Brad’s mouth dropped open. “A divorce? What are you talking about?” He rubbed his chin and looked at her as if she told him she wanted to go to the moon.
“We had a deal, Michele. The year’s not up.”
Michele stood, went to the bathroom and washed her face again. She couldn’t just sit there. She had to move around. The look on Brad’s face registered what? Surprise? Shock? Rejection? He didn’t look pleased. Still she had to confront him.
***
She came back in the room, stopped at the window and looked out.
“There’s no point in going on with this charade. It won’t be good for the baby. We’ll work out visitation.”
“Visitation? I’m not visiting my kid. No way, Michele, we had a deal. You’re sticking out the year. You can’t just walk out like that.” No way was he letting her out of it. Not with a baby on the way. He’d make her stick to the deal. He’d change her mind somehow. Crap he just told his father he was done with the Edgehurst deal. Handed it over to Ruby. He’d be home every day. No more traveling, and she wanted a divorce. What the heck brought this on?
His stomach turned inside out. He clenched his fists. What made her think he’d give in so easy? “What brought this on anyway? We talked about building a house. You designed a nursery.” He got up and went to stand next to her. He wanted to put his arms around her, wanted to kiss her. Relight the spark in her. Damn it, they had something special. He felt it every time he touched her. She responded. He reached up and touched her face, rubbed her cheek. Those were tears in her eyes. She stiffened beneath his hand and turned her face away. What the hell was going on? She pulled away and hurried back to the bathroom. What came over her? He didn’t understand. Usually, she melted from his touch. He sat down on the bed. Something happened. But what?
***
Michele couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t let him see the tears that burned her eyes. Darn it why was he making this so hard. She thought he’d be elated at the idea of ending this marriage. He’d be free to go to Ruby. Unless...dared she hope Ruby made it all up? No, she had seen them together. But what had she seen. Think about it – had she imagined there was something between them because of Ruby’s words? She wanted to believe in Brad. Wanted to think he felt something for her. She knew he enjoyed her physically. Knew she lit some kind of spark in him. She felt it a moment ago in the way he touched her face. A tenderness, almost loving. If he loved Ruby would he desire her? Would he make passionate love to her? A man didn’t desire or make love to another woman if he loved someone else. Did he?
Brad opened the door and stood there. He walked to her, wiped the tears. She looked away.
“Talk to me, Michele.” He turned her face toward him. “I want to know what’s going on. Why are you suddenly insisting on a divorce? Damn it, come out of the bathroom. Let’s sit down and talk about this.” He took her arm and led her back to the bedroom. “A bathroom is no place to discuss something this serious.”
Michele followed him. Was that hurt reflected in his eyes? She had to level with him. Get it all out in the open. Tell him about Ruby. If there was any hope of salvaging this marriage she had to be honest with him. And prayed he’d be honest with her. She should have talked to him about Ruby a long time ago. She took a deep breath. “Ruby came to see me today....”
“Ruby! What the hell has she got to do with this?”
Michele sat down.. She looked at Brad’s face while she spoke. She needed to see the reaction. “She said you and she...” The words stuck in her throat. She didn’t want to repeat them. What if he said it was true? That he only wanted to stay with her for the baby? “She said you and she...” The tears broke. She couldn’t hold them back any more. Brad’s expression went from one of hurt and rejection to one of something else. Disbelief? Horror. She wasn’t sure what. Anger maybe. But at who?
“Ruby said what?” Brad stood and paced the room. “Don’t tell me Ruby led you to believe there was something between us?”
“Ruby said...” Say it get it over with. Get it out in the open. Let him deny it. “Ruby said you were only staying with me for the baby. That you were afraid I wouldn’t let you see it. She said you loved her. That you wouldn’t stop seeing her.” Michele stood up again. Too restless to sit. She went to the dresser, picked up the sculpture she had thrown earlier. She wanted to throw it now. Wanted to scream. “We had an agreement that we’d remain faithful for the year.” She felt Brad’s hand on her shoulders. Looked in the mirror and saw tears reflected in his eyes. A look of tenderness on his face. What did it mean? The heat from his hands seared into her. Sent sparks igniting in the pit of her stomach. Even now he excited her. Even now she wanted him. Loved him.
He turned her toward him. “There’s nothing between me and Ruby. Never really was. I can’t believe she came here and told you that. Ruby manipulated Edgehurst and me. She was the one responsible for all those trips. I’m not staying with you for the baby.” He brushed his lips across her lips. “I’m staying with you because I love you. I want this marriage for more than a year. That’s why I suggested building a house.” He lifted her chin. “Michele, look at me. Tell me you don’t feel something for me. I want us to build a life together.”
Michele couldn’t answer. Couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. Dare she believe him? Did he really love her?
“I quit my job, took a promotion. I was going to wait until I finished the Edgehurst campaign. But when you ended up in the hospital I realized my place was here with you. I took a month’s vacation. When you’re able I want us to finish that honeymoon. Only this time I want us to go someplace we both like.” He rubbed his thumb across her cheek, wiped away the tears.
Was it true? Had Ruby fabricated the story? No wonder he wasn’t with Ruby this morning. Quit his job? A honeymoon? But where was he last night? Why hadn’t he come home? Did she really need to know? Was it really important? He loved her, wanted to make a life with her. Wasn’t that enough? If she agreed to stay married to him, didn’t she have to trust him? She reached up and brushed her lips across his.
“I love you, Brad Lawson.”
That was answer enough for him. He took her in his arms and kissed her. “I love you too, Michele Lawson.”
CHAPTER FORTY SIX
Sarah hurried into the office. Late again. One of these days Michele was going to fire her sorry butt. Sarah suppressed a giggle. Even that wouldn’t ruin her good mood. She opened the cabinet, threw her purse inside and hurried to make coffee. She peeked into Michele’s office. Phew beat the boss again. She made a quick pot of coffee and prayed it was done before Michele came in.
Funny, now that Brad and Michele ironed out their problems, Michele came in later and later. Must be those late morning trysts. Lucky girl. If things went the way she wanted, maybe she’d be the one getting out of bed late. This time she let the giggle escape just as the door opened.
Michele looked down at herself. “Do I look that funny? Zipper unzipped, two wrong shoes? What?”
Sarah laughed. “I wasn’t giggling about you.”
“Oh, private joke? And do you want to share it with me?” Michele hung up her jacket. “Or are you going to keep it to yourself?”
Sarah got out of her chair. “Well...” She dragged out the word to annoy Michele, but she couldn’t hold it in.
“Remember that guy I’ve been seeing? Roy?”
“Yeah, I thought you broke up. What about him?”
“We did. He didn’t want to commit. Guess what?” Sarah literally danced around the desk.
“I give. What? And stand still for goodness sakes you’re making me dizzy.”
That was another problem with her friend. There were times the pregnancy made her an absolute bitch. Sarah stopped in front of Michele and stuck her hand out for Michele to see. “Well he proposed.”
Michele fell back against the desk and took Sarah’s hand. “Whoa that rock will knock your socks off. You didn’t tell me you were seeing him again.”
&n
bsp; The hurt look on Michele’s face caused a momentary pang of guilt in Sarah. But it didn’t last long. Heck she hadn’t been seeing Roy that long. “Well actually only since last Saturday. He called and asked me to dinner. We’ve been seeing each other every day since. Last night he asked me to marry him.”
“Only since Saturday, Sar, that’s only three days. Are you sure about this?”
The question surprised Sarah. She really thought Michele would be happy for her. “I’m probably surer than you were when you married Brad.”
“Ouch, point taken. I’m sorry, Sar. I’m just...well shocked. I mean I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me he called?”
Sarah shrugged. “Maybe I didn’t want to hear a lecture.”
“Lecture? Me? You know me better than that.”
Sarah laughed. “Exactly! Even now you want to know if I’m sure.”
“Only because I want you to be happy. You have to admit, Sarah, you fall in love with every guy you date.”
“But Roy’s different, Shell. I’m so in love I could scream.”
“I know. I’ve never seen you so heartbroken when he broke up with you. So when’s the big day?”
“Roy wanted to do it next week.” Sarah laughed. “Actually he wanted to do it today. He suggested we go to city hall and get married. But I want more than that. I want the kind of wedding every girl dreams of. Will you be my Matron of Honor, Shell?”
“Of course I will. But you still didn’t answer me. When’s the big day?”
“Well you still have four months to go. So I thought six months. How does May 4th sound to you?”
“Sounds fantastic, but can you plan a big wedding that soon?”
“Well it’s not going to be as big as yours. Probably only a hundred people or so.” Sarah sat down. “Yeah, I can do it. Besides I don’t want to wait any longer than that. I’m so excited.”
“Anything I can do to help, let me know.” Michele leaned down and kissed Sarah’s cheek. “Congratulations, Sar. I’m glad you found someone.”
EPILOGUE
Michele handed Sarah her bouquet and adjusted her veil. Never had she seen her friend look happier. “All set?”
Sarah nodded.
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
“You’ll be fine.” The organ started playing. “Here we go.”
Funny, Michele thought as she walked down the aisle. Just a little over a year ago that was her back there. So much had happened since then. She smiled when she spotted Brad, holding Stephen. Her baby. Their baby. If anyone would have told her two years ago, she’d be married with a baby, she would have laughed at them. Strange how things turned out.
Thank God, Brad fired Ruby. Last Michele heard, she was working for a firm in Los Angeles. What she’d have given to see the look on Ruby’s face when Brad fired her.
Michele held back a giggle, remembering how Brad described her. Like a tiger ready to scratch his eyes out. “I swear Michele, I never seen anything like it. She ranted and raved for ten minutes at least. She honestly thought I loved her.” Brad laughed. “I still can’t believe she told you all that stuff.”
Michele reached the altar and turned to watch Sarah walk up the aisle. The girl absolutely radiated happiness, not to mention Roy. Was that a tear in his eye? The man literally glowed. Sneaking a peek down the aisle at Brad, memory of their own wedding came to mind. Seemed like such a long time ago, yet seemed like yesterday. Their new house would be done soon. Thankfully their parents hadn’t interfered. After giving them carte blanche with the baby’s room, they agreed to let Michelle design her own home. At least for now. More than likely the day would come, they’d add their two cents again. They just couldn’t help it.
What strange twists life took. Here she was a married woman, standing up for her friend. Married, with a child of her own. Married to a man she loved more every day, if that was possible. Happier than she ever thought she’d be. Ever thought she had a right to be. The words came back to her once more, “you may wear his ring, but it’s only make believe. I’ll always have his heart”. This time they didn’t haunt her. Nope, this time not only did she wear his ring, their marriage was real, and she’d always have his heart. It wasn’t only make believe.
The End
Roseanne Dowell books published by Books We Love
Click any of these links to purchase for your Kindle
Secrets, Lies, & Love
Designed for Love
Time to Love Again
Shadows in the Attic
Ring Around the Rosy
Geriatric Rebels
Another Day
Elusive Mission
Deadbeat Dads
About The Author
Multi-published author, Roseanne Dowell, writing instructor and former school secretary, is an avid reader and writes various types of romance—paranormal, contemporary and mystery. Living in Northeast Ohio with her husband of forty-nine years, she has six grown children, fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. She spends her time between writing, quilting and embroidering. She's been published since 2006. She also enjoys blogging, tweeting, facebooking and posting on various writers groups. To learn more about Roseanne:
Check her website: www.roseannedowell.com
Or her blog http://roseannedowell.blogspot.com
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY SIX
EPILOGUE
About The Author
It's Only Make Believe Page 19