Praise for Kathryn Shay’s novels “Shay knows how to pack an emotional wallop.” Booklist “Shay is a master of her craft.” Catherine Anderson, USA Today Bestselling Author “Kathryn Shay never disappoints!” Lisa Gardner, New York Times Bestselling Author “I don’t know when I’ve been more involved in a novel’s characters and story.” The Romance Reader “Shay’s powerful characters and emotional topics strike a chord with her readers and have earned her a well deserved place among the top romance authors.” Waldenbooks Romantic Reader Reader Reviews: “I started the book well after midnight...almost didn’t sleep... and woke only to continue reading and finished it out in one fell swoop.” “This book was well-written and nothing was overdone or sensationalized. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.” “It was so refreshing to read a book about an imperfect couple who have been married a long time with big problems in their relationship but a determination to save the marriage.” “Overall a good read. Subject matter was very serious, but done very well. It also had enough of a mystery going on that it keeps the reader engaged.” “This has been by far one of the best books I have read in a while!” A Price Worth Paying Kathryn Shay Published by Kathryn Shay at smashwords.com Copyright 2011 Kathryn Shay Cover art by Patricia Ryan This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. Chapter 1 “I’m pregnant.” Nick Muscato’s heart stopped beating and he just stared at his wife of two decades. Then something inside of him nosedived. He’d waited years to hear those words from Callie. Even after he knew it wouldn’t happen, and resigned himself to the facts, the loss had never stopped hurting. Sometimes, in a nightmare, the doctor’s somber voice came back… I’m sorry to tell you this, Mr. Muscato, but in my professional opinion it doesn’t appear you’ll be able to father a child. Their sons, Ty and Joey, had been adopted--and he loved them as if they were his flesh and blood--but he’d never quite gotten over his inability to give Callie a baby of her own. Now, someone else had. And it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the father was. God, how could Nick have been such a fool? “Let me guess. The father is your good friend Patterson. The asshole you lulled me into believing was harmless.” Callie nodded. Tears clung to the lashes of his sophisticated, demure wife, dressed as always for school in a chic suit. Now, she was his adulterous wife. “You’ve been fucking him the whole time you’ve been out of our bed, haven’t you?” They’d been fighting for six months over a coaching job he’d been offered in the major leagues and she’d moved into the spare room because the tension between them had gotten so bad. “It wasn’t like that.” “No? How was it?” “It only happened once.” “When?” She didn’t answer so he grabbed her arm roughly. “When?” “At the Concord.” “Ah, the teacher’s conference I told you not to go to.” Callie winced so he let go of her. She stumbled back. “Does he know?” She shook her head. “I wanted to tell you first.” “Thanks for the consideration.” Turning his back on her, he crossed to the far wall of the family room. On it were shelves full of mementos of their life together--his and her senior pictures, then photos of the boys in their last year at the same school. Shots taken of Callie and him at their prom, so young and hopeful, then the boys’ prom pictures. High school trophies of his and Joe’s, music awards for Ty. One whole section reflected Nick’s baseball career with the New York Tornadoes. There were teacher accolades for Callie, too, and more pictures of them together with the kids. His favorite was of the twins at six months, one cuddled in each of his arms--in miniature black Tornadoes’ jackets and tiny caps. Now, the sight of their life together enraged him. He raised his hand and with one violent motion, swept the top shelf of its precious contents. He followed suit for each shelf below. Glass shattered the silence in the room and splintering shards flew in all directions as he demolished what he could no longer bear to look at. With the rubble at his feet, he rounded on her. “I want you out of this house in an hour. Don’t be here when I come back.” “Nick, please, I--” “Save it, Princess. This time, we’re really over.” Stalking out of the room, he stomped down the stairs. The wind bit him in the face and amidst the falling snow on an icy driveway, he made it to the black SUV he’d left outside. There, he put his head down on the wheel. He sat for a long time, thinking about the tumultuous relationship he’d had with his wife from the get-go and how the jerk who had screwed her had figured into it. According to Patterson, and Callie’s father, Nick had never been good enough for her, would never be smart enough for her. Today, in the truck, he could barely contain his fury over a lifetime of feeling inferior and now her betrayal. When he was finally ready to start the engine, a car pulled up next to him. He recognized the woman who got out—the principal of the high school where Callie taught English and he’d taken a Phys. Ed. job after a shoulder injury ended what Sports Illustrated had called his meteoric career. Madelyn Baird had been a friend from their teenage years and had started as a teacher at their school right out of college. She’d worked her way up to principal. What the hell was she doing at his home? Circling her Honda, she came to his window, which he buzzed down. “Madelyn?” Tall, slender and auburn haired, Madelyn leaned in. “I need to talk to you.” “Can it wait? This isn’t a good time.” “No, Nick, I’m afraid it can’t.” Reluctantly, he exited his truck. No telling what condition Callie was in now but it appeared he had no choice but to let the principal inside. As they started up to the house, he saw that Madelyn’s back seat was packed with cartons. Something raw and primitive skittered up his spine when he caught sight of a couple of jackets laid on top of the boxes. They looked vaguely familiar. Once in the door, he led her up a flight of stairs. They turned left into the formal living room, away from the spot of his showdown with Callie. “All right, what is it?” “Is Callie here? I want to tell you this together.” “Madelyn, you’re scaring me.” He was only half-joking. “Please Nick, just get your wife.” He tried the bedroom first and found her standing by the window, staring out. The scent of her perfume, absent for so long, pervaded the space. Unnoticed, he observed her from the doorway. She’d changed into baggy denims and an oversize green sweatshirt, but she still fit right in their three-story, million dollar house overlooking the Cameron City valley in upstate New York. Princess Carolyn. “Callie?” Pivoting fast, she slapped a hand on her chest. “I-I thought you’d gone.” “Madelyn Baird is here. She wants to talk to us both.” He could barely look at her pale cheeks, her puffy blue eyes. “What? Oh, Nick this isn’t a good time.” “Exactly what I said. But she insisted. Get yourself together.” Stiff and unyielding, he waited while she went into the bathroom, splashed water on her face and brushed her blond hair. She came out, her appearance only slightly improved. Silently, they made their way to the living room. He couldn’t imagine what Madelyn had to tell him, but he contented himself with the fact that things couldn’t get much worse for him today. o0o Her steps faltering as she descended the stairs, Callie entered the living room behind her husband. Though she felt literally sick to her stomach, she banished the thought of what had happened between the two of them earlier and stood tall. “Hello, Madelyn. Is something wrong?” “Yes, I’m afraid so. Can we sit down?” When she and Nick took seats on the couch, Callie jammed her hands into her pockets because they were still shaking. Madelyn dropped into a chair opposite them, as if she could barely hold herself up. It was then that Callie noted the stricken expression in her eyes. “Some serious allegations were brought against you this morning, Nick.” “Allegations? What are you talking about?” For a brief moment, Madelyn hesitated. “Sexual misconduct with a female student.” Her husband’s jaw dropped. “What?” Callie shivered, the room suddenly chilled. This couldn’t be true. “A female student has leveled allegations of sexual misconduct against you, Nick.