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“If she hasn’t been in Chris’s life for a long time, why is this suddenly important?” Katrina asked. “It sounds like a control issue. Like she’s trying to thwart Chris and Annie’s wedding plans.”
“I guess he feels some obligation because they have kids together.”
“Wait! His ex remarried,” Annie said. “Why isn’t she the new husband’s problem?”
“That’s another story,” Maggie mumbled.
“Annie, you’re so quiet; are you upset?” Katrina asked.
“I am! I’m pissed. Why didn’t he come to me right away and say, ‘Look, Cindy is sick and we have to deal with this.’ Why the secrecy?”
“Ask him,” Maggie replied. “He knows I know because he talked to Justin about it in front of me. He knows I tell you everything, so it’s out in the open. Evidently, their son, who just graduated from high school last June, is taking care of her. She can’t exert herself at all. Chris is looking into getting someone to come in to live with them, but I guess that’s easier said than done.”
Annie shook her head in shock. “It’s so hard to grow a relationship with someone and then go backward in time because they aren’t being honest with you.”
“It’s a sin of omission, not commission, and that’s easier to deal with, isn’t it?” Katrina asked.
“I guess so. I don’t keep anything from him so I wouldn’t know.”
She stared off in the direction of the water. She knew it was too good to be true. Meeting this great guy who claimed devoted love, who bought her a house, and now he has a sick ex-wife to worry about.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m a therapist and I have no idea what I should do. That’s sick!”
“Just ask him,” Maggie said.
“You know, I don’t think I will. I want to see how long it will take for him to tell me.”
“Annie, that’s kind of passive aggressive. You need to fess up.”
“Ugh. Well, that blows. My day is ruined. Would you ladies mind if I grab my kid and take off?”
“Oh, honey. Don’t let it ruin your day. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“Yes, you should have.Heshould have.”
With her friends watching conciliatorily, Annie packed up her bag and walked away to get her son.
“I guess that went over like a fart in church.”
“You didn’t have a choice,” Katrina replied. “Chris should have told her from the get-go. I feel sorry for her.”
“Why?”
“Because knowing Annie, she’ll be nursing the ex-wife back to health.”
“Or taking care of her on her deathbed,” Maggie said, grimacing. “I’m glad Justin doesn’t have an ex-wife because you can count me out. I don’t take care of any humans but my kid and thank God we have a nanny.”
“I’m so sad for her,” Katrina said. “It’s not a big deal that he didn’t share with her, is it? Or do I expect too little?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have said anything. I hope he tells her today, for his sake.”
Annie pushed little Stevie’s stroller quickly over the bumpy pavement on her way back to her house. Chris had come over from Mobile the night before and they had plans to work on the new house together that afternoon, after her coffee date.
There was no indication in his demeanor that anything was wrong; that’s what was so surprising. Maybe it didn’t affect him at all, only as far as being worried about how Annie would take it. She wasn’t jealous of his ex. They had children together, so she expected him to have to deal with her on some level, just like she had to deal with her ex, Steve Casson, because of little Stevie.
When she reached her house, she was surprised to see Chris’s truck in the driveway, and then he stepped out on the porch. His hunky handsomeness always brought a smile to her face, even today, as confused as she was.
“Hey, you’re back early,” he called, skipping down the steps to meet her.
