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I thanked my dad and gave him a goodnight kiss on the cheek, then walked back up to my childhood bedroom, and fell asleep much easier than before.
Chapter 44
Nathaniel
The freeway was bumper-to-bumper on the way home from client meetings, and I cursed as I waited in traffic. I’d had to drag myself out of bed yesterday morning and today, without beautiful, sleepy-eyed Amelia lying by my side, and navigate my work as if nothing life-altering had happened over the weekend.
It had been two days since everything exploded at the Weaver estate. I was devastated. Heartbroken. Melinda and Larissa had both texted and called me, explaining that they saw everything with Colleen in the driveway and they knew I wasn’t to blame. They asked for me to be patient with Amelia. I knew her well enough to realize her sisters were right, and it took every ounce of willpower I possessed to resist the urge to call her. She needed her space, but it hurt me to give it to her.
After a long commute and a mind-numbing day of work, I pulled into the driveway with a sore back and a sour mood.
The last person I expected to see was waiting for me on my front step.
David.
What was he doing here?
He stood as I walked over from the car. “Can we talk?”
There was no danger about his presence, no threat in his voice. Still, I reverted to dark humor. “Are you going to beat the shit out of me again?”
“No plans to.” He played it totally straight. David could always sell a joke.
“I’m sorry about what happened with Colleen. I swear I never did anything inappropriate.”
“I know. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
I could see that he was beaten down and weary, and not there to berate me or argue. He had come as my friend.
“Come on in.”
We headed inside. I walked straight to the kitchen for a beer and David followed me, taking the beer I offered him without a word.
We didn’t clink bottles before we drank.
“I know it wasn’t your fault,” he said, leaning against the countertop.
I nodded, scratching my neck. “I wish I had been able to stop it.”
“You’re not responsible for her. She’s the one to blame.”
“Does… Colleen know that?”
“I don’t know. She’s out of the house, staying at her friend’s place.” He paused, taking another swig of beer, then gazed out the window at the ocean. “I always knew she wanted more,” he admitted. “She’s been unfaithful before, but I figured I could turn a blind eye as long as no one else ever found out about it. I didn’t want the girls to get hurt. I just wanted to keep our family together. But I waited too long. I can’t ignore it anymore. My family is coming apart at the seams, and I’m responsible because I never dealt with the root cause.”
“Well, now maybe you’ll both have that opportunity, even though the circumstances aren’t ideal.” I realized right when I said it that it might have come off as insensitive, but David spoke before I could backtrack.
“My marriage is over, Nathaniel.” He said it without taking his eyes off the ocean, a bright sunny day at odds with such a dark statement.
I swallowed, feeling nothing but regret at hearing such sad news, even though I knew it was probably for the best in the long run. “I’m sorry, David. Really sorry.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “It was a long time coming. Still, it’s hard to accept.”
“I can only imagine,” I sympathized, taking another sip of beer. “How are Amelia and her sisters taking all this?”
He turned his gaze back to me. “Amelia is hurting. Furious with her mother, and worried about me. She’s been calling from work and checking on me every day, multiple times a day. Makes me feel terrible. She’s the one who should be relaxing and being checked in on, not me.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked. “Melinda and Larissa said Amelia needs space and I want to respect that, but I want to help everyone, too. Tell me if there’s somethingyouneed. Food, distractions. Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”
