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After a short silence, DJ gave him a measured look, a nod, and a curt, “S’up?”
When he passed Lauren and Danny, Augie heard enough of the conversation to convince him that they were more than just friends. Rather than go back to the studio, he waited in one of the side offices for Danny to leave. Soon he was rewarded for his patience as Danny came down the hall.
“Danny, give me a minute.” Augie jerked his head towards the empty room. Once they were inside, Augie shut the door, and the two men sized each other up.
“What do you want, Augie?” Danny raised his chin defiantly.
“I want to set you straight on something. I’m not going to ask what’s going on between you and Lauren.” Augie leaned back on the desk and drummed his fingers on the smooth wood top.
“Good. It’s none of your business—”
“—For now.” Augie gave Danny another once-over before locking eyes with him again. “If you do anything to screw her up—”
“Whoa, hold up there! What do you mean, ‘screw her up’?” Danny stiffened, his posture defensive. Augie sprang up as well. He was pretty sure they wouldn’t come to blows but couldn’t guarantee it.
“You weren’t there, Danny. You didn’t go through the whole cocaine thing with her. I’m not blaming you, or saying it was your fault, but Lauren was lost for alongtime after you broke up with her. She held it together for a while, but she went down a dark road back then. Ineverwant to see her like that again.Ever.”
“You think I do? Jesus, Augie. I wasn’t there, but I saw the headlines.”
“You saw the headlines?” Augie’s voice dripped sarcasm as he took a step closer to Danny. “You didn’t seeshit. You weren’t the one holding her up when she was doubled-over sick, or when she had panic attacks. You didn’t wake up every single fucking day and wonder if you were going to find her sprawled on the floor, dead. So don’t you think for a single goddamn second that you know what she went through.”
Danny opened his mouth, but Augie didn’t let him get a word in.
“If the two of you want to relive your youth for a few nights, fine. That’s your business. Whatever. But tell her that. And if you want to be with her—and not with your wife anymore—tell her that, too. Just don’t tell her one thing and then do another. Donotbreak her heart, Danny. I don’t know if she could get over you a second time.”
“Augie—”
Augie poked a finger into Danny’s chest. “And if it comes to that, cop or no cop—I swear to God you’ll answer to me.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
The heat of early July was no match for the glacial impasse between Heather and Danny. By the time the Fourth of July holiday arrived, they were barely speaking. They tried to pretend in front of the family, but there was no mistaking the tension. Heather was drained. While the many late nights at work for Danny had lessened, she felt he was further away from her than ever. She lost count of the times she’d seen him doing work around the yard or house with a small smile and a faraway expression on his face. He certainly didn’t smile that way when he looked at her. In fact, he hardly looked at her at all anymore.
Finding time for sex had been next to impossible even when things were good. Like most married couples, their days were filled with work and kids and commitments, and they were exhausted by the time they went to bed. Romance was non-existent. Now the sex—if it happened at all—was perfunctory and, frankly, dull. They both just went through the motions. One more chore to be checked off the list.
For Danny, life was just as mundane. Get up in the morning; chase down the dregs of society; fix the house; mow the lawn; help the boys with their homework; and tumble into bed. When he did initiate sex with Heather, it felt like she was obliging him. Doing her wifely duty because she had to, not because she actuallywantedhim. Half the time she looked to the side as if she was bored and just wanted it to be done. Danny finally started closing his eyes so he didn’t have to see her disinterest.
The times he could steal away to visit with Lauren were his refuge. The colder and more distant his marriage felt, the more he craved the closeness, warmth, and camaraderie he felt with Lauren. They might not be sleeping together, but at least it felt like she wanted to be around him.
Just ahead of the summer holiday crowds, all the Padovanos—minus Cole, who had been spending the last two weeks with her father in Michigan—took a Friday off and went to the beach. They packed the cars with coolers, chairs, umbrellas, and more. The sun dominated a clear blue sky, sending the temperature well into the 80s—exactly what everyone wanted for a day at the shore. Heather brought a book to read and was delighted watching her boys play with Joey. They were so excited he was home and couldn’t get enough of their uncle. Watching them made her smile, and she hadn’t smiled much lately.
As the sun slid towards the horizon, the family packed up. Heather tucked towels, her book, and a resealable bag full of suntan lotion and aloe ointment into a giant pink and green polka-dot beach bag. Joey and Danny were carrying the oversized cooler to the car. Nearby, Tommy was using his father’s phone to take pictures. “Got some good ones, Mom!”
“That’s good, honey. Let me have the phone and I’ll put it in the bag.”
Tommy half-walked, half-ran over, swiping through the pictures and stumbling in the deep sand. “Look at the seagull one!”
He handed the phone to his mother and was off like a rocket to find his brothers. Heather bobbled the phone and managed not to drop it. But when she picked it up, it wasn’t a seagull she was looking at—it was a selfie of Danny and Lauren. And it was from last week.
That cheating bastard!She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As much as she wanted to scream at him, to absolutely eviscerate him, the beach wasn’t the place. But this was the last straw.
By the time Danny got up the next morning, Heather was already barreling her way through her Saturday morning: laundry, then cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. He said good morning but got a standoffish response. He didn’t question it, just went outside to start the yard work that had been piling up. He fixed the front railing and went out to get gas for the lawn mower. When he got back, the house was quiet.
He tried to remember if one of the boys had something going on today—a game, birthday party, or an overnight with friends—but nothing came to mind. He sighed. He’d get an earful from Heather if he’d forgotten he was expected to attend an event. He sent her a quick text. When he didn’t hear back right away, he headed over to his father’s place to borrow a couple tools he needed for his next project: shelves over Matty’s desk. He ended up talking with his father for a while and by the time he finished, Danny was starting to wonder where Heather was. She hadn’t returned his text yet, and she usually called if she was running late.
Danny said goodbye to his father and had just given his mother a kiss on the cheek when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen—it was Heather.
“Where are you?” he snapped, not bothering with a hello.
