*****
It was almost four when I knocked on my in-laws’ door and waited, unsure how I was going to break the news to them about Brad and me. Marla opened the door with her usual bright smile but the moment she saw me, I could see the lines of worry etched on her face.
“Oh, sweetie! What’s wrong?” she asked, placing her arm around my shoulder and directing me into the house.
I immediately turned in her arms and started sobbing into her shoulder. She hugged me as tightly as she could and this time, I didn’t pull back right away. Like with Kyle, I held on because I needed her strength right now. I had always longed for someone to care for me like this. Now I worried this might be the last time she’d embrace me. I wished I had shown her more often that I appreciated her and Jim; that I truly cared about them. But trusting anyone with those emotions was hard for me and Brad had eroded my faith in others even more.
She pulled away slightly and wiped the tears off my cheeks with her thumbs. “Come sit down and tell me what’s going on,” she coaxed gently.
“Where’s Stella?” I asked, sitting down next to Marla. I looked around the living room, not wanting to talk about this in front of her. Even though she was still young, I knew she picked up on nonverbal clues and I didn’t want her to have any negative impressions about this moment in her life.
“Jim is putting her down for a nap upstairs. The beach wore her out today—I’m so sorry, I hope it doesn’t completely ruin bedtime for her tonight. Do you want me to have him wake her up?” she asked, starting to get up to go call them.
I placed my hand on her arm gently. “Oh no, I actually wanted to speak to the two of you so it’s fine.”
Marla patted my hand and gave me a reassuring smile. “Sure, whatever you want dear. Can I get you something to drink while we wait?”
“I would love some water. Thanks.”
Marla got up and left, heading toward the kitchen just as Jim made his way down the stairs. “Simone!” he said, his face lighting up. “I didn’t even hear you come in. I just got Stella tucked in. Do you need to leave already?”
“I’ve only been here a few minutes,” I said, suddenly nervous. I tried not to fidget and kept my hands, folded, in my lap. “I don’t have to leave right away; I was actually hoping to talk to you both.”
Jim took a seat on the loveseat that was perpendicular to the couch I was sitting on. As he sat down, Marla came back in with my glass of water and a plate of cookies. She was the perfect hostess, always providing some sort of baked good and drinks for her guests. Today’s cookie was my favorite, peanut butter. I took a moment to savor the comfort only something as simple as peanut butter cookies could provide.
“So what did you want to talk about?” Marla asked, placing her hand on my knee as a sign of support.
I closed my eyes briefly and took a breath. “This is so hard to tell you guys, but Brad and I are getting a divorce.” I rushed the words out and held my breath, waiting for their reaction.
Marla’s eyes widened slightly and her mouth parted in an ‘O’ of bewildered surprise. Jim continued to watch me in silent contemplation. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds.
“Oh, dear. Can I ask what happened?” Marla asked, blinking a few times. Her brows furrowed as she looked at me. She didn’t sound angry with me, which was a relief, but I was hesitant to tell her and Jim what exactly happened last night. I knew the ugly details would eventually come out, so I took a big, calming breath, and with my heart in my throat and my fears on my sleeve, I explained.
“Well, you know why we got married in the first place,” I said, starting off slow. I definitely did not want give anyone a huge shock, but I was done protecting Brad and making excuses for him. They had to know what kind of man their son was, and I had to have faith that they’d at least hear me out. If not for me, for the sake of their granddaughter. “In the last few weeks, I realized I married him for the wrong reasons and that Brad had never wanted to get married either. I wanted to make sure Stella had a family, so I didn’t think about the fact that Brad and I really weren’t meant to be together. I think this was a long time coming. Better now than another year of misery.” I paused, looking at both of them before continuing. “And last night, I walked in on him with another woman in our apartment. He didn’t care how that looked…” I stopped, swallowing hard. I decided to leave out the drug part because from Marla’s gasp and her falling back on the couch, she wouldn’t be able to take much more. “That’s why I decided to file. I told him before I came over here and he’s definitely on board with the divorce.”
Marla said nothing, staring off with a stunned expression on her face. Jim didn’t seem all that surprised. Even though I was terrified they’d throw me and Stella out, I felt a huge burden lift off me. I was finally able to breathe for the first time in two years.
“I’m guessing there’s more to the story than you are sharing, and I can respect that, Simone,” Jim said gravely, finally breaking his silence. He scrubbed his face with one hand and sighed. He looked ten years older in just a fraction of second, and I felt bad about that, but I wasn’t sorry I had said something. “Simone, I have my own confession to make—I feel like this is partly my fault as well.”
Marla sat up, and looked over at her husband. “Jim,” she said, her voice tense. “What did you do?”
Jim didn’t flinch as he looked at his wife, however, when he looked at me, he seemed almost ashamed, like he’d done something wrong. “When you announced you were pregnant, that night… I made it clear to Brad that he had to do the right thing or Marla and I would cut him off.”
Marla sagged back into the couch again, bringing her hands to her flushed cheeks. She shook her head. “Oh, Jim…”
“I’m sorry, Simone,” he said, his voice hitching. “I should have never interfered. A part of me thought I was helping him realize what he should do, not what he had to do. I’d hoped he’d grow into being a responsible husband and father.” He looked at Marla then glanced back at me. “I was wrong, and your unhappiness… I’m partly to blame for that and I own up to it. But clearly, my son has failed you and his daughter and that’s on him.”
I broke down. So that’s what Brad had meant when he said he felt pressured to marry me. Was I really that stupid to have believed he came to that decision on his own? Just when I thought I couldn’t shed another tear, another round overtook me. Marla gathered me up in her arms, patting my back until I regained control over my emotions.
“Can I ask why Brad isn’t here with you telling us what’s going on?” Jim asked, but from the look on his face, he already knew the answer. Marla handed me a tissue and I wiped at my eyes.
“I asked him to come with me but he had other plans.” I left my answer purposely vague for Marla’s sake. She was finally coming around, but the sadness in her eyes made my chest feel tight.
“I… can’t say I’m surprised by this, not really,” Marla said, subdued. She kept a motherly arm around me. “I’ve been blind to his faults for too long, and like Jim, I prayed he’d turn himself around. Him marrying you gave me false hope that he could change and be the man I thought he could be.” She paused, and took one of my hands in her free hand. “You need to know that we will be here for you and Stella while you navigate through this. You’re not alone.”
I nodded. I wasn’t able to respond with words because the tears had started flowing again. My biggest fear was losing them and Marla was telling me I didn’t need to worry about that.
“Sweetie, please don’t cry,” Marla cooed, squeezing me into her side.
“I was so worried I was going to lose the two of you. You’re the only family I have,” I sniffed, voicing my fears out loud.
“That will never happen,” Marla said firmly. “You’ll always be our daughter. You and Stella are a part of our lives, and nothing will ever change that. I won’t allow it, and Jim won’t either.”
After I calmed down a bit and swallowed down some water, Jim resume
d his questions. He scooted forward, elbows on his knees and fingers laced loosely together. “So, where is Brad right now?” he asked.
“He’s at the apartment,” I answered, nasally from all the crying.
“Is that where you’re going when you leave here?” he continued, frowning.
I had to remember that Jim was an attorney and firing off questions rapidly was just his way of learning the details he deemed important. It also helped me focus and rein in any more emotions floating through me. His pointed questions were cutting right to the heart of the matter.
“Um… Brad said I needed to find somewhere else to live as of tonight since the apartment is in his name,” I answered, not able to meet Jim’s eyes.
“Bullshit!” Jim boomed. That made me and Marla both jump. His mouth was in a thin line, his brows snapped together, and his nostrils flared. The man seldom cursed or raised his voice so I knew he was furious. “Simone, you obviously don’t know this, but that apartment is in our name not Brad’s. We signed the lease two years ago as a favor to him—as a reward.” He shook his head, almost to himself. The angry expression dissipated to one of disappointment, at himself, at the situation, or maybe at whatever else that was going through his mind. “Since you moved in, we’ve helped pay the rent several times because we didn’t want you and Stella to be evicted. I’m going to call Brad right now, and let him know that he’ll be the one vacating the apartment, and that he’d better be gone by tomorrow morning.”
My first instinct was to not allow Jim to do anything that would upset Brad, and I almost pleaded with him to not say anything, but I realized, for the first time, Brad’s feelings were no longer my concern. He was on his own. At the same time, I didn’t want to create a divide in which Marla or Jim had to pick sides. Brad was their son, their flesh and blood, and I couldn’t blame them if their instinct was to protect him, no matter what. “If you’re sure…” I said, taking a deep, unsteady breath. “You don’t have to do that, Jim. I appreciate the gesture, though.”
“I won’t have my granddaughter uprooted from her home like this. He can move out. I’m sure he has somewhere to go,” Jim said, grimly. “For tonight, you’ll stay here.”
I closed my eyes briefly. “Thank you…” I whispered, on the verge of tears again. There was nothing else I could say. Once again Jim and Marla proved just how wonderful they were.
“Have you talked to an attorney yet?” Marla asked, tentatively.
This was the question I was worried about. I didn’t want them to think Kyle was betraying them by helping me. I also didn’t want to cause problems between Trent and Kyle. But this too wasn’t something that I could keep secret forever.
“Yeah, I spoke with Kyle this morning, and he offered to help prepare the paperwork. I didn’t know who else to ask,” I said, still fretting about going to Kyle. “If it makes any of you uncomfortable I can find someone else—”
“I don’t see a problem with that. Kyle is an excellent lawyer,” Jim said, adamant. He stood up and walked over to me. He leaned over and kissed me on the top of my head, just like a loving father would do. It made me smile and he returned a gentle smile of his own. But then he grew serious. “I’m going to call Brad now. And by tomorrow, the apartment is yours and Stella’s, okay? I’ll even go over there before to make sure he’s gone.”
With that, Jim went back upstairs, probably to his study. I had no desire to hear any part of that conversation or whatever excuses Brad would make.
“Since you’re staying here, why don’t you head upstairs and take a bath or a nap?” Marla suggested. “Dinner will be ready in a couple hours so you should rest until then, or just have a moment to yourself. If Stella wakes up we’ll take care of her.”
We both got up and hugged once more at the bottom of the stairs before I walked up to the spare bedroom. I was extremely grateful that Stella and I both had a place to stay tonight. I set my purse at the end of the bed in the guestroom. A bath sounded heavenly. Before I could enter the attached bathroom, though, I heard a light knock on the door and welcomed whoever it was to come in.
“Here’s a pair of pajamas,” Marla said. “There are some spare toiletries in the bathroom. If you need anything else just holler.”
I took the pajamas with a grateful smile. “Thanks again. And Marla, I’m really am sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Simone, so please don’t apologize,” she returned. I could tell she was sad about the whole thing but understanding, too. She reached out and gave my hand a squeeze. “We love you very much and just want things to work out for you and Stella.”
I’d really hit the jackpot in the in-law department.
As I was getting ready to enter the bathroom I heard my phone chime with a notification. I went back to my purse and dug out my phone, wondering who it could be now. I prayed it wasn’t Brad messaging me about the apartment. The very thought of dealing with him right now made me positively ill. However, I was a little surprised when I saw who the message was from. I opened the text and read the message.
Kyle: Just wanted to check on you.
I sat down on the bed, warmed by his thoughtfulness. I got real lucky in the lawyer department, too. I texted him back immediately.
Me: Thanks. I’m at Jim and Marla’s. Just told them.
Kyle: How did that go?
Me: Well they aren’t mad at me and they’re letting me stay here tonight with Stella.
Kyle: I had no doubt they would be supportive. I’ll have some documents ready tomorrow afternoon if you want to come by the office and review them.
Me: Sure, I can be there at 2. Will that work?
Kyle: See you then.
After a long soak in the tub, I put on the pajamas, which didn’t fit too badly considering I was curvier than Marla. I was about to put on the gold wedding band that I had set on the bathroom sink but ended up putting it in my purse. The band had never fit and I wasn’t even sure it was real gold. I hadn’t had a traditional engagement or wedding. We got married at City Hall with just Marla, Jim, and Trent there. I almost laughed when I remembered how no one had smiled or seemed happy during the brief ceremony or when Jim had taken everyone to a fancy restaurant downtown as an impromptu reception. It’d been the most anticlimactic event ever.
I made my way downstairs for dinner. Stella noticed me as soon as my feet hit the last step.
“Mama!” she shrieked and ran to me. Watching a toddler run was pretty comical, her arms and legs seemed to be completely out of sync.
“Hi, baby girl,” I said as I scooped her up in my arms and kissed the side of her face. I carried her into the kitchen but stopped short when I saw Trent sitting at the island talking to his mother. Marla was at the stove, pulling a glass casserole dish of lasagna out of the oven. I knew Trent would find out about the divorce sooner rather than later. I certainly hadn’t planned on seeing him tonight, though.
“Hey, Trent,” I said, setting Stella on the counter but keeping my arms wrapped around her. I eyed him, wondering if Marla or Kyle had told him yet.
“Hi, Simone,” Trent said, eyeing me back.
And I knew he knew. “Who told you?” I asked but I wasn’t mad. Maybe I should have been, but I was actually okay with not having to break the news to anyone else.
“Mom was just filling me in on what was going on with that douchebag brother of mine,” Trent said with a snort.
“Language!” Marla warned him.
“Sorry, Mom,” Trent said in a tone that didn’t sound the least bit contrite. He looked over at me. “I kind of found out on my own this afternoon when Kyle was filling out some documents… It’s a small firm and both Addie and Kyle were acting odd, so I already knew something was up.” He gave me a sheepish smile. “Kyle gave me a brief explanation before I headed over here.” He paused, drumming his fingers against the countertop as he made faces at Stella, who found it hysterical. “You know, you could’ve asked me…”
I walked over to Trent and ga
ve him a hug. I think I surprised him but he returned the gesture with a hug of his own. If I could describe the perfect big brother, Trent would be it. I let him go and shook my head. “This is already super awkward,” I said to him, “there was no way I was putting you in the middle. It’s nice to know you were willing to help, but I couldn’t ask that of you.”
“All right enough talk about this for now, let’s eat,” Jim suggested, walking into the kitchen.
I didn’t ask how his conversation with Brad went as we walked into the dining room. Instead, I took my seat next to Stella and we talked about everything other than the divorce for the remainder of dinner. I enjoyed sharing a meal with the people I’d considered family. I hoped that things would remain this comfortable between all of us.
*****
The next morning the smell of bacon and coffee woke me up. I picked up my phone to check the time and panicked a little when I saw that it was just past eight. Stella must have been up already and I was relieved when I saw Jim at the table eating breakfast with her.
After breakfast, Jim informed me that he was going to meet with Brad later to continue their ‘discussion’ from last night. I just nodded and didn’t inquire further.
Even though I didn’t want to, I called up Kayla after I’d gotten dressed, and asked to swap shifts since I knew she didn’t usually work Tuesday nights. I’d given her a brief rundown of the past couple of days, and her response, like Jim’s and Marla’s, was nothing but supportive. Another wave of relief washed over me and I felt even stronger about my decision. After breakfast, Stella and I ran a few errands, picking up a few things for myself, and then we had a quick lunch with Marla. I had bought some slacks and a nice businesslike top while we were out and put them on. I wanted to look professional for my meeting with Kyle. I left Stella with Marla, since Jim had not yet returned. Once I arrived at the office, I greeted Linda, who called Kyle to let him know I was here. I was terrified and yet, calm because I knew without a doubt that this was the right thing for Stella and me.
Falling for the Unexpected (Life Unexpected Book 1) Page 11
