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Chapter Two
Lily watched Reed walkout, her heart aching, the sour churn of guilt cloying her senses since learning of John’s suicide easing somewhat with his partner’s support. She wished she had the nerve to call him back, to ask him to stick around and help her get through this day. Reed Kincaid was her closest connection to the man she’d once loved with her whole heart, but she had to learn to stand on her own without the convenience of others to lean on. How many times had those closest to her – her brother, Levi, his girlfriend, Vickie, and her boss, Trina – called her a fool for staying with John after learning of yet another affair? Now that she thought about it, Reed was the only person she’d ever heard call John a fool for his behavior instead of her for putting up with it for so long.
If Reed had been the first person to come to mind whenever she questioned the sanity of trying to make her marriage work instead of moving on, she figured that was normal. As John’s partner and friend, Reed had been witness to John’s weakness, but he never made excuses for her husband on those rare times he was around during one of their confrontations. Reed’s stormy, gray-green gazes and sharp rebukes of John’s behavior had gone a long way toward warming Lily where her husband’s behavior had left her so cold. She lost track of how often she had compared them, wishing John possessed a fraction of the moral integrity Reed exhibited. And even though he was the first and only man she’d looked at twice since falling in love with John, she could be as wrong about Reed as she’d been about the man she married.
That didn’t prevent the memory of what prompted her to consider him as anything more than John’s partner from popping up. Four months after finding John in bed with her best friend, Pam, and moving out, she’d returned to the house for another round of arguments and would never forget her response to hearing Reed’s deep voice rumble with concern for her, and only her.
She was so upset, Lily’s hands shook. Glaring at John from across the living room, her eyes swam with unshed tears of frustration and remorse. His eyes were bloodshot, and his faults did not include heavy drinking. That her actions might have caused him to go off the deep end even once added to the guilt she was already trying to cope with.
“It’s been over a long time,” she told him again, striving for a calmer tone. “You know it, and I waited too long to acknowledge it. Why can’t you admit it?” It was the first time she’d been to their house since moving out four months ago. Having finally ceded the battle of saving her marriage, she thought it only right to give John notice she filed for divorce.
John threw himself onto the recliner, his blue eyes skimming her way before sliding off to the side, as if he couldn’t bear looking at her. It was his same reaction each time she had confronted him over an affair in the last eighteen months. She gave him credit for remaining faithful the first six months they were married.
“I believe I was clear when you packed up and left, babe. I’m not letting you go. I made a mistake. We’ll deal with it, like always.”
“No, John, we won’t because we don’t deal with it, only I do while you go on your merry way.” The hurt from finding John with one of her closest friends at a Christmas party might never lessen, but it was the last straw for her and had killed what little love she still harbored for her husband. Now that she’d seen the light regarding the end of their marriage, her mistake in holding on for so long couldn’t be clearer. Without subjecting herself to her husband’s almost daily persuasive remorse, heartfelt promises, and loving gestures, she could admit the utter futility in trying to stay together. “When I found you with Pam, you bluntly stated you weren’t going to change because you didn’t want to.”
He sat forward, looking her way again, his voice turning cajoling, his smile the charming boyish one that had hooked her from the beginning. “Come on, Lil, you know I didn’t mean that. I’m crazy about you, babe.”
The odd thing was, she believed that last part, which caused her tears to drip. With an angry swipe, she wiped them off her cheeks and snapped, “You never mean anything you say. You have a problem, John. Admit it and get help.” Her voice broke on the last word, and she spun around, dashing down the hall to the bathroom as he yelled his annoyed rebuttal.
“God damn it, Lily, we’re going to work this out because I am not signing those fucking papers!”
Leaning against the closed bathroom door, Lily released a shuddering sigh then stiffened when she heard someone else enter the house and start arguing with John. Delicate shivers trickled down her spine as Reed Kincaid’s distinctive deep voice filtered through the door.
“Why don’t you back off her, Wainscott, give her a divorce, and quit tormenting her? If you care, damn it, do the right thing.”
Her brother, Levi, was the only other person she’d heard speak to John that way, but the pleasure of Reed’s support was cut short when they started hurling insults.
“Because I’m not giving her up, and fuck you for taking her side,” John growled in an even angrier voice than he’d used with her.
“I never thought your callous disregard for women would extend to your wife, whom you keep claiming you love. You’re such an ass.”
“Right back at you, partner,” her husband sneered.
Lily hurried to splash cold water on her face then left the bathroom. The last thing she wanted was to cause a permanent rift in their friendship or work relationship. Reed turned to face her as soon as she stepped into the living area, the several seconds he took to focus his attention solely on her a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.
“You okay, Lily?”
“Of course she is,” John answered with exasperation.
Until now, she’d only experienced Levi’s overprotective concern, and when Reed spoke to her, ignoring John’s frustration with his interference, his simple inquiry filled her with warmth,
“I’m fine, thanks.” Lily grabbed her purse, feeling better but ready to put distance between her and John again. “Please sign the papers, John.”
Lily pulled her thoughts from the past, noticing her boss arriving. Leave it to Trina to lighten her mood, she thought as the woman who owned Creative Events eyed Reed’s backside with a lascivious leer before heading her way. One of the best decisions she’d made since graduating college was to accept the job offer from the event planner. Her boss not only gave Lily her dream job, but the close bond and friendship they now enjoyed was worth just as much.
“That man is such a hunk,” Trina said, reaching around Lily to snag a cookie. “Mmmm, love these. Have you eaten?”
Lily shook her head. “Not yet, but don’t start on me, please. Levi will make sure I do when I wind down.”
“Good enough. I’ve got the Oliver wedding reception, so I can’t stay, but I waited until now to tell you I’ve signed with a temp agency to fill in while you’re away. No arguments.”
