didn't know. What chance do I have?"
                          
Emily pushed him onto a stool by the kitchen island and placed both hands on his shoulder. "Every chance." She dipped her head and tried to catch his eye. "If you want it."
                          
He met her grey irises. "I want it."
                          
"Good."
                          
Voices in the hall interrupted Emily's pep talk. Hunter laughed at something Phillip Montgomery said as they entered the kitchen. Simon's insides clenched. He didn't know Mr. Montgomery well, the two hadn't shared more than a few "How's the weather?" small talk conversations. Simon certainly never made the man laugh.