Page 141 of The Widower
Until a few days ago, they thought everything that had happened was just part of a game. But I had to tell them at least a little of the truth about that terrible day.
I didn’t tell them everything, of course—just that the mansion had been robbed and that Colin had been badly hurt.
I couldn’t lie to them. They saw him often; they deserved to know something.
“Hmm. But is he gonna talk to us again?”
“I’m sure he will.” I forced a small smile.“Go play with Joshua for a while, okay? He needs someone with him right now.”
“Okay.”
After she disappeared down the hall, Helen turned to me with a warm smile.
She always finds hope, somehow. It comforts me to see that in her, even if I’m only human—and part of me can’t help but question everything, doubting more than I should.
“Colin’s going to be himself again,” Helen said, catching the worry on my face. I hadn’t been sleeping much, and more than once we’d run into each other in the middle of the night.
“I just hope everything turns out okay.”
“He’s strong. What Colin did for you and the kids proves how much you mean to him. Trust me—time will help.”
I thought about her words and then hugged her tightly, holding on for a long time. I cried against Helen’s shoulder.
To others, the man Colin has become might not seem like much.But I know the truth—my feelings for him are real. And enormous.
I spent some time with Lauren. Lately, I’ve been practically living at the mansion, and my friend texts me every day asking how I’m doing.
I know isolating myself isn’t healthy—neither is constantly replaying everything that happened—but I just can’t get my mind to switch off. It’s hard.
“How’s he doing, hon?”
We were sitting in a small restaurant in the neighborhood.I needed to get out of the mansion, clear my head for a bit.
“About the same. He barely talks—and this time, no exceptions. Not even with Hanna and Joshua, and he’d been chatting with them a lot before everything happened.”
“I know all of this has been really hard on you,” she said gently, trying to comfort me.
“Yeah.”
“I’m here for whatever you need, okay? You can count on me for anything.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
Lauren’s always been the kind of friend who shows up when you need her—kind, dependable, the person who listens without judgment. I knew I hadn’t been giving her much attention lately, but I promised myself I’d do better.
“With everything going on, I didn’t even ask how you’ve been.”
“Oh, you know... the usual.” She smiled. “Working too much, no time to have any fun.”
“Well, that’s gonna change, you can bet on it,” I said, meeting her eyes. “When Colin gets better, you and I are going out again—doesn’t matter where.”
“I’ll hold you to that.Count on it.”
We talked for over an hour.
Something in her eyes told me she was sad about something, but I couldn’t quite tell what it was. Still, I knew she’d open up eventually—Lauren knows exactly how persuasive her best friend can be.
Today was Colin’s first day of physical therapy, and I was standing face-to-face with Lucas, his therapist, who looked awkward as he tried to explain something I already knew was coming.
