Page 3 of Feels Like Home

“For what, exactly? For screwing every man you came in contact with? For risking everything for a quick fuck? For being a sucky role model for our sons? For letting them think that this is the type of marriage that is okay?” My voice is increasing in both intensity and volume, but I don’t have it in me to try to calmdown.

She starts sobbing, buckling over at the waist, but I don’t give ashit.

“I thought…” I laugh humorlessly. “Man, Heather. I thought maybe it was just a few guys. I had a sinking feeling and kept trying to convince myself I was wrong. And, damn, I wish I were. Do I need to be tested? Ifyou—”

“No. You don’t need to be tested. I’ve been tested, and always usecondoms.”

I nod my head and scrub a hand over my face, hardly believing that this is my life. I suck in a deep breath through my nose and let itout.

“We’redone.”

Her head shoots up, and she wipes under her eyes then along the side of herpants.

“What?”

“Did I stutter? We’re done. Gather your shit. Get out of thishouse.”

“But… don’t you want to work thisout?”

“Work whatout?”

“Our marriage,Andy!”

“We haven’t had amarriagein years! Since the first time you let some other man have a relationship with you, touch you… stick. His. Dick. In. You. How long has that been, Heather?” I’m shouting, the veins in my forehead rising to the point where I feel my head couldexplode.

“I…” she croaksout.

“Out.” I say, my voice now low and with finality I continue, squaring my shoulders and looking her dead in the eye. “I want a divorce. You’re going to be honest with the boys. I want them to hear it from you, rather than the rumor mill. We’re going to sell this house because damn if I can ever sleep in this place again, knowing you’ve been screwing other men in the home we builttogether.”

“You can’t beserious?”

“Oh, I’mserious.”

“But… Aidan andReece?”

“Will be with me. I don’t want your influence onthem.”

“Andy! They’remy—”

“Shoulda thought of that before you started screwing around on me, Heather. I was good to you. Even when I knew — and trust me, Iknew— you were having an affair, or affairs, it seems, I was still good to you. Yes, we may have driftedapart.”

She opens her mouth like she’s going to start using it as an excuse for heractions.

“Life happened, Heather. Life. It’s nothing other married couples don’t go through. You made this choice. You didthis.”

And with that final word, I push off the counter and walk toward her. I lean close, the last time I ever plan to be this close to her, and say right into her ear, “This is on you. You. Did. This. You wanted freedom? You didn’t want to be tied down? You gotit.”

I walk away, storm through the front door, and take a deep breath of fresh air. The first breath I feel like I’ve taken in years. The first breath of the rest of mylife.

2

Andy

As soon asshewalks out of our house with a small bag packed, after begging me to change my mind, of course, I climb into my pickup and don’t turn back, but I had to make sure she was really gone before Ileft.

Not having a clue where to go, I justdrive.

I walk into Dreamin’ Beans, the best coffee shop in town, with no doubt a look of pure fury on my face. It’s one of my favorite places to be. Christine’s pastries are out of this world, and her coffee is the best. I don’t know what she does different from others, but it’s like magic in a cup. And Heather hated it. Said she would never step foot in the place because she could make coffee at home for cheaper — which makes no sense because she loves to spend money — and she didn’t need to think about fattening herself up with all the bakery items. Herloss.

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