“Then the evening was a success.” He winked lightly, thenshut the door and walked away. Something about the gesture pulled me back—to the gas station, to Scott walking backward toward his truck, flashing that crooked grin and a peace-sign salute. “Later, Babe.” I closed my eyes and let myself smile.
On the car ride home, I played the conversation with Graham over in my head. Safe, stable, and respectable, he was the kind of man who wouldn’t let my kids go to bed hungry or wake up scared.
And yet, as the car pulled into the carport at the hotel, one thought burned through the quiet.
He wasn’t Scott.
“He sounds amazing.”Melanie glowed, the awkwardness stemming from our earlier conversation having vanished. “I can picture us all vacationing together. Our kids growing up as best friends. I’m so excited. I feel… I feel like there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The words she used. Was she that unhappy?
“Are you and James having problems?” I asked.
Her brows lifted. “We’ve never not had problems.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.”
“Let’s put it this way—he’s taken on Daddy’s extracurricular activities.”
“He’s cheating on you?” I said in a low voice.
“Of course he is. I’ve cheated on him too, so don’t feel too sorry for me.”
Her casual admission shocked me.
“Stop. You act like you don’t know me.”
I suppose she was right. Melanie had never been a one-man kind of girl, but I’d always thought marriage would cure her of that.
“Why do you stay with him?” I asked.
“Because, Michelle, Mother has never offered me a Graham.”
I winced. The way shesaid a Grahamlike he was an object told me just how much resentment she’d been stockpiling. Graham represented a fresh start for her. For me, he represented something else entirely. Something I still hadn’t said out loud.
A quiet fell over us. I needed to tell her. I’d already tried three different times, but each attempt had died somewhere between my throat and my courage. Once it was out there, everything would change.
“Mel?” I said finally.
She didn’t look up. “Hmm?”
“I need to tell you something. Mother’s plan to marry me off… I’m not qualified.”
That pulled her head up fast. “What do you mean?”
“Graham’s expecting two kids to raise.”
“Right. Keith and Emma. Two.”
“No.” I pressed a hand to my stomach. “Three.”
Melanie blinked, confusion flitting across her face before the truth slammed into her. The color drained out of her cheeks. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“How far along?”
“Twelve weeks, give or take.”
