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I’ve been going crazy with worrying about Thomas and trying to figure out what the problem might be. Fran asked around at his workplace, and everything appears to be fine at work.
“You’re probably the only one who can get through to him,” Riley says.
“Me? I’m the last person that Thomas would confide in.”
“There’s something special between the two of you,” Riley says. How I wish that it was true and that my feelings are not one-sided.
I struggle to find the words to describe how Thomas has been for the last couple of weeks. Then I find it. Sad.
“Sounds like a person in mourning,” Riley says.
“That’s exactly it,” I say. “It doesn’t make sense. He hasn’t lost a relative or friend, and he doesn’t have a pet.”
“He needs a friend right now. You have to be that friend,” Riley says.
“A little hard to be a friend when seeing him is hard enough. I’ve asked him to my place for dinner several times, but he declines each time. This time I know it’s not me.”
“Then show up at his place,” Riley says.
The thought frightens me. Thomas has invisible barriers around him that keep a person away. Even his sister Fran. But I have a feeling that Riley is right, and he desperately needs a friend right now.
“You’re right. I’ll go to his place.”
“What are you waiting for,” Riley says.
I glance at the time. Six PM. He’s home unless he went elsewhere after work. I kiss Riley goodbye.
I’m apprehensive as I drive to Thomas’s place. What if he kicks me out and tells me to butt out of his business? I would deserve it too, seeing that I’ve thrown him out of my place a few times.
His car is parked in the driveway, and I ease mine behind it. I take in a long deep breath before getting out of the car. When I walk to the front door, my legs feel like two blocks of cement.
I knock on the door, and seconds later, heavy footsteps sound from the other side. The door flies open, and Thomas stands there looking pissed off. His stance softens a little as he looks at me.
“Cora, were we supposed to meet?” he says, and suddenly I get an idea.
“No, I just thought that you might want to go for a walk,” I say.
That elicits a smile from him. He glances at his watch. “At six in the evening?”
“It’s a warm evening.”
He looks at me and then nods. “I’ll just grab the house keys.”
So far, so good. I let out an exhale of relief. Thomas returns a few seconds later, and we leave the house.
His neighborhood is quiet, and it feels surreal to be out walking as the sun is dipping.
“Everyone’s worried about you, Thomas,” I say.
He glances at me briefly. “Who is everyone?”
“Fran, Martin, your parents. Me.”
“Did Fran send you?”
“No, of course not. I’m here because I’m worried sick about you.”
He sighs deeply. “I thought I was hiding it pretty well.”
I’m relieved he has admitted that something is wrong. “Not quite. What happened?”
He doesn’t answer at first, and I worry that he might not confide in me after all. Then he starts talking, and I’m astounded by what he says.
“I found out that Tessa had an affair while we were married. I think she was planning on leaving me when she died,” Thomas says. His voice is controlled and bears no signs of emotion. My heart breaks for him as he tells me how he came to find out.
“I did neglect her by putting all my energy and time into work,” he says.
I shake my head vehemently. I have very strong opinions when it comes to cheating. “It doesn’t matter whether you were busy or not. There’s just never any excuse to cheat. If you don’t want to be with someone, then you should tell them.”
“That’s my thinking too,” Thomas says.
I glance at his handsome profile and find it hard to believe that anyone would cheat on Thomas. His physical attraction aside, he is the kindest, sweetest human being I know.
“I’m better now, but when I first learned about it, I couldn’t stop trying to remember whether there were any signs that she was having an affair.”
“Were there?”
“She was a skilled cheater. Nothing changed about her behavior,” Thomas says.
I let out a sigh. “What a horrible thing to happen. I think it would have been better if you hadn’t found out.”
“No,” Thomas says. “I’m glad I found out. Yes, it hurts to think that the woman I loved and thought I knew was unfaithful, but it’s helped me with some things I’ve struggled with for years. I’ve always felt guilty because I didn’t give her the baby that she wanted so badly. I don’t feel that anymore. The sad thing is feeling like I wasted my love on her.”
