Read Online The Good Wife by Jane Porter - Free Book Online Page B

to do—”
    “I’m trying to save us.”
    He was off the couch, staring down at Meg. “And I keep telling you there is no us. Not anymore.”
    “Jack.”
    “No.”
    “Meg, yes.” Jack glanced at Sarah, his gaze narrowed, his expression tortured. “Sarah, help me.”
    Sarah pressed her hand to her mouth, unable to speak, feeling as if she was about to be sick.
    His eyes met hers, held, his brown depths pleading. “Make her understand,” he added. “I’m finished. Done. I want out. I want to get away.”
    And then he was walking out and Meg covered her face with her hands and cried.
    JJ stepped into the living room a few moments later, his face pale, his jaw hard. “Mom?” he said uncertainly.
    But Meg’s back was bowed. She kept her face hidden.
    “Mom, he didn’t mean it,” JJ said, moving toward her slowly, cautiously. “He’s just in a bad mood because he’s flying out tonight.”
    When Meg didn’t answer, JJ looked at Sarah and mouthed the word
help
.
    Sarah joined Meg on the couch and wrapped an arm around her. “People fight,” she whispered, picking her words with care, wanting to calm Meg, soothe her. “People say things they don’t mean when they’re angry.”
    “He means it, though,” Meg choked from behind her hands. “He’s done. Done with me.”
    JJ swore and ran out of the room to race up the stairs. Suddenly voices were raised upstairs, JJ shouting at his father, cursing him out, and then Jack was shouting back.
    Meg lifted her head, her face wet, eyes wide. “Oh no. JJ can’t. No.” Before she could move, more feet sounded on the staircase and then Tessa’s high voice could be heard, crying, “Stop it. Stop it, both of you, right now!”
    There was another shout that had Meg flying to the stairs. She was halfway up the staircase when Jack came storming down with his suitcase, briefcase, and heavy traveling coat. “This is bullshit,” he said, facing Meg on the stairs. “I don’t want to be here. There’s no reason for me to be here.”
    “You have children here,” Meg said hoarsely.
    “You’ve turned them against me.”
    “I haven’t.”
    “My son doesn’t respect me. My daughter is screaming at me—”
    “They were just trying to help,” Meg said, reaching out to him.
    He backed away so he couldn’t be touched. “I hold you responsible, Margaret. You did this.”
    “No.”
    “You’ve robbed me of my family—”
    “That’s not true.”
    “It is true.”
    “Jack, your family is here. You’re the one leaving.”
    “My work is in Virginia.”
    “But your family is in Santa Rosa.”
    “Daddy!”
It was Tessa at the top of the stairs, leaning over the railing. “Daddy, please don’t leave. Please don’t go mad at us.”
    “I’m not mad, Tessa,” he said, glancing up at her and, seeing her troubled face, he softened his voice. “And I’m not upset with you. Okay?”
    “But you’re upset with Mom, aren’t you?”
    “This is between your mom and me,” he said, before swearing under his breath. He looked into Meg’s eyes. “This is just what I didn’t want,” he said quietly. “This is just what we didn’t need.”
    Then he was gone, his old Saab roaring out of the garage and down the driveway, tires squealing as he took the last corner fast.
    Within seconds of Jack’s departure, Ella appeared at Sarah’s side and grabbed hold of her leg, wanting reassurance. Brennan slunk into the hall moments later and nervously asked why Uncle Jack left in such a bad mood.
    Meg’s kids were even more emotional and Meg just looked lost. Baffled. Sarah’s heart went out to her.
    “Should we see if there’s a show on TV?” she suggested brightly, patting Ella’s head and smiling at the others. “Or a movie we could all watch together?”
    “Don’t want to watch TV,” Brennan said. “I’m bored.”
    “A puzzle?” Sarah suggested.
    Brennan and the girls shook their heads.
    “How about we make cookies?” Meg asked, pulling herself