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Although I don’t know how he’s going to sort out the car crash that is his daughter’s marriage.
“I can’t believe that Anna did that to you,” Natalie says. “She didn’t need to shove you like that. It’s almost like she was looking for a reason to hurt you.”
“I don’t understand that, though,” I croak, swallowing and trying not to grimace at the soreness in her throat. “If there’s anyone who should commit violence on the other, it should be me. She’s humiliated and disrespected me for months. She’s not a victim here.”
“She still thinks you were taking Eric away from her. I heard her screaming about it while we were going out to the ambulance. She mentioned something about you stealing Eric away, and that you had to be one of the homewreckers.”
I’m too sore to laugh at how ridiculous it is to hear that. She calls me a homewrecker after what she did? Natalie peers at me curiously.
“Did you really not know that Eric was cheating on Clara as well?” she asks.
“No, no idea at all. I didn’t think that anything was going on at all,” I shake my head. “It just shows how much attention I was paying to him if he was able to cheat on me with more than one person.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Honey, it’s not your fault.”
“Who’s fault is it? Maybe if I’d been paying him more attention instead of working so much…”
Natalie leans over and swats my knee before I can say anything further. I wince and glare at her.
“What was that for?”
“Because this isn't your fault,” she says again. “Eric cheated because he’s a bastard who can’t keep it in his pants. He’s a narcissistic prick who thinks he can get whatever he wants. And the thought of having several girls at the same time was a rush for him. That isn't your fault. You can’t blame yourself for how crap of a human being he is.”
I don’t know what to say to that. Realistically, I know that she’s right, but I still can’t stop myself from thinking that I’m to blame for all of this. I hadn’t noticed the signs that Eric was cheating. Either I was blind or he was very good at lying.
I’m leaning toward the latter, but still…
“I’m just surprised that he thought it was a good idea to sneak away during the reception to bang Ashley when his wife is right there,” I comment as I look at the bandage wrapped around my hand, resisting the urge to pick at it. “That is just brazen. Anyone could have walked in on them, especially with the noise they were making.”
“I’m more confused as to why Clara and Ashley never made their relationship with him public before,” Natalie folds her arms. “I thought if they knew they were the side chick they would say something. Neither of them made me feel like they would be content with that.”
“I guess we’ll never know until we hear from them. And I don’t want to speak to Clara,” I shift on the bed. “She got into a relationship with him, and they were still going when Eric was with Anna. She was pregnant before Eric and Anna were caught, wasn’t she?”
“Maybe Eric manipulated her into something.”
I consider it for a moment, shaking my head slowly. “She’s a smart woman. I can’t see that happening.”
After the few conversations I’ve had with Clara, I know that she’s a bright girl. She might have been taken in by Eric, but the fact that she kept this a secret when it was clear Eric was getting married to someone else after cheating on me doesn’t sit well with me. I feel sick knowing that she had been hanging around, knowing what was going on and wouldn’t tell me the truth.
She had done this at the wedding for maximum shock and horror. Clara kept this to herself until she knew everyone who supposedly cared for Eric and Anna were there so she could tear him down. While I kind of admire that she did something I hadn’t been able to do, I still think she is a bad person for not saying anything to be. Then maybe I could have dumped Eric long before he did that to me.
I really don’t want to think about her anymore. It’s not helping me, and I’m feeling sick at the thought of her.
There is a knock at the door, and Joel comes in. He looks tired, dark circles under his eyes and his hair standing on end.
Natalie sighs when she sees her father. “You look terrible, Dad.”
“I love you, too, Natalie,” Joel replies with a sardonic tone. He closes the door behind him. “How are you feeling, Megan?”
“Sore. Everything throbs.” I press a thumb into the middle of my injured hand. “I really want to scratch the stitches.”
“It’s best that you don’t. You don’t want the doctor to get annoyed with you,” Joel squeezes Natalie’s shoulder. “Can I have a moment with Megan, Nat?”
“Sure.” Natalie stands up, touching my hand. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“Thanks, Nat. And thanks for helping me out back there.”
“Someone had to take charge and make sure you didn’t get blood all over your dress,” Natalie nudges Joel. “Someone hear was freaking out.”
