Page 9 of Wild Ever After
He pasted on his best I’m Senator Harry Walker smile as she introduced him to the group who’d gathered to celebrate her birthday.
“I’m sorry,” she was saying. “I didn’t know he was coming up to surprise me.”
“Why doesn’t he join us? There’s plenty of room.”
Harry inclined his head to the man who’d spoken. “Thank you…” He let the words dangle between them, waiting.
“Will. Will Wallace. I teach with Belinda.”
“Will.” It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’d love to join, but after so many months apart, Bella and I would like to share a drink for her birthday. I’m sure you understand.”
Harry didn’t really care if the man named Will understood or not.
“Of course,” Will said.
Harry kept his attention on Will who did the same. They sized one another up and Harry wondered who was going to breath the virtual pissing contest when Bella touched his arm. “There’s a booth in the corner. Why don’t we grab it?”
“After you.”
She glared, but quickly eased around him, offer a small wave to Will, who watched them closely.
He wore a wedding band, Will did, but Harry still placed his own hand at Bella’s back. She belonged to him. No one else. Ever.
Will finally sat and turned back to the table of friends. Harry’s shoulders relaxed and when Bella took a seat in the booth, Harry slid into the seat across from her.
“What can I get you two?” The waitress asked before looking up at them. “Bella? Hi!”
She smiled and leaned close to hug Bella while Harry looked on curiously. He read the name tag the woman wore: Keira.
He liked that his wife had made new friends. She was too fun loving to go without anyone in her life, but he couldn’t help feeling somewhat jealous that she indeed seemed to have created a life of her own without him.
Was it too late? Had he left her tantrum unchecked for too long?
He hadn’t expected her to become a hermit, the way Riley tried to intimate. He hadn’t expected her to wallow in loneliness. He hadn’t expected her to stay gone.
He honestly hadn’t known what to expect when he saw her.
Riley always said her mother was doing well. He thought, in the back of his mind that she’d said that so he wouldn’t worry, but face to face with Bella and a group of people who seemed to genuinely care about her, both elated and saddened him.
These people saw her every day now. Other than pictures sent by their daughter, Harry hadn’t seen Bella in a year. “Sir?”
Harry smiled up at Keira. “Whatever you have on tap is fine. And please, call me Harry. Any friend of Bella’s is a friend of mine.”
“Nice to meet you, Harry.” Her eyes were wary and her smile, while easy and cordial, didn’t appear as genuine as when it was leveled at Bella.
“What did you tell them about me?” he asked when Keira walked away.
“I didn’t.”
Harry felt those words in his chest, as though each letter broke through his skin one corner at a time. “I see.”
“Do you? Will knows only slightly more than anyone else because his office is across from mine. There wasn’t a vacant one in the history department. He heard me arguing with Riley one day and came to check on me after she left.”
“Kind of him.” The words and the way they sounded as they left his mouth didn’t set well with Bella. He flushed under her disapproving glare.
“Yes. It was kind of him. It was the first kind thing anyone had done or said up to that point. The stories were beginning to fade, the whispers were beginning to die down, but the memories of a public figure’s downfall don’t fade as quickly as some others.”
“I know, Bella.”
