Page 52 of The Liar's Wife
“What about the flight?”
He chewed his lip, shaking his head. “Officer Kessler told me she booked a flight. They still think it was a diversion to get you to believe I’d left you, if you didn’t believe that I was dead. I honestly don’t know.” He scratched his forehead. “I wish I could’ve understood her better.”
“Did you…kill her? Is she gone?”
He nodded slowly. “I couldn’t let her hurt you.”
I sighed. “I don’t know if I can forgive you, Ben. This is…I could’ve lost Gray forever.”
His eyes fell to the floor. “I know. Believe me I do. I would’ve never forgiven myself. I still haven’t—”
I touched his hand, stopping him. “But thank you. For saving me.”
He smiled, and it was melancholy and pensive, the same as mine. It was what I could offer him at the time. Nothing more, nothing less. We were in this together, but it didn’t mean we’d stay together. It didn’t mean I forgave him or that I trusted him anymore. He’d hurt me in so many ways, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready to let him back into my life.
I’d learn. I’d figure it out.
But what I was learning more than anything was that letting anyone close to you was dangerous.
I stared down at my son, brushing my finger across his forehead.Maybe it’ll just be me and you against the world, little guy.
Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Palmer
TWO YEARS LATER
“Grant Anderson called,” Howie told me. “He wants to see those quarterly reports.”
I shook my head, staring out across our brand new, expansive and incredibly bare office. It was a big upgrade on the cramped building we’d been in the first year.
“Tell Mr. Anderson that I said he’s a silent partner for a reason,” I told him, only half-joking. “He’ll get the reports when we send them.”
I stood as Dannika entered the building, her arms spread wide, mouth agape. “Girl, have you seen who’s outside?”
“Who?” I asked.
“Oh, no. We’re gonna need to barricade the doors and windows. It’sNate!”She set her bags down, watching me.
My jaw dropped with shock. “Are you serious? What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know. I hurried my happy ass inside when I saw him. What do you want Howie to do?” she asked, grabbing abag of chips from her purse and popping one into her mouth.
Howie scowled. “Me? I’m not security!”
I giggled. “Okay, calm down. I’m fine, guys. Honestly. If there’s one thing in this world I’m no longer concerned with, it’s Nate Creswell.” I walked across the room, my heels clicking on the floor.
Two months after the Kat ordeal, Dannika and I had finally opened up our firm, bringing Howie along with us. It was the happiest I’d been in a long time. Gray was happy and healthy, and his doctors didn’t believe he’d be affected in the slightest by all he’d gone through. He was too young and blissfully unaware.
Ben and I were working through our issues with monthly counseling. We’d started dating again, but he’d moved out and gotten his own place. We shared custody of Gray, but I had no intentions of filing for divorce. Despite all we’d gone through, I wanted to work on us. I believed Ben cared for me. I knew he cared for Gray. I just wanted to give myself time to process.
Ty’s phone call had saved my life. The doctors said if the EMTs hadn’t arrived when they did, I might not have made it. I’d never be able to thank him enough for that.
The house Ben and Kat owned finally sold, and Ben paid me back in full for the money he’d borrowed, even though most of it was his own, apologizing profusely for letting it get so out of hand.
I’d gone through something so terrible, something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but I’d grown stronger because of it. I had stronger friendships, a stronger bond with my son. I’d faced my fears and finally taken the leap with my business.