Belong (Seven Year Itch #3)(17)
Halfway through the service, I had to get a box of tissues for Rachel. Then she did the unthinkable. She got up and headed for the altar, intent on speaking to the audience of attendees.
“On behalf of the family, I’d like to thank everyone for attending today’s service. Many of you already know how close we were after many years of working together. Charles gave me a job when I was just a teenager with absolutely no experience. He’s been there for me through good times and bad, acting much like a father figure for most of it. Charles was a blessing in my life. He’s given me more than I could ever ask for. He made me promise that I’d do this at his funeral. I know it seems like a morbid conversation, but we discussed it over a bottle of chardonnay while watching the sunset. Last year I lost another person dear to me. Charles made sure I knew I was never alone. He helped me through the hardest of times, and proved to me that life could go on. Charles could see the beauty in people, even when they couldn’t see it in themselves. He was a giving man, and I know firsthand he loved his life. His grandson is proof of it. I’ve watched Chad grow into a successful man. When Charles’ daughter passed away he and his wife took in their grandson. They gave him the best education, but mostly taught him how to be the kind of man people can rely on. Charles once told me Chad was his greatest accomplishment. I was blessed to know both men, and I’m up here today to thank you all for coming and celebrating the life of Charles Farrow. He’s gone, but none of us will ever forget him. Rest in peace my dear friend.”
Rachel came back to sit next to me, but she was too upset for me to inquire who’d died. I wondered if she was talking about her father, for the life of me I couldn’t remember her ever mentioning him. While the priest said his final prayers, I struggled to keep my composure when the person next to me was falling apart. My head was sending me to a million places when all I really wanted to do was hold her in my arms and promise her everything would be okay, even my own life.
But I couldn’t.
My wife was sitting next to me, her hand laced with mine. She wasn’t offering sustenance. She was proving to me that we weren’t at all on the same page, and hadn’t been in a very long time.
There were two women I’d loved in my life, both of them sitting next to me, and at that moment I knew I was with the wrong one. Years had gone by, plenty of time for me to get over the loss of Rachel, yet seeing her again had brought back every single feeling I’d thought was buried. I didn’t miss Veronica, not even before I suspected she was having an affair. We were more like passing ships in the night. She did her thing, while I did mine.
In that moment of reasoning, I could finally see everything so clear, as if my grandfather was guiding me in the direction I needed to go.
There was just one problem.
We were married to other people. I lived across the country. I had a child to consider.
Okay, maybe it was more than one problem. Maybe it was a clusterf*ck of issues proving there was no way out of the life I was living.
Chapter 9
The wake was being held at a hall downtown, closer to the cathedral. It took us a while to get outside, on account of everyone giving their condolences before exiting the building. Veronica never let go of my arm, plastering a fake smile for everyone to assume life was glorious. I don’t understand why she was doing it. I wanted to think it was because she was trying to mend things between us, but I knew better. She felt threatened by Rachel, as crazy as it sounded.
I hated to consider my wife to be childish. It seemed inappropriate, but that’s exactly what I felt like I was dealing with – a young child.
As we climbed into the limousine to make our way to the next location, she crossed her arms and gave me this irritated look. “What?” I asked.
“You know what. Tell me this, Chad. How many people in there know who Rachel is to you?”
“Is to me? Are you serious?” I pointed to Harper in the seat across from us, hoping she’d shut her mouth when she considered our daughter overhearing. “She’s a family friend. Get over it. Now is not the time or place to discuss it.”
“I think it’s a perfect time actually. Do you think I appreciate her touching you?”
“My grandfather died,” I began raising my voice. “Unlike you, she’s hurting. He meant a lot to her. Rachel isn’t a threat to you. You do a great job screwing up our marriage on your own.”
After I said it Veronica peered out the window intent on ignoring me. I didn’t care. I was happy about it. I leaned over and tickled Harper’s leg, trying to relax her. “You okay, pumpkin?”
Her bottom lip stuck out. “Why are you fighting with Mommy?”
“We’re not. We were having a heated conversation, not a fight. Everything is okay, precious. You don’t have to be sad.”
“I’m hungry.”
“There’s food where we’re going. You can have whatever you want.”
“Chad, seriously?” Veronica was not happy. “Don’t you dare tell her that. There are things I don’t want my child eating.”
“Your child?” I was so pissed off I could hardly contain my rage. I grinded my teeth together, hoping it was enough to keep my cool until we’d arrived at the next destination.
Thankfully, after a few minutes the car came to a halt. The driver got out and opened the door for us to exit. Veronica got out first, all smiles and fake glamour. Harper followed behind, turning to wait for me to join her. I took her hand and started walking inside of the building, not caring if my wife broke a heel or her ankle on the cracked pavement.