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“What the hell happened to that family?” I asked, sitting back in my seat. “I mean, she’s their daughter.”
“Yes, and the one they were always embarrassed by apparently. What I heard from the cousin was she had always been an issue. She’s the second born, with one older brother and two younger sisters but on their website, they only claim to have three children.”
“So I shouldn’t be upset that she doesn’t want me to meet them?”
“Meet them?” Mara exclaimed. “Are you kidding me? Why would they want to meet you? They know exactly who you are, and what you did to her marriage. They would never understand you as her life partner or whatever the hell it is you two are doing.”
I felt a little better, but I hadn’t really brought it up with Mattie. She’d been walking on eggshells because she was waiting for it but I didn’t want to have to ask. I wanted her to tell me.
“How are you?” I asked her, as the waiter came over to the table. We placed our order and went back to our conversation.
“Sore and sick,” she chuckled but she had a glow about her that I could see she was enjoying the pregnancy. “But it will be worth it in the end.”
“You’re going to make a great mother,” I said. “You’ve always been the kindest person I knew.”
She smiled at me. “You are too. Mattie is lucky to have you.”
“It wasn’t easy,” I said, chuckling. “She denied it was a thing for a while but I wore her down.”
“I bet. You’ve always been great at wearing people down.”
I knew it was meant to be a compliment but it still stung a little. I didn’t have the best record in social circles, but I had always been true to myself. That was something I would never betray.
I didn’t know if Mattie and I would last but I was going to try my hardest to keep her in my life. I knew she was worth it.
I just had to find a way to make her see her worth and that I could be her HEA.
MATTIE
Gen had been gone all day. I just heard the faint rumbles of thunder outside and expected her to come through the door any time now. Since we had come to the conclusion that I would stay at her apartment during the week and have my own time on the weekends at my apartment, I’d never wanted to leave.
She hadn’t asked about my family which had surprised me but I could only imagine what would come out when it did. Of course she was curious. I would be too if I were in her position. I’d shut the door on that part of my life when the divorce had been finalized.
The door opened and Gen came in, looking like a drowned rat.
“Oh shit,” I laughed, putting my glass down on the table and running to grab a towel. I handed it to her as she pulled off her jacket and shoes with a squelch sound. “I didn’t even know it was raining yet.”
“Sure is,” she said. “I’m going to jump in the shower. Why don’t you order some food?”
I headed for my phone and saw the message on my WhatsApp. I hadn’t used the app for years now, because it was the way I had spoken to my brother after my divorce. He’d since married and his new wife had told him I wasn’t part of the family anymore.
I opened it quickly to see that he had warned me that the family had learned about my affair with a woman and to be careful.
I closed the app quickly and looked through my UberEats app for something to eat. Acid was burning in the bottom of my stomach. Nerves from the message had sprung up and would probably make it hard to eat but I had to try.
I quickly made the order and poured myself another wine and one for Gen. I sat down at the dinner table and waited, my mind running a million miles an hour. Gen appeared not long later and gratefully accepted her wine.
“How was your day?” I asked, hoping like hell I seemed casual.
“It was okay, just met up with Mara,” she said.
“Oh? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s good. I actually wanted to ask her about you.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Mattie. You can’t possibly think I didn’t catch onto how you threatened Eva. Your family is famous.”
