“She’s looking forward to seeing Dad, isn’t she?”
“I guess,” he mutters. “Dunno why.” He stands up and wanders away before I can question him further, but I know that his relationship with his father can’t fall on my shoulders. Christopher is the one who needs to repair thebridges he’s burned with our kids. The problem is that I don’t think he even knows that his relationship with them is in ashes.
“Lynnie.”
A shudder works its way down my spine, my nerves feeling like they’re being scraped over with a nail file. Christopher sits down next to me, close enough that his leg brushes mine. I shift away, ignoring the frown he sends me as I keep my eyes on Ginny. Her back is to us, too busy playing to realize her father has arrived.
Christopher clears his throat. “How’ve you been?” He’s softening his voice, easing me into this, trying to make me comfortable. It’s a technique he used to use whenever we argued, like he was trying to slip and slime his way back into my good graces.
“I’m not really interested in small talk with you, Christopher. The kids are ready. I just need to grab their bags from the car.”
“Lynnie—”
“Unless you’re talking about the children, please keep it between our lawyers.”
I stand up and walk away, about to call the kids, but he follows me, his voice snapping out. “Are you being serious? Ten years together, and you won’t even give me the chance to talk?”
I snap, whirling around, rage burning through me at his audacity. “You fucked my sister!” I hiss venomously, still rational enough to keep my voice low so the children don’t hear. Christopher blanches, falling back a step. “You fucked a lot of people. You put me and my health at risk, ourchildren’s healthat risk. Do you think you’re clever because you only just got caught now?” I bark out a laugh. “No, Christopher. You gotlucky. Imagine if the media got wind of thosecameras? Imagine if that footage had gone public?” I lift my brows. “Hell, it still might.”
“You can’t!” His voice is an octave too loud, and he quickly looks around before lowering it. “Lynnie, you need to think about our family. Our future.”
“Why?” I ask tonelessly. “We have none.” I point behind me at the kids. “They’re my family. You aren’t in it. And future?” I shake my head. “Don’t make me laugh. You’ll be busy enough with your new family.”
He frowns, confused, but Ginny’s seen him. She rushes up, crying out, “Daddy!”
He hesitates a beat, but then crouches, holding his arms out to catch her flying body, listening as she talks a mile a minute. I’m not sure how much he’s actually understanding as her sentences run into each other, but a smile twists my mouth when I hear her mention Grafton a few times. Christopher doesn’t seem to notice, but I am past the point of caring.
When she starts running out of steam, he stands, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Mase!”
I turn and find our son standing out in the grassy area bordering the playground. He’s stock-still, his head turned in our direction, but he doesn’t move. Christopher scowls, but I yell before he can say another word. “Mase, come on, baby!”
His shoulders lift dramatically, but he stomps in our direction.
“My car—” I start, but Christopher cuts me off impatiently.
“I know. I saw it.”
We head for the parking lot, the stilted silence hanging heavily between us. As we approach, I look up as a car doorslams, my eyes widening as a familiar figure strides toward us, her smile bright and waving a hand in greeting.
I spin on Christopher. “Tell me you’re joking,” I say between gritted teeth. “Tell me you didn’t actually bring her to pick up your kids.”
His mouth flattens into a thin line. “She was supposed to wait in the car,” he mutters petulantly. “Look, Lynley…” He trails off, eyes flickering as he realizes my lack of surprise. “Wait. Do you know her?”
My smile is cold and humorless. “Do I know the woman you’ve apparently knocked up?” I ask, and he falls back a step. “Well, yes, actually, I do.”
Angelica reaches us before he can say anything else, her eyes on the wary children as she tells them, “Oh my god, I’m so excited to finally meet you guys!”
Mase stares at her like she’s a frog he’s about to dissect. Ginny is a little more cautious, Angelica’s over-the-top enthusiasm throwing her off. She sidles closer to me, pressing into my side, and I tuck an arm around her shoulders.
Fairly vibrating with tension, Christopher’s eyes are bouncing around in wild panic, never quite landing anywhere. “Angelica,” he says stiffly. “I asked you to wait in the car.”
“I didn’t want to be rude.” She’s still smiling, but uncertainty has crept into her eyes. She looks over at me, chewing on her lip and looking so damn young. “Lynley.” She gathers herself, straightening and cloaking herself in confidence. “It’s good to see you again.”
I press my lips together, knowing absolutely nothing complimentary is going to come from my mouth, and my children are standing right here.She can’t actually think I’mgoing to be happy to see her when she has been fucking my husband and is fully aware that he is married to me.
“Again?” Christopher demands, and Angelica falls back a step, eyes widening at his irate tone. “Um, yeah… We met at work one day. She was with?—”
“Christopher,” I interrupt. “Maybe the kids should wait in the car.”
