Chapter 2 - The Woman Waiting on My Couch
Julian didn't put down his suitcase.
He stood inside the doorway, staring at the photograph on our coffee table.
For several seconds, the only sound came from the little white noise machine beside Ivy's crib.
Then he laughed.
It was an ugly, nervous sound.
“Seriously? You called my mother because I went fishing?”
Diane folded her hands.
“Sit down.”
“Mom, this is between me and Audrey.”
“Then you should have stayed home and talked to Audrey.”
Julian looked at me.
I was wearing clean pajamas.
My hair was brushed.
For the first time in days, I'd eaten a proper meal and slept long enough to think clearly.
He seemed more unsettled by that than by my tears.
“What did you tell her?”
I looked at the photograph.
“The truth.”
He glanced at Caroline.
“And you just invited everyone into our marriage?”
Caroline leaned back.
“You left my sister alone with two six-month-old babies for four days.”
“They're my children.”
“Then you should know what they've been doing.”
His face tightened.
Diane pointed at a chair.
“Julian.”
He finally sat down.
I picked up the photograph.
“Who is Lena?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“You know who she is.”
“I know she's your consultant.”
“Exactly.”
“Why is she on your vacation?”
He leaned forward.
“Because there were business meetings before the guys arrived.”
I stared at him.
“You told me you needed four days away from work.”
“I did.”
“You told me you were going fishing.”
“We went fishing.”
I slid another photograph across the table.
It showed Julian and Lena standing on the deck of a private boat.
He had both arms around her.
She was kissing his cheek.
The caption read:
The best weekend with my favorite person.
Julian's face drained of color.
“Where did you get that?”
Caroline answered.
“Public social media.”
He turned toward her.
“Stay out of this.”
I raised my voice.
“Don't speak to my sister like that.”
Everyone went quiet.
I surprised myself.
For months, I'd spoken softly so I wouldn't wake the girls.
Softly so Julian wouldn't become annoyed.
Softly because every conversation eventually ended with me apologizing for something.
Now my voice sounded different.
I looked directly at him.
“Were you sleeping with her?”
Julian stared at the floor.
“Nothing is ever simple with you anymore.”
My stomach turned.
“That wasn't my question.”
He stood.
“I can't believe this. I come home, and suddenly I'm on trial.”
Diane rose too.
“Answer your wife.”
Julian looked at her.
“Mom, please.”
“Answer her.”
He turned toward me.
“Lena and I have been close.”
The room seemed to shrink.
“How close?”
He swallowed.
“It happened a few times.”
I looked down at my hands.
For one moment, I couldn't feel them.
Then Nora made a little sound in her sleep.
I turned toward her automatically.
That tiny movement brought me back.
Our daughters.
Our living room.
My husband standing six feet away.
I looked up.
“How long?”
Julian hesitated.
“Three months.”
I closed my eyes.
Three months.
Ivy and Nora were six months old.
While I was recovering from childbirth, learning how to feed two babies, and trying to remember whether I'd brushed my teeth, my husband had begun sleeping with another woman.
Caroline covered her mouth.
Diane's face went pale.
Julian looked at me.
“Audrey, you have to understand—”
“No.”
He stopped.
I took a breath.
“You don't get to explain the affair by telling me how difficult being a father has been.”
He looked away.
I reached for the small notebook beside the photograph.
“This is what happened while you were gone.”
I opened it.
Friday.
Eight feedings.
Twelve diaper changes.
Two hours of sleep.
Saturday.
Caroline arrived.
Sunday.
Diane came.
Monday.
Both girls had their scheduled pediatric appointment.
I turned the notebook toward him.
“I didn't write this to punish you. Caroline suggested it because I was so tired I was afraid I'd forget something important.”
Julian stared at the page.
Diane looked at him.
“Did you call to ask whether your daughters were okay?”
He said nothing.
“Did you arrange help?”
Nothing.
“Did you even tell Audrey where you were?”
He looked down.
Then he whispered, “I needed to get away.”
Diane sat back.
“You sound exactly like your father.”
Julian's head snapped up.
“Don't.”
I looked between them.
Diane rarely mentioned her ex-husband.
All I knew was that Leonard Reed left when Julian was a child and eventually remarried.
She'd raised Julian alone while working at a grocery store.
Now her expression changed.
“I was twenty-seven when Leonard decided he needed a break,” she said.
Julian stood.
“Stop talking.”
“He left for a weekend.”
“Mom.”
“He didn't come back for eight months.”
I stared at her.
Diane looked toward the babies.
“I worked nights. My sister watched you. I kept telling everyone your father would be home soon.”
Julian's jaw clenched.
“This isn't the same.”
“No,” she said quietly. “You came back after four days.”
Silence.
Then Diane looked at me.
“Audrey, I've brought an overnight bag. If you'd like, the girls and you can stay with me while you decide what comes next.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Absolutely not.”
I looked at him.
He seemed shocked that anyone had offered me a choice.
I took a slow breath.
“I'm going to stay with Diane for a few days.”
“You can't just take my children.”
I looked at him.
“I'm not disappearing, Julian. I'll speak with a family attorney about appropriate arrangements, and you can remain involved in their care.”
He stared at me.
I continued.
“But I am not spending another night here pretending nothing happened.”
Caroline stood and went to help collect the girls' supplies.
Julian watched her carry the diaper bag toward the door.
Then he looked at his mother.
“You're taking her side?”
Diane shook her head.
“I'm taking the side of two babies who need parents, not excuses.”
I picked up Nora carefully.
For the first time in months, my daughter rested against my shoulder while someone else handled the bags.
We were almost at the door when Julian spoke again.
“Audrey.”
I stopped.
“There's something about that resort you don't understand.”
I turned.
He looked frightened.
Not ashamed.
Frightened.
“What?”
He glanced at his mother.
Then he said, “I invested in it.”
Diane went completely still.
“What resort?”
“Breakwater Lodge.”
May you like
Her face lost all its color.
“Julian,” she whispered, “please tell me you didn't give Leonard money.”
