Page 99 of Last Call

Andi held up a hand. She looked at Fallon. “Fallon, would you give me a minute alone with Jake?”

Fallon hesitated.

“Please?” Andi requested.

Fallon nodded and left the room.

“How much of that did you hear?” Jake asked.

“More than I would have liked.”

“Andi…”

“Don’t.” Andi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “None of what you said to her was fair.”

“It was true.”

Andi nodded. “Maybe it was—some of it. Liv didn’t leave Fallon because of me.”

“Andi, come on. You don’t think that was a test?”

A knot formed in Andi’s stomach. “I loved you,” she said.

“But you were in love with Fallon.”

“Not then,” Andi said. “But you’re not wrong. I fell in love with her long before we became lovers. I never expected it to—Well, it doesn’t matter. She never tried to come between us, Jake. Fallon never wanted to replace you with the boys. Never. I could’ve signed them up for ski lessons or learned to bait a hook. Fallon isn’t the only one who filled in for you. Pete took the boys fishing. He taught Dave about cars. Dale used to bring Jacob with him when he serviced the security systems at museums. Ida played babysitter. My mother helped. It was a team effort. Fallon was the biggest part of that. We were both lonely,” she admitted. “You have no right to attack her. None.”

Jake shook his head. “He needs to be in school, Andi.”

“Dave needs to follow his own path, Jake, not yours, and not the one I’d prefer. Fallon isn’t trying to direct him. She’s trying to respect himandsupport him.”

“Why is Fallon involved at all?”

“Fallon will always be part of my life. Fallon and Riley aremyfamily. You asked Fallon why she didn’t leave Whiskey Springs. I don’t need to hear her answer. I’m sure some of it was about me. It wasn’tbecauseof me. My decision to ask for a divorce and stay here instead of moving with you wasn’t because of my feelings for Fallon. Itisabout family. Everyone here today is part of myfamily. This is myhome. Home for you—it was a temporary stop. In a lot of ways, that’s what I was to you.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Is anything about what you said to Fallon—what we’re talking about now—fair? This isn’t aboutfairness. It’s about choices. We’ve all made choices in the past that changed our futures. None of us can go back. We’re all doing the best we can.”

“It’s my fault. All of it.”

“Don’t do that,” Andi said.

“Do what? Admit it’s my fault?” Jake asked.

“Don’t mitigate my feelings or my choices.”

“How did I do that? I feel…”

“Regretful,” Andi said. “I know. And you took it out on Fallon. I chose to stay with you, Jake, knowing you were unfaithful. It nearly killed me once.”

“Andi.”

“I forgave you for everything. I accepted things I probably shouldn’t have. I did. Those were my decisions.Ichose to let Fallon close. I needed her. And yes, I loved her. It wasmychoice to let you both go. I did that as much for myself as for anyone,” she said, smiling. “I found Billie. Your career is thriving. Fallon and Riley are happy. Stop rehashing the past. It’s behind us. You can’t make Dave into the little boy you said goodbye to at the door. And you can’t re-litigate our marriage. I spent years blaming myself for your choices.”

“Andi, I never meant to hurt you.”

“No. But you never tried to stop hurting me, either. And I allowed it.”

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