One Last Time(33)

I look at Danni, the one who never cries but who currently has tears in her eyes. “Danni,” I say softly.

“No.” She wipes her face. “I didn’t say anything. I thought you were happy. You weren’t, though. Nicole would push to say something, and I’d shut her down.”

“You couldn’t have swayed me.” I try to assure her. “I loved him. I wasn’t ready to leave.”

She nods. I hate that she’s trying to take even an ounce of the blame for this. The reality is that until I was ready to be done, I would’ve stayed. They only would’ve made me angry by trying to get me to see what was happening, and my first reaction would have been to defend him. I really had believed it was my fault, that I wasn’t good enough.

“I could’ve tried.” Danielle looks away with shame.

“I love you for that.”

“I love you for it all.”

I pull her into my arms and rub her back. “Who knew your black heart could shed tears?” I joke.

This at least gets a laugh out of her. “I’ll deny this ever happened.”

“There’s my girl.”

“You’re going to be happy again, Kris. I know it. Don’t let Scott rob you of anything you want in life. If you like Noah, go for it. If you want to sow your wild oats, do it. No matter what, I’ve always got your back.”

I’m beyond blessed to have the relationships I have. “It’s too soon for me to date.”

“Says who?” She scoffs.

“I’m not even divorced yet!”

Danielle rolls her eyes. “Who gives a shit? There’s no timer on recovery. If you like him, why can’t you date him?”

“Do you remember why you showed up here in the first place?” I remind her.

“Did your friend screw anyone while she was still living with her husband?”

We’re back to the friend thing again. “No. Never. She was loyal to a fault.”

“Then, I’ll get complete clarification, but she should be fine. And the only thing we’ll worry about is if she’s insane for walking away from a guy that looks like that!” She points to the file folder with Noah’s picture on the front.

The doorbell rings, and we both stand. I’m excited to see my kids, but I know who’s waiting with them—him.

I look to Danni, who nods. Here we go.

When I open the door, Aubrey’s smile causes me to forget all the worries I had. She’s the bright light in this dark storm. “Mommy!” Her arms are wide, and I scoop her up.

“I missed you so much!” I bury my nose in her hair and breathe my little girl in. “Oh, did you eat vitamins and grow?”

“No!” She giggles. “I’m the same.”

“Finn!” I crouch low, and he puts his arm around my neck. “Hi, buddy.”

“Hey,” he says with a huff. “Can I go to my room?”

“Sure.” I kiss his head, not caring that he’s too cool for it anymore.

Aubrey gives me another squeeze as I clutch her tight. I don’t think I truly allowed myself to feel how much I missed them. My heart feels so full having my babies with me.

I look over, and Scott’s frame fills the door. “Hi,” I say as I put Aubrey down.

“Hi. Right.” He snorts.

The urge to roll my eyes is strong, but I shove it aside. He thinks he has something, and he has no idea that I know. “Honey.” I squat, taking Aubrey’s hands in mine. “Why don’t you go take your bag to your room and put your things away?”

“Okay, Mommy.” She looks back to Scott and rushes toward him. “Bye, Daddy.”

“Bye, baby. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

Her head drops, and she nods. “I love you.”

He kisses her head. “I love you.”

At least he can still be a good father. I stand here with my hand over my heart as she rushes to the back, giving us a moment.

“Have a good weekend with them?” I ask. My goal is to lead the conversation.

“I did. I hear you had a great weekend, too.”

“Did you?”

I’m not giving him a damn thing. He wanted a divorce, he can deal with the actuality of what that means. My life is no longer his damn concern. “So, I’ll see you in two weeks.” I place my hand on the edge of the door, but he doesn’t take the hint.

“How long have you been seeing another man behind my back?” Scott folds his arms across his chest.

I let out a short laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, however, two days ago you were saying how we needed to meet at a neutral location to”—I lift my hand and make air quotes—“keep things separate.”

He glares at me. “Ha! You admit to fucking another man behind my back? How many times? Is that why you refused me so many times?”

I hear someone clear their throat from behind me. “Oh, hi, Scott,” Danielle says with a sweet tone. “How are you doing?”

His eyes meet mine and then go back to her. “Danielle, I didn’t know you were here.”

I turn my back to him. “Scott is under the impression I was unfaithful.”

“Unfaithful?” she says with shock. “That’s crazy.”