Page 18 of It Never Happened
“I’m not drunk,” I proclaim. When she gives me a bland look, I relent. “Okay, yes, I am, but not really drunk. I’ve been drinking, yes, but?—”
“See! I knew it. I won’t talk to you like this. If you have something to say, you can say it to me sober, not on a night of a scotch bender.”
She tries to slam the door, and I stop her by putting my foot in the way.
“Come on, Coco. We were always so good together.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You used to like it.”
“I used to like a lot of things. But when you chose work and city life over family, I had to find new things to fill my time.”
This time the door slams shut, and I let it. I hang my head and lean against the door.She hates me.
I trudge my way back to Larry, who is waiting for me just like he said he would. I slide into the back seat, crestfallen.
“Jack, tomorrow is a new day.”
“Let’s hope she sees it too.”
Chapter 10
Courtney
Jack showing up drunk to my doorstep last night was so unexpected. January would just tell me it's a sign he’s thinking of me, even while drinking, and I should really sit and give this a second chance.
I don't know that I want to give it a second chance. I feel I've done this a few times already. And though I think about him daily and see his face every time Joey looks at me, it’s not the same.
He broke my heart.
He chose a job over me, he chose money over me. Overus. And no amount of love can overcome that a second time.
But damn, he looks good. Jack was always very handsome, and our chemistry was unmatched. He was my first and only everything. When I left him, I moved home and never looked twice at anyone else, not even after the separation was legal and I knew it was really over between us. I don’t think I’ll ever look at anyone the way I looked at him. Jack knew things about me I didn’t even know. He used to touch me and look at me in a way that made me feel I wasthe only one important to him. Even signing the divorce papers couldn’t take that away for me. I knew I’d never find another that my soul craved like Jack.
But the more he worked, the less he sawme,and the more our nights were spent apart. I got lost in the mix. Sure, we were in the same bed, but I was fast asleep by the time he came home, and he was up and back to the office before I was even out of bed in the morning with Joey.
We lost the emotional tie, and when the physical died with it, I had to go.
Shaking those thoughts from my mind, I call out, “Joey! Are you ready?” I glance out the window, seeing the snow coming down at a steadier rate. If I'm going to get everything prepared for Christmas Eve, we need to move now.
“Coming, Mom!” He runs down the hallway, skidding to a stop by his boots, falling to the floor to put them on. He jumps up, grabbing his coat and hat.
“We have lots to do and not much time if we’re going to beat the snow. It’s supposed to get very bad.”
His wide eyes turn to me. “Can Dad come stay with us?”
I let out a laugh. “Honey, he’s fine at his hotel.”
“But what if it snows too much and he can’t get out? He won't get here for Christmas. We always have Christmas together!” he cries out, and his bottom lip begins to quiver.
I drop to my knees in front of him so we are eye level. “It’s going to be fine, Joe, he'll get here. You know Bluemoon is always prepared for snow. He’ll be here for Christmas.”
“I want him here.” He sags into me and lets out a small sob and my heart breaks. Maybe Jackshouldstay here.
Can I let him stay here? We do have an extra bedroom.
But then we only have a wall separating us.
