Page 127 of The Fishermen

I inched closer to Leland until our shoulders tapped. Cole tracked the movement.

“No,” Leland answered cautiously. “Not…then.”

“Not then,” Cole whispered, seemingly digging through his memory bank for something that would timestamp my relationship with Leland.

“That bar napkin I found in your car the day of Selene’s funeral,” he said, pointing a finger at me. “That’s what led me to Josephine’s…” He faded off in thought, then approached us looking downright murderous and sneered, “How long have you two known each other?”

***

“Eight years?”Jasper repeated, and what little color he had, drained from his face. His green eyes were wide and desperate.

“What about Selene?” Cole asked, lacing his hand with Jasper’s, forming a united front.

“We were separated when Leland and I—”

“Separated!?” Cole shouted. “Wh-what the fuck is going on here? Has our whole life been a goddamn lie?”

“Cole, let me explain,” I said, but he’d already pivoted for the front door. “Jasper, please—” I tried, but he tugged his arm away from me, shaking his head in disbelief before following Cole.

“Let’s talk about this,” I said to both of their backs while Leland watched with hunched shoulders.

“Not now,” Cole said. “I can’t stand the sight of either of you right now.” And with that, they were gone, the door slamming in their wake.

“This will all work out,” I said to Leland. “But know that no matter what, Iwillchoose you. Do you hear me?” I asked when he remained despondent.

“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “If you can fix the relationship with your kids, then do it.” And exactly as Cole and Jasper had just done, he turned and walked away.

Another test, I thought. One I would pass with flying colors, because Leland was worth everything I potentially stood to lose, and I wouldn’t sacrifice our happiness ever again.

***

Neither Cole or Jasper would take our calls, and we’d been removed from the approved visitors’ list at their residence. Didn’t take a genius to deduce that we wouldn’t be welcomed at their places of employment either.

I’d told Leland we’d give them a few days to cool off, but then a few days turned into a week, and by week two, Leland had gone from trying unsuccessfully to end things between us, to being virtually catatonic. I’d had to convince him not to cancel the intimate art auction he already had planned at The Daisy for the following week.

With my help it went well, and he’d donated half the proceeds to the art department of a local middle school, and as previously planned, the balance went to Selene’s charity, which Jasper now spearheaded. The final straw came when Jasper returned the check to Leland in pieces.

“Where are you going?” Leland asked with underlying panic. Didn’t matter how I answered, his tension wouldn’t ease until I returned. It’d been the same anytime I left his sight.

“I’m going to see Cole. I don’t care if I have to fight through a line of hotel security, I’m not leaving until I see him.”

“Okay,” he said resigned, settling back into the sofa, the spot he’d been watching the sun from all day. I slid my jacket on and left, knowing nothing I said would make him feel better. Only my son could do that.

After a near scuffle in the hotel lobby, and several threats of having the police called on me, Cole relented and allowed me up to the penthouse. I charged off the elevator, aiming straight for the living room, where I knew I’d find him brooding over his piano.

I slowed at seeing him, my temper simmering as the face that looked so much like mine stared back at me haggardly. “Cole,” I said with a sigh. He shoved to his feet and moved to the sofa. I took the seat across from him.

“Are you alone?” I asked.

“Yes. Jasper went into the office today.”

“How’re the wedding plans?” I asked as both an icebreaker and a stall tactic. They’d put them on hold after Leland’s accident and had only begun talking about it again the week Leland and I were literally caught with our pants down. Cole remained stubbornly silent.

“I’ve missed you both,” I said. “And Leland’s been beside himself. None of this is his fault. It’s been my fault since the day I met him.”

“Since the day you met him,” he said bitterly. “And what day was that, exactly? The day you abandoned your sick wife?”

“I didn’t know she was sick at the time. We’d separated months before I found out.”

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