Page 34 of Shining Pearls
I wasn’t sure how to respond to his obvious anger, but I didn’t have to because Dean jumped in to take responsibility for the lie. “Actually, I’m the one who said that, and I shouldn’t have. It isn’t true.”
“You sure about that?” Alex was glaring at both of us, obviously desperate for any way out of accepting this new reality.
“We’re sure. There’s no way the baby is mine.” Dean answered before placing a protective arm around my shoulders.
Alex glared down at his ice cream cone as if it was suddenly somehow offensive to him. He stood and stalked over to the trash can to throw away the barely-touched treat. Once he returned, he stood, rather than sitting at the picnic table with us.
After a long, awkward silence, he forced his eyes to connect with mine and asked, “Are you sure it’s mine?”
The bitter gaze he gave me, coupled with the insulting question felt like a kick to my chest. He knew that he was my first lover.Did he really think I’d jumped into someone else’s bed right after Claire’s return?I didn’t trust my voice not to waver, so I merely nodded my head to answer him.
Alex’s eyes traveled back down to the table as if he couldn’t stand to look at me for another moment. When his gaze finally lifted, it went straight to Claire. “You knew about this?”
She gave him a sad nod before saying, “I figured it out.”
He dropped down to his knees on the concrete sidewalk in front of his wife. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. This has to be so hard for you. I’d do anything to take it back. Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
Claire nodded through her tears and held her arms out to him. He engulfed her in a hug, closing his eyes and kissing the sides of her face.
I watched the entire emotional scene unfold with horror-struck, wide eyes. I had always known Alex loved Claire, but I’d longed to believe there was a place in his heart for me, too. The twin facts that he never even glanced in my direction after I confirmed the truth or gave my feelings a single thought proved that if he had ever cared for me at all, those warm feelings had dissipated into thin air the moment his wife returned.
Dean’s eyes remained locked on me as I struggled to absorb the remarkable bond between the other couple. Sensing my discomfort, he made a lame excuse about us needing to get home in time for our favorite television program and helped me stand up.
Alex and Claire didn’t even glance in our direction for a moment to tell us goodbye as Dean helped scurry me out of their vicinity. They were too engrossed with each other to even notice that we left.
Once we turned the corner on the street and were out of their line of vision, I jogged to the trash can, tossed my half-eaten cone inside, and promptly threw up the rest.
Dean hurried over and patted my back. I hated it that he was seeing this, but it was too late now. As soon as I finished, he grabbed some paper napkins from the dispenser outside the red caboose and handed them to me to clean off my mouth.
“I’m sorry,” I told him after I had a moment to catch my breath.
“For getting sick?” Dean sounded unaffected as if he dealt with such things every day. “That’s nothing to be sorry for. In fact, I felt a little ill, too, when I saw the heartless way that jerk responded to the remarkable news that he’s the father of your baby.”
I gave him a wan smile. Although I wanted to show him more appreciation for his steadfast support, I couldn’t summon the energy right now. Besides, the last thing I wanted was for Alex and Claire to walk by and see me getting sick over Alex’s cold response to the news of my baby’s paternity.
Proving that he was always in tune with my feelings, Dean’s eyes darted down towards the picnic table area. “Let’s get out of here before they decide to leave. We don’t want them to see you like this.”
I nodded and leaned into Dean’s side as he placed a strong, supportive arm around me and guided me home. Once we were inside Aunt Mimi’s house, Dean helped me upstairs and tucked me into bed.
Although I searched my mind for the words to convey how grateful I was for him, I only managed a raspy, “Thank you,” before I turned over and was engulfed by sleep.
32
Claire
Meg’s eyes were bugged out at me as if I’d completely lost my mind. She sounded outraged when she asked, “What do you mean you felt sorry for Josie? You’re feeling bad for your husband’s mistress now?––Why??”
I smiled at my fiery sister, knowing there was no way I would be able to make her understand. “You didn’t see the downcast expression on her face over Alex’s reaction to the news that he’s the father of her baby. She was absolutely devastated. I think she really cares about him, and she believed he felt the same way about her.”
“But Alex loves you and only you. Everyone knows that.” Meg spluttered as if it was preposterous to think anything else.
“His reaction proved that.” I smiled at the delightful memory of Alex’s laser focus on me and my feelings. “His only concern was how the news was affecting me.”
“That’s the only thing heshouldhave been worried about. You’re his wife.” Meg inserted unnecessarily.
I nodded and savored a sip from the one caffeine-free Diet Coke I allowed myself per day before adding, “Yes, and I’m glad that I was his top priority, but he could have been a bit more sympathetic to the poor girl.”
“Poor girl!” Meg nearly choked on the chilled Riesling she’d been gulping down like ice water on a scorching hot day, even though it was actually freezing outside and spitting snow.
