How I wish that what Mrs. Bennet said was true. If Brad was in love with me, he’d have already told me so. He’s a man who is not afraid to confront his feelings.
I glance at my wristwatch and realize that I’ve wasted 15 minutes thinking about something that is beyond my control. It’s time to get back to work. I settle down in front of my work in progress, and as I’m getting my mind in the right frame, my cell phone vibrates.
I swallow down my irritation at the interruption and reach for it. A new message. Dismay comes over me as I see the sender of the message. Clay.
Just checking on you. Xoxo.
I’m incensed. What does xoxo mean for a couple who are divorced? Tears prickle at my eyelids. I was so sure that he had gotten the message.
Are you back home? I text back.
A second later, the phone beeps.
No. Decided to hang around and enjoy LA a little longer. And, I don’t want to be too far off when you change your mind.
I hold back a scream. I can’t believe we’ve gone back to this. What is Clay playing at? I made it clear that we are done. I jump to my feet and pace. I need someone who will make him see sense.
David. I grab my phone and find Jessica’s number. My hands tremble as I wait for her to answer.
“Hi stranger,” she says.
“Hi,” I tell her. The misery in my response is obvious, and Jessica quickly picks up on it.
“What is it, hon? Is Isaac okay? Brad?”
“They’re all fine. It’s Clay. He’s in LA,” I tell her.
“What?” Jessica says then shouts to someone else. “Did you know Clay is in LA?” she comes back to the phone. “Are you sure? David doesn’t know about it.”
“I’m sure. I met him yesterday, and he said he was going back home. He’s just texted me to say that he’s staying around in case I change my mind about going back to him.” The last couple of words are tinged with hysteria.
“Don’t you worry about it. I’ll get David to call him now and tell him to haul his ass back home.”
Jessica’s firm voice reassures me. If anyone can put sense into my ex-husband, it’s his cousin Michael.
Chapter 33
Brad
It’s the perfect weather for paddling on the lake. The sun is warm rather than hot, and a slight breeze is keeping the air fresh. The blue skies reflect on the park lake, making it resemble the ocean. I’m the designated paddle person as Mila and Isaac lean over the boat to look into the water.
Today is one of those days you never want to end. For once in a long time, I’m not worrying about Brenda or the custody case. The perfect weather has banished all my fears. I paddle our boat around the lake, enjoying the restful activity.
Later, Mila gets a turn paddling.
“I’ve never done this before,” she says, a gorgeous smile on her face. “I don’t know where I’ve been living,” she adds with a laugh. Despite the laughter, Mila looks sad.
A whiff of anger comes over me. From our conversations, I’ve made a mental profile of her ex-husband. A man who has no business being near a woman. A narcissist. His joy had come from making Mila as miserable as he could. I let out a breath and try to push away the thoughts of her ex-husband. A man I would gladly strangle.
“What else have you never done?”
She looks away to think. “This one will surprise you. I’ve never been to a movie theatre.”
I can tell from her voice and facial expression that she means it.
“We will remedy that,” I tell her and make a mental note to leave work early the following week.
“Can I help?” Isaac says, and Mila invites him to sit on her lap, and they steer the boat together.
She loves him more than his own mother!
That thought leaves me breathless. If only. I refuse to go there. I’ve been heartbroken before, and it almost crippled me. The only thing that kept me going was Isaac. I don’t know if I could bear it if Mila broke my heart.
She won’t.
How do you know? Brenda did.
She’s nothing like Brenda.
Brenda was good too at the beginning.
All women are not Brenda.
But most are.
An argument rages on in my mind. Sometimes I’m very sure of what I want. To live happily with Mila. Then the memories of heartbreak come, leaving my limbs weak. That is one thing I never want to go through again. Even the thought of it frightens me.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Mila says, bringing me back to the present. She looks so beautiful with the sun behind her, lighting her hair to gold. I reach out to capture a strand of hair. “I was thinking about how beautiful you are.”