“No, that’s not—no.” I crossed my arms and briefly glanced out the window. “In fact, if the house next door is empty, the guy who owns it might be open to renting it to you when you visit. If you’re able to work remotely, you can come every other week…like we’re doing now. Burlington isn’t that far. Just a thought.”
She arched a brow. “Yeah, that’s an interesting idea. If it’s possible.”
“I’ll look into it. That might be a nice selling point for the kids,” I said. “Um, so…should we do this tonight and get it over with?”
“Yeah.” Sarah sighed, and burst into a new round of tears. “I think so.”
“Sar…”
“It’s okay. I’m all right.” She blew her nose. “Are you?”
“Yeah, but change is hard, and the kids might struggle with?—”
“No, I meant you. Areyouall right?”
I raked a hand through my hair. “I’m fine. It’s gonna be okay.”
She sniffed. “We’ll make sure they’re happy. I know that, but… You know, I’ve seen you with him, Coop.”
“Who?”
“Silas. He’s not out, is he?”
Sharp denial was always my first response, but this time…I supposed I was too damn weary to bother with anything but the truth.
“No.”
“And that’s not a problem?”
I leaned against the counter and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. He’s leaving.”
“I want to say something, and I know it’s going to piss you off, but—you should tell him how you feel. Communicate.”
“Sarah…”
“You and I were never good at that,” she said in a tearful rush. “Not unless it was about Ivy and Chase. Kids come first. It’s a good philosophy, but…we got lost in the mix and—I’m sorry, Coop. I’m very, very sorry.”
“C’mere.” I pulled her close and hugged her as she sobbed ugly tears, her body heaving as she clutched at my shirt. “Shh. It’s okay.”
I wasn’t sure how long we stood like that, mourning the wreckage of our marriage—this time not as disillusioned spouses in a lawyer’s office, but as two people who’d once loved each other deeply…only to realize it wasn’t enough.
My heart hurt for the starry-eyed couple we’d been. And though our story didn’t have a happy ending, I had no regrets.
Sarah pushed out of my arms. “I should go.”
“See you tonight?”
“Yes. I’ll come by at seven.”
“Okay.”
Sarah grabbed her bag, hooked it on her shoulder, and kissed my cheek. “After all we’ve been through, I’m still so glad you’re the father of our children.”
I listened to the click of her heels on the hardwood flooring and the creak of the hinges as the front door opened and shut.
Silence echoed around me with a whoosh. I let it come for me the way it had when loneliness was a more constant companion. I should have been ecstatic, but this wasn’t a real victory. It was a case of winning one battle and preparing for the next. It never fucking ended.
But five minutes later, my head snapped up as Silas barged into the kitchen, carrying groceries.
