[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
." Denise turned to leave."Go after her," Beverly urged."Talk to her.You owe her that much."Luke strode after Denise.He found her at the end of the corridor by the elevators.She held up her hand when she saw him."Don't say anything.Not one word.""We need to talk."She shook her head and turned away from him, pushing open the door to the stairwell.Luke ran after her, down one flight, then another, hearing her heels click on the stairs as she ran."Denise, wait," he shouted.He finally caught up with her somewhere between the first and second floors as she stopped to catch her breath.When he approached, she held up a hand, and he saw the tears running down her face in a wash of mascara.He reached for her.She pulled away.He grabbed her back and yanked her into his arms.Denise started to cry, and he felt like crying along with her."It's over," she said."I've been fighting it for so long, and now I know that it's over.""Denise -- "She pulled away from him."Maybe it would have been different if we'd had a child.Then maybe this one wouldn't mean so much to you.I thought about trying to get my tubal ligation reversed.I thought about in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, adoption.Because if I could give you a son, I think I could hold on to you.""What's done is done.You don't want children.You've made that very clear.""I made a mistake.""We've all made mistakes.""It wouldn't have mattered anyway.Because that boy upstairs reminds you of his mother, and I think." Denise hesitated, her mouth trembling."I think you're still in love with her."Luke felt her pain as deeply as his own."I never wanted to hurt you."She pulled a tissue out of her purse and blotted her eyes."You know, for a moment, a horrible moment, I actually wanted that boy to die.I thought if he was gone, we could go back to being the way we were.But that won't happen.Because you've changed, and I have, too.Just tell me one thing, Luke.Did you ever love me?""Yes.I still care for you.I just don't know if we can be happy together.""Care? That's not a very strong emotion, Luke.Certainly not the way you should feel about your wife." She squared her shoulders."I don't think we can be happy together, either.I want a divorce."He stared at her, feeling such incredible relief, he didn't know what to say."Are you sure?" He felt almost obligated to protest, even though he wanted to shout for joy."Positive."And she sounded positive.He tried one last argument."We can wait, Denise.Everything is crazy right now.We shouldn't be making big decisions.""I don't want to wait.I don't want to think about it anymore.I came to the hospital the other day." She looked at him steadily."I saw Danny, and I met Jenny.She's actually nice.""What did you say to her?""Nothing horrible.I realized after I spoke to her that she's perfect for you -- at least for the new you, the one who wants a basketball hoop in the driveway, and insists on a real Christmas tree when an artificial one is just as good, and the man who wants to make love on an open air deck for all the world to see." She shook her head."We could try counseling, but it wouldn't work.The truth is, I don't want to get stuck taking care of that kid for the rest of our lives.He might not get better.He might be that way forever, and I don't think I could handle spending every Sunday in a hospital room." She shrugged."I'll call Dale as soon as I get home."Luke stiffened at the mention of their attorney."You're moving awfully fast.""Life is short, Luke.Haven't you realized that yet?" She smiled and touched his face in a loving, regretful gesture."I'm going to make you pay, sweetheart.You're a rich man, and you owe me half.I won't settle for less.""I'm sure you won't."She started down the stairs, then paused as she gave him one last look."Be happy, Luke.""You, too," he whispered, but she didn't hear him, because she was already gone.* * *"Denise is leaving Luke," Beverly said to her husband as they waited in Danny's hospital room."She's not the type of woman to wait for the other shoe to drop."Charles shook his head."I wish we could stop them from making such a big mistake.""We can't.I don't think we should even try.Luke is a grown-up." She smiled at her husband."I just realized that.You'd think I would have figured it out earlier
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]