Woman on the Edge(24)

Nicole got up from the couch, placed Quinn on the change mat on the floor, and grabbed one of the organic diapers from the side table.

She waved the diaper in Greg’s face. “Want to take over with this? Can you see how caring for our child means I’m not always checking my phone?”

Quinn squirmed and kicked so much that she hit Nicole hard in the nose. “Stop it!” she snapped, then felt deep shame for losing her patience. She stroked Quinn’s tiny face over and over. “I’m so sorry. Mommy’s just upset. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”

Greg crouched beside her. “Please, let me change her.” He smelled musky, his Straight to Heaven cologne evoking the man she’d loved so many years ago. She enjoyed his flirtatious bravado and the way he looked at her back then. How impressed he’d been when he discovered she was in fact that Nicole Layton, the CEO of Breathe. Now she watched him struggle to put on the diaper until she gritted her teeth and couldn’t take it anymore.

“It leaks if it’s too loose.” Nicole leaned in and took over, tightening the tabs. “But thank you for helping.” She turned to smile at him, hoping to ease the thick tension that hung between them. But when she looked at his suit, she saw a long red hair on the lapel.

She backed away from him. A long red hair. A woman’s hair.

She pulled it off his jacket and dangled it in front of his face. “Whose hair is this, Greg?” She whispered it, hissed it almost. She was petrified of the answer.

Greg looked at her wearily. “My new assistant is a redhead. Her hair gets on everything.” Greg stared at her so hard she thought she might turn to stone. “I can’t live with you like this. I’m trying my best. I really am. But I can’t keep going. You’re paranoid. You’re sick, Nicole. You’ve become a different person. I barely recognize you.”

Sick? Paranoid? Was she? Or was she being stalked by a figure from her past? Was her husband cheating on her right under her nose?

A notion occurred to her. “Did your assistant come to the hospital after Quinn was born?” Please say yes, she thought. Paranoia would be easier to handle than the thought that Donna was back to get revenge.

Greg’s brow furrowed. “No. Why would she come to the hospital?”

Nicole struggled to stop the panic threatening to swallow her whole. But something else was needling at her. “What’s your assistant’s name?”

Greg blew out a breath. “Melissa.”

“Are you sleeping with Melissa?” It made sense. All the nights he spent at the office since Quinn was born. Though he’d come to every sonogram and set the crib up for her, he’d been working more right before Quinn was born. The sudden errands he said he had to run late evenings. She’d assumed he was trying to help out because she was heavily pregnant. Had he been lying to her? Did she care if he was having an affair? She wasn’t sure.

Greg rolled his eyes. “You’re asking ridiculous questions.”

You can’t keep her safe.

“I just want you to be a loving father and husband. We need you.” She had no energy to speak anymore, and her voice faded.

Greg’s voice dipped low, full of self-pity. “That’s just it, Nic. I … I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to be your husband. And I don’t want to be a father to this child, either, not like this,” he said, glancing at Quinn, who lay on her change mat, watching them. “This isn’t normal. This isn’t who we are. I’m so unhappy.”

Nicole took in the full force of what he’d just said. She couldn’t stop the tears that burned her tired eyes. “But you are my husband. And you are a father.” She gazed at her innocent daughter, hopefully oblivious to the angry words between her parents, who were supposed to make her feel secure.

Greg stood and rubbed his thighs, the scratchy sound making Nicole want to break his hands. “I know. But you’re not letting me be a husband and father.” He adjusted his blue silk tie, one she’d chosen for him. “I think we need some time apart.”

Nicole stood, too. She heard the crack of her palm against Greg’s face before she realized she’d slapped him. He stared at her with enormous tear-filled eyes. Her palm had imprinted an angry red mark. She dropped to the floor beside Quinn.

Greg put his hand to his cheek. Then he just shook his head and went upstairs.

Nicole remained on the floor, unable to believe what was happening. Her husband was leaving them. The man who’d proudly framed every article in which she’d been mentioned. Who’d missed his brokerage’s Christmas parties to accompany her to the ones at Breathe. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been looking at the cream wall when he came back. In his hand, he held the charcoal Prada carry-on she’d given him for their fifth anniversary.

He dropped the bag beside her and Quinn. “I’ll help with Quinn financially. But—” He stuck his finger into the small cleft in his chin, one Nicole loved to kiss. “I can’t live like this any longer. You need help, Nic, and you won’t accept it. This is for the best.” He shrugged. “At least I know you’ll take care of her. You’re obsessed.” He leaned down and kissed his daughter on the head. Then he dragged his suitcase to the door, and she watched him walk right out, shutting it behind him.

Quinn batted at her mouth with her tiny thumb, which made Nicole cry harder.