Page 87 of Always Right

This couldn’t be easy for him, either.

In an ideal world, I would have paid for my mistakes and moved on. None of this would have followed me, everyone would have forgiven me and we would have lived happily ever after. And though I told myself I wouldn’t dwell on what was happening, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I couldn’t sleep with the thought of everything that could happen.

I could barely even breathe.

I looked at the picture that hung on the wall, one from our wedding, in which Derek embraced me as we danced, his loving eyes looking at me as if I was his whole world and it tore at my heart.

I licked my lips at the sudden dryness in my mouth as my mind raced.

I wanted to make him happy.

But what if I wasn’t the one?

What if all I brought to him was heartache?

A quiet “mama” pulled me away from my thoughts and immediately, a smile formed on my face. Eager to see my princesses, I raced to their bedroom, greeting both of them with a kiss to their foreheads.

I wasn’t sure how the hell we’d get out of this situation, but for them I would figure it out.

I spent most of the morning alone with the girls after Derek left to go to the restaurant. Of course, he’d told me to keep the door locked at all times and to call if anything, absolutely anything, happened, but I didn’t miss the way he’d kissed me or the way his emerald eyes had dimmed with so much going through his head.

I’d give him as much space as he needed.

Nothing I could say would make things better.

My girls crawled on the blanket I’d set in the backyard, giggling as they imitated each other when my phone vibrated next to me.

Evie.

Evie: I hope you’re doing okay. Let me know if you need anything.

Rolling my eyes, I set my phone back down. She meant well, but should have never told Derek.

I didn’t bother trying to make sense of the situation anymore.

Instead, I laid down on the blanket with my girls and focused on them, their smiles and their warmth and told myself eventually...everything would be back to normal.

Whatever that was.

***

There wasn’t anything I hated more than our situation but...cooking was pretty close. After spending the afternoon actually cooking from scratch, trying to prepare something for Derek, I set the table in the hopes of lightening up the mood between us. The girls babbled as they watched me set down the jar of homemade lemonade I placed in the center of the table, followed by the utensils.

Outside, I heard the door of a car closed and I smiled, knowing it was Derek. Sure enough after a few seconds the door opened and he appeared in the entryway, holding a large bouquet of red roses. He made everything in my body flutter when he offered me a grin, one that lit up his eyes despite the craziness surrounding us.

“An I love you and an apology for being so distant today.” I took the roses in my hands and stood on my tippy toes, reaching up and placing a kiss on his lips. “Sorry for leaving.”

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “They are beautiful.”

“As are you.”

Rolling my eyes, I stepped back and watched as he greeted our daughters with a kiss. “I have something for you, too.”

“I see that,” he replied, eyeing the table. “You cooked?”

Sheepishly, I shrugged, setting the vase down on the island before walking over to the stove. The pasta looked like...well, pasta, so that was a good sign but truthfully...I wasn’t sure how it would taste.

“I made spaghetti and a side salad.”

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