One Wish

Really? After being asleep for the past month and not realizing it, this is what she focuses on?

Absolutely fed up with her tirade, I place my suitcase down for a moment to focus on her. She’s so engrossed in her phone that she hasn’t even realized I’m leaving. Yet another reason to add to the list of reasons why I should have left her ages ago.

“Kendra, you’re not fat. You never have been. In fact, you could do with putting on a few pounds. Secondly, I’m leaving. I’ve had enough. Thirdly, I would think about telling the person you slept with around ten, eleven weeks ago that he’s about to become a daddy.”

Kendra’s eyes widen as I bend down to pick up my suitcase. As I start to walk out of my room, I say, “I will arrange to pick up the rest of my stuff later. My lawyer will be in touch with yours.”

“Wait… you can’t leave me!” she shouts, indignantly. “I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. No one ever leaves me!”

Nostrils flaring, I turn to glare at her. “You may be beautiful on the outside, Kendra, but on the inside you’re rotten to the core. As long as you keep up with this, you will never, ever find someone who is able to love you any more than you love yourself. If you keep this up, you’ll end up alone.”

Back arching, she crosses her arms in front of her. “Millions of people love me. Everyone loves me! I will never be alone.”

“There’s a huge difference between being alone and lonely. Yes, you have millions of followers who will bow down at your feet, but when you really need someone to be there for you in times of trouble… watch how they will run.”

Her frown hard, she stands her ground. “You’ll be back with your tail between your legs.”

“Don’t count on it, sweetheart,” I reply, turning to walk down the stairs.

“You can’t leave me, Eli, we have the upcoming power couple feature in People magazine!”

Mid-step, I turn towards her, not quite able to grasp what’s she’s saying. Silly, really. I shouldn’t expect anything less from her. “I’m telling you I want a divorce and all you care about is a feature in People magazine?! Wow.”

Grabbing the handrail of the staircase, Kendra grips it tightly, her eyes blackening with rage. “If you dare leave me, I will take you for everything you have. I’ll take this house from you… everything from you!”

Ignoring her threats, I continue down the steps. “Go ahead, take the house. I never liked it anyway.”

My head held high, I continue my descent, Kendra shouting threats behind my back all the while. As I reach the door, something finally dawns on her.

“Wait, what do you mean about someone I slept with ten weeks ago?”

I open the door and before walking through, I turn to look up at her, a saccharine smile gracing my lips. “You’re pregnant, Kendra. Congratulations.” As I walk through the door, I shout, “My lawyer will be in touch!”

As the door shuts behind me, I stand on the top step and take in a deep, much-needed breath. Noticing something by my feet, I glance down to find Max gazing up at me all expectantly.

“It’s just you and me for now, bud,” I coo, bending down to give him a little scratch behind the ear. As if sensing something wrong, he whines a little, licking my hand.

“Come on, Max. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

My feet make their way to the garage, where I ask Craig to drive me to… for now, I don’t know where. I’m guessing a hotel until I can arrange a flight to Sheridan.

Settled into my seat with Max curled by my side, his head snugly on my leg, I exhale a breath. “I know, bud. I miss her too.”

That thought in my head, I try calling Trent again, but again no answer. Frustration courses through me as I sit in the car. On the journey, I call my lawyer, instructing him to draft up divorce papers and setting up a meeting tomorrow to go through the finer details. I then call my agent to tell him the news. He’s both relieved and already thinking of damage control with the press.

“Is this why you were off all this time? It obviously wasn’t anything to do with saving your marriage.”

I lie by answering yes, as it’s the only explanation I can give.

“I’m sorry, Eli. Well, I’m not, but you know what I mean.”

I laugh at that. “Yes, I know what you mean. It’s been a long time coming. And another thing: this is to be kept strictly between you, me, and my lawyer, but Kendra’s pregnant, and it’s not my baby.”

A deep sigh resonates down the line. “Oh, man, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“That’s okay, Simon. It’s amazing how much this doesn’t bother me. In fact, I have someone in my life who’s become a lot more important, but I realize I need to sort out everything with Kendra first before I act upon it.”

That’s if she’s okay.