“What do you mean?” Benjamin needed to sit down. He moved into the living room of his small, two-story townhouse.
His black leather recliner was one of the most uncomfortable pieces of furniture ever created. In fact, he’d bought his furniture—the black television stand, coffee table, and entertainment system, and the matching black leather sofa—to fill the room. Comfort hadn’t been his first priority.
“I told them I’d had an affair.” Aliyah’s words were low with shame. “I didn’t like what our breakup was doing to your relationship with them. It wasn’t fair that they blamed you for our divorce.”
“How did it go?” Benjamin sank deeper into the stiff recliner.
The discussion must have taken a lot of courage on Aliyah’s part. Benjamin couldn’t bring himself to express his gratitude for her confession, though. The wound her betrayal had caused was still too fresh. He couldn’t get past it or the fact that, if Aliyah hadn’t had an affair, they wouldn’t need to tell their children about it. He wouldn’t have had to leave his job. And he wouldn’t have returned to his small hometown of Trinity Falls in northeast Ohio to start over.
“Telling them was difficult and ugly. And now they’re not speaking to me.” There were tears in Aliyah’s voice.
“I’m sorry.” Surprisingly, it was the truth. He was sorry their children were giving her the silent treatment. She’d been a faithless wife, but there was no denying she was a loving mother.
“So am I.” Aliyah paused. “Thanksgiving is less than four weeks away. I thought they’d come home for school break.”
“What makes you think they won’t?” This would be the first Thanksgiving he’d spend without his family in nineteen years. Benjamin rubbed his chest to ease the weight crushing his heart.
“Well, for one thing, they’re not returning my calls.” Aliyah’s words wobbled around a forced chuckle.
“They’ll come around.” It was time to get off the phone. He couldn’t control his emotions much longer.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving, Ben?”
Benjamin gritted his teeth. Why was she asking? What did she expect to hear? “I’ll probably spend it with my brothers.”
“I’d forgotten that Zach had moved back to Trinity Falls as well. Now all of the Brooks brothers are back in town.”
Benjamin didn’t find her observation amusing. He loved Trinity Falls, but he’d had a family and a life in Chicago—before the woman who’d promised to love and cherish him until “death do us part” had cheated on him. Repeatedly.
“I hope you and the kids enjoy Thanksgiving. I’ll call.” Benjamin pushed himself up from the recliner.
“Spend Thanksgiving with us.” Aliyah’s request rushed down the cell phone connection.
Benjamin froze. “You want us to be like a family again?” She must be kidding.
“I want the kids to spend Thanksgiving at home. I also want them to see us getting along.”
Benjamin rubbed the back of his neck. “What about Larry?”
Larry Cox had been Aliyah’s lover for almost two years. He’d also been Benjamin’s boss at Hughes & Coal Corp., the Chicago-based financial investment company for which he’d worked for almost twenty years.
“Larry and I aren’t seeing each other anymore.” Aliyah’s admission was surprising.
She’d waited until their divorce to break off her extramarital affair. What, if anything, should he read into that?
“I’ll call you and the kids on Thanksgiving Day.” He started to end the call.
“Ben, please. They’re not speaking to me.” Aliyah’s voice broke. “I’m not too proud to ask for your help.”
“There’s nothing I can do for you. Terry and Zora need time.” Benjamin touched the screen to end the call.
Hopefully, time was all he needed as well to banish the bitterness and anger in his heart. June’s pitch for the center’s Christmas dinner dance came to his mind. Benjamin shook his head. How could he approve the event? He wasn’t exactly in the Christmas mood.
June’s cellular phone rang just as she entered her home Monday evening. She fished the device from her purse as she locked her door. The caller identification listed her son’s name.
“Wow, two phone calls in one week.” June kicked off her shoes, then crossed the entryway of her colonial home. “To what do I owe this bountiful pleasure?”
“Real funny, Mom.” Noah’s words held suppressed laughter. “How’re you doing?”