Page 42 of Take My Heart
She laughs. ‘Do you really think I was in love with Henry when we got married?’
‘Are you saying you weren’t?’
I knew she didn’t love him, but this is the first time she’s actually admitted it.
‘I’m saying I valued what he could offer me and what we could offer each other. That’s why I married him. It wasn’t because he’s my soulmate or the love of my life.’
‘I don’t get why you’d marry a guy you don’t love.’
‘Marriage is about more than love. You should know that after hearing all the stories Mom and Dad told us about their divorce cases. Marriage is a business contract. The sharing of assets and responsibilities. You have to think about that when you’re considering a future partner. Henry is stable and secure and makes a good living. He’ll make a nice life for me. Just like Cam will make a nice life for you.’
‘I don’t want my life to just be nice. I want better than nice.’
‘You know if you do this, if you give up on Cam, you’re gonna be stuck at that job you hate.’
‘Maybe I’ll get a different job.’
‘It won’t pay as much. You’re making a lot for someone your age. It’ll be hard to find someplace else that pays that well.’
‘I’m not worried about my job. I can stay where I’m at for a few more years.’
‘Kate, I really think you need to reconsider your decision about Cam. Give yourself time to rest so your head can clear.’
‘Time isn’t going to change how I feel. My relationship with Cam was over a long time ago. I just didn’t want to admit it.’
‘Maybe things will get better once he moves back to Chicago.’
‘I’m not even sure that will happen. He said he’d only be there a few months and it’s been over a year.’
‘I thought he was moving back here next month.’
‘That’s what he said, but his job was extended through the fall. He told me last week. How is that a relationship? Living in different cities and never seeing each other? I saw him a total of four times last year.’
‘People do what they have to for their careers. It’s not going to be this way forever.’ She pauses. ‘Maybe you should talk to someone.’
‘Like who? A shrink? Are you saying I’m crazy?’
‘I’m saying it might help to talk to someone. A counselor. You could go to mine, but I’m not sure if she’s still taking clients.’
‘You’ve been going to counseling? Why didn’t I know this?’
‘Because it’s not something people talk about.’
‘But I’m your sister. How long have you been doing this?’
‘I’ve been seeing her for, I don’t know, a few months?’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve been under a lot of stress and I didn’t want to take pills if I could just talk it out. I think you should try it. My stress is a lot better now.’
‘Stress isn’t why I don’t want to marry Cam. He and I just aren’t good together. I’m not going back to him. It’s over.’
‘So what are you going to do? Hang out with some strange guy until you’re ready to come home?’
‘I’m just here until the storm ends. There’s at least a foot of snow here and it’s still snowing.’
‘So who is this guy? The one you’re staying with?’
