This was bullshit. He was bullshit. Grabbing my keys. I darted out to my car and screeched out of the parking lot. I needed to see something. I needed to know if Paul was gone for good or not. This couldn’t be happening to me . . . again. I drove to his house. The gravel of his driveway crackled under my tires as I slowly drove by the For Sale sign. I stared at it for a long moment before lowering my head to the steering wheel and crying like I’ve never cried before.
He left.
He left just like everyone else.
When I calmed down, I drove home and crawled in bed, and cried myself to sleep. I woke up in the middle of the night, my entire lower body aching I had to pee so badly. Flipping the light on in my bathroom, I stared at the box I’d left there the day before. Now was as good a time as any. I tore open the box, pulled out the little white stick, and peed on it.
Three minutes later, my world changed forever.
Ashley sports a sad smile as she watches me wipe under my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I croak out. “It’s hard when you remember one of the best times in your life as one of the most painful.”
Leaning over, she pulls a small pack of tissues from her backpack and hands them to me.
“Thanks.”
“Did you hate him?” she asks after I’ve cleaned myself up.
“At first,” I admit. “I decided to keep him as a business partner. I wasn’t sure I could tell him I was pregnant, not then anyway. I was too . . . hurt. When I thought of him, it was too much. But I wanted to make sure I could get to him, if I needed to.”
“Did you try to contact him?”
“A few times. I emailed him. I told him I needed to talk to him, but I didn’t say what about.”
“Did it surprise you when he didn’t respond?”
I shrug. “Yes. No.”
“What happened with Marcus after that?”
It had been two days since I’d received the letter from Mateo on Paul’s behalf. I called Marcus into my office and asked him to sit with me.
I intended to explain my plans to him with regard to the business, but he spoke first.
“I’m giving you my resignation.”
The blood drained from my face. There was no doubt we hated each other. I, for one, couldn’t stand him. But with Paul disappearing, and a baby on the way, I wasn’t sure I could make the business function without Marcus. He knew the ins and outs. And he had a great rapport with the employees.
I slumped back in my chair, utterly deflated. The universe was against me.
“We both know Paul, while not the best mediator, was the only reason we’ve managed to coexist this long,” he explained. “I just don’t think we can have a healthy work environment.”
“And if I asked you to stay?” I questioned cautiously.
He tilted his head, a deep wrinkle forming between his brows. “Why would you ask me to stay?” he snorted.
I hated having to be vulnerable in front of him. I was afraid he’d use it as a weapon to belittle me more. But I had no choice.
“I’m pregnant.”
He blinked a few times, his mouth pressing into a hard, flat line. “Does Paul know?”
I shook my head no.
“Have you tried contacting him?”
“I’ve emailed him. I left a message with Mateo stating it was an urgent matter that I spoke with him. But I haven’t heard back.”
“Are you going to keep it?” he asked gingerly.
I placed my hand on my belly, my mouth quirking up slightly. “Definitely.”
When I lifted my gaze to meet his again, he let out a long sigh. Moving his gaze to the ceiling he let out a loud groan. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he mumbled to himself. Lowering his head, he said, “I’ll stay if you lift the prank ban,” he bartered.
“No.” There was no way in hell I’d ever agree to that.
“You have to give somewhere, Clara,” he argued.
I rolled my eyes. “No,” I affirmed.
He shrugged and began to slip out of his seat. “Well, good luck to you,” he chirped. I gritted my teeth. He knew he had me.
“Fine,” I seethed. “Once a month.”
“Five a month,” he replied.
“Two.”
“Three,” he offered firmly. “And that’s my final offer.”
I chuckled a little even though he was frustrating as hell. “Fine. Three.”
He slid out of his chair and rounded the desk, extending his hand. “Truce.”
I took it and we shook. “Truce.”
It’s funny how fast things changed between us. I confided in him as to why Dennis left me half of the business, and wished I’d done it sooner. Marcus seemed so . . . at peace when he discovered the truth. Slowly, we built trust between us and became friends. The night I signed my divorce papers from Kurt, he took me out for an all you can eat buffet and ice cream. He knew how to celebrate with a pregnant lady. He actually became my best friend. To this day, Marcus is my best friend. He was there the day Neena was born; the first to hold her after me. He taught her how to ride a bike. He was her friend, her playmate. He was there the day she was diagnosed. He’s been a rock for us. And I will forever be grateful for him.
Ashley smiles as she closes her notebook.
“Well, you know everything now, I guess.”
“Marcus sounds like a pretty amazing dude.”
“He is,” I agree.
“I think that’s it then,” she sighs. “We have a lot of footage to go through.”
“You’ll make it tasteful?” I question again, in a way that implies she damn well better make it tasteful.
“Yes, yes,” she chuckles. “I promise.”
I stand and stretch.