“An apology plus a sincere effort to change is admirable.”
“If it lasts.”
“Do you have any reason to think it won’t? I mean, I know you two have had a rough stretch, but has he ever gone back on his word or lied to you or done anything to suggest he’s untrustworthy?”
“Not in the sense you mean. But over the years he became hard-nosed and dictatorial and impatient. He gave me plenty of material gifts, but those didn’t compensate for his dismissive behavior. Sometimes he was actually demeaning. It’s not easy to live with a man who isn’t always civil or who relegates you to a distant second place.”
“I assume he wasn’t like that in the beginning.”
“No. Just the opposite. He worked hard at the mill, but he made time for us. We had fun together, and he was always kind and thoughtful. He remembered our anniversaries and told mehe loved me, and he showed up for Lucas’s school events. Then, almost overnight, he changed.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Whenever I tried to talk to him about it through the years, he shut down.” Frowning, she picked up a stray mushroom and put it back on the pizza, where it belonged. “But the day he came to see me at Anna’s a month ago, he did say he was dealing with a lot of stress when he took over the mill. That he’d inherited problems.”
“Do you think he was being truthful, or was that just an excuse? I heard a ton of those in my own marriage.” Lauren’s features hardened.
“My instincts tell me he was being honest.”
“In that case, if you want to try to save your marriage, I don’t see why you shouldn’t meet him. It’s a defined period—your lunch hour—which is helpful if it doesn’t go well. All he asked you to do was listen, so you’re not on the hook to commit to anything. What do you have to lose?”
She sighed. “The truth? My resolve. I’d like to believe we can overcome our issues, and Martin can be charming and persuasive, so I’m afraid I might weaken. But I don’t want to make a rash decision.”
“It’s not like you have to go back tomorrow, though. You can take all the time you need to be certain. But personally, I’d give a sincere guy who was trying hard to win me back a second chance. Who knows? There could be a happy ending to your story.”
Unlike the ending to her own.
Throat tightening, Diane reached across the table and touched Lauren’s hand. “I’m sorry yours didn’t have one.”
Her lips kinked. “To be honest, ours didn’t even have a happy beginning. It took me a long time to realize that, but I finally saw the light. And I know I’m better off without Dennis.” Then her mouth tipped up into a genuine smile. “However, my story with Devyndidhave a happy ending, and I’d much rather have a faithful sister than a cheating husband. Plus, I have a new friend—whomay have a bit less time for me if she goes back to her husband, but who will hopefully stay in touch.”
“Count on it. I’m done with the insulated life I led before. As a matter of fact, I was going to ask if you’d like a ride when you go back to work next week. I know Devyn could take you, but I go to Coos Bay every morning. It would save her making two trips a day if she only had to pick you up at noon. And once you go back full-time and are driving again, I was hoping we could carpool on days our schedules mesh.”
Lauren’s face lit up. “I’d love that. I’ve been thinking how much I’m going to miss Devyn after she goes back to New York, but having a close friend here will help.”
“Same for me. A husband is great, but he doesn’t take the place of a girlfriend.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Lauren lifted her water glass.
Diane did the same, clinking her tumbler with Lauren’s.
And as they both dived into their pizza, she made a resolution.
She’d accept Martin’s invitation. Hear him out.
But unless she was absolutely convinced any changes he’d made were permanent, she was maintaining the status quo.
“Dad, why can’t we ask Miss Devyn to go with us to the fireworks tomorrow?”
Aaron finished tucking Isabel in and stood. “You already asked me that.” Three times, in fact.
“But you never gave me a good answer.”
No, he hadn’t.
How did you explain the complexities of romance to a nine-year-old?
Besides, even if he’d been inclined to ask Devyn to join them, the brief apology she’d sent on Saturday would have put the brakes on that idea.
