Forsaking All Others (From This Day Forward Book 2) (9 page)

“Hopefully, this will be quick and I can get you home into bed. Maybe you just need to sleep it off.”

She nods again and I notice her teeth are clenched together. I pop open the console and fish around until I find a peppermint. “Try this, they’re good for nausea.”

“Thank you,” she whispers before unwrapping it and popping it into her mouth.

We manage to make it to the police station downtown without having to pull over again. Beth seems to be feeling much better once she gets out the truck, but I hand her a few more peppermints just in case.

“How many of these do you have?”

I laugh at her question, “Well, I eat at
Sonic
a lot so I’ve probably got a whole console full of them.”

She places her hand on my arm, “You eat out every day? That’s really bad, David. You need to take better care of yourself.”

Her words touch me. Regardless of what’s going on between us, she still feels something for me. I grab her hand as we walk across the street, “That’s what I’ve got you for, Beth. Make sure I’m eating right, getting eight hours of sleep—you know, important things like that.”

She laughs, “And here I thought you were just using me for sex.” I smile and grip her hand tighter. She doesn’t pull away from me so we walk hand in hand into the station.

There’s just enough moisture in the air for it to feel slightly humid, a rarity in west Texas, and I can already tell it’s going to be unbearably hot later. I just hope we can get in and out so that I can mow without feeling like I’m standing on the surface of the sun.

They take us to different rooms to interview us separately, something I did not plan on happening. Mike assures me that this is normal procedure as he walks me to an interview room.

“So, you never told me how you came to be an alibi witness. Care to elaborate?”

I shrug my shoulders, “I was sitting in a parking lot and saw her come out of her doctor’s appointment. I was across the street so I had a pretty clear view of her. Landon came up out of nowhere and they talked for about twenty minutes. Nothing to elaborate really—it’s not like I heard what they were saying.”

Mike stops walking and turns around to face me, “Did Elizabeth know you were there?”

I roll my eyes, “No, she didn’t know I was there. I mean, I told her about it later.”

He runs his hand through his hair, “Jesus Christ, David. You’re camped out in a parking lot just waiting for her to leave an appointment?”

I stiffen, “Mike—Landon came up out of nowhere. Obviously, he was watching her. Thank God I was there to make sure she was safe!”

“How is what you were doing any different than what he was doing? You were stalking your wife, man! That doesn’t make you look any better than him at this point.”

“Now you sound like Beth. I was at Jess’s appointment with her. We had words and I left. I was taking care of a few things with work when she walked out. She looked a bit unnerved so I was making sure she got to her car when he walked up. And, really? Can one really stalk their own wife? I think that’s called being a good husband. You happy now, detective? Is this part of my interview?”

He reaches out and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Calm down, this isn’t part of the interview. It’s just your best friend worrying about you. I want it to work out between you two, more than anything, but I also want you to remain rooted in reality. Don’t kill yourself chasing after a woman who doesn’t want to be caught.”

I give him a curt nod, seething on the inside. It’s getting really old, hearing advice from people who have no idea what’s going on between me and my wife.

“Alright, Dear Abby, let’s get this shit over with.”

I sit on a hard plastic chair, resting my arms on the table in front of me in an otherwise empty room. There’s a one-way mirror along the wall in front of me and I can’t help but feel nervous. I have to remind myself that I’m not a suspect in Katya’s disappearance—something that’s easy to forget when sitting here.

At least I don’t feel like barfing anymore. I used to love coffee, but for the last few weeks the smell of it sends me running for a toilet. I really hope David still thinks I have a bug and isn’t starting to suspect anything else.

Mike walks into the room with a man and woman I don’t recognize.

“Elizabeth, this is Carole Shaffer—she’s representing Landon Scott and this is Adam Perry—he’s a special investigator that will be interviewing you today.”

I nod at both of them, “Nice to meet you.”

Adam sits down across from me, “Do you have any questions before we begin?”

“No, I don’t think so.” I try to calm my shaking hands in my lap.

He continues, “Mrs. Greene, just so you’re aware, this interview is being recorded. Have you ever been interviewed in this capacity before?”

I let him know that I haven’t.

“Are you aware of why you’re being interviewed this morning?”

“Yes, it’s regarding the disappearance of Katya Egorichev and my interaction with Landon Scott.”

“How familiar are you with this case?”

I shrug, “Not very, I saw it on the news yesterday. I know she’s been missing for over a week. I also know that she was dating Landon Scott, but I believe that relationship ended back in May.”

Landon’s lawyer scribbles something on a piece of paper, but otherwise remains silent.

The rest of the questions consist of where I was last Thursday. I recount my day from the time I woke up until running into Landon. The investigator asks a lot of questions about that interaction and I answer everything as best I can.

Afterward, I’m ready for lunch and a nap. I’ve found that if I wait too long to eat it makes the nausea even worse. I pop another peppermint into my mouth as I sit on a bench outside, waiting for David to finish his interview.

Just as I’m about to text him, he comes storming out of the building, the glass doors rattling behind him.

“Let’s go.” His voice is cold and I have to jog to keep up with him.

“What happened in there?” I’m panting slightly, but I’m going to blame that on the pregnancy and not the fact that I haven’t stepped foot inside a gym in the last two months.

He unlocks the truck and walks around to the passenger side to help me in, “Nothing. Just got a lot of shit to get done today—don’t wanna waste another second here.”

We drive back to the house in complete silence, even the radio is turned off. Even without my full memory I can tell he’s furious, the anger radiates from him. I just wish I knew why he was so upset. I think back to when we got to the station and he seemed fine. I mean, we were holding hands so surely it’s not anything I’ve done.

He parks in the driveway when we get back and helps me out before going into the garage. The broody silent treatment isn’t working for me so I follow him.

“You wanna tell me what happened back there? You were fine when we got there, but now you’re obviously upset. I just want to know why.”

He pulls the lawnmower out from the back corner of the garage and begins checking the gas and oil levels. “I’m fine. I told you—I have a lot to accomplish today. Go on inside and get some lunch.”

I sigh, but my rumbling stomach begs me to take his advice. I make a turkey sandwich and eat it as I make him one as well. This is getting complicated. I’m not sure how I thought that I could file for divorce and keep emotion out of it, but I did. Now, I’ve got a brooding alpha outside mowing and I’m worrying about why he’s upset, while fixing him lunch.

To make matters worse, I find myself dreaming about the next time he’ll kiss me.
We’re acting like we did when we were dating.
I laugh at the thought. We were constantly making out, but not having sex. I didn’t realize I’d be back in the same boat five years later. I’ve crossed a line and there’s no way I’m walking away unscathed at this point. I don’t want to keep pushing him away, but I’m not okay with playing stepmom to Jess’s baby. I’d constantly be worried that she was trying to stick her claws into him again. Maybe I just enjoy these next few weeks and then tell him goodbye.

I hear the lawnmower stop and decide it’s a good time to interrupt. I carry the plate of food and a glass of iced tea out into the garage, but I don’t see David anywhere. The front yard is finished so I walk through the gate into the backyard. He’s crouched down over the lawnmower with a wrench in his hand, doing God knows what, but looking good while doing it. The muscles in his forearms stand out as he tightens something.

“I brought you some lunch.” It’s comes out sounding raspy as my mouth has suddenly gone dry.

“Thanks.” He doesn’t even turn around.

I place everything on the patio table and wait for him to come over. He stands up and there’s a mixture of grease and oil on his hands and shirt. He goes over and turns on the faucet on the outdoor sink, scrubbing up with soap and a brush, and I’m so mesmerized by his rugged hands that I don’t initially notice that he won’t make eye contact with me.

What would have happened that he can’t even bear to look at me?

The truth hits me like a sucker punch.

Landon.

It’s the only thing that makes sense. Being at the police station was a stark reminder that my hands are just as dirty as his in this whole situation.

“I’m sorry, David. I’m so sorry for all of this.” My voice is so quiet that I’m not sure he hears me at first until I see him stiffen up.

I continue, “I knew it would come to this, a time when you couldn’t even look at me without seeing what I’ve done to you. If I could change the past, I would. I would do it in a heartbeat.”

I turn to go back inside when I hear the water shut off and suddenly he’s right in front of me. He picks me up and backs me up against the bricks, my legs locking instinctively behind him. I look up at him in surprise, “Dav—”

His mouth covers mine, effectively silencing my words. I’m sure I’ve got grease stains on my clothes, but I couldn’t care less right now.

When he pulls back, his fierce blue eyes pin me with their gaze, “Never you. Do you hear me? There will never be a point that I won’t want you. You don’t owe me an apology. Mike just said some stuff at the station earlier—got in my head. He told me to quit chasing after someone who didn’t want to be caught.”

I inhale sharply, “He thinks you’re wasting your time?”

He tightens his grip on me before answering, “Yeah. It got me thinking that maybe I’m coming on too strong with you. I told you I was going to win you back and I intend to keep that promise, but I need to know that you want this too. Even if it’s just a small part of you.”

I don’t hesitate, “I want this too.” Damn the repercussions.

Surprise flashes in his eyes for a moment and then it’s gone and he reclaims my mouth.

I pull back, breathing hard. “Does this mean we can have sex now?” I’m pressed right up against his jeans and based on what I’m feeling, I’m hoping his answer is a resounding yes.

He laughs and shakes his head, “No. I wanna take this slow. There’s no need to rush anything.”

I close my eyes and groan, “You’re killing me over here.”

He leans down until his forehead rests against mine. “I said we’re not having sex. I never said I wouldn’t keep you satisfied.”

My eyes fly wide open, “Oh really?” I chuckle, “You’re using the phrase I gave you when we were dating against me now? I’m surprised you remembered.”

He shifts me in his arms, “Well, I’m more surprised that you remember. It does feel like starting over though, yeah?”

I nod, relishing in the heat of the sun and the feel of his arms around me. I could stop time right now and be perfectly content. My mind has other plans though. There are things I haven’t asked him, questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to. I feel like if we’re going to attempt to make this work, I need to know.

I break the silence, “Do you think it’s your baby?”

His jaw tightens, “No, I don’t.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, “How…um…I mean, do you know…” I trail off, unsure of how to ask the question.

“Just spit it out, Beth.” He sounds so defeated in this moment that I wish I could take back the words. I don’t want to cause a bigger rift between us, but I need to know.

“How many times were you and her…together?”

He gently sets me back on my feet and takes a step back, “We’re doing this right now?” He sighs, “Okay. I slept with her three times. Your turn. How many times were you with him?”

Suddenly the heat isn’t as welcoming as I previously thought. I turn, without a word, and walk inside. He follows me.

“That’s not fair, Beth. You asked me a question that I truthfully answered. I deserve the same from you.”

I take a deep breath and turn around, “I don’t know, David. I don’t know how many times Landon and I slept together. A lot of it is still a blur. You happy now?”

He nods through clenched teeth, looking anything but happy.

I soften my voice, “You slept with her after your dad died. When were the other two times?”

“You’re sure we have to have this conversation right now?” He sits down on the arm of the couch, the same place he was sitting the night I found out about the affair. The irony is not lost on me.

“I just want to know as much as I can so we can figure out how to move forward. I don’t want to run into her again and not know. The last time was bad enough.”

He holds his hand up, ‘Wait, what happened the last time you saw her?”

“She confronted me over the whole thing, wanted me to know that she never meant to hurt me. Shit you say to someone when you eat the last bar of chocolate—not what you to say to someone after you’ve slept with their husband.” I huff in frustration and he laughs at me. I’ve missed that laugh.

“Last bar of chocolate? Girls apologize to each other for that stuff?”

I nod my head in mock seriousness, “Absolutely. Chocolate is very important to us. Now, quit stalling.”

He runs his hand through his beard, as though he’s trying to decide where to start. “I—shit, Beth—I’m an asshole. Okay? What I did…to you…to us…” He trails off and I go over to him, kneeling down between his legs.

“You think what I did helped our relationship? I’m just as guilty as you are in this, so stop treating me with kid gloves.” I rest my arms on his muscular thighs and wait for him to continue.

He takes a deep breath, “I always used protection, I swear to you,” he tucks a stray hair behind my ear, “There was the time after my dad died, the night you told me you were on birth control, and then she showed up at my hotel the night of the break-in.”

He lowers his head and closes his eyes. Every word he’s spoken is like a knife into my heart. I’m gutted. By his posture, he’s waiting for me to run away. And the thought is in my mind, but I pushed him into telling me this. The masochist inside me felt this was all necessary. My inner romantic is scowling at me.

My voice comes out quieter than I intended, “So, the night of the break-in, when I called you—she was there?”

He nods and I finally ask the question I’ve held inside for over six weeks, “The night of the accident—was it intentional? Did you mean to run that light?”