Page 14 of Nothing But It All
“We’re not ignorant,” Michael says, his voice void of the playfulness of a moment ago. “We’re just surprised it didn’t happen before now.”
“I ...”The fuck?I clear my throat, unsure what to say. “We haven’t filed for divorce. Why would you say that?”
“I saw the appointment written on the business card on Mom’s desk. So it makes sense you guys canceled the trip,” Michael says.
What? An appointment? For what?
Lauren scheduled an appointment with an attorney?
My mind races, my cheeks blazing. Surely she didn’t do that.Why would she do that?
The weight of the kids’ gazes is on me, waiting for a response. I want to heave.
Divorce? What the fuck?
My brain short-circuits, trying to process every interaction I’ve had with my wife to determine if there’s any truth to Michael’s suspicion.
Lauren and I talk every day. We haven’t really fought in ages.
A chill races through me.
When did Lauren stop calling me each night?
A flurry of goose bumps breaks out across my skin, and I think I might be sick.
My palms sweat, and I wipe them on my thighs.
Should I go back to her? Call her? Text her?
But what if I bring it up, and Michael’s gotten it all wrong?
What if I bring it up and she confirms it?
I heave a breath.
“Your mother and I arenotgetting divorced,” I say, gripping the steering wheel again.
“I hope you’re right,” Maddie says.
“I’m sure there’s an explanation,” I say, my throat dry.
Michael sighs. “Probably. But when you look at it from our side, Mom doesn’t bring you dinner to the shop anymore. You haven’t really said much about her scrapbooking stuff, and that’s honestly pretty weird.”
“And,”Maddie says, chiming in, “you two are never on the same page. If we wanted to pull a fast one on you guys, we could. But we wouldn’t. I’m just saying we could.”
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye again.
“Something is going on if we aren’t going to the cabin,” Michael says.
Shit.My stomach wobbles.I think he’s right.
“This is between the two of us,” I say.
“Yeah, like it won’t affect us at all,” Maddie scoffs beside me. “This isn’t just between the two of you. It’s between the four of us.”
“I told you we aren’t getting divorced, Mads.”
“Okay, let’s regroup, Maddie,” my son says, taking control. “Dad says they aren’t getting divorced. He would know. So let’s focus on getting that chili dog.”
