Page 47 of Out of the Shadows
Cody went into the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of lemonade. He poured two glasses over ice and handed one to Luisa. “I made it this morning,” he said.
“As long as you didn’t let Margo help, it’s probably great,” Luisa said, and Jack laughed.
“Do you want some, Jack?” Cody asked.
“Sure, thank you.”
Cody poured another glass and gave it to Jack. “From the lemons behind the barn. We also have oranges and limes and a garden, but Sydney is better at growing things than me.” He sat down. “Did my dad break the law?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Jack said.
“Mom doesn’t usually get so upset. I don’t like it when she’s sad.”
Neither do I, Jack thought.
Laura knocked on Sydney’s door and entered before her daughter said anything. She was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling fan. She wasn’t crying; she looked more angry than sad.
Laura pulled out the desk chair and sat down. “I shouldn’t have lost my cool like that, I’m sorry.”
She felt like she was always apologizing to her kids for what she said or didn’t say, for what Charlie did or didn’t do. She’d tried to stop, but she hated that they didn’t have the stability that she’d had growing up. She had never wanted them to become a statistic, kids growing up with divorced parents. And now they were.
“I’m almost thirteen, I know things.”
Almost thirteen. Laura restrained her laughter. Sydney would be thirteen at the end of March, nine months from now.
“I know Dad screwed everything up.”
“Not everything. We have you and Cody. The two best things in my life. I mean that.”
“I know,” she mumbled. “I don’t want to be mad at him, but I am.”
“Honey, your dad would never hurt you. Ever. He doesn’t even know what happened on Sunday—”
“Because he wasn’t here. He didn’t call you or me. I’ve leftfive messagesfor him. And he’s not ignoring me, he just doesn’t have his phone! And we’re here worrying about him, and he’s inLos Angeles.And didn’t even tell us he was going!”
Laura hadn’t told Sydney all the details, and maybe she should have. Hell,shedidn’t even know everything that Charlie was doing.
“Whatever your dad did, he did it for the right reasons.”
“He did it because he thinks if he makes it big with one of his stupid ideas, you’ll take him back.”
“I’ve told him many times that won’t work. I would love to raise you in the same house as your dad, to be a family again. But—” How much should she tell her daughter? She didn’t want Sydney to resent Charlie—or her.
“You don’t have to make excuses for him.”
“I’m not.” She paused. “I love your dad and always will. We grew up together, we were friends, and we had fun. But there comes a time when you can have funandbe responsible. For me, it came when I had you. You were the most beautiful, perfect baby I could have ever dreamed about. I fell in love, hook, line, and sinker. And I knew that I had to be serious about my career, I had to provide a home and love and stability. Iwantedto. You and Cody make my life better, you makemea better person. Charlie loves you both. He just has a very different idea of what a home is. A different idea of stability and responsibility and trust.” She paused. “I love your dad, but he broke my trust.”
“I know,” Sydney whispered. “But Dad still thinks he can win you back.”
“When we find him, I’ll talk to him.” Again. And again. Until he understood that their relationship was over and done. She had never led him on or led him to believe she would have a change of heart, but maybe she shouldn’t have had him over for dinner so often. She thought it was good for the kids—but if Charlie couldn’t separate that from his feelings for her, then neither of them would be able to move forward.
“You good?” Laura asked.
“Yeah. Thanks, Mom. I’m sorry I ran out, but...” She shrugged, sighed. “Just, everything.”
“I know.”
Laura got up to leave when Sydney said, “Do you like Jack?”
