Page 55 of Don't Regret Me
“Worse.” He said the word slowly, his voice low.
Stephanie screeched again, and Nick knew he needed to do something. “I’m going to step outside for a moment. Try to get her to calm down with some fresh air.” Really, it was him who needed the air. There was too much unsaid, too much regret in this house, and it cloyed in his throat.
Once outside, he drew in a deep breath and looked down at Stephanie. “He’ll see how wonderful you are, kid. That man is your father. Not me.”
He paced the length of the driveway, bouncing Stephanie until she quieted. It was almost time for her nap, so he couldn’t stay much longer, a fact he was immensely thankful for. Was that why people had so many kids? They were instant excuses.
No, there were plenty of other reasons. Her sweet face, for one. He didn’t understand how anyone could look at this child and not fall instantly in love.
His phone dinged, and he shifted Stephanie into one arm to pull it out of his pocket. There was an email from his business manager with information about this weekend’s renters. He liked to know who was at the house, how much they enjoyed it.
But he hadn’t expected the name staring him in the face. Elizabeth Ross. She was there this weekend, possibly right now. At the place she claimed they first met. Something gnawed at him, some knowledge he couldn’t grasp.
“Sherrie.” His eyes widened as he replayed what Franklin said. The worst thing he’d done. Something he couldn’t think about. The very act Nick told Liz wasn’t true. He barged into the house, his rage a carefully controlled boil beneath the surface of his desperation.
Franklin was where he’d left him, but as soon as he saw Nick, he stood. “It’s not what?—”
“Did you drug me?”
Four simple words.
One not so simple answer.
He didn’t need to speak, because Nick knew. With sudden clarity, a sudden awareness. He knew.
And she’d tried to tell him.
Pointing one finger at Franklin, he narrowed his eyes. “This is not finished. When I return, I’ll have the police.”
He ran from the house, hurriedly buckling Stephanie into the car seat he’d bought, and jumping into the car. He didn’t bother going back to the hotel, instead calling Bentley on his way.
“Do you have someone that can cover you at the center?” he asked by way of greeting.
“Sure. Why?”
“I need you to come with me to Virginia. I don’t think I can do this alone.”
Bentley hesitated before speaking again. “Do what?”
“Tell her I believe her. All of it.” About Sherrie, about the coma dream he still couldn’t wrap his head around. He hated himself for not seeing it before. Liz deserved better than him, better than a man who didn’t have enough faith, one who might hurt her one day.
But he was too selfish to let her go.
26
ELIZABETH
Being at the lake house without Nick felt wrong. Liz couldn’t explain it exactly, but there was a desolate air to the abandoned dock, the glassy water. The wooden boards of the deck creaked underneath her feet as she went for the steps and down onto the rolling grassy hillside.
Her fingers curled around the soothing mug of coffee. Warm air made the hair at her nape stick to her skin. About a year ago, she stood in this very spot, her circumstances so different from today. Late last night, when they arrived, she hadn’t let herself explore, let herself remember. She hadn’t even gone looking for the reason she was here in the first place.
Before she learned if any of it had truly been real, she needed a few moments of peace. Walking around the deck, she stopped at the remnants of the old fire pit, the one her parents loved so much. When she closed her eyes, she saw herself sitting there with her mom, happily unaware of what was coming for them.
The image changed to one of Nick, making promises he didn’t think himself capable of breaking. But that was the thing about a promise. It was a fragile thing, existing on a balance of trust that couldn’t exist in the real world, where complications shattered the glass of faith that had never truly been whole.
“Mom.” Footsteps sounded on the deck as the twins ran across it and barreled down the stairs. “Papa says we can go swimming today if you say it’s okay.” Evelyn bounced on her toes. She already wore her bathing suit, giving Liz no option but to say yes, to make the smiles spread across both their faces.
Owen ripped the shirt off over his head, not bothering to go inside for swim trunks. Liz didn’t stop him, figuring his shorts were just as good. The two of them took off for the dock, and Liz followed more slowly.
