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I did a double take when Alex narrowed his eyes at me. I was getting the feeling he didn’t like me, but I always got that impression with kids. I remembered I’d told Lucy that once, and she’d assured me it was my imagination.
When Alex disappeared to play Halo, Jessa asked, “So, David says he’s hoping to start on the house in the next couple weeks.”
“Really?” I asked.
“You must be excited. Going to get in there and knock down some walls?”
I nodded but bit my bottom lip. Weeks? That soon?
“You seem nervous about that.”
I shifted in my seat, wondering when I’d become such an open book. Or maybe reading minds was a Dylan family trait. “I am excited, I just didn’t expect it so soon. It’s a lot of money and a big commitment.”
“Well, he’s over the moon about it. I don’t think he cares how much he spends. He tried to fix this place up for me, but I told him not to bother. Alex would destroy it anyway.”
I smiled as Alex yelled from the other room.
“Video games,” she explained, rolling her eyes.
“They’re close, aren’t they? David and Alex?”
“Thankfully, yes. Alex’s dad has a new family now, so they don’t see each other much. Al looks up to David, even though he’s not around as much as I’d like. He works a lot.”
“He’s very passionate.”
She snorted. “He’s working on fucking Thanksgiving. But aside from that, he’s great with Alex. He’s completely devoted when he cares about something.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“He’d be a great father,” she said with a hint of suggestion, and I blanched.
“Oh.” I cleared my throat. “I agree. So how – ”
“You’ve talked about it then?”
“About what?”
“Kids?”
I blinked rapidly at her. “Um, no. It hasn’t come up.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “It hasn’t?”
“No,” I admitted. “Do you, um, think that’s something he wants?”
“You should probably talk to him about that, not me.” She removed her oven mitt and set it on the table as she sat down next to me. “But I guess I brought it up,” she said with a reassuring smile. “He’s never said it outright, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t.”
I froze and stared at her, swallowing loudly.
She laughed softly. “Honey, don’t worry,” she said, rubbing my shoulder. “I know he can be a little stiff, but you’ve seen him with Alex. I don’t think there’s anything he wouldn’t give you. Really, don’t stress.”
Panic settled in my chest, and my eyes grew big. Her hand that had been rubbing my shoulder stopped.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Are you pregnant?”
“No!” I exclaimed.
“Then what . . . ?”
I waited until I had resumed air intake. “Bill wanted children. I didn’t.”
“Oh,” she exhaled. “Are you saying you still don’t? Even with David?”
“I – I don’t know. It seems early to even think about.”
“Yes, but – ”
“Did you have doubts before you had Alex?”
She shook her head. “No, sorry. I always knew I wanted kids, and if I ever marry again, I’ll have more.”
“Oh.”
“You should be having this conversation with him.”
“I know,” I said, looking away. “Things are still so new though. I mean, in a way, we’re still getting to know each other. It seems too soon.”
“Honey,” she said, “my brother is crazy about you. It’s definitely not too soon to bring it up.”
“It’s not?”
“No. If you’re as serious about him as he is about you, then you need to have that talk.”
“I am,” I told her, and my heart squeezed. Kids? Already? When I’d just, not weeks ago, been having that dreadful conversation with Bill? Didn’t I get some time to adjust, to enjoy what we were doing?
“You know, some women don’t feel maternal at your age,” she pointed out. “You might feel differently after you and David have been together a while.”
I nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
She opened her mouth and paused before speaking. “Raising a child is not easy though. Don’t . . . do it for the wrong reasons.”
I swallowed dryly. “I agree.”
With Bill, I guessed that I would’ve eventually caved on having children, whether or not that was what I wanted. I guessed that because I thought I owed it to him, and because I knew, in the end, how hard he would’ve pushed. But David would never push me. And I could only be completely honest with him.
“For your own peace of mind, you should talk to him soon,” Jessa said, breaking into my thoughts. “He needs to know if that’s not something you want.”
“Yes,” I rasped.
“Either way,” she continued, “your secret is safe with me.”
I mumbled my thanks.
It was a laidback Thanksgiving during which I got to better know a piece of David: his family. That made me happy. On the drive home though, I turned up the music to a deafening level so I wouldn’t have to hear my own thoughts.
CHAPTER 24
I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT that spending a couple days without my boyfriend would be so hard. Even though Bill had traveled frequently for work, and at times was gone for up to two weeks, I’d always managed fine. By Friday I felt frustrated, restless and lonely. That was when I realized that not only was David my boyfriend and my exceptional love, but he had also become my best friend.
Something had been weighing heavily on my mind though, and I wanted to take care of it before I saw him next. Something that I knew he wouldn’t be happy about but that I wanted to do for him most of all.
On my way to the airport, I stopped b
y Bill’s office. The elevator ride up was strange; I hadn’t made an appointment so I wasn’t even sure that he was there. But from past experience, I knew he often worked the day after Thanksgiving, even though half the office didn’t.
The first thing I noticed about his office from the doorway was that our photo on the lake was gone. His head snapped up, but he didn’t look surprised. “What can I do for you, Olivia?” he asked, standing and straightening his tie.
“A very friendly gentleman delivered divorce papers to me at work earlier this week.”
He nodded. “I’m aware.”
“I was hoping we could go about this differently.”
“Why’s that?”
“I know that filing on the grounds of adultery won’t affect how much you get in the divorce. I also know that you might still have to pay alimony.”
“You’ve done your homework. Or maybe you have a lawyer already?”
“All I can think is that your intent is to embarrass me with a trial.”
“It’s not.”
I titled my head at him.
“My intent is to embarrass you both. The truth should be exposed.”
I sighed. “Bill, I’m not denying that what I did was awful, but it doesn’t make sense for you to waste money on this. Trust me, David has no problem shelling out whatever he has to. You’re smart about money. Don’t burn it just to watch me suffer.”
“Well, shouldn’t I get something out of all this? Chicago has him on a goddamn pedestal. If I don’t get a trial, then I’m going to the press. He deserves to be outed as the home wrecker he is.”
“You wrecked this,” I snapped. “You weren’t taking care of what you had, so he took it.”
He reeled back, and his eyes narrowed on me. “If you want something from me, this isn’t the way to get it.”
“I’m sick of both of you acting like little boys fighting over a toy. It was my decision to make, not his, not yours. If you make one slanderous move against him, I will spend all of David’s money making your life a living hell.”
He scoffed. “You can’t do anything.”
“Can’t I? Did you withhold evidence in Alvarez’s case so he’d get more time?”
