Page 40 of It Should Have Been You

“Everything’s fine,” I agree.

“Beth, we really suggest you think about this. We can give you more time.” Mathew interlocks his fingers and leans forward. He’s the one that saw something in me.

I wonder what he sees now.

I do my best to keep my tone steady when I say, “I’ve had all the time I need.”

“You can address me from here on out, gentlemen. I am your new partner after all.” There’s no denying the hint of satisfaction in Jake’s voice. He flashes me a smile of encouragement from his seat next to mine.

If someone had told me three years ago that one of the closest people in the world to me would be Jake and his soon-to-be wife, I would have laughed in their face and poured myself a stiff drink.

In another world our paths would never collide.

Another world isn’t as screwed up as this one.

Jake shares a history with my husband that not even I will ever fully comprehend. All I know is when I first approached him for help, he was in the early stages of building a women’s shelter for domestic abuse survivors. No questions asked, he and his fiancé, Claire, were there for me every step of the way. I spent almost a year at the shelter. I gave birth to my youngest daughter there.

I owe them my life.

I owe them my children’s lives.

Though, they find it difficult to even accept a thank you, no matter how hard I try.

I could have sold my shares back to the partners, but my trust has been shattered, and I don’t know the first thing about brokering a deal of this magnitude. When I went to Jake for advice, his offer was generous and, most importantly, trustworthy.

“Beth,” Mathew implores once again.

Jake is fast to cut in. “I will not repeat myself. Do not address her again.” He’s a force to be reckoned with, his frame as intimidating as his voice, and the men all but curl back into their chairs.

I don’t need to be involved in this meeting. Not in practical terms. I don’t bring anything of value to the table, and they won’t change my mind. But at the same time, Ineededto be here. I wanted to face them one last time and prove to myself I still have the strength. That the fire still burns in my belly. It’s not as bright as it once was, but it’s there, simmering in the background.

It just needs a little air.

“Mrs. Ellison and I have come to our own arrangement and payment has already been transferred,” Jake goes on, but I find my mind wandering again as he speaks.

The money doesn’t matter. I’ve struggled since leaving Rob, but I survived. My girls are happy.

We’re safe.

Today is for them. It’s to make sure their future is secure. The majority of the sale will go into a bank account until their adults. What’s left will give us the opportunity to start over.

“Beth, before we leave today, on behalf of myself and the entire firm, we would like to once again express our condolences on the passing of Robert. He is truly missed around here.”

The laugh that leaves my mouth is humorless and doesn't sound like me. “Tragic?”

This is a joke, right?

My reaction shocks the room. Maybe it’s the years of feeling threatened into silence, or all the words I’ve had to swallow, but they finally slip past my defenses and boil over. If my hands weren’t trembling, I might notice the color drain from their faces. Rob took all my sympathy with him the day he died.

Shame.

I’d know it anywhere.

I’ve seen it in my own eyes enough.

I stand on shaky legs but force myself upright. “Like Mr. Williams has already said, you no longer have any need to address me.”

Their mouths are still hanging open when I turn and leave. My heart is beating so hard against my chest I feel it in my throat.

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