I can tell Briar turns his attention to me. “His landlord tried to blame the pipe burst on them. Renters’ insurance isn’t covering the cost of the pipe burst?—”
“As they shouldn’t,” Tabby breaks in.
Briar nods his agreement. “So far, his landlord is insisting that they pay for everything, including the damage to the apartment below them from the water sitting.”
“Absolutely not,” I say. “I know a lawyer.”
Seth gives us all a bemused expression. “We have a lawyer. They just submitted paperwork to the landlord covering leasing laws and whatever.”
“Good. Is this move you made temporary, or are you planning to go back?” I ask.
“I think if we wanted to go back, we’re burning that bridge with the landlord by suing them for damages. This new place is fine.”
On principle, I’d like them to be able to go back. Seth liked his apartment, from what I understood. But he’s right that it’s probably not a good idea.
“This isn’t why we called,” Seth reminds his siblings.
“Right. What’s wrong?” I repeat.
All three kids smile in amusement. There’s something very similar in their smiles, and it makes my chest tight.
“Well,” Seth says. “Mom’s kind of being a jerk, and I think that maybe Briar and Tabby need to hear what’s really going on.”
“From you,” Tabby says. “We’ve heard what Mom said all our lives, but she’s been making some really wild claims since you asked for a divorce and…”
“I think we’ve been naïve to believe all the words that come out of her mouth,” Briar says. “On some level, I knew they weren’t all true, but there were times when I thought you choosing to live in Glensdale proved they were.”
“I’m glad you’d like this conversation. Is there something specific you want to address first?” I ask.
“Yes,” Seth says before the other two can answer. “Tell them about your secret family.”
I frown. “I don’t have a secret family. I don’t and have never had a secret relationship. I’ve never had an affair. There are no long-lost siblings that will pop up if you go on one of those DNA sites.” I pause and think about my years before Natalia. “Let me amend that. There won’t be anyyoungersiblings. Older…? eh.”
Seth snorts.
“Oh my god,” Tabby says, covering her face.
My boys laugh.
“I love you kids. I know I haven’t made it obvious in my actions since I stopped coming home when you were young, but you have always been the absolute most important people in my entire life. I would never disrespect you or your mother by building a family out here. I already had a family that I was—am—incredibly proud of.”
“See?” Seth says. I can imagine that smug smile is for me.
“However, I do need to tell you something.”
“See!” Tabby says.
“No, everything I said is true. What I need to make sure you understand is that I asked for a divorce a year ago. I filed for divorce eight months ago. Reasons beyond my control have made this process ridiculously slow.”
“Reasons being Mom,” Briar says.
I don’t disagree or agree. “Perhaps the law doesn’t agree with me, but as far as I’m concerned, my divorce was final the moment I filed for it.”
“You’re seeing someone,” Seth says, frowning. “I was there for a week. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s newer than that,” I say. “I would have told you when I got home.”
“Oh.”
