Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Since she’d lapsed into silence, he began.
“It’s good to see you.”
She didn’t agree.
Instead, she chose to say, “You look well.”
“I am, thanks.”
He didn’t have a view of her full face, but he thought he saw her lip curl.
Obviously, that meant it was time to tackle it.
“Maybe we should clear the air,” he suggested.
“It’s unnecessary,” she replied, setting the machine to running and turning to him. “What we have to talk about has nothing to do with us.”
“There isn’t an us, Mika. You made that happen,” he reminded her.
“And it turned out it was good I did,” she returned.
He wouldn’t get angry, even though he didn’t deserve that.
He’d fucked up, but the people that hurt who mattered were not standing in this room, and she made it that way.
If she had allowed them to be friends, she might or might not understand, but at the very least, she’d have a right to have a reaction.
Now, she didn’t.
“Can I ask why you feel entitled to be upset with me about something that doesn’t have anything to do with you?” he queried.
“Really, we should talk about what I asked you to come here to talk about. It’s important. This isn’t.”
“I disagree.”
“Okay then.”
She leaned back against the counter and put the apples of her palms on it, getting comfortable to slap him with her honesty.
And then she launched in, no hesitation, slapping him with her honesty.
“You put on a good show, drew me in. So much, I barely knew you, but still, I missed you, Tom. All these years. Especially during certain parts of that time where I really needed someone strong and good to lean on. But in the end, it was just a show.”
He shook his head. “Mika, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“So, no matter what the spin doctors said when you and Imogen scrambled to contain the damage after Corey Szabo’s ex went for his throat, even though the man was well past sustaining whatever wound she wished to inflict, and she used you two as her in with the gossip machine? Hollywood’s most perfect marriage didn’t end because you fucked around on your wife?”
He reminded himself he was not there to get angry.
Or explain.
“You can’t have lived all your years thinking that’s all there is to the end of a marriage. What I’d like to understand is why you think I owe you an explanation.”
“It wasn’t me who wanted to talk about this.”
“I can’t help you with the other, whatever that is, unless we get past this.”
“Now, I disagree.”
“I’ve not seen or spoken to Andrew in at least twenty years, Mika. Whatever it is you heard about him, I’m not an attorney. I’m not a judge. I’m not a counselor. I’m not a journalist. So maybe you need to do some introspection to understand why it is you called me and requested I show in person at your home, and perhaps come to the understanding what we’re discussing right now is why you did it.”
He was trying not to get angry, it was difficult, and he knew she was struggling with impatience as well.
He also knew with what he’d just said, she lost that struggle.
“You don’t know me well enough to claim an understanding of my motivations,” she spat.
And he didn’t drive all the way out beyond Cave Creek to have a woman spit words at him.
“You’re right, I don’t,” he returned, and done with this, leaned into the island, which meant leaning toward her, and he went on, “Because the woman I thought I’d met, the woman I missed, because she took away her friendship the same night she gave it, would not call a man when he was at his lowest. When he’d fucked up and lost the most precious thing in his life. When he was down in a way it took everything he had to pull himself out of bed in the mornings, because he knew it was all his to own, what he did, and what he lost. And then kick him in the teeth without knowing that first hint of what the fuck was going on. I disappointed you, Mika? Well, honey, the feeling is mutual.”
He turned and walked to the kitchen door but twisted back to see her staring at him, her cheeks again colored, but this time he didn’t know if it was embarrassment, because he’d hit home, or anger, because she didn’t want to admit that he’d hit home.
“My sense is, you’ve learned something hideous about Andrew. You’re right, that’s important. I’m involved in USTA, so if they need to be informed, I can facilitate that. I know smart, thoughtful journalists who will be gentle with victims and thorough in telling stories. I also know attorneys who take care of their clients, even as they go for the throat in a courtroom. I can help. But I’m too pissed at you right now to talk about it. I’ll get you some names, and I’ll do some introductions, if that becomes necessary. But for now, I’m going to go. You have a lovely home and an amazing daughter. It’s good to see you healthy, and what a wonderful job you did with your girl. Live well and be well, Mika.”