Chapter 26
The Maserati practically flew. Robert didn’t even slow down for corners. He had one goal: to find Corey Elsom and tear him apart, limb from limb. This man had been his best friend for as long as he could remember. They had been as close as brothers. To think that he had committed such an act of betrayal.
Robert floored the gas pedal, and the car kicked up rocks and dirt. The streets became a blur as he raced along. What a fool he had been. It now made sense; the tension he’d noticed between Corey and Dana at the party. He had never dreamed at the time that the reason was they were having an affair. Heaven only knew how long this had been going on. Had it been happening even when Corey was married? And Sandy Brown. The nerve of Sandy Brown to attempt to get him to do his bidding by blackmailing Dana. He’d take care of that pompous fool later. First, Corey.
~*~*~*~
Robert pulled up in front of Corey’s home. He slammed out of the car and took purposeful strides to the front door. He banged on the door. A few minutes later the door swung opened.
It was Corey’s maid.
“Good morning, Mr. Cortelli.”
“I want to speak to Corey Elsom.”
“I’m sorry Mr. Elsom is not here.”
“Where is he?”
“He is out of town on business.”
“Out of town where? I need to see him.” Pummel him was more like it.
“He’s in New York.”
New York?
“He left this morning. Something urgent came up I think,” the maid continued.
Robert’s nostrils flared as he remembered why he was there.
The maid was watching him with open curiosity.
“Okay, thanks,” he finally mumbled.
Robert slowly made his way back to the car. His rage was now simmering. His thoughts were clearing, and he was beginning to think more rationally.
He shook his head as he stood beside the car door. He looked absentmindedly up the street. What if Corey had been there? It probably was divine intervention that he wasn’t. He had been so enraged that it was a safe bet that he would have thrown a punch at him on sight.
Robert didn’t consider himself a violent man, but he knew that if pushed he could have an explosive temper. He’d been in a fight or two in high school because he had lost his cool. His father had been livid. He had lectured him about the importance of a man being able to keep a tight rein on his emotions. Robert had vowed after that he would not allow people’s actions to control his again. He hadn’t found himself in a similar situation after that as far as he could remember. Which, come to think of it, wasn’t very far. Still, none of the articles he’d read in the last few weeks had suggested that he had anger management issues.
On top of that, he had lectured his son about fighting, yet here he was ready to pummel another human being.
Robert slid behind the wheel of the car and pounded his fists on the steering wheel. Why? Why did this have to happen now? He had just experienced a breakthrough with God and now this. He felt as though as soon as he got over one crisis another was waiting right around the corner to grab him by the throat. Why God? Why are all these things happening to me?
The answer was immediate. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Where had that passage of Scripture come from? It was from one of the Gospels, possibly John, of that he was sure. It was when Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the trials they would go through and that they should be rejoice because he had overcome the world and so would they. He knew he should reach for the Bible and search but right then he was still angry. He didn’t want to be consoled. He felt like a child who was being denied something “for his own good.” He wanted to throw a temper tantrum. He knew he should pray and ask God for guidance in this situation with Dana, but he didn’t want to. He just wanted to be angry and wallow in self-pity.
He drove to the beach and stayed there for hours. Lost in his own thoughts. Eventually, when it was late in the evening, he realized he had to do something. He couldn’t stay there. Yet, he couldn’t return to that house. Not with her there. His feelings were too raw, and he had to sort them out before he decided what to do from there.
He felt drained, emotionally and physically. He knew one thing for certain: he would not do that movie. His resolve was now stronger than ever. Sandy could release the photo of Dana if he liked. He knew what would come with that, though, and he didn’t relish it. It was bad enough him having to cope with the fallout, but what about their kids? What about his family? Their friends? Their church? He couldn’t bear to have his misery and torment exposed to the world for all to see like dirty underwear.
Robert could feel a headache slowly building.
He ignited the engine. He couldn’t go home. He wouldn’t go to his parents. Too many questions would be asked. He didn’t want to go to a hotel. The press would be all over that, speculating on what it could mean. It would be a beacon to signal to everyone that his marriage was in trouble. What to do?
Then Matt sprang to mind. Would Matt take him in? He lived in a nice house in the Pacific Palisades. From his recollection, it had a spare bedroom or two.
His phone was connected to his car speaker. He initiated voice commands and less than a minute later Matt’s voice came over the speaker.
“Matt, I need your help.”
“What’s going on, Bobby?”
“Dana and I had a fight.” That was putting it mildly. “I need a place to crash for a couple nights. Some place private. Can I stay with you?”
Matt didn’t hesitate. “Of course. I’ll just let Clarissa know. That’ll be no problem at all.”
“Great. Thanks. I should be there in about twenty minutes or so.”
Matt was never the type to ask awkward questions. He greeted Robert at the door rather affably with a toddler on one hip and his three-year-old son at his feet playing with a truck. Robert stepped over the toy and into the foyer.
Matt glanced at Robert’s hands. “You haven’t got a bag.”
Robert shook his head. “I left in a hurry.”
“That’s okay. I’m sure I can find something that will fit you.”
Just then, Clarissa appeared and gave Robert a hug and a kiss. “I’m just making dinner. Would you like some?” she asked as she took the baby from Matt.
Robert nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”
He followed Matt to the guest room. His gaze bounced around the large room. The very feminine finishes weren’t lost on him.
Clearly, Matt was conscious of them as well. He gestured helplessly at the floral bedspread.
“Clarissa decorated every room. Her mother stays here when she’s in town hence, the flowers…”
Robert’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. His eyes shifted to the window, and his thoughts drifted with them. After what felt like minutes but was probably just seconds, his eyes returned to his friend’s face.
"All I feel right now is gratitude for a safe place to rest my head.” With people who aren’t going to judge me or ask awkward questions.
“I’ll go get some stuff for you to wear,” Matt said.
Robert nodded in response. After Matt had left, he sat on the edge of the bed. Involuntarily, his thoughts drifted to Dana. Pain sliced through him with such unexpected force he gasped for breath. He felt like crying then and there but reminded himself that Matt was on his way back to the room. There was no way he was going to cry like a little girl in front of the man. He rubbed his hand over his face, shook his head fiercely and took a deep breath.
To distract himself from his traitorous thoughts, Robert reached for the remote and powered on the television. A commercial about automobile insurance was in progress. This was followed by an amusing one about barbecue sauce. Robert could feel his body slowly begin to relax as he allowed the senseless tripe to crowd out his thoughts. He leaned back on the bed on his forearms. All of a sudden a commercial about Barbados appeared onscreen. An onslaught of emotion gripped
Robert as memories of the amazing time he’d had with Dana on the island weeks ago flooded his body. Tears immediately pricked his eyes.
“Here you go.”
Robert pulled his thoughts back to the present and rubbed his hands over his eyes as Matt entered the room.
Matt stopped short and watched him. “Are you alright, bro?”
Robert cleared his throat and sat up. “Sure. What’s this? PJs, a couple of shirts, underwear.”
“It’s a new pack. Wasn’t sure of your style but, you know...?”
Robert laughed in spite of himself.
“I know that you didn’t choose these. It was Clarissa right?”
Matt shrugged. “What’s the point of having a wife if she can’t help with stuff like this?”
Robert shook his head. “Tell her I said thanks. I really appreciate you guys helping me out.”
“Don’t mention it, pal. Oh, she told me to let you know dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.”
Robert was mostly non-communicative during dinner. He was lost in his own thoughts as he picked at his food. He wondered about his family. What were the kids doing now? What had Dana told them?
He watched Matt interact with his own family, Clarissa, and their three kids, the baby, the three-year-old and a daughter who was seven. He felt a pang of longing.
Oh Lord, how I wish this were a nightmare that I would wake from soon.
That night Robert lay in bed and switched TV channels mindlessly. He still had not really prayed to God and hadn’t even opened his Bible. He could feel the discomfort in his spirit, but he was stubborn. He didn’t know what he watched. He felt excruciating hurt and anger, but as the night wore on and sleep continued to elude him he felt strangely numb and apathetic like he didn’t care what happened anymore.
~*~*~*~
Two days later, Robert decided that he needed to go home. Not for good, but wearing Matt’s clothes wasn’t working out for him. Matt was at least four inches shorter and also rather slim. So the pants barely fit in width and were too short, and the shirts all fit snugly. Sure, he could actually go out and buy new clothes, but he didn’t want to. Truth be told, he wanted to see his kids. Interacting with Matt’s kids made him want to be with his own. And seeing the way Matt and Clarissa related to each other made him yearn to see Dana even if he was so angry at her he could spit. The fact was, he still loved her and still wanted her. But he had his pride. He couldn’t just waltz in there as if nothing had happened. He needed a reason to be there and getting clothes was as good as any.
He turned up at the house to find that the kids were in the kitchen having breakfast. There were squeals of joy and excitement and hugs all around.
Hunter nodded at him and eyed him with suspicion like he knew something wasn’t right between Dana and himself and blamed him for it. Robert returned the nod and allowed a half smile. He knew that the Swede kept his own counsel but was fiercely protective of Dana whom he referred to as his princess.
“What did your mother tell you about my absence?” Robert lowered his voice and asked the children.
“She said you had to leave but would be back as soon as you could,” Alex replied.
He felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t even told her where he was. But had she cared? She hadn’t even messaged him either. Maybe she really couldn’t care less if he returned or not. Anger began to resurface. Perhaps he had made a mistake coming back.
Then Dana’s absence registered. “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s not feeling so well,” Adam responded. “She went back to bed. Ramon is going to drive us to school.”
Ordinarily he would have taken the kids to school but right then concern over Dana prevailed.
“Okay, kids,” he said, kissing them absentmindedly and ruffling their heads.
“Will you be here when we get home?” Aaron asked.
“Um…I’m not sure. I’ve still got some stuff to sort out before I return home.”
“Okay,” Aaron responded with the familiarity of a boy who was used to his father’s absences.
Robert made his way up to the bedroom and cracked open the door. The room was in darkness so he had to wait a few seconds for his eyes to adjust. Dana was bundled up in bed with the sheets pulled almost up to her head. He immediately reacted. He covered the intervening space in four long strides and gently shook her shoulder.
“Dana,” he turned on the bedside lamp to peer at her. Her face looked pale and ashen. “Dana, are you okay?”
He saw a little color come to her cheek as she opened her eyes and squinted at him.
“Robert?”
“Yes. What’s wrong? Should I call a doctor?” he couldn’t keep the alarm from his voice. She looked weak and exhausted. Guilt flowed through his body. He had never thought for a moment that she was there suffering with whatever illness had overtaken her a few days ago. He hadn’t even thought about her health during that time. Suppose she had died or something. He would never have been able to forgive himself.
He placed his hand on her brow and sighed with slight relief. At least she didn’t have a fever.
“I’m taking you to a doctor.”
“No,” she got out weakly. “I’m not sick.”
“What do you mean you’re not sick? Have you seen your face?”
He reached for his phone. “I’m calling the doctor.”
“No,” she said with a little more force and tried to sit up. “I know what’s wrong, Robert.”
His eyes shifted from the phone to her face.
“I’m pregnant,” came her soft reply.
Surprise raced through him and was swiftly followed by happiness. They were going to have a baby. And in his next breath, the seeds of suspicion planted in his mind days before took root. Before the thought could form completely, the words were already out.
“Is it mine?”
Instantly, Robert regretted those words when he saw Dana’s expression change from hopefulness to hurt to devastation. She said two little words. He didn’t think he would be able to forget them or their implications for as long as he lived.
“Goodbye, Robert.”
Then she turned her head away from his and burrowed into the bed, pulling the sheets back up to her head as she did.
Robert could feel shame dragging him down, but he didn’t know how to take back the words – the accusation. The best thing he could do now was to leave and not make things worse by his presence.
Silently, he left the room. The house. Their lives.
Chapter 27
The pregnancy was taking its toll on Dana. She knew the fact that she was not eating wasn’t helping the morning sickness. She had learned with her first pregnancy that the best way to stave off the nausea was to never allow herself to get hungry. She used to snack on fruit and vegetables and crackers all day long in between meals so that her stomach didn’t have time to get that gnawing feeling.
Now, though, she wasn’t just having morning sickness, she was having afternoon sickness and night sickness too.
“You have to eat,” Heather said from her seated position next to Dana on the bed. “Do you want to lose this baby, Dana?”
That got Dana’s attention.
She removed her arm from over her eyes.
“No. Of course not.”
“If you don’t get some nutrients in your stomach you very well might. Remember, you’re not in your twenties anymore. At your age, this pregnancy is not low risk.”
Dana began to cry.
Heather’s head jerked back in alarm. She reached out and gently rubbed Dana’s shoulder.
“Oh, Dana. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s not that. It’s that when you said I’m not in my twenties that reminded so much of what Sandy Brown said to me, and then it reminded me of what happened and how Robert left me.”
“Sandy Brown is a wicked man who will get his comeuppance. You mark my words. Dana, I’ve been thinking. We shouldn’t lie down
and play dead. The devil is trying to steal your marriage, your future, your family. We can’t just let him. We have got to appeal to God.”
“But this is my fault.”
“That’s not the point. You made a mistake. You’re human. But it’s not like you have been carrying on an affair with Corey Elsom. You kissed him once for heaven’s sake. Once. And you were sorry, and you ended it before it could escalate into something more. More important, you asked God to forgive you. Stop wallowing in self-pity. Here is what we’ll do. We will pray. I’ll pray and fast. You’re already fasting from the looks of it. But we’re going to change that. We will pray this whole day for your marriage’s restoration. We’ll also pray that Sandy Brown grows a conscience and doesn’t release that photo. God can do anything. Nothing is impossible for him. We have to have faith and believe.”
After they had prayed, Dana felt better. She felt more hopeful. She took a shower, dressed in bright colors and at Heather’s behest ate her first real meal in days, a light vegetable soup and crackers.
“When does he expect a response from you?” Heather asked as she took another spoonful of her soup.
“Not from me. Robert told him he’d respond to Fred Hammond by tomorrow morning. Once Robert states his position, then he’ll no doubt wreak his revenge.”
“No. We pray and we believe. Remember God can do more than we can ever dream or imagine.”
~*~*~*~
It was day three. As Robert sat in Matt’s backyard absently watching Clarissa play with two of the kids, he knew he needed to take action. Matt and Clarissa were great but the more he interacted with them, the more he longed to be back in his own home, in his own bed, with his own wife.
He glanced at his watch and noted the date and the time and remembered quite suddenly that the studio executives from Silverline were expecting an answer from him.
He immediately pulled his phone from the pocket of his jeans. At the same time, something fell out of his pocket and dropped to the ground. He bent over and picked it up. It was the pocket watch Dana had given him for his birthday. He turned it over in his hand. Why was he still carrying it around? He didn’t know. It just felt right to do that. Every morning he got up and bathed and dressed and pocketed the thing. He now cracked it open and quickly translated the words from Italian to English.
Second Chance: A Christian Romance (Royals Book 2) Page 29