AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hi, Lacey.”
“Hi.” I keep my face emotionless. His brow lifts at my lukewarm greeting.
“Landon, how’s your wife doing? Jackson told us how great you’ve been,” Mrs. Pear says, smiling at Jackson. “He can’t stop talking about his mom and dad these days. How you do everything, including cooking and cleaning, the grocery shopping too.”
“I’m just doing what I can. After tomorrow she’ll be well enough to be up and about on her crutches.” He looks at me.
“Don’t you downplay how great you have been. We heard from some of the moms, singing your praises. We should nominate you for the father of the year,” one of the moms gushes.
“We should. God knows most of our husbands wouldn’t know the first thing to do if one of us was out of commission for a day. Everything would fall apart, including the kids.” They all laugh, looking at each other with knowing grins.
I feel awkward and out of place, being the unknown girlfriend, listening to them talk about how great a husband he is to his wife. “You know, Mrs. Pear, I don’t think I’ll be able to join the PTA with my work schedule. I would be happy to donate anything else, if I can. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go. It was nice meeting you all, bye,” I say, waving with the best smile I can manage without looking at Landon, trying not to be too rude.
“Lace!”
“What is it?” I turn around to deal with this new set of developments I haven’t had time to process yet.
“What’s wrong?”
“Hi, Landon!” Jacob waves excitedly through the window. So excited, he’s trying to unbuckle his seat belt. I tell him not to, and his bottom lip pokes out.
“Hey, buddy. I’m sorry about this weekend. I’ll make it up to you. Anything you want, okay?”
“Okay.” He smiles, as trusting as ever.
Which pisses me off, after what Jackson filled me in on about his weekend trip, and the praise-for-Bree’s-husband group. I move away from the jeep enough so Jacob won’t hear us. “Don’t make promises to my child you can’t keep.”
“What?” he stares stunned.
“You just stood there. Why didn’t you correct them? Tell them you and Bree were not together anymore, but you’re helping her take care of Jackson. Nothing else. You’re supposed to be getting a divorce.”
“It wasn’t the time or the place to do that.”
“When would be the time? When would be the time to let people know I’m not your mistress…a homewrecker!” I huff.
I look over his shoulder, and there she is, sitting in his truck with Jackson, and the other women have found their way over to them, laughing and talking. She’s one of them. Part of the group I won’t be a part of because he is Bree’s, in their minds, not mine. And that pisses me off to the point I’m breathing hard.
“It would be the perfect time when she’s there in front of people to confirm it, Landon. In front of your son, because he believes you’re getting back together.”
“Things are a little confused at the moment, but he knows I’m with you. His mother and I are not together.”
“How the hell would he know?” I throw my hands up. “If you’re living at home as a happily married couple? How would he know, if you’re going to anniversary dinners for her parents, and you’re not telling people you’re getting divorced? A fucking weekend family reunion?” I was on an angry rant I couldn’t stop. “You should have told me. Jackson told me; he was very happy with the turn of events.”
“Lace.” He reaches for my hand.
“No,” I say, moving out of reach. “Your wife and your fan club are waiting for you to play the part of the devoted husband. It wouldn’t be the right time to let them down.” I turn, forcefully closing the door, driving off in a blaze of anger.
Worried, Jacob’s little face looks at me through the rearview mirror. Now don’t I feel like the shitty parent?
“Mom, are you okay?”
“Fine. It’s just grown-up stuff. Don’t worry, okay?” I take my phone off the front seat, handing it to him. He loves to play with my phone, and it’ll provide him with a distraction. He happily takes it. “Play a game. Everything’s fine.”
How I wish that was the truth. Three days later, I’ve dodged all of Landon’s calls. Every doubt I’ve ever had about us has steamrolled over me. Maybe my mother was right—this was too much, too fast. So much to think about. If I end this now, it’s not only me that’ll be hurt. There’s Jacob. He hasn’t said it, but I know he had his heart set on Landon being in his life, playing an even bigger part than just his best friend’s dad, hanging with him from time to time.
If this ends, what about him? How the hell am I going to end this thing? The rekindling of something that was once so amazing, before it was ruined. Finding it again, and having it still be as amazing, but complicated, wanting it just as bad, not just for myself but for my son. How would I begin to end it? Could I even?
