Looking away, Dan swallowed hard. “I needed you to know that Trey really did love you, Harmony. It’s just that you both married so young, and we all know the only reason you got married was because of the baby.”
Feeling anger rush through my veins, I stood up. “Yes, Dan. We all know. The only difference between your son and me is that I remained faithful to the vow we took. I stayed true because I did love him. It might not have been the path we would have taken otherwise—” Wiping the tears away and taking in a deep breath, I looked at them both. “I. Stayed. Faithful. Had I met someone and developed feelings for them, I would have told Trey. I wouldn’t have fucked around behind his back.”
Anne stood and looked at me. “Harmony, please. He is still our son and our hearts ache for him.”
My mouth gaped open as I stood there stunned. “And you think for the last six months my heart hasn’t ached? You think I haven’t woken up almost every single night reliving the worst moment of my life? Seeing my child smile at me the moment before he died? Hearing my own husband telling me how his job was more important than I was right before his life ended? Don’t stand there and tell me your heartaches. The only reason you came here today was to set your guilty conscience free.”
Walking over to the door, I opened it and stood there. “Thank you for stopping by and getting your guilt off your chest.”
“No, Harmony, it wasn’t anything like that, we—”
“Please, I’m asking you nicely to leave.” Closing my eyes to keep the tears from falling, I whispered, “Please just leave.”
Opening my eyes, I stared at them. Anne and Dan looked at each other and slowly walked toward the door. Anne stopped in front of me and gave me a weak smile. “Harmony, we didn’t mean to upset you. We thought you deserved the truth.”
Pinching my eyebrows together, I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure I could have lived out the rest of my life not knowing that Trey was going to divorce me, Anne.”
Her mouth opened to speak but she quickly shut it and started for the stairs. Dan stopped in front of me but didn’t utter a word before he turned and walked away.
Closing the door, I counted to thirty and then slid down to the floor and cried.
I wasn’t sure how long I was on the floor crying before I jumped up and grabbed my purse.
Preston. I need to see Preston.
Racing out to Comm Avenue, I flagged down a cab. Jumping in, I said, “Firehouse 37 on Huntington.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Two minutes later we were stuck in traffic. “What’s going on? Is it a wreck?” I asked.
Shaking his head, the cab driver said, “Fire. Big fire in an apartment building. There are, like, four fire trucks there.”
My heart stopped. Preston would be there. “How far down is it? I see the smoke.”
No. Oh, dear God, please keep him safe.
“Two blocks.”
Reaching into my wallet, I pulled out a twenty and handed it to him. “I’ll get out here and walk. Thank you.”
As I made my way, I could see Engine 37 and Ladder 26. Firefighters were running everywhere.
“It’s going to go! Get those firefighters out of there now!”
Frantically looking around, I saw Captain Ryan. It was his voice shouting out the command.
Pushing my way through the crowd, I tried to get closer. “Excuse me, my boyfriend is in there. Please, excuse me!” I shouted as I made my way to the barricade. My face turned ashen as I saw firefighters rushing from the building. Some were carrying people as they ran out. My heart raced, nearly exploding as I felt a pain in my chest.
“Preston,” I whispered. “Please, don’t be in there.”
Captain Ryan walked up and I heard his call. “Sharp, Ward. You need to vacate now!”
I sucked in a breath when I heard Preston’s voice. “We’ve located the family, sir. One adult woman, three small children. Fourth floor east.”
“Ward, I’m ordering you out, now. The whole building is about to go.”
Nothing.