“I assume you don’t want me to contact Dennis?” May as well broach that subject. Lauren must realize she’d be wondering about his absence. Or she would soon.
Her sister’s features hardened. “No. He’s ... hishory.”
Tempted as she was to probe for more details, now wasn’t the time. It was obvious her sister was tiring.
“No worries. I’ll be happy to stick around as long as you need me.”
Lauren hugged the bear tighter and closed her eyes. “I have to ... seep.”
Within seconds, her respiration evened out and her features relaxed.
Slowly Devyn sank into the chair beside the bed.
While many questions remained, and she still had no clear game plan, Laurenhadbeen cognizant enough to confirm why she never initiated contact. Why she’d always let calls go to voicemail and kept her text and email responses as short as possible.
She was carrying around a boatload of resentment.
Overcoming years of anger and bitterness in the hopes of establishing a more cordial relationship was going to be a huge challenge.
But the accident had given her an incentive to work harder to reestablish a connection with her only sister.
Whether Lauren would be receptive to her attempts remained to be seen.
All she could do was pray for strength and guidance as she set off on what would no doubt be a very rocky road.
5
Today was the day.
Diane Fisher smoothed a damp palm down her Veronica Beard straight-leg denims. Tugged at the hem of her Loro Piana cashmere sweater. Mashed her lips together as she began to pace in her Ferragamo ballet flats.
Oh yes, she was well aware of the designer label in every item of high-end clothing Martin insisted she wear.
And when she dropped her bombshell, he would surely remind her that he’d provided her with the best of everything during the twenty-five years of their marriage.
Yet her brimming closets couldn’t fill the empty place in her heart—and with a milestone birthday in the not-too-distant future, it was time to make the change she’d been dragging her feet on for too long.
The muffled growl of the powerful engine in Martin’s Audi Coupe rumbled through the walls as he zoomed up the long, winding driveway, and her pulse stumbled.
Maybe she should have left a note rather than make her announcement in person and face his ire.
But it was too late to switch plans now.
Besides, resorting to written words was the coward’s way out. If she intended to take charge of her life going forward, she had to learn to stand up to strong people—like her husband. Stop acting like a cowed puppy.
Weaving her fingers into a tight knot, she waited in the center of the living room until Martin parked the car and entered the house from the four-car garage.
When he slammed the door behind him, she winced.
His Saturday morning at the mill must not have gone well.
For a second, her courage faltered ... but really, would there ever be a good time to confront him?
Not worth debating, since she’d already set everything in motion. It was too late to back out.
Less than a minute later, he appeared in the doorway of the living room, gave her a fast scan, and continued toward the bar. “You getting ready to go somewhere?”
“Yes.”
