Read Online Better Not Love Me by Dan Kolbet - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dan Kolbet
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acquisitions, stationed in Dallas. It was Stephanie who actually told him about the job, "You know, if you're looking for something different," she said cautiously.
The next year was a whirlwind. Nate moved to Dallas and started at Riddell. The couple began dating exclusively and moved in together. Nate proposed marriage on the one year anniversary of the first time they met. Stephanie happily said yes.
The new power couple took Riddell by storm. With her knowledge of the company's political landscape and his willingness to burn the midnight oil, Nate was on the fast track to management and an executive position before he turned 30. They were happy but unapologetic workaholics.
When Stephanie became pregnant with Chloe, the couple mutually decided that she would stay home to take care of the baby. Nate was making enough money to support them easily, but the change hurt them both. They were a power couple because they were together. Every day they drove to the office together, worked on the same cases and projects. They had lunch together. Then at the end of the day—or typically the early evening—they would turn off the office lights and drive home together.
Once Chloe arrived, Nate was gone all day leaving Stephanie to do all the parenting alone. Nate knew that Stephanie understood why he needed to continue to keep up his long hours, but it was hard on the couple. The weekends, which were supposed to be filled with fun family outings, often ended up with Nate and Chloe at the house alone. Stephanie needed a break from the 24/7 job of being a mom. Nate encouraged her to take time to herself and she readily agreed. He was not resentful at all toward her for wanting some alone time. It would have been difficult to feel resentful, considering he had Chloe to keep him occupied while his wife was away. That girl was the apple of his eye and he enjoyed every minute of their time together.
But when the weekends were over, Nate would trudge back to the office and Stephanie would resume her job at home. They weren't completely unhappy and they didn't fight, but the uncontrollable passion they once had to always be together was gone. It didn't mean that he loved her any less, far from it. It meant their relationship had matured and was getting stale.
* * *
The phone call came when Chloe was six years old. Nate was sitting on the front steps of their house watching Chloe run back and forth through a sprinkler he'd set up for her to splash around in. It was a typical August weekend. Stephanie was volunteering at a mini-triathlon in Arlington, while he and Chloe hung out at the house. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. The number appeared as unlisted, so he assumed it was a sales call of some kind.
It wasn't.
The caller identified herself as a fellow volunteer from the mini-triathlon.
The vehicle came out of nowhere the volunteer said. A blue SUV. Stephanie was riding her bicycle in front of the lead pack of women running the 5k leg of the triathlon. She was riding out front to wave away spectators and guide the unfamiliar runners along the course. The SUV barreled through an intersection, striking Stephanie from the side in front of the horrified pack of runners and a crowd of onlookers.
She was killed instantly. Nate was devastated.
* * *
Days later Nate threw himself back into his work and Stephanie's mother Margret, moved in to take care of Chloe. Within the year he rose to the executive level at Riddell and pushed his people like there was no tomorrow. He was demanding and effective, but not well liked. And he knew it. He changed after Stephanie died.
He kept with the routine Stephanie had set up and chose to spend every weekend doing activities with Chloe, but during the week he rarely saw her at all, counting on reports from Margret or the school to keep him updated.
It went on like this for years. Then one day four years ago he got another phone call. This time it was from his doctor. Nate
The next year was a whirlwind. Nate moved to Dallas and started at Riddell. The couple began dating exclusively and moved in together. Nate proposed marriage on the one year anniversary of the first time they met. Stephanie happily said yes.
The new power couple took Riddell by storm. With her knowledge of the company's political landscape and his willingness to burn the midnight oil, Nate was on the fast track to management and an executive position before he turned 30. They were happy but unapologetic workaholics.
When Stephanie became pregnant with Chloe, the couple mutually decided that she would stay home to take care of the baby. Nate was making enough money to support them easily, but the change hurt them both. They were a power couple because they were together. Every day they drove to the office together, worked on the same cases and projects. They had lunch together. Then at the end of the day—or typically the early evening—they would turn off the office lights and drive home together.
Once Chloe arrived, Nate was gone all day leaving Stephanie to do all the parenting alone. Nate knew that Stephanie understood why he needed to continue to keep up his long hours, but it was hard on the couple. The weekends, which were supposed to be filled with fun family outings, often ended up with Nate and Chloe at the house alone. Stephanie needed a break from the 24/7 job of being a mom. Nate encouraged her to take time to herself and she readily agreed. He was not resentful at all toward her for wanting some alone time. It would have been difficult to feel resentful, considering he had Chloe to keep him occupied while his wife was away. That girl was the apple of his eye and he enjoyed every minute of their time together.
But when the weekends were over, Nate would trudge back to the office and Stephanie would resume her job at home. They weren't completely unhappy and they didn't fight, but the uncontrollable passion they once had to always be together was gone. It didn't mean that he loved her any less, far from it. It meant their relationship had matured and was getting stale.
* * *
The phone call came when Chloe was six years old. Nate was sitting on the front steps of their house watching Chloe run back and forth through a sprinkler he'd set up for her to splash around in. It was a typical August weekend. Stephanie was volunteering at a mini-triathlon in Arlington, while he and Chloe hung out at the house. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. The number appeared as unlisted, so he assumed it was a sales call of some kind.
It wasn't.
The caller identified herself as a fellow volunteer from the mini-triathlon.
The vehicle came out of nowhere the volunteer said. A blue SUV. Stephanie was riding her bicycle in front of the lead pack of women running the 5k leg of the triathlon. She was riding out front to wave away spectators and guide the unfamiliar runners along the course. The SUV barreled through an intersection, striking Stephanie from the side in front of the horrified pack of runners and a crowd of onlookers.
She was killed instantly. Nate was devastated.
* * *
Days later Nate threw himself back into his work and Stephanie's mother Margret, moved in to take care of Chloe. Within the year he rose to the executive level at Riddell and pushed his people like there was no tomorrow. He was demanding and effective, but not well liked. And he knew it. He changed after Stephanie died.
He kept with the routine Stephanie had set up and chose to spend every weekend doing activities with Chloe, but during the week he rarely saw her at all, counting on reports from Margret or the school to keep him updated.
It went on like this for years. Then one day four years ago he got another phone call. This time it was from his doctor. Nate
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