“Yes, and I like that you hadn’t asked about finances. My ex was a beautiful gold digger wrapped in expensive designer clothes, which I bought her.”
Did he have to add beautiful? It made me feel self-conscious. My grays were showing. I’d wanted to go to town to buy some root touch-up, but with Bethany gone, it wasn’t possible. Aside from sunscreen moisturizer, I didn’t wear makeup. I wore boxy gym clothes, well, when I had clothes on. It was ironic that I was jealous of his ex when I was the one who was married.
“While we’re being completely honest, there’s more that I haven’t told you,” he said. “I have full custody of Max. I’m a single dad in the full sense of the word.”
“That explains so much. The shopping. The cooking.”
“I pride myself on how well I take care of my son.”
“And me.” He’d had plenty of opportunities to tell me. “Why hadn’t you mentioned it?”
“I hate talking about her and I didn’t want to tarnish our time together by bringing her up. Here’s the short story. I really wanted children, she didn’t. I started a divorce petition, and she played me and became pregnant. She used my child to extort me. But honestly, I was happy to pay her off, so I could have Max to myself.”
“That’s so sad. Does Max get to see her?”
“They go out for dinner once a week and on a yearly extravagant vacation—on me.”
“She doesn’t mind that Max leaves the country for the entire summer?”
“Mind? She’s probably yacht-hopping through the Mediterranean as we speak. She gets a free summer vacation withouta single responsibility. No, she doesn’t mind. But enough about her.” He was grinning when he said, “I would much rather concentrate on you.” He glanced up at the stars, and when he looked at me there seemed to be a shift in his demeanor. “Is there something you have to tell me?”
I thought for a moment. “You may be the only person I’ve ever been completely honest with.”
Teddy took a deep breath. “Before we signed on the dotted line, Chip warned me that you may be having a thing with Mike.”
I hadn’t realized just how much Teddy’s irrational jealousy had grown. I’d first seen it after Mike saved me from the bear. Then Mike had gloated about rescuing me when I drove into the lake. Now with Chip telling him that Mike saw himself as my personal protector, I could at least see why he was questioning me. But that didn’t mean I had to put up with it.
I scoffed. “I hope you told him that couldn’t be possible since we both know I have a thing foryou.” I unwound myself from him and continued, “Mike made it sound like we were involved, and no, I didn’t say otherwise. I didn’t want to dignify it with a response. We happen to work at the same camp. I’ve shattered my already broken vows of marriage to be withyou. I’m not proud of it, but up until this very moment I thoughtyouwere worth it.” My hands were on my hips, and I glared at him the same way I did when I reprimanded my children. “Let me make this perfectly clear—I do not ever want to talk about this again.” We silently stared at each other until I said, “Tonight we were supposed to be celebrating, but instead you’re accusing me of cheating on the person I’m cheating with. This is absurd.”
Teddy opened and then closed his mouth.
“You know what? I don’t need this. I don’t need to complicate my life with someone who doesn’t trust me.” I walked away.
“Lori, wait.”
I turned around, my arms crossed in front of me.
“You’re right. If I’ve acted as if I don’t trust you, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. It’s my issue. I have to let go of the animosity I feel toward Mike. I thought I was past it, and then when Chip brought him up . . .” I was about to say something, but Teddy continued, “Lori, please don’t walk away from our plans.” He hesitated. “Or me . . . I’m truly sorry.”
I didn’t say anything right away. If I had any doubts, this was the time to hit the brakes. I looked him in the eye and said, “It’s not just about the Mike bullshit. We need to trust each other. I get that you might not think I’m an honest and ethical person because of, well, my circumstances. But I am.” I wiped away a tear. “What we’re doing, our relationship I know is morally wrong but yet when I’m with you everything feels so right.”
Teddy opened his arms. “Lori, I only have the utmost respect for you—”
I cut him off. “You know we cannot move forward with a partnership if there isn’t trust.”
Teddy wrapped me in a hug. “I’m sorry that I inferred in any way that I don’t trust you because it couldn’t be further from the truth. At this point in my life, you may be the only person I do trust.” I allowed him to kiss me.
I pulled back, looking into his eyes. “Do we understand each other?”
“We are perfectly in sync in both mind and body.” He picked me up, spinning us around. “I’m chuffed to be your partner and I’ll never doubt you again.”
37Infirmary
Iwas with Maggie and Abby sipping Dunkin iced coffee under the ceiling fan in arts & crafts, trying to escape the August humidity. It was rest hour, and we were enjoying our afternoon pick-me-up.
“I was thinking how good it feels not to have to look over my shoulder or second guess what I’m doing,” I said.
“It’s true, I feel freer, lighter. Dare I say, I’m the most relaxed I’ve been since we got here,” Abby said.
