Page 89 of Pity Parade

She whispers, “I don’t really know. Not good, but not horrible.”

“Explain.”

“Allan confessed to feeling very distant from me for the last couple of years, and he told me that he and Bridget had become close.”

“Are they fooling around?” I ask.

“He says no, but he also pointed out that we haven’t been either.”

“What did he say when you told him you wanted to spend the summer with him and the kids?”

“He said that sounded nice, but that he’d like to have a couple weeks by himself first to do some thinking.”

“Oh?” That doesn’t sound good, but I can understand it.

“I think he’s having a midlife crisis or something, but I didn’t tell him that. Instead, I said that I thought we should look into couple’s counseling.”

“And?”

“He seemed happy about the suggestion.”

“Good,” I tell her. “You’re letting him know that your marriage and your family are the most important things to you. Where do you go from the Bahamas?” I ask her.

“I’ll bring the kids home. Allan is going to stay on.”

“What about Bridget and her kids?” I want to know.

“I didn’t ask. I mean, if he’s going to cheat after knowing where I stand, then there’s nothing I can do to stop him.”

I recline my chair a little before telling her, “I don’t think he’s going to cheat, Shel. I think he just needs some time to figure out what he wants his life to look like.”

“How’s it going with you?” she asks.

“Not as good as I was hoping, but I have some plans.”

“Good for you,” Shelby says. “I’m excited that you’re ready to date again.”

“Me, too. It’s been a long run, living with ghosts.”

“I never knew Jess,” Shelby says, “but I do know how much you love her. My heart hurts that you lost her and your child.”

My throat constricts with emotion. “Thank you. This life never seems to turn out how we expect it to, but there are gifts along the way. I think the goal is to appreciate what’s in front of us while it is in front of us.”

“Living in the moment has never been my strong suit,” she says.

“I think that’s the lesson. The past is gone, and the future is untouchable. The present is the only tangible thing we have.”

“I’m lifting my wine glass to you, Heath. I’m thankful to have a friend like you. Truly.”

“Ditto,” I tell her. “Now, go to sleep and wake up fresh tomorrow. Make your world everything you want it to be, Shel.”

“I thought that’s what I had been doing, but I’m starting to see that I’ve been keeping everyone that matters at arm’s length. I’m ready to change that, Heath. And I don’t think I would have gotten there had you not thrown a bomb into the works.”

I laugh at her analogy. “You’re welcome. Talk to you soon.”

I feel more driven than ever to find a way to get Trina to hear me out. I think the guys are right that I need to give her space, but I’m going to use that time to plan the best possible grand gesture to get her to see how crazy I am about her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

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