The Chance: A Novel by Karen Kingsbury Page A

such a thing, but she didn’t owe Peyton an explanation. The fascination with him was nothing more than a fantasy.
    The next day at the office, Lena called. “You went to his show last night, didn’t you? To the concert?”
    “Lena, this isn’t the time for—”
    “Listen. You’re gonna go destroy everything that matters, Carrie. Think about Ellie . . . and Alan. You promised that man forever.” She waited. “You listening?”
    “Yes.” Caroline sighed. “How was your dinner with Stu?”
    “Carrie.”
    “I don’t want to talk about it. He left town this morning. He’s just a friend.”
    “You can’t lie to me.”
    And so it went. Later that spring when Alan told her he still loved her and that they should get counseling, Caroline felt a ray of hope. But six months later, they still hadn’t found the time or the counselor.
    On their next anniversary, Alan took her to dinner, but the whole night he looked defeated. She was sure her expression wasn’t much different. “I feel . . . like I’m losing you.” He sat across from her, struggling to make eye contact. “Like we’re losing us.” He reached for her hands, and for a moment they both seemed to remember how much they’d lost. “If I’ve been a terrible husband, Caroline, I’m sorry. I never meant to be.”
    She tried to smile. “I keep thinking things will get better.”
    “You deserve better.”
    Caroline thought about Peyton. Yes, she and Alan both deserved better. That night he promised things that made Caroline forget anyone but her husband. But come morning he was gone again, another week of work. A month later his promises were all but forgotten. By then, Ellie spent more time at Nolan’s house than she did at home. Some nights Caroline looked at her wedding photos and cried for the love they’d had back then, the love they’d lost along the way. They were both to blame, and the answers didn’t seem to exist.
    The phone calls from Peyton continued, and when he came to town the next time—just four months ago—he insisted she come to the show early. They texted right up until she arrived and he met her at the backstage door. They stepped inside the arena and hugged for a long time. “I love you, Caroline. I think about you constantly.”
    His words frightened her. “Love, Peyton?” She drew back, searching his face. “This isn’t about love.”
    “It is. I love you. I do.” He looked hurt. “There’s no one in my life like you, baby. You’re on my mind every hour, every day.” He kissed her, a dangerously passionate kiss that made her forget anything but the man in her arms. He stared at her, breathless. “You have to believe me, baby.”
    Over the next ten minutes, her defenses fell. She hadn’t pictured this, never imagined it. But long before he took the stage, he convinced her he was telling the truth. She wasn’t a diversion or a fantasy or a game. Peyton Anders actually loved her.
    Then he dropped the news. “I have four days off.” He raised his brow, nervous and tentative. He trembled as he looked deep into her eyes, straight to her weary soul. “I booked us a room.”
    “What?”
    “A room.” He moved closer to her. “Come on, Caroline. We can’t stop this.” He kissed her again, longer this time.
    The combination of her ice-cold marriage and Peyton’s passionate kiss pushed Caroline over the edge. She drew back, breathless and beyond her ability to reason. “After the show . . . take me there.”
    And so he did.
    They found a routine. She spent every daylight hour with him and they never left his room, as if nothing and no one but Peyton existed. She called in sick and came home late each night. During her few hours at home she would make lunch for Ellie, and in the morning talk to her for a few minutes, as long as the shame would allow. Then she would head for the hotel.
    It was just four days. She figured she would never get caught.
    But that Friday, Alan returned from the base early and