AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What about the fact I’ve cheated on you? Surely that counts?”
Elliot laughs a bitter, incriminating sound. Freddy steps closer to my side, careful not to touch me. Elliot is watching, absorbing everything. “How cute.” He turns his attention back to me, a sneer on his face. “It only counts if I acknowledge it; if I make a claim against you.”
His words don’t even sound like he’s speaking English.
“I think two years sounds just about right. You pay me back half of the time I’ve given you.” The smug look on his face tells me he’s been looking into our current state of affairs with his standard analytical approach to everything.
“You’ll stay away from Isaac?” I can only suggest it. This situation is more complicated than I ever dreamt. Stupid, Amber.
“Five years? I don’t have to agree to the two.” He smirks with his winning line.
Like the speed of light, the image of spending five years married to the wrong person while the right one lives down the road races through my mind.
I hesitate. Two years seems like forever. Two years feels like a death sentence. But out of the corner of my eye, I see Freddy motion a discreet thumbs up from under his folded arm stance.
“Okay, but you don’t mess with Isaac. You bring the relationship to a mutual end. Take the closure that you both need and you be ready to walk away when it’s over.”
I never thought I’d be making these demands from someone. They taste bitter and sharp on my tongue, lies and complications… mistakes. But Isaac has to come first. He always comes first.
Elliot’s eyes glint and I wonder what the hell I first saw in him. Then I remember I wasn’t seeing back then. I was desperate and existing in a cycle of despair. He came in like a knight in shining armour. I realised too late the armour had a taint which couldn’t be polished away.
“Dad!” Isaac’s voice calls up the drive, but it sounds to me like it’s passing through fog. Elliot’s smirk transforms into a full out wolfish grin as he turns to grab Isaac into his arms. Freddy stiffens by my side, and I can actually hear his ragged breathing.
“Hey, Sport.” Elliot ruffles his hair, tucking him into his side so I can’t get my hands on my son.
“What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t do this weekend?” Isaac gabs excitedly, jumping up and down. My heart hurts. It just hurts watching the scene play out.
“Change of plans. I can do today, if you want?”
I frown at Elliot, but he ignores me. He’s pushing me, taunting me.
“Yes! I can, Mum, can’t I?” Isaac implores me beseechingly with his eyes. To my surprise, Freddy steps in.
“Hey, Isaac. I thought we were doing your treehouse today?”
Isaac looks torn, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, and I think that Freddy’s offer will win, but Isaac looks between Freddy and Isaac and says, “Can we do it next weekend, Mr Bale?”
Ice cuts through my heart and Elliot gloats in my face.
“Sure thing, Isaac.” Freddy smiles at him warmly, but his ocean blue eyes don’t look like the sort of sea you’d want to swim in.
Isaac crashes his overnight bag to the floor and steps back down the front step. Once he’s turned away, I grab Elliot’s arm tight and pull him in, my voice an angry whisper. “Don’t you dare tell him.”
“Why ruin the surprise now, when I have time on my hands to make your life truly uncomfortable?” And with his final words, he follows Isaac down the driveway and I’m left watching his retreating form.
Freddy softly closes the door. I’m at the point of crumbling to the floor when his arms pull me into his. Shouldering the bulk of my weight, he leads us to the kitchen.
“I’ve ruined everything. I’ve been so stupid.” I say it over and over, my whole body shaking. It’s the truth. I’ve been a fool. Such a damn fool, careering from disaster to mistake.
“What were you thinking with that guy, Amber?” Freddy crouches in front of the kitchen chair he’s placed me on.
I stare at him, unseeing as I gaze back into the past and search for the answer. The truth hurts too much to say, but I don’t want to lie anymore, to anyone. “I saw that he wasn’t you.” A cracked cry creaks through me and I put my head on my knees. “I saw that he wasn’t you and thought that maybe he would be safer, that he wouldn’t hurt me the way you did.” His hands smooth down my back, calm and reassuring.
“I’ve totally fucked up both of our lives, haven’t I?” His voice is low and bitter. “The stupid thing is, I was trying to give you the future I thought you deserved.”
I raise my face to meet his eyes. “It’s not you. I should have come back. I should have come back when I knew how much I needed you, but I was too proud. Stubborn”
With gentle fingers, Freddy lifts my chin. “This love of ours wasn’t meant to be easy, Amber, I get that now. I don’t think any love is.” With a deep sigh he gathers me tight in his arms. “Amber, I’ve been waiting for you my entire life, what’s two more years going to do?”
