Read Online Secret Lives Of Husbands And Wives by Josie Brown - Free Book Online
Authors: Josie Brown
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third cupcake to choke out, “With whom?”
The spell is broken. He looks over at her, surprised. “
Whom?
No one. She was alone. But she was fully dressed. Crying. Sobbing in the shower. It was as if she’d—
cracked
somehow.”
In her
clothes
?
That was the very last thing the others expected—or wanted—to hear. Out of her clothes would have been more like it.
And in some other man’s arms.
Especially
since they now know a shower was involved. . . .
No one says anything at first. It is Brooke who finally breaks the awkward silence. “So, what did she say when . . . you know, when she finally came out?”
“You mean, when I
pulled
her out? That she loved me. That she knew I loved her too, but that she was no longer—how did she put it? Oh yeah, that she was no longer
in love
with me. That she could no longer pretend that everything was just fine, or that she was living her life on terms that worked for her. That something—something
big
—was missing. And it would always be that way if she didn’t get out.
Now.
Just what the hell does that mean, exactly?”
He’s addressing that not to any one of us, but to all of us. If we were to be honest with him, with ourselves, we’d have to admit that we’ve all been there at one time or another.
“Listen, I want to thank all of you for just—well, for listening to me go on like this.” We see the pain in his frown. “Maybe if DeeDee and I had had conversations like this, even a month ago, we might still be together. I guess it’s not fair to blame her for something I didn’t do well myself.”
Harry doesn’t exactly tear up, but his eyes are glassy. He is unsteady as he rises to his feet. The comforting pats he receives fromTammy and Isabelle assure him that he has won the redemption he seeks. Colleen and Brooke actually jump up and give him kisses on his cheek.
He is still their Perfect Guy. Better yet, he’s now their friend too.
Only Margot is still a nonbeliever. “Truly touching. But I, for one, would be interested in hearing DeeDee’s side of it.”
The others flinch at her bluntness, but Harry smiles as if she’s paid him a compliment. “You and me both. But I guess that’s wishful thinking on my part. Because, despite what happened, I’m still in love with her.”
Her response is a shrug.
Time is up. Harry has given it his best shot, but the reality is that Margot refuses to fold. And because she insists on full submission from her minions, eventually they will find reasons to dislike him too.
Just when I think all is lost, he turns to Margot with a sideways glance. “Wait a minute. You said your last name is Hardaway? Wow, then you must be the mom of that adorable kid Laurel.”
Bull’s-eye!
Margot blushes. A genuine smile breaks out on her lips. Truly, there is no greater sound to a mother’s ear than praise for her offspring. And Harry’s compliment is all the sweeter because Laurel, the leader of the middle school’s posse of mean girls, nets her mother more enemies than friends. (In that regard, the nut does not fall far from the tree.) “You
know
Laurel?”
“Of course. We
are
talking about the Laurel who cheers at the middle-school boys’ basketball games, right? My Temple thinks she’s the cutest one on the squad. Jake is the team captain, you know. In fact, I think he’s got a bit of a crush on her. Of course, he probably wouldn’t like it that I let that out of the bag.”
“Oh . . . yes, that’s my Laurel. And, no! I won’t say anything about Jake. And, um, feel free to invite Laurel over anytime. To babysit Temple, I mean.” Jake is the class hunk. Even Margot knowsthat. The last thing she’d want to do is throw a wet blanket on her daughter’s crush. How would that play out in Laurel’s twice-weekly therapy sessions?
Mine is the last SUV to leave the lot. I’ve just pulled up to the light when my cell phone rings. I don’t recognize the number, but the voice is unmistakably
The spell is broken. He looks over at her, surprised. “
Whom?
No one. She was alone. But she was fully dressed. Crying. Sobbing in the shower. It was as if she’d—
cracked
somehow.”
In her
clothes
?
That was the very last thing the others expected—or wanted—to hear. Out of her clothes would have been more like it.
And in some other man’s arms.
Especially
since they now know a shower was involved. . . .
No one says anything at first. It is Brooke who finally breaks the awkward silence. “So, what did she say when . . . you know, when she finally came out?”
“You mean, when I
pulled
her out? That she loved me. That she knew I loved her too, but that she was no longer—how did she put it? Oh yeah, that she was no longer
in love
with me. That she could no longer pretend that everything was just fine, or that she was living her life on terms that worked for her. That something—something
big
—was missing. And it would always be that way if she didn’t get out.
Now.
Just what the hell does that mean, exactly?”
He’s addressing that not to any one of us, but to all of us. If we were to be honest with him, with ourselves, we’d have to admit that we’ve all been there at one time or another.
“Listen, I want to thank all of you for just—well, for listening to me go on like this.” We see the pain in his frown. “Maybe if DeeDee and I had had conversations like this, even a month ago, we might still be together. I guess it’s not fair to blame her for something I didn’t do well myself.”
Harry doesn’t exactly tear up, but his eyes are glassy. He is unsteady as he rises to his feet. The comforting pats he receives fromTammy and Isabelle assure him that he has won the redemption he seeks. Colleen and Brooke actually jump up and give him kisses on his cheek.
He is still their Perfect Guy. Better yet, he’s now their friend too.
Only Margot is still a nonbeliever. “Truly touching. But I, for one, would be interested in hearing DeeDee’s side of it.”
The others flinch at her bluntness, but Harry smiles as if she’s paid him a compliment. “You and me both. But I guess that’s wishful thinking on my part. Because, despite what happened, I’m still in love with her.”
Her response is a shrug.
Time is up. Harry has given it his best shot, but the reality is that Margot refuses to fold. And because she insists on full submission from her minions, eventually they will find reasons to dislike him too.
Just when I think all is lost, he turns to Margot with a sideways glance. “Wait a minute. You said your last name is Hardaway? Wow, then you must be the mom of that adorable kid Laurel.”
Bull’s-eye!
Margot blushes. A genuine smile breaks out on her lips. Truly, there is no greater sound to a mother’s ear than praise for her offspring. And Harry’s compliment is all the sweeter because Laurel, the leader of the middle school’s posse of mean girls, nets her mother more enemies than friends. (In that regard, the nut does not fall far from the tree.) “You
know
Laurel?”
“Of course. We
are
talking about the Laurel who cheers at the middle-school boys’ basketball games, right? My Temple thinks she’s the cutest one on the squad. Jake is the team captain, you know. In fact, I think he’s got a bit of a crush on her. Of course, he probably wouldn’t like it that I let that out of the bag.”
“Oh . . . yes, that’s my Laurel. And, no! I won’t say anything about Jake. And, um, feel free to invite Laurel over anytime. To babysit Temple, I mean.” Jake is the class hunk. Even Margot knowsthat. The last thing she’d want to do is throw a wet blanket on her daughter’s crush. How would that play out in Laurel’s twice-weekly therapy sessions?
Mine is the last SUV to leave the lot. I’ve just pulled up to the light when my cell phone rings. I don’t recognize the number, but the voice is unmistakably
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