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“Have I? I suppose so, but in a way I’m merely doing what I’m supposed to do, what my parents want, what my future plans demand. I think you were my rebellion, dear.”
“Rebellion?”
“I was always supposed to marry the right woman, and it was so clear you were wrong,” Todd pointed out. “Oh, you had the right education and you brought something we needed to the firm, but you were far too aggressive to truly fit into our family. You were too career-oriented. It was obvious you wouldn’t be a good mother.”
She hated the fact that he could still hurt her. The words were stinging nettles, pricking and irritating her. “I tried to talk to you about kids. You’re the one who put it off.”
“Because you refused to even think about coming home to raise them, to be a proper wife.” Todd’s hands found Luna’s fur, stroking down her back. “I’m thinking of running for Congress. I couldn’t have some raging careerist at my side. I need to appeal to traditional family values.”
“I think a mom supporting her kids is pretty damntraditional for a whole lot of us. I know my mom did.” Her mom had worked hard. It was one of the reasons she hated the fact that her mom couldn’t see that she did, too. Her mother had taught her the value of having a strong work ethic.
“I saw what your mother was providing. I wouldn’t want any part of it. I truly understand why you never wanted us to visit here. You were ashamed.”
Why should she have been ashamed? Maybe when she’d been younger. This time around, she’d found an odd comfort in the little trailer she’d grown up in. It wasn’t special but it contained a lot of good memories, memories she’d somehow forgotten while trying to climb to the top of the ladder. “I knew how you would react, but you should understand that I’m certainly not ashamed of this town or the way I grew up. I had fun as a kid. I had some big dreams, and I couldn’t fulfill them here. I think you were my rebellion, too. My mom and I had a rough go of it, and I knew you, in particular, would infuriate her.”
“Ah, so you’re saying you never loved me?”
She thought about that for a moment. “I thought I did.”
“I did, too.” He went quiet, the arrogance leaving his face for once. “I thought you could fix me, but I am who I am. I’ll be honest, I thought you would be the one to divorce me. I never understood why you didn’t.”
“Now we’ve gotten to the part I was truly ashamed about.” She’d come to realize it. She hadn’t stayed because she wanted to make her marriage work or because she’d loved her job and hadn’t wanted to leave. She’d stayed in an irrevocably broken marriage because she hadn’t wanted the shame she’d felt at failing.
Because failing would prove her mother right.
Would she fail with Quaid?
“I can understand that. I truly can. I know all of this was hard on you and you won’t believe me when I say this, butI’m sorry, and that’s why I’m here.” He reached into his pocket. “I’m starting a new life with the right person for me. Amy is young and couldn’t care less about having a career or who I sleep with as long as she has access to my money. Being my wife will be her job. You need more.”
He handed her a card.
Bradford and Stone
Attorneys at Law
The card had an address in Dallas and a phone number. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“His name is Mitch Bradford and he’s the corporate half of the firm. Lea Stone runs criminal defense. They’re a small operation with some very wealthy clients. Mitch has worked with us over the years. You’ll find he’s a straight shooter. He’s looking to bring in someone to take some of the load off him. He’s got a couple of kids he wants to spend more time with. Call him. If everything works out—and I know it will—he’ll offer you a sweat-equity partnership. They’re flush with cash but they need new people, and I told him you’re one of the best.”
She stared down at the card. “Why?”
“Because I owe you.” He gave Luna one last pat on her head and stood. “Because I knew you would need more than I could give you, but I married you anyway. I’m not making the same mistake again. I don’t think you should, either. Be careful with this Quaid person. Make sure he’s worthy of you. I think you could be happy in Dallas. You can build something there. Give Bradford a call.”
He moved for the door and then he walked away. It was mere seconds before she heard the bell chiming and then he was walking in front of the window and out of her life.
But he’d left one last land mine to blow everything up.
Why wasn’t she calling? The Jayna from a couple of months ago would already have her phone in hand. She would already be making travel plans to meet with this guy in person.
The Jayna of today stared at the card like it was a snake that might bite her.
Was she thinking about staying? Quaid couldn’t be the reason she stayed. She had to consider every angle, figure out what was right for her.
If she took a job in a city, she might never get another case of the naked grandma again. Cities didn’t put up with such nonsense.
But nonsense could be fun. Nonsense was quintessentially human.
Jayna thought about putting on some music to quell the raging thoughts in her head. Stay and try or go and start over. Staying and trying meant she might fail again, and this time in front of everyone in town. At least in some anonymous city no one cared if she failed.
