“Don’t threaten me, Kate. You have no idea what you’re doing.”
She wasn’t scared. For the first time since he’d hit her, she wasn’t afraid. That was when Kate could see Richard had nothing. He’d lost his power.
“I know exactly what I’m doing. You aren’t getting custody. You aren’t turning her against me, and you are not getting another dime. Listen carefully: don’t ever underestimate me again.”
She left him in the kitchen and walked through the house. It was sparsely decorated and unremarkable. The dining room table was elaborately set, and Kate remembered the party she’d thrown at her house exactly one year earlier. Richard’s colleagues and several of the deans attended, as did Marie. Kate didn’t know the woman she entertained in her home was sleeping with her husband. Poor Marie. Kate thought. Richard was her problem now.
Climbing the stairs, she knocked on the only closed door in the upstairs hall. “Laura, it’s Mom.”
“Come in.”
Kate entered a room that a month ago would have been forbidden. It was decorated very much like her room at Kate’s house, with vibrant apple green walls and bold prints on the bed and windows. However, this room lacked certain touches—there were no posters of bands or sports stars. No whiteboard with notes scribbled by her friends. This room, while attractive, was sterile, like the relationships in the house.
“Do you have what you need?”
“I don’t know.”
“Talk to me.” Kate sat on the bed and patted Laura’s knee.
“Why do you even want me, Mom? I’ve hurt you, I’ve hurt Jack. I’ve lied to pretty much everyone. I’m so messed up.” Laura looked spent, and Kate knew Jack was just part of it.
Two weeks ago Kate had miscarried, Laura learned about her relationship with David, and she found out everything her father had told her amounted to a pack of lies. Messed up was certainly understandable. Her poor girl has a lot of healing to do.
“Oh, honey…” Kate reached out and pulled her close, dropping a kiss on her baby’s forehead. “Yeah, you screwed up and I hope you learned from it, but I’m your mother and I love you. We’ll get through this together.”
Laura shrugged lightly, but was quiet while she gathered her thoughts. “You know, you mentioned seeing that counselor. I’m thinking it might be a good idea.”
“I’ll make a call.”
“Did he tell me the truth about anything?” Her voice cracked, but she didn’t cry.
“Dad?” Laura nodded, and it took Kate a moment to give her an answer, especially considering Richard’s history. “He loves you. That’s the truth.”
Laura squeezed Kate’s hand and they sat quietly until Laura said what she was feeling. “I miss Jack. And Daddy’s gonna hurt him.”
“Dad doesn’t have the guts to hurt him, don’t worry.”
There was a noise and both Kate and Laura looked up. Richard was standing in the doorway. He had both hands in his pocket and she and her ex-husband locked eyes. He wasn’t angry anymore, but confused, maybe even a little humbled. In the twenty-two years she’d known him, that was something new.
Looking back at Laura, she saw her poor girl worried about her dad, and mourning her lost love. This was major. “Are you ready?”
Laura nodded and rose to face Richard. Kate watched as her daughter, for the second time in two days, let go of someone she loved. Her relationship with her father was so complicated. If it was going to survive, Laura had to set the boundaries. Kate could see she made her decision. “I’m going to Mom’s for now. In a few days we’ll talk.”
He nodded. “I do love you, sweetheart.”
“I know, but you did some really awful things.”
“What can I do to make it right? I’ll do anything to make you happy.”
Laura picked up her tote and walked past him on the way out of her room. “You’ll let me get to know my mother. I need her, so give us some space.”
Kate had been staring at the floor, but realized she was now in an interesting position. She had the power in the relationship, and the man in the doorway was at a loss. It was really nice when the stars aligned. When Laura was out of earshot, Richard turned to Kate.
“What did you tell her?” he asked.
“Everything. I threw you under the bus.” Kate rose and faced him. “She knows what you did to me, and everything you did to her by driving a wedge between us.”
He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. Knowing what that meant, he shook his head and looked at Kate. “What happened with the guy?”
“It was a bad night and it’s over, but it never should have happened.”
“I should kill him.”
“Nothing happened. And quite frankly, considering our age difference when we met, you don’t have a leg to stand on.”
“That was different.”
Kate nodded. “You’ve got a point. The difference is that Jack is basically a good guy. You knew I was sheltered and naïve, and you took advantage of that.”
He started to say something and then stopped. It took Kate a few seconds to realize he was staring at her, rather intently. “What is it?” she asked.
“You’ve changed.”
“Well, I don’t have you to knock me down anymore.”
“I don’t know what to say to that?”
Kate wasn’t sure what to say either. This was the most civil he’d been to her since they walked down the aisle. Now he wanted to play nice? Pay her compliments? No, Kate wasn’t buying it.
“It amazes me that you can’t see what you lost.” He didn’t look at her, but that didn’t stop Kate from saying her piece. “I loved you, Richard. I loved you with all my heart. You reciprocated by abusing me, cheating on me, and trying to steal my child. There is nothing to say. However, you should be prepared. My lawyers will want another conference about custody.” He was squirming. Kate discovered she liked making him squirm. “Enjoy your party.”
Chapter 28
‡
Laura crept up the stairs to her mother’s office. So much had happened over the last few days, she couldn’t sleep. She’d lost Jack, had lost all respect for her father, and had lost respect for herself. Glancing through the door, she saw her mom, sitting cross legged in her chair, her earbuds in, and her head bopping around to the tune playing on her iPod.
Her fingers were flying over the keyboard and she knew Mom was immersed in her work. Laura found her focus incredible, and figured the words took over her mom’s brain the same way the music overtook hers. Not wanting to interrupt, she walked downstairs to the den.
Just as she thought, David was crashed on the couch, ice on his shoulder and his feet up on the ottoman. He looked so totally at ease in the house, it was like he’d always been there. She was certain he probably hated her now because of what had happened with Jack. But she couldn’t avoid him. He was part of Mom’s life, part of their lives, and she needed to set things straight with him.
And she needed his help.
Walking forward, he looked up from his book and smiled at her. It was tentative, though. Not quite as warm as even a few days ago.
“Hey,” she said. “Good book?”
“Eh,” he said. “It’s a little slow out of the gate.” He put the book next to him. “What’s up?”
Laura sat down and breathed out. “I was hoping you could help me with something.”
His eyebrow went up slightly. “Sure, I guess.”
“I wrote this paper for European History and I didn’t do too well.”
David sat up and moved the ice off his arm. Reaching out, he took the paper she offered. The red C- stood out, and he took a minute to scan the first page.
“I can rewrite it,” she said. “But, um… would you be willing to read it and give me some suggestions?”