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“Carla looks better on paper than I do,” I replied, pausing to shift from one foot to the other. “And you never told me about her.”
“Mommy, we’re going to be late.” Ron set his plate down in the sink and rubbed his hands together. “Shouldn’t we get going?”
“We’ll continue this later,” Bernard told me after a brief pause. He spun around to face Ron and smiled. Ron shrieked when Bernard hoisted him up into the air and set him down on his shoulders. With a slight shake of my head, I grabbed my purse and keys off the table by the door. In the elevator, I avoided looking at Bernard directly.
In the car, Ron sat wedged between us, talking a million miles a minute.
Once we arrived at his school, he gave us both quick hugs before hopping away. Bernard waited for me to get back in the car before he got in after me and folded his hands in his lap. I glanced away from him and pressed my face to the glass.
Why was he acting like I was the one at fault?
I wasn’t the one who had kept secrets from him.
Bernard was the one who stood with another woman draped all over him and declaring herself his fiancé. As upset as I was that she was cozying up to him, I was even more upset that he hadn’t done anything to stop her. On the contrary, he’d just stood there, knowing the truth about us, and hadn’t said a word.
What kind of man allowed the mother of his child to be treated that way?
Had I misjudged Bernard and been too eager to offer him redemption?
Jonathan drove us back to the building, and I hurried out of the car. The elevator ride upstairs was tense and silent. Until we went into his apartment, and he slammed the door shut behind him. As soon as he did, I rounded on him and glared.
“How could you just stand there and let her treat me like that?”
“Let her treat you like what? She didn’t do anything.”
“She did. You just didn’t notice because you were too busy doing nothing.”
Bernard ran a hand over his face and exhaled. “She said hi and shook your hand. I don’t understand what the issue is.”
“Are you freaking kidding me? She introduced herself as your fiancé, Bernard. Or did you miss that part?”
Bernard blinked. “Yeah, but you know it’s not true, so what does it matter what she thinks?”
“You didn’t even try to correct her.”
“Why would I? We both know it’s not the truth.”
I folded my arms over my chest and exhaled. “Does she know?”
“What do you mean, does she know?”
“Did you tell her about us?”
“Well, no, but—”
“But what? Are you just biding your time with me? Waiting to see if Carla will take you back?”
Bernard’s expression tightened. “That’s not true. Carla and I broke up because we’re not a good fit. I don’t want her back.”
“So, why didn’t you tell me about her?”
Bernard’s hands clenched into fists. “Because I didn’t think it mattered. She’s a part of my past.”
“She’s a part of your present, too,” I pointed out with a shake of my head. “You even hired her to work for you. Why?”
“She needed a job, and I knew she would be a good asset.”
“That can’t be the only reason.”
