Page 176 of Summer After Summer

“What part?” William says as his voice gains confidence. “You didn’t cheat on my daughter? You didn’t try to defraud all of us?”

“I—”

“No. No. I never liked you. When you came around with Charlotte all those years ago, I knew something about you wasn’t right. But Olivia, she’d been through so much and she seemed happy … I didn’t want to refuse her twice.”

Wes’s eyes narrow. “You stupid old man.”

“Enough,” Fred says, rising to his feet. “Enough.”

Wes and Fred stare at each other, both breathing heavily, spoiling for a fight. Fred looks like he might kill Wes if given half the chance, and that’s not what I want.

I push my way between them, holding a hand out to both of them. My right hand touches Fred’s chest, but my eyes are on Wes, even as I can feel Fred’s heart beating against my palm.

“It’s over, Wes. It’s all come out now. Just go.”

Wes’s eyes travel from mine to my hand resting on Fred. “I knew you’d choose him.”

“You didn’t even give me the chance to prove you wrong.”

He takes a step toward me, and before he can complete it, Fred is there, holding Wes’s arm back behind his back.

“You’re not going to be wanting to do that, mate,” Fred says. “I swear to God. Don’t test me in this.”

Wes struggles for a moment, then goes limp, like he’s giving up.

“Let me go,” he says quietly. “I’m going.”

Fred releases him, and Wes moves toward the door.

“You too, young lady,” William says.

Ann rises. “I can explain.”

“Don’t bother, Ann,” Wes says. “She figured it out. I underestimated you, Olivia.”

I meet his eyes, and they’re empty. I should leave well enough alone, but I have to know. “Was it all a lie? From the very beginning?”

“No,” he says. “I’m not … This wasn’t some grand plan. That’s not why I married you.”

“How can I believe you?”

“You think I’m capable of that? All these years?”

I shake my head slowly. “I don’t know you. That’s what it feels like.”

“I loved you. I loved you for a long time.”

“And then?”

He makes a gesture with his hand. “I think you know what happened.” He looks at Fred. “What does it matter? You never loved me. He was always standing between us.”

“No, I—”

“Don’t, Olivia. What’s the point?”

This stops me. Because he’s right. We’re over. And there isn’t any point in arguing about it. Maybe there never was. I return to my chair slowly.

Wes hesitates for a moment, then leaves, his shoulders down, defeated. Ann follows him without saying a word.

---