Page 14 of Walker

“No!” The word left my mouth on a whisper but inside my head it felt much more like a shout.

“Supposedly, she’s going to come after you for child support for his illegitimate kid who should have inherited whatever he had.”

I laughed then. “What he had?” I questioned hysterically. “Anything my husband had he gambled away. The minivan he bought me was repossessed before he even died, and we live in a rental house.” I laughed harder. “What he didn’t gamble away was apparently propping up another family, if what she said is to be believed.”

“Her daughter believed it to be true and more importantly, she informed Ariel about it. That was about the time Griff said Ariel started to lose her shit.”

“Shit. Could he have ruined his children any more from the grave?” I asked, not expecting an answer. “I wondered why there was such a long pause where she didn’t allow her father’s death to affect her. Then again, I couldn’t fathom why she seemed so damn angry with me. I figured her grandparents must have told her that it was my fault he was on that trip when he died.”

Walker shook his head. “Not that I know of. According to Griff, she lost respect for you because she thought you knew about his affair and other family. She thought you were letting him get away with it.”

“Oh, hell.” I banged my head down against the cool steering wheel and that was when the tears came. “My poor baby has been dealing with this on her own all this time?”

It sucked that I couldn’t dig the asshole up, bring him back to life, and kill him myself. I always thought the damage he’d done to our family, with the gambling crap, had been hidden well enough and that it would never impact my kids after his death. Little did I know, there was more to his life of debauchery than even I had uncovered before his death.

“I don’t even know how long she’s been dealing with this. I suspect based on her behavior, but really… Why wouldn’t she tell me?”

“I think she was afraid to be the one to burst the bubble she thought you were living in. It says a lot about how confused she is. Part of her blames you for something she isn’t even sure you know. The other part doesn’t want to hurt you further by telling you. It probably doesn’t excuse her behavior, but certainly explains the hell out of it.”

“That is an understatement.” We sat quietly in my vehicle for a few moments as I absorbed everything. “So, not only was he gambling away our money, but he had an affair for only God knows how long, because I will never get a straight answer from Terry. She’ll probably tell me that it has been since high school. He’s dead and gone, so there’s no asking him.” I turned my eyes back to Walker. “A baby?”

“That’s what Griff said. The woman never came to confront you about it, so it’s possible the other girl was just slinging shit on someone who was already down and out.”

I shook my head. “No, if Dina said that, then Terry must have been running her mouth about doing exactly that. For that matter, she was probably hoping her daughter would do exactly what she did. They’re most likely wondering why I haven’t gone ape shit on her yet.” I chuckled then. “I can see it now; she’s been sitting around bitching about the fact that I haven’t come calling for the confrontation she wanted.”

“Sounds kind of stupid to get that attention through kids.”

“Yeah, not the best laid plan, especially when it comes to angering teenagers. Though, kudos to her because she has made my life hell with my daughter for months.” I sat up straighter and pulled my hand from where Walker still held it. “If Terry thinks there is anything that woman can get her grubby paws on, she needs to rethink it. Truthfully, considering what was said, it sounds like I need a lawyer to sue her for whatever of our marital assets, or my paychecks, went toward her expenses before my husband died.”

“From the sounds of it, there’s nothing there for you to get either.”

“Justice against cheaters,” I mumbled and then felt sick to my stomach as my guilt- riddled face turned back up toward Walker. “I’m so sorry.”

He chuckled. “No need to be sorry. It’s a fair assessment. Karma nailed my ass for what I did. All told, I don’t think I got everything I deserved either.”

“How do you figure?”

“I’m sitting here with you, and if I recall, you might have agreed to a date with me. I don’t deserve that chance after what I did.”

“After hearing my husband cheated and maybe had a child with another woman while we were married, I should reconsider.” I left it hanging there.

“That sounds about right.”

“I said I should, not that I’m going to.” His stunned reaction made me smile. “You’re not the same man you were then, Walker.”

“How do you know?”

“Answer this truthfully. If some club kid came and told you about a possible affair baby situation with someone way back then, what would you have done?”

He nodded and hung his head. “Probably continued to drink myself into the wrong woman’s bed because feeling sorry for myself was the only thing I had going for me back then.”

“Still feel sorry for yourself?”

He shook his head. “Nah. I’m over that. Now, I just wonder how it’s possible that a man like that gets a second chance.”

“A man like that doesn’t.Thatman didn’t deserve a second chance. The man you are today, he deserves to start fresh because he’s wiser than that drunk asshole who did nothing but feel sorry for his own damn self.” I winked at him.

“Here I thought I’d have to hold you while you cried about your husband’s affair, and instead you’re propping up my ego.”

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