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Words got me nowhere.
Feelings got me nowhere.
Because she’d bitch if she knew Finn was behind it, I lied, “Finn told me.”
“Five times this week, Aoife,” she grumbled. “I know you’re sad, sweetheart, but that’s what I’m for. I cheer you up. It’s like my job.”
I chuckled, but the sound was watery. “Better than Prozac, that’s you.”
God, if only that were true.
“Damn straight,” she joked before her tone softened and she asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Been better, been worse.”
There, that didn’t sound too pathetic, did it?
Didn’t broadcast that I was going insane over the secrets my husband had kept, didn’t reveal shit I couldn’t talk about even with her.
“Only natural,” she said softly before a knock sounded at her door and she called out, “One second!”
I shouldn’t have felt relieved, but I did. “You’re busy,” I told her. “I should go.”
“No, it’s okay—”
“I’ll speak with you later. I just wanted you to know I was fine.”
God could strike me down for that lie and I wouldn’t have blamed him.
“Take care, darling,” she whispered, but I didn’t have the words to reply so I cut the line.
Blowing out a breath, I pressed my face to my knees and tilted my head to the side so I could do what I really wanted to do—watch my son be healthy, happy, and safe.
And if I cried, he didn’t know. He was none the wiser. He was just pleased that he had all my attention and that he was at the epicenter of my love.
My cell buzzed, and disinterestedly, I turned my head to look at the screen.
Alan:I’m so sorry, Aoife. I just heard the news.
Nausea swirled inside me, and the urge to hurl my phone across the room hit me hard. My nails dug into my thighs as I fought the urge, but then I heard footsteps in the hall.
Distracted, I didn’t have it in me to get up, to put on a façade, I just stayed where I was, slumped with my back to the wall, but Finn surprised me by joining me.
I didn’t know if it was because of Lena or if it was because we’d lost Imogen, but he kept on shocking me by doing things I didn’t expect of him.
He was being infinitely patient, which definitely wasn’t in his nature, and it was beginning to freak me out.
When Finn didn’t say a word after a couple minutes, I asked, “What did Senior want?”
“You could hear?”
I hummed.
“He was talking about business. He asked about you,” he said after a moment’s hesitation.
“Of course he did. I’m the useless broodmare who can’t carry a grandchild to term without—”
“Don’t you dare say that again. Not within hearing distance of me,” he snarled, startling Jake and making him burst into tears.
