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Brian didn’t let her finish. “Enough. Juliette, why don’t you get in the car on the other side with Tristan?”
Sasha stood like a guard dog, taking my arm and leading me around.
I quickly slid in and put my half-asleep baby boy in his car seat, thankful he wasn’t old enough to understand the hate that his grandmother had just spewed toward me. My mom and stepdad were already in their car behind us, most likely wondering what was happening. Luckily, they weren’t witnessing the drama. I kept the door open so I could hear Brian.
“Ms. Walker, I realize today is very upsetting, but please respect the fact that these are not easy circumstances for anyone,” Brian cajoled in his soothing voice. The only evidence of his temper was the tic in his jaw.
“They sure as hell seem more convenient for her. She doesn’t have to fight for custody, and she thinks she’s receiving Rob’s life insurance check. That’s not going to happen—”
Yeah, because I was all about the money. Indescribable exhaustion set in and suddenly I couldn’t get out of here fast enough.
I could hear Brian say, “Mrs. Walker, this isn’t the time or the place. If you have anything more you want to say to Juliette, then I’ll provide the name of her attorney. Good day to you.”
Both his and Sasha’s doors opened and closed while I was happy to finally shut mine as well. Brian wasted no time putting the car in gear and pulling away, leaving a stunned Mrs. Walker behind.
As we left the whole nightmare, I lay my head back and murmured a thanks to him. Tristan and I were both out cold by the time we hit the main road.
* * *
I should’ve stoodup for myself better. I said as much to Brian a short time later as he and Sasha bid me goodbye. My family would stay for one more night before returning to Charlotte, but Sasha and Brian needed to get back there for work.
He shook his head. “You’re far too close to the situation. They’d just lost their son, and in their eyes, there wasn’t a thing you could’ve said correctly. So it was better for me to be the bad guy instead.”
I hugged him again, appreciating that he’d taken on that role. One last embrace for Sasha, and we waved goodbye in the hotel parking lot. My mom took my sleeping toddler and insisted I go to my room and take a nap.
“Honey, you go take a long bath and an even longer nap. We’ll let him sleep, then order room service later once he wakes up. You do the same.”
I hesitated but then recognized that the very best thing for me now was to cry it all out and spend some time to myself. I kissed Tristan’s head and gave my mother a watery smile. I appreciated her allowing me this time to decompress. “Thanks, Mom.”
After a long bath, I lay on my bed, but I was unable to sleep. My appetite wasn’t faring much better, but my growling stomach had me ordering room service anyhow. I hadn’t eaten all day.
Loneliness crawled over me like a heavy blanket. I was sorely tempted to go pick up Tristan, but it wasn’t fair to put this flood of emotions on him. The last thing he needed was to see his mommy cry. And right now, I’d be a mess.
Crap. The tears started falling fast and furious as my mind went through the memories, focusing on the good and casting out the bad. Prom, graduation, our first house, and our wedding all came to mind. I sobbed for the loss of the man I’d once loved. But most importantly, I made peace with the man he’d become.
It hadn’t been my fault. My self-esteem might be at an all-time low, but I refused to take the blame for Rob’s death. We all had choices, and he’d made his. I refused to beat myself up for it. Or feel guilty because his death had, in fact, resolved my fear involving custody. Or because I’d confessed out loud that my life would be easier without Rob in it. Ugh. It wasn’t like I’d asked for this.
Wiping my face and taking a deep breath, I greeted the server who knocked on the door. Gladly, I took the room service tray from her. She smiled in sympathy, most likely because my eyes were puffy and swollen.
I ate my grilled cheese sandwich without tasting it. As I ate, I realized how much I’d missed Mark over this last week. He’d texted me a few times, letting me know he was thinking of me and telling me to let him know if I needed anything. But I hadn’t heard from him today. He hadn’t brought up our fight—if you could even call it that—and I had no clue where this left us. To be honest, aside from returning to the apartment to get my things, I wasn’t sure I’d be spending much more time in Connecticut. The thought of ending something which had only begun made me sadder than I could’ve imagined.
But before making any decisions on moving, I’d have to speak with my attorney. I wasn’t sure, despite Rob’s death, if it was safe to return yet. If his parents intended to come after the life insurance, the last thing I wanted was to make it easy for them to find me. Better to let them go through the courts. The thought of having to fight over Tristan’s rightful inheritance had me setting down the sandwich, losing what little I had of an appetite.
The knock at the door made me hopeful Tristan had woken up and wanted me, so I opened it without looking. Mark stood on the other side. I didn’t hesitate to pull him into the room and allow his arms to come around me tightly.
He held me like that forever, not saying a word, simply allowing his strength to envelop me. As we stood there, it occurred to me how much I’d needed him to be here.
“I couldn’t stay away,” he murmured in my ear.
“I’m glad.” I pulled back and cupped his face. “I was thinking how much I missed you, and then you were here.” I couldn’t believe it.
“It took everything in me not to come to the funeral and sit beside you to hold your hand. But that would’ve been inappropriate.”
It was ironic he would be respectful that way because Rob’s girlfriend, the one he’d cheated on me with and done drugs with, had had no qualms about sitting with his parents. “It means a lot you’d want to. And that you’re here now.”
“I hated the way we left things.”
I sighed and then let him lead me to the bed and pull me down into his lap. “Me, too. And I’m sorry. I was the one who originally said I wanted in the dark, no strings—”
