by Tina Martin
“Boy did you have me fooled,” she cried. “Had me thinking I was somebody special when all the while, you were helping me because of Jacob.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is true! If I had no ties to your brother, I would be just like all the other women you encountered…tossed to the side like garbage.”
“That’s not true.”
“And I asked you why…why you chose me and you lied to my face…made me feel like I had no right to even ask you that. And the truth is, you never really loved me.”
“I do love you, Shayla, and I can explain everything if you just give me a chance.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not going to continue to let you make a fool out of me. Move!”
Carter conceded, realizing that she was too upset to talk tonight. Even if he barricaded her in the room and made her listen to him, it wouldn’t accomplish a thing. So proving to her how much he loved her, he said, “No. You stay here. I’ll go. Ah’ight? I’ll go and I won’t come back unless you want me to.”
“Just move!”
“No, Shayla! I’ll go, ah’ight. I’ll go!” He grabbed a few items of clothing, a couple of suits, some casual outfits and shoes.
Shayla sat on the bed, slumped over again, wailing. Inconsolable.
With his overnight bag and suits in hand, Carter walked out the front door with a heavy heart, nearly tripping over a package that he hadn’t seen through his watery eyes. He picked it up without much thought. His thoughts were on what he was going to do to save his marriage.
For a while, he sat in the driver seat of his Escalade, staring at the front door of their home, hoping Shayla would call him or run after him to try and work this out, maybe even give him an opportunity to explain things. But could he blame her for being disappointed? It was what he expected, but still, it hurt him to leave her. It hurt even more to watch her cry as she read Jacob’s suicide note, putting the pieces together that confirmed they were brothers. What had he done?
After thirty minutes flown by, Carter sighed deeply, put the car in reverse, then looked at the package he’d picked up from the door. There was no return address, but it was addressed to him, written with a black marker. He wasn’t expecting a package, so he slipped the car back in park, opened it and saw a notebook and a note written on a single sheet of loose leaf paper:
Mr. Williams, I’ve thought long and hard about this and I just want you to know first off that I could lose my license over this. But I feel it’s my duty to help you as I know how distressed you are about the situation surrounding your brother. When Jacob was alive, I asked him to write his feelings down on paper, something I usually ask of all my clients. Enclosed are the notes that he left me. There are only a few entries, but I’m hoping that this will help you cope with the loss of your brother and the decisions you face ahead with Shayla.
All the best,
Dr. Westbrook
- - -
Carter opened the notebook to page one and was immediately struck by the sight of Jacob’s handwriting. Then he began reading:
Most of my life, my Mother compared me to my big brother, if you can even call him that. To be considered siblings, we would have to have either the same Mother, or the same father. We have neither and, Carter, as smart as everyone claims he is, is too dense to realize that our “family” isn’t really a family at all…
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To Be Continued…
Start reading Book 3, Accidental Lovers now.
Other books by Tina Martin:
His Paradise Wife (The Champion Brothers)
When A Champion Wants You (The Champion Brothers)
Accidental Deception, The Accidental Series, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, The Accidental Series, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, The Accidental Series, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, The Accidental Series, Book 4
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage (The Alexanders, Book 1)
Watch Me Take Your Girl (The Alexanders, Book 2)
Her Premarital Ex (The Alexanders, Book 3)
The Object of His Obsession (The Alexanders, Book 4)
Dilvan’s Redemption (The Alexanders, Book 5)
Secrets On Lake Drive
Can’t Just Be His Friend
All Falls Down
Just Like New to the Next Man
Vacation Interrupted
The Crush
Visit www.tinamartin.net to browse books, read excerpts and watch book video trailers.
