Now and Forever by Angela Lam

Author:Angela Lam [Lam, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: marriage; sports romance; women's fiction; small town; domestic drama; friendship
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-04-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Lionel stood by the kitchen window, drinking his coffee. Last night, Geraldine lay quietly in bed when he arrived home a little after ten o’clock. In the dark room, he undressed, slipped beneath the covers, and waited. She did not roll over and caress his chest through his shirt or press kisses against the stubble on his cheeks or run her foot along the length of his leg. When he woke in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, he heard her sniffling. Maybe she was coming down with a summer cold.

Dumping the dregs of his coffee into the sink, he rinsed the cup and set it in the dishwasher. He needed to call Nick today and reschedule the dinner. The World Masters was less than a month away, and the team needed to know the logistics of the trip. With slumping shoulders, he shoved his keys, wallet, and phone into his pockets. He strode up the stairs, nudged open the bedroom door, and listened to the quiet rise and fall of Noelle’s breath as she curled beside Geraldine’s feet. Walking around the edge of the bed, he stood before Geraldine, who stared at the window. Two silver streaks glistened on her cheeks. He knelt beside her and stroked the hair away from her face with his calloused fingers. She wasn’t suffering from a summer cold; she was just suffering. “What’s wrong, GG?”

She blinked, without meeting his gaze. “I—don’t—know.”

Sitting back on his heels, he let his hand drift to her chin. He tilted her face until he peered into her red-rimmed eyes. “You aren’t a good liar.”

She cringed, tugging the sheet over her shoulder. “I never meant to hurt anyone.”

“Who did you hurt?” He searched her face, seeking the answer she wouldn’t give him.

Swallowing, she wrestled away her chin and closed her eyes. “I guess it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. I can’t change the past.”

He sucked in a breath and held it. “You’re talking about the twins.” He dropped his hand to his lap and stared at a loose thread in the worn carpeting. “I’m sorry I’m still grieving. I don’t know when I’ll stop. The pain never ends.” Releasing the breath, he gasped. “Logically, I know their death wasn’t your fault. Something was wrong chromosomally. The doctor explained that fact years ago.” He curled his hands into fists. “But I can’t help what I feel.”

Was she listening?

Slowly, she wiggled to a seated position against the pillows. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she met his gaze. “I’m sorry for everything.” Breaking away, she glanced at the sunlight filtering through the curtains. “It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, that’s for sure.” They were too old to try for a baby. He slapped his thighs and grabbed the edge of the mattress to hoist his cumbersome weight. Prickles of sensation danced in his legs, and he stamped his feet. “Get some rest. I know you didn’t sleep well last night. I’ll see you later at the store.”

“No, wait.” She tugged on his hand.

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