Page 31 of Last Call (Open Tab #5)

Jake’s jaw tensed. “You think you know what’s best for everyone, don’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Offering David a job—enticing him with a place to live?”

Jake’s question caught Fallon off guard, even if it shouldn’t have.

Andi told her that Jake had bristled when Dave announced he planned to take a couple of online classes in the spring and summer and work full-time in the fall and winter with Fallon.

Fallon viewed it as win; a way Dave could finish school on his terms. They were both excited about the new business.

“I didn’t entice Dave into anything,” Fallon said.

“Andi wasn’t enough for you.”

Fallon blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“You. You and Andi. Now, you and the boys. Andi wasn’t enough?” Jake shot.

Fallon’s temper simmered. She wasn’t sure what Jake was driving at. She didn’t appreciate his tone. “That sounds more like you,” she bit.

“What?”

“I’m not the one who spent over twenty years cheating on Andi.”

Jake’s face reddened. “No. You just spent over a decade figuring out how to capitalize on my mistakes.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Fallon asked.

“I think we both know. You and Andi, playing house with the boys.”

“Andi is my best friend.”

Jake’s caustic chuckle sent a shiver down Fallon’s spine.

This was a side of Jake Maguire she’d never encountered before.

Fallon had spent little time around Andi’s ex-husband.

Pleasantries had defined their limited interactions, and the occasional story the boys told their father about Fallon taking them somewhere that prompted a conversation.

From everything Andi shared, Jake had handled their separation gracefully, although Fallon knew he didn’t want a divorce. Who could blame him?

Fallon carried no regrets about the year she and Andi spent as lovers.

She hadn’t been the one to end that relationship, and she was grateful that Andi had the strength and foresight to do it for both of them.

Jake had never been faithful to Andi, nor had he been a daily presence in his son’s life.

Until recently, Fallon assumed all of Jake’s affairs happened when he was traveling.

Knowing he could disrespect Andi as painfully as taking other women into their bed, infuriated her.

Andi remained faithful to Jake for over twenty years.

Whatever modicum of guilt Fallon had felt for loving Andi, for making love to Andi in the bedroom she shared with Jake Maguire had vanished.

Maybe two wrongs didn’t make a right. From where Fallon stood, Jake had given up any rights to question Andi’s choices before Fallon moved back to Whiskey Springs.

And as for Dave? She wondered if Jake had ever taken the time to ask what Dave wanted.

Playing house? What did Jake mean by that? Andi had been Fallon’s closest friend for years. Fallon stepped in to help with homework, skiing, or to give Andi a break when Jake was away. That’s what friends did—they looked out for each other. Jake’s insinuations and accusatory tone offended her.

“Your best friend?” Jake challenged Fallon. “Come on, Foster. It’s just us here now, in my former kitchen, talking about my family—the family you wanted. Don’t you have a wife and son of your own to worry about now?”

“What the hell is this about, Jake?” Fallon asked through gritted teeth.

“Are you seriously going to pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about, or have you just lied to yourself for so long that you honestly don’t see it?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t you?” Jake asked.

“No. I don’t.”

Jake chuckled. “Why didn’t you move with Olivia to Washington?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well? We’ve all heard the tales of your broken heart. It didn’t need to break. Why didn’t you move with her?” Jake asked.

“That’s not really your business.”

“You can’t answer it, can you?”

“I don’t need to explain my choices to you,” Fallon replied.

“Why do you think Olivia wanted to leave here?”

“I think this conversation is over,” Fallon said, leaving the room.

Jake grabbed Fallon’s arm to stop her.

“Let go,” Fallon warned.

“I don’t think so. This is overdue. Are you telling me you can’t see it?”

“Apparently, you know something about my life that I don’t. Let’s hear it,” Fallon said.

“You really don’t see it.” Jake shook his head. “You and Andi.”

“Jake, if you want me to apologize for taking Andi as a lover, you’re in for a disappointment.”

“I don’t expect your apologies. Your honesty would be appreciated.”

“ My honesty? What does that mean?” Fallon asked. “I love Andi. I love the boys. That’s not a secret.”

“No. Now, you love her. You were in love with her long before you slept with her.”

Fallon’s temper flared. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I guess the thing I didn’t want to admit was that she was in love with you.

All those years, you’d run to pick up Jacob when she had to take Dave somewhere.

You spent weekends teaching the boys to ski or helping Andi in the yard.

Where was Olivia, Fallon? Why do you think she wanted to get you away from this town? ”

Fallon felt like something had stabbed her in the back, straight through her heart. She stared at Jake.

“You took them from me a long time ago, Fallon. But like it or not, Jacob and Dave are my sons—mine and Andi’s. It’s not your choice how to parent them, and it isn’t your place .”

“Fuck you, Jake,” Fallon said. “You don’t know anything about me.

I never tried to parent your boys. You’re pissed off because Dave made a choice you don’t like.

Underneath your Mr. Nice Guy act, you’re pissed because you lost Andi.

I get it. You don’t often find women like Andi.

You think I don’t know that? Whether you like it, she’s still my best friend.

She’ll always be my best friend. Was I in love with her before we slept together?

Yeah. I was. What about it? I never told her how I felt.

I never asked her for anything because she was my best friend.

And the boys? You weren’t here. That was your choice, not mine. ”

Jake looked over Fallon’s shoulder. “Andi.”

Fallon turned. Andi’s expression was unreadable.

“Andi,” Jake said.

Andi held up a hand. She looked at Fallon. “Fallon, would you give me a minute alone with Jake?”

Fallon hesitated.

“Please?” Andi requested.

Fallon nodded and left the room.

“How much of that did you hear?” Jake asked.

“More than I would have liked.”

“Andi…”

“Don’t.” Andi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “None of what you said to her was fair.”

“It was true.”

Andi nodded. “Maybe it was—some of it. Liv didn’t leave Fallon because of me.”

“Andi, come on. You don’t think that was a test?”

A knot formed in Andi’s stomach. “I loved you,” she said.

“But you were in love with Fallon.”

“Not then,” Andi said. “But you’re not wrong.

I fell in love with her long before we became lovers.

I never expected it to—Well, it doesn’t matter.

She never tried to come between us, Jake.

Fallon never wanted to replace you with the boys.

Never. I could’ve signed them up for ski lessons or learned to bait a hook.

Fallon isn’t the only one who filled in for you.

Pete took the boys fishing. He taught Dave about cars.

Dale used to bring Jacob with him when he serviced the security systems at museums. Ida played babysitter.

My mother helped. It was a team effort. Fallon was the biggest part of that.

We were both lonely,” she admitted. “You have no right to attack her. None.”

Jake shook his head. “He needs to be in school, Andi.”

“Dave needs to follow his own path, Jake, not yours, and not the one I’d prefer. Fallon isn’t trying to direct him. She’s trying to respect him and support him.”

“Why is Fallon involved at all?”

“Fallon will always be part of my life. Fallon and Riley are my family. You asked Fallon why she didn’t leave Whiskey Springs.

I don’t need to hear her answer. I’m sure some of it was about me.

It wasn’t because of me. My decision to ask for a divorce and stay here instead of moving with you wasn’t because of my feelings for Fallon.

It is about family. Everyone here today is part of my family.

This is my home . Home for you—it was a temporary stop.

In a lot of ways, that’s what I was to you. ”

“That’s not fair.”

“Is anything about what you said to Fallon—what we’re talking about now—fair? This isn’t about fairness . It’s about choices. We’ve all made choices in the past that changed our futures. None of us can go back. We’re all doing the best we can.”

“It’s my fault. All of it.”

“Don’t do that,” Andi said.

“Do what? Admit it’s my fault?” Jake asked.

“Don’t mitigate my feelings or my choices.”

“How did I do that? I feel…”

“Regretful,” Andi said. “I know. And you took it out on Fallon. I chose to stay with you, Jake, knowing you were unfaithful. It nearly killed me once.”

“Andi.”

“I forgave you for everything. I accepted things I probably shouldn’t have.

I did. Those were my decisions. I chose to let Fallon close.

I needed her. And yes, I loved her. It was my choice to let you both go.

I did that as much for myself as for anyone,” she said, smiling.

“I found Billie. Your career is thriving. Fallon and Riley are happy. Stop rehashing the past. It’s behind us.

You can’t make Dave into the little boy you said goodbye to at the door.

And you can’t re-litigate our marriage. I spent years blaming myself for your choices. ”

“Andi, I never meant to hurt you.”

“No. But you never tried to stop hurting me, either. And I allowed it.”

“Andi…”