An Unexpected Love (Women's Fiction/BWWM Romance) (6 page)

David knocked on Patrick’s office door,
which stood ajar.

“Hey, Mr. Accountant.”

“Hey, man.” Patrick looked up from his
computer. “What are you doing here?”

“On lunch break.” David walked in,
unbuttoning his blazer. “Figured you would be too, so maybe we can catch some
lunch at that Japanese place down the street.”

“It’s good to see you, man.” Patrick stood
and shook David’s hand. “You look good.”

He hit David’s arm and then sat back down.

“You too.” David glanced around the
pristine office and sat on the chair across from Patrick. “What do you say?” He
wiggled his fingers. “Up for some sushi?”

“I wish I could.” Patrick focused on his
computer. “I gotta finish this stuff up. I’d planned to just skip lunch.”

“Oh.” David poked his lips out and nodded.
“Guess I should’ve called before popping in.”

“No, it’s cool with me.” Patrick took off his
reading glasses and leaned back in the leather chair. “I’m always glad to see
my…my…what the hell
are
we?”

David laughed.

“You crazy. I guess we’re
brothers-in-law-in-law.” Patrick guffawed.

David’s laughter eased. “See, this is why
I like talking to you. You make me smile. You make me forget shit, you know?”

“Uh-oh.” Patrick rocked on the back legs
of his chair. “How come I get the feeling you didn’t come down here just for
sushi?”

David pointed to the door. “You got a minute?”

 
“Sure.”

David jumped up and closed the door. “You’re
right. I came down because I needed to talk to you.” He sat down. “Brotha to
brotha.”

“Okay.” Patrick leaned forward. “I’m glad
you’re here. I need to talk to someone, too. I can’t think of anyone better
than you.”

“You wanna go first?”

Patrick rubbed his chin. “No, go ahead.”

“You already can guess that it’s Val.”
David let out a huge breath. “I don’t know how long I can deal with this, man.
We fight constantly over the silliest little things.”

“That sounds familiar.”

“Can you believe this morning we had a
forty-five minute argument because I left toast crumbs on the butter?” David
grimaced. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

“That is
kinda
gross,
though.”

“I’m serious, man. It’s getting to where
I’m scared to walk up in the house. We got this big marketing campaign I’m
leading. I’m glad as hell I’ll have to work late some nights just so I don’t
have to hear her mouth.”

“I hate to see you two going down this
route.” Patrick clasped his fingers in his lap. “But the good news is that you
and Val are still communicating. Sure, you’re fighting all the time. But when
you both stop fighting, that’s when you should be worried. It means you’ve both
stopped caring.”

David reflected on the insight. “I never
thought about it like that.”

“Silence is the killer of every marriage.”
Patrick rocked in the chair. “She loves you. You still love her?”

“I wouldn’t put up with her shit if I
didn’t.”

“But is it just
her
shit, though?”

David scooted closer to the desk. “I’m not
following.”

“I notice you tend to put the blame on Val
a lot, but you gotta look at what you’re doing too.”

David pointed to himself. “I don’t do
anything.”

 
“Maybe
you don’t
realize
that you do it.”
Patrick nodded. “That’s what I did with Layla. I blamed everything that went
wrong about our marriage on her illness.” He stared at his desk. “She wasn’t
perfect, but I had problems too.”

“These Oates women…I tell you.” David
shook his head. “They’ll drive a man as crazy as hell.”

“But it’s worth it.” Patrick sipped from
his coffee cup. “It’s worth it just to wake up next to that beautiful woman and
hold her in your arms. You’re so damn lucky, David. Hold on to Val before you
lose her for good.”

“Wait a minute.” He laid his hand on the
desk. “What’s going on? You act like you’re missing Layla.”

 
“I’ve
been
missing her since we first separated.” Patrick touched the keyboard. “Now I’m
wanting her again…I mean really wanting.”

David propped his right leg on his left. “Are
you saying you’re still in love with Layla?”

“I never
stopped
being in love with her.”

“You were the one who wanted the divorce.”

“I didn’t
want
it.” He hit the desk. “I fucked up. I never intended for
things to go that far. I was stressed out and upset. I never thought that when
I told her I wanted out that she wanted the same thing.”

“I don’t understand this at all. You guys
just got divorced a month ago. How the hell can you not be sure?”

“I never wanted the divorce. I told her
that to push her into shaping up.”

“Shaping up? She did the best she could.” “I
see that now.” Patrick held his head. “I’m such an idiot.”

“Let me get this straight. You told your
wife you wanted a divorce but didn’t. But because you’re so damn stubborn and
you saw she really wanted a divorce…you let it happen?”

“Yes,” Patrick whispered. “I gambled with
my marriage. I didn’t know Layla felt the way she did. She was more tired than
I was, and she wasn’t in love with me anymore. If she had been, I’d have fought
for her. But how can I fight for someone who doesn’t want me?”

“Man, this is tripping me out. You want
Layla back?”

“More than anything.”

“Jesus.” David stood. “I thought Val and I
were fucked up. But like you said, at least we communicate. It’s like you and
Layla live on two different planets from each other. Does she know you still
want her?”

“She figures I care because of the girls
and the history we got together, but she doesn’t know I want her back.” Patrick
moved his glasses to the side. “And I do. I want her back. I
want
my wife back. What do I do?”

“I came down here to get advice from
you
.”

Patrick glared at him with his head to the
side. “David.”

“What do you expect me to say?” David
hunched his shoulders. “Patrick, you threw away your twenty year marriage to
prove a point. How could you do that?”

“I don’t know.” He looked at his desk. “How
do you get your wife back after you just got divorced?”

“I can’t help you on
that
.” David held up his hands. “All I can say is: this time, be
honest and open. Stop treating relationships like competitions. Layla’s a good
woman. How could you just throw that away?”

“I gotta let her know how I feel.” Patrick
bounced in the chair. “I’ll think things over and make my move.”

“Good luck with that.” David went to the
door and then stopped. “Uh…” He turned around. “Never mind. See you.”

“Hold on. You got something else to talk
about?”

“No,” he lied.

“Come on. Didn’t you just scold me on not
being open?”

David rushed to Patrick’s desk. “I don’t
want you to get the wrong idea. But I’m struggling with something, and I’d like
to know your opinion.”

“Okay.” Patrick put on his reading glasses
and started typing. “Shoot.”

“Have you ever been attracted to another
woman while being with Layla?”

“Course I have.” He chuckled. “That’s
normal. Is that all?”

“Hell no, it ain’t all.” David lowered
himself into the chair. “We haven’t even scratched the surface yet.”

Patrick glanced from around his monitor. “Are
you having an affair?”

“No.” David fidgeted. “I swear.”

Patrick scooted away from the computer. “Do
you
want
to have one with someone?”

“No, I...”

Patrick glared underneath his glasses. “
David
.”

“Honestly, I don’t know if I want to or
not.”

“Bullshit.” Patrick snatched off his
glasses and laid them down. “If that was the case, we wouldn’t be having this
conversation. You can be honest with me. I’m not gonna tell Val.”

“Okay, I’m very much attracted to another
woman. But I love Val more than anything. I’d never risk my marriage to have an
affair.”

“But…”

“But I can’t stop thinking about this
woman.” A wave of relief flooded within him. “It feels so good to say it.”

“You haven’t said shit yet.” Patrick
propped his elbow on the desk. “Who is this woman?”

“She’s kind, compassionate, and funny. I’m
so comfortable with her…like I was when I first met Val. We can talk, and I
don’t have to worry about an argument.” He touched his blazer. “She seems so
wrapped up in me. She’s concerned about me. She asks me questions about my day and
how I’m feeling.—stuff Val doesn’t even think about these days.”

“Who…is…this…woman?”

“And she’s hot.” David whistled. “Woo wee.
She stirs up things inside of me. I mean, we have an emotional connection, but it’s
physical too. I can’t deny that anymore.”

“Anymore?” Patrick picked up his glasses.
“How long have you known this woman? Is it someone you work with?”

In answer, David looked at the carpet.

“Do I know her?” Patrick probed.

“Yes, very well.”

Patrick seemed to contemplate the mystery.
“The only women I know very well that you know are Layla, her mother, Val, and
Corrine…” Patrick’s mouth hung open. “You got the hots for Corrine?”

“
Uhhh
…”

Patrick grabbed him. “You got the hots for
Corrine
?”

David pushed him off. “You gotta broadcast
it, man?”

“Oh no.” Patrick walked in a circle. “No…David…”

“I know it’s wrong to feel this way, but I
can’t help it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve tried to stop
thinking about her, but I can’t.”

Patrick stopped in front of him. “You have
to.”

“You just said it’s normal to be attracted
to someone other than your wife.”

“Not your wife’s sister!” Patrick slumped back
behind his desk. “This is dangerous.” He sat down. “You have to let it go.”

“I’m trying…but…”

“Forget trying. You
have
to.” Patrick put his glasses back on. “Do you realize what
could happen if this turns into something more than an attraction? Not only
would you lose Val, but she’d kill both of you. She hates Corrine. She thinks
she caused that miscarriage.”

“Which is ridiculous. Corrine wouldn’t
have wanted us to lose our baby.”

“Too bad Val doesn’t agree. If she knew you
had these feelings for Corrine—of all people—she’d be devastated. It would hurt
her to the core.”

“I know.” David closed his eyes. “It’s not
like I want to feel this way. Ever since we met, Corrine and I had a
connection. I always said if I hadn’t met Val first, I think Corrine would be
the one.”

“Well, you did meet Val first.” Patrick
pointed at him. “You can’t even put yourself in this position. You have to stay
away from Corrine.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Brotha…” Patrick pulled the keyboard
closer to him. “You don’t have a
damn
choice.”

****

Layla laughed. “Stop, Cross!”

He chased her to her room with a handful
of confetti.

“Don’t throw that on me!” She opened her
door. “That stuff will be all in my hair.”

He moved his hand as if he were going to
throw it on her. “I think it’ll be pretty.”

 
“Don’t
you dare.” She grinned and backed inside of her room. “Where did you get that
from, anyway?”

“The staff is throwing one of the nurses a
birthday party tomorrow night.” He poured the confetti from one hand to the
other. “They’ve been decorating the gym all day.”

Layla sat on the bed and took off her sneakers.
“I hadn’t heard.”

 
“Yep,
it’s gonna be fun.” He swiped his hands together, placing the confetti into the
trash. “Some of us can go.” He winked. “The less violent of the insane ones,
that is.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

She turned on the lamp next to her bed and
grabbed her Kindle.

“You gotta go, Layla.” He sat beside her. “I’m
going.”

“I’m not the partying type.”

“I don’t believe that.”

He made a silly face and she laughed.

“Stop it. I feel like I’m having too much
fun…like I’m not doing what I need to be doing.”

“
Living
is what you need to be doing.” He scooted closer to her. “You know how you said
your husband held you back? You’re doing that to yourself now. Just because
you’re here…it doesn’t mean you gotta act like you hate it.”

“I don’t hate it. I just feel guilty.”

“It’s sad that someone has made you feel
like you don’t deserve to have fun.” He moved her hair out of her face. “I like
spending time with you. You make me laugh.”

“Ha.” She poked his arm. “You’re the one.
I don’t think I’ve laughed this much in years…especially not here. Thank you.”
She kissed his cheek, desperate to linger in the moment but knowing that she
should stop. “You’ve made me feel so much better. When I first came here, I
thought it would be the same old shit: I’d go through therapy, be put on
different meds, talk to the doctor, and stay in my room like a zombie.” She
touched her hair. “You’ve made me
want
to
be here. That’s amazing.”

“I can’t take the credit.” He rubbed her
hand. “You’re coming into your own. This is the real Layla coming back.”

“It’s about time. I’ve missed her very
much.”

“I can see why.” He stroked her cheek.
“She’s amazing, bright, and loveable. I haven’t known her long myself, but I’d
miss her too.”

He went in for a kiss and she turned away.

He reluctantly moved back.

“It’s not you,” she whispered. “Don’t
think that.”

His voice cracked. “Is it too fast?”

“This isn’t the right time for me to even
think about a man.” She placed her hands between her thighs. “I need to get
myself
together. For twenty years I had
a man controlling me, and I finally got my life back.”

“I’d never control you.”

“I know.” She touched his cheek. “But I
can’t lose sight of what’s important. I need to focus on my life. I gotta make
things right with Aliyah before I lose her forever. Please try to understand.”

“I understand.” He kissed her hand.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed, but I understand.”

“You’re so sweet. You seem to be so into
me. Patrick was never like that. After a while, it was like he saw my illness
and nothing else.”

“He’s a fool. If you were my wife, I’d
cherish you every day. Women like you don’t just fall off trees. You’re
special, Layla. And don’t ever let another man make you feel like you don’t
deserve the best…because you do.”

She smiled and exhaled. “I wanna read for
the rest of the evening.”

“Sure.” He stood, still staring at her.
“But the invitation still stands. You might not want to kiss me. But you can
dance with me, right?”

She giggled. “What do you mean?”

“The party is tomorrow night. You gotta
come.”

She groaned.

“Please.” He put his hands together. “I
promise that you’ll have a good time. When have you not had a good time with
me?”

“You do have a point.”

“So you’re coming?”

He backed up out of the door as Layla’s
cell buzzed.

“Excuse me,” she Cross as she got it from
the table by the bed and checked the ID.
It
flashed
“Patrick Sham.”

“Jeez,” she whispered.

“Is everything okay?” Cross asked.

“I have to take this. I’ll come to the
party tomorrow.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

She waved. “See you in the morning.”

He closed the door behind him as Layla
answered the phone, “Is something wrong with the girls? Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah,” Patrick said. “I’m just calling to
check on you.”

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
Why?

“Why?” she asked, reflecting her thoughts.

“Why?” The line filled with static when he
grinned. “I can’t be concerned about you?”

“I remember many times when I came into
Wellington. I was lonely and depressed. Half the time you wouldn’t even come to
see me, let alone call.”

“That’s not true, Layla. I saw you when I
could.”

“When you could?” She scooted up in the
bed. “I was your wife.”

“I had to work and take care of the girls
every time you went away. I saw you when I could.”

“Fine.” She turned her Kindle on. “I don’t
want to argue. I’ve had a nice day.”

“You sound happier. What have you been
doing?”

“I had a picnic outside with a friend.”

“I see. Is this a woman friend or a man
friend?”

“Does it matter? You said you called to
check on me, and I’m fine. Goodbye.”

“Wait. Come on, Lay.” He chuckled. “Is
that it?”

“What do you expect? We’re divorced now.
Isn’t the point of that so we don’t have to see each other or speak to each
other unless absolutely necessary?”

“Does it have to be so rigid?”

She scoffed. “
You
wanted the divorce first, remember?”

 
“No.
I mentioned it first. But then you went on about how you didn’t love me anymore.
You were the one who thought it was a good idea.” He huffed. “That’s what
happened.”

“Let me get this straight. You’re once
again blaming me?”

“I’m just saying that things didn’t work
out like I planned.”

“You planned to bully me and scare me with
the divorce threat. But it backfired on your black ass, because I really wanted
a divorce.”

“I miss you, Layla. I didn’t know it would
be this hard.”

“Excuse me, but you don’t know what hard
is.” She propped up her knees. “You try being mentally ill and feeling like the
walls are constantly closing in on you. Try having no control over your
thoughts or actions from one moment to the next. What do you know about how it
feels to go in and out of institutions for half your
freakin
’
life? Don’t talk to me about hard, Patrick. You don’t know the meaning of that
word.”

“You’re right,” he whispered. “I didn’t
treat you right. But, I loved you more than anything. Please know that.”

“I never doubted that you loved me, but
your kind of love isn’t what I need or want.”

“Lay—”

“Goodnight, Patrick.”

She hung up.