Christmas Therapy

Heather grabbed her napkin and wiped at her mouth. “Did I get it?”

He leaned over. “Let’s see.”

Her belly fluttered when he kissed her. Would she ever tire of this man? Meshing his lips with hers, she leaned into his embrace. His hand ran down her neck while her fingers pressed into his hard chest.

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sp; She meant what she told him earlier. Heather trusted him. She only prayed it wasn’t a mistake. When the doorbell rang, Allen broke the kiss. His eyebrows drew together.

“Are you expecting somebody?” Heather asked.

“No.” He pushed back his chair and walked towards the front door.

Heather checked the time on her phone. It was after nine. Who could that be at the door? What if it was—

“I have to talk to you,” a female voice said.

“Crystal, now is not a good time.”

“It’s important. I wanted to tell you earlier, but you wouldn’t listen to me. I have to tell you—now. I can’t put it off,” she said.

Heather unlocked her phone and called for an Uber. Allen needed to handle this with his ex and he didn’t need an audience.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“Allen… we’re… still married,” Crystal said.

Chapter 22

A sudden feeling of heaviness expanded in Allen’s core. No. She couldn’t be serious.

“We’re what?”

Crystal stepped closer, her heels clicking on his hardwood floors. She wrung her hands together.

Allen took a step back as his mouth fell open. This couldn’t be true. He couldn’t still be married to Crystal. This wasn’t real. “Why-you-why are you telling me this now?”

“I wanted to tell you before, but you asked me to leave.”

Allen's chest tightened. “What-why?” He ran his hands down his face.

He felt lightheaded. She reached for him, clasping his hands. There was a time when her touch thrilled him. How he would hold her in his arms, protecting her in his embrace. The nights he sat next to her in her hospital bed, listening to the heart monitor beeping in the background.

The day they married, she never let his hand go. His heart palpitated when they were pronounced husband and wife. Those days were long gone. Allen peeled his hands from hers.

He said, “Crystal I can’t.” His skin prickled with discomfort. “This is not a good time.”

How would he clean up this mess? How would he explain it to Heather? Would she understand? This was out of his control. He hoped she didn’t think the worst of him.

“Where are you staying?” he asked.

“At the Bed and Breakfast in town,” Crystal said.

“I’ll call you.”

“I have so much to tell you.”

“Crystal…” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can you give me some time?”