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“She didn’t know until we got the call, Whitney. I swear, I didn’t tell her or anyone else because Heath asked me not to.”

I throw myself back into the seat, looking up at the ceiling my eyes begin to well with tears, again. “If I’d have known,” I choke out.

“What would you have done, babe? Tell me that? Ridden his ass? Been the bird dog I know you to be and made sure he was doing everything he was supposed to do? Do you think that would’ve been good for your marriage when it was already in the shit can?”

“God… I don’t know. I really don’t know what I would have done.”

“He didn’t want to worry you, Whitney,” Steve states.

I let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, wanting to spare my feelings has landed him in a hospital. My kids could have lost their father for Christ’s sake.”

“He thought he could change his lifestyle and not have to worry any of you. Believe it or not, Whitney, you and those kids are everything to him. He’s a man. We’re dumb creatures most of the time. We think we’re doing everything we’re supposed to be doing, and most of the time we aren’t. Heath is a prime example of it.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I close my eyes, trying to calm myself down. “I’m mostly mad at myself,” I confess. “I’ve been so quick to point fingers, place blame. I didn’t see what’s been going on right in front of my very own eyes, under my roof–to my husband.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this when you’ve been unhappy for years. Your relationship isn’t to blame for Heath’s clogged arteries.”

I know she’s right, but it doesn’t seem to help at the moment. Before we can continue with our conversation, the kids come back into the room. All three have red-blotched faces, but each of them is wearing a smile, and that makes me smile.

Now it’s my turn.