Page 25 of Falling for the Unexpected

“I’m sorry, Simone,” he said, his voice hitching. “I should have never interfered. A part of me thought I was helping him realize what heshoulddo, not what hehadto do. I’d hoped he’d grow into being a responsible husband and father.” He looked at Marla then glanced back at me. “I was wrong, and your unhappiness… I’m partly to blame for that and I own up to it. But clearly, my son has failed you and his daughter and that’s on him.”

I broke down. So that’s what Brad had meant when he said he felt pressured to marry me. Was I really that stupid to have believed he came to that decision on his own? Just when I thought I couldn’t shed another tear, another round overtook me. Marla gathered me up in her arms, patting my back until I regained control over my emotions.

“Can I ask why Brad isn’t here with you telling us what’s going on?” Jim asked, but from the look on his face, he already knew the answer. Marla handed me a tissue and I wiped at my eyes.

“I asked him to come with me but he had other plans.” I left my answer purposely vague for Marla’s sake. She was finally coming around, but the sadness in her eyes made my chest feel tight.

“I… can’t say I’m surprised by this, not really,” Marla said, subdued. She kept a motherly arm around me. “I’ve been blind to his faults for too long, and like Jim, I prayed he’d turn himself around. Him marrying you gave me false hope that he could change and be the man I thought he could be.” She paused, and took one of my hands in her free hand. “You need to know that we will be here for you and Stella while you navigate through this. You’re not alone.”

I nodded. I wasn’t able to respond with words because the tears had started flowing again. My biggest fear was losing them and Marla was telling me I didn’t need to worry about that.

“Sweetie, please don’t cry,” Marla cooed, squeezing me into her side.

“I was so worried I was going to lose the two of you. You’re the only family I have,” I sniffed, voicing my fears out loud.

“That will never happen,” Marla said firmly. “You’ll always be our daughter. You and Stella are a part of our lives, and nothing will ever change that. I won’t allow it, and Jim won’t either.”

After I calmed down a bit and swallowed down some water, Jim resumed his questions. He scooted forward, elbows on his knees and fingers laced loosely together. “So, where is Brad right now?” he asked.

“He’s at the apartment,” I answered, nasally from all the crying.

“Is that where you’re going when you leave here?” he continued, frowning.

I had to remember that Jim was an attorney and firing off questions rapidly was just his way of learning the details he deemed important. It also helped me focus and rein in any more emotions floating through me. His pointed questions were cutting right to the heart of the matter.

“Um… Brad said I needed to find somewhere else to live as of tonight since the apartment is in his name,” I answered, not able to meet Jim’s eyes.

“Bullshit!” Jim boomed. That made me and Marla both jump. His mouth was in a thin line, his brows snapped together, and his nostrils flared. The man seldom cursed or raised his voice so I knew he was furious. “Simone, you obviously don’t know this, but that apartment is in our name not Brad’s. We signed the lease two years ago as a favor to him—as areward.” He shook his head, almost to himself. The angry expression dissipated to one of disappointment, at himself, at the situation, or maybe at whatever else that was going through his mind. “Since you moved in, we’ve helped pay the rent several times because we didn’t want you and Stella to be evicted. I’m going to call Brad right now, and let him know that he’ll be the one vacating the apartment, and that he’d better be gone by tomorrow morning.”

My first instinct was to not allow Jim to do anything that would upset Brad, and I almost pleaded with him to not say anything, but I realized, for the first time, Brad’s feelings were no longer my concern. He was on his own. At the same time, I didn’t want to create a divide in which Marla or Jim had to pick sides. Brad was their son, their flesh and blood, and I couldn’t blame them iftheirinstinct was to protect him, no matter what. “If you’re sure…” I said, taking a deep, unsteady breath. “You don’t have to do that, Jim. I appreciate the gesture, though.”

“I won’t have my granddaughter uprooted from her home like this. He can move out. I’m sure he hassomewhereto go,” Jim said, grimly. “For tonight, you’ll stay here.”

I closed my eyes briefly. “Thank you…” I whispered, on the verge of tears again. There was nothing else I could say. Once again Jim and Marla proved just how wonderful they were.

“Have you talked to an attorney yet?” Marla asked, tentatively.

This was the question I was worried about. I didn’t want them to think Kyle was betraying them by helping me. I also didn’t want to cause problems between Trent and Kyle. But this too wasn’t something that I could keep secret forever.

“Yeah, I spoke with Kyle this morning, and he offered to help prepare the paperwork. I didn’t know who else to ask,” I said, still fretting about going to Kyle. “If it makes any of you uncomfortable I can find someone else—”

“I don’t see a problem with that. Kyle is an excellent lawyer,” Jim said, adamant. He stood up and walked over to me. He leaned over and kissed me on the top of my head, just like a loving father would do. It made me smile and he returned a gentle smile of his own. But then he grew serious. “I’m going to call Brad now. And by tomorrow, the apartment is yours and Stella’s, okay? I’ll even go over there before to make sure he’s gone.”

With that, Jim went back upstairs, probably to his study. I had no desire to hear any part of that conversation or whatever excuses Brad would make.

“Since you’re staying here, why don’t you head upstairs and take a bath or a nap?” Marla suggested. “Dinner will be ready in a couple hours so you should rest until then, or just have a moment to yourself. If Stella wakes up we’ll take care of her.”

We both got up and hugged once more at the bottom of the stairs before I walked up to the spare bedroom. I was extremely grateful that Stella and I both had a place to stay tonight. I set my purse at the end of the bed in the guestroom. A bath sounded heavenly. Before I could enter the attached bathroom, though, I heard a light knock on the door and welcomed whoever it was to come in.

“Here’s a pair of pajamas,” Marla said. “There are some spare toiletries in the bathroom. If you need anything else just holler.”

I took the pajamas with a grateful smile. “Thanks again. And Marla, I’m really am sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Simone, so please don’t apologize,” she returned. I could tell she was sad about the whole thing but understanding, too. She reached out and gave my hand a squeeze. “We love you very much and just want things to work out for you and Stella.”

I’d really hit the jackpot in the in-law department.

As I was getting ready to enter the bathroom I heard my phone chime with a notification. I went back to my purse and dug out my phone, wondering who it could be now. I prayed it wasn’t Brad messaging me about the apartment. The very thought of dealing with him right now made me positively ill. However, I was a little surprised when I saw who the message was from. I opened the text and read the message.