Page 120 of The Rejected Wife

Lauren’s throat bobs as she swallows. “And…when would that be, do you think?”

“Serene’s therapist says we can’t put a timeline on it,” I say, measured, deliberate. “We can’t raise your hopes. It depends entirely on Serene—on her emotional readiness, on the kind of person she becomes, on how her life unfolds.”

Lauren’s breath catches. “So, I might have to wait until she’s eighteen?”

“Ideally, no,” Cilla replies. Her voice falters just for a second. “Maybe sooner. Maybe when she hits puberty. But we can’t make promises. Again, her therapist says every child is different. And ultimately—it’s our decision. Ours and her therapist’s.”

Lauren’s shoulders curl inward. Her presence seems to dim. “Until then?—?”

“Until then,” I cut in, my voice clipped, “you stay away from her. No contact. No attempts to reach her. No watching from a distance. No uninvited visits. You stay away.”

The room falls still.

“If not—" I square my shoulders. "If not, you don’t get to see her at all, not for the rest of your life."

Lauren draws in a sharp breath. A shudder grips her. She squeezes her eyes shut and takes another few deep breaths. Then she squares her shoulders. When she opens her eyelids there’s a determined and fatalistic expression on her face.

"I deserve that. I shouldn’t have turned up at the resort the way I did. I will never forgive myself for what happened next. As long as I live, I know, I’ll never get over the sight of her hurting herself and falling into the pool. And I shouldn’t have come here today. I’m sorry, I scared her. I really am."

She keeps saying she's sorry but keeps doing things to be sorry for.I have a feeling this is a pattern that won't change, but I keep my thoughts to myself.

I pull my hand from my wife’s, then wrap my arm about her and draw her close. I take comfort from her warmth, her scent, the familiar curves which I know as well as my own body.

"Meanwhile, why don’t we exchange contact details?” Cilla says gently.

Lauren swallows, then to my surprise she offers a small smile. "I did choose well, didn't I? I'm glad Serene has you as parents." She wipes away a tear.

I see Cilla do the same as she smiles back.

EvenIfeel a bit of empathy, which I didn’t think was possible. Maybe Lauren just needed the reassurance that we appreciate what she did for Serene, and we can handle it from here?

"Brody," I call out to my brother, who I know is waiting right outside the door of my study. "Can you please see Lauren out?"

59

Priscilla

"Thank you." I turn to my husband.

"For what?"

"I know how incredibly hard it must have been for you to stop yourself from turning her into the police. But you did the right thing. We did the right thing. It’s best to engage with her and explain our point of view to her. And as she said, she doesn’t want to take Serene from us."

"No, she only wants a relationship with Serene," he points out.

I gnaw on the inside of my cheek. "I realize that. And believe me, it’s difficult not to feel threatened by that."

"You shouldn’t be. You’re my wife and much more than Serene’s biological mother. You take care of her. And you care for her.”

"She did give birth to her."

"And you thanked her for that. Which I think is part of what she needed to hear. But you're the one who's here for her, day in and day out. A parent isn't defined only by who gave birth to a child, or even who donated the genetic material. We're her parents because we're the ones who see to her needs and love her." Tyler gathers me close. "Are you okay?"

I nod.

"Are youreally,okay?" He peruses my features closely. The way I love. The way it makes it feel like I’m the cynosure of his life. The focus of his attention. Serene will always be first, for both of us. But I’m right there with her when it comes to having my husband’s attention. And I thank the universe and the fates every day for having brought him and my daughter into my life. And for having brought us into his life on the same day.

"I’m more than okay," I cup his cheek. "I’m in love with you."

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