If You Must Know (Potomac Point #1)(106)
Another poke, but I wouldn’t rise to his bait. “I’m not here to argue. Please, Lyle. This one time, do the right thing.”
He sat back, still collected. “You said this was one of the things you wanted. What’s the other?”
“I’d like a power of attorney to sell our house so we don’t lose all the equity in a foreclosure. If there’s any money left after all the costs and penalties, I’d like you to put your half in a fund for Willa’s education. I’m not seeking alimony. With you in jail and then looking for work after a felony conviction, there’s no real point. But this is a chance to do something for Willa that you can be proud of.”
He stared at me for a moment. “You know, if you’d have shown this much nerve when we were together, maybe Ebba wouldn’t have turned my head.”
His little digs might’ve hurt more if they weren’t a grown-up version of a temper tantrum. “We can be civil and do the right thing for our child’s future, or I can leave and let the chips fall. I’d prefer us not to be bitter enemies the rest of our lives, but I can handle whatever you throw my way. If you don’t want my compassion and a chance to reduce your sentence, that’s up to you.”
“Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor when it’s the other way around.”
It was like talking to a wall. All this time, I hadn’t really understood how Lyle’s father could’ve let Lyle walk out of his life, but now I did. Worse, this conversation was sapping my sanity. It hit me—to my horror—that in addition to settling the legalities, I’d also secretly desired an apology. “You’re not sorry at all, are you?”
“Oh, I’m plenty sorry. Sorry I underestimated you. I’ll have lots of time to regret that one. I’m also sorry I never counted on Erin riding to your rescue so late in the game. She must’ve felt guilty for not saying anything when she caught Ebba and me together in February.”
Erin “caught” him and Ebba in February? No—that couldn’t be. She would’ve shouted that from the roofs because she disliked him so. But then why couldn’t I breathe?
I told myself this was a last-ditch attempt to drive a wedge between my sister and me, but my expression must’ve betrayed my dismay.
“Ohhh . . . she never told you about our run-in at the Kentwood Inn?” A sickening grin crept across his face. “Thinking about her kicking herself for that will be one of the few things that will make me smile.”
He wasn’t lying.
Erin actually hid my husband’s affair from me for months.
I had to leave before he hurt me again. Mustering my last bit of backbone, I said, “My brother sent your lawyer all the documents related to my requests. You might want to hear his advice before refusing to cooperate.” I almost hung up, but this would be my final chance to speak my truth. “I gave you every corner of my heart, and even after you smashed it apart, I’ve appealed to the man you could become, hoping we’d both get some closure. I thought if you apologized . . . I don’t know. It’s clear that, whatever I thought, it was stupid. You duped me for years, but my blinders are off. Your ugly jabs make leaving you here easier on me, so thank you for that much. Good luck to you, Lyle.” I hung up the phone, pushed myself out of my chair, and turned my back on my husband and my old life.
The weight I’d been carrying around all month lifted. I might’ve floated to my car if not for the fact that my new relationship with my sister was as much of a lie as my marriage.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ERIN
“I can’t believe you kept this from me all month. Man, it would’ve been something to see you play cop for a day.” Rodri sucked down his espresso and tossed a few bucks at me. “I’m glad Amanda involved the authorities. Nothing’s worse than when people get themselves in a jam trying to exact revenge.”
“Amanda was never motivated by revenge. More like a desire to avoid scandal.”
“Also common.”
A wry smile seized my face. “What’s it say about me that I sort of enjoy being the center of a scandal?”
“What’s it say about me that I enjoy when you are?” Rodri reached over to tousle my hair. “Hate to duck out, but I’ve got to run. Don’t pull what little hair you’ve got left out while waiting for your sister to get back from Baltimore.”
“Ha ha.” I kicked lightly at his leg.
“Give Amanda my best and keep me updated. I’ll catch up with you later this week.” He waved before taking his cup and saucer to Hannah and exiting the shop.
I remained seated at the same table where Eli had dumped me a week ago, reflecting on how my life had changed recently. From the little things like where I laid my head each night, to the big things like finally having a relationship with my mom and sister that didn’t irritate me.
How different life could’ve been if the trust we’d built lately had existed years or even months ago. I wished it had, not only for our sakes but so that my dad might’ve been part of it, too. He would’ve loved my getting along better with Mom and Amanda.
The brunch on Saturday would be hard, especially if Mom didn’t come back. I still missed Dad—thought of him by my first cup of coffee every morning. Knowing he would never experience this version of our family made my heart pinch with regret. Lesson learned too late, but I’d never hold anything back going forward. If my dad were living, that vow would earn at least one trip to Dream Cream, maybe more.