he said running his hand through his hair. “The truth is, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. With all of the new software developments, I’ve been under a lot of stress lately.” He was reluctant to tell her about Kayla, especially now since she was so close to relapsing. He could tell that he was causing a lot of inner turmoil within her, and their relationship.
“And what about us? You’ve seemed so distant. I don’t know what to think,” she said wiping her tears away.
“You and I are perfect. Don’t ever doubt that. I’m here for you, I promise.”
“Do you mean that? That you’re here for me?” she asked, wide-eyed and hopeful.
“I am, but I do have to admit something else to you. I sometimes wonder if our relationship is right…you know, the timing and all.”
“What do you mean by that? Do you think that we shouldn’t be together?” she asked, on the verge of an outburst.
“No, don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that we’re together. Ever since you came back into my life, I’ve never been happier. I just sometimes wonder if the timing is right, that’s all.”
“If you don’t want to be here, nobody’s holding a gun to your head,” she became defensive.
“Audrey, believe me, I want to be here. I have a question for you, though.” She looked at him, waiting to hear what wanted to ask. “If you’re on the verge of relapsing, have you thought about going to those meetings? Or do you have a sponsor or someone you can talk to?” he suggested.
“Yes, I do have a sponsor. I need to call him, but I don’t want him to know what’s going on. It’s shameful to admit that you’re so weak that you want to start using again, you know?”
“Will you promise me something? Will you promise me that if you feel like using, you’ll call me, and not some drug dealer?”
Audrey laughed. She didn’t need to call a drug dealer, at least not yet. Her stash was safely hidden in her jewelry box. Instead of using that night, she decided to put it away and take a hot shower instead.
“I don’t need to call a dealer,” she said, almost sadistically.
Chad wondered why she responded the way she did but decided to trust her.
“You had me worried. Do you know that?” he said, pulling her in for a hug.
Something had to change, though, he didn’t know what. Tomorrow, he thought, I should call that attorney and get the ball rolling on this custody issue. What will Christina think when I serve her with court papers?
Chapter Eight
On his drive home from Audrey’s house, Chad came to the realization that this had to stop. He couldn’t stand lying to both women and he knew that he was hurting Audrey in the process. In a way, he almost felt as if he were leading Christina on, which made him feel guilty. Tomorrow, he thought, I’m calling Thomas Miller and I’m going to talk to Christina; come clean with her about my intentions and my relationship with Audrey.
That night, he could hardly sleep. Tossing and turning in bed, he dreamt of Audrey crying on the couch. She didn’t deserve any of this, and it was putting her in a dangerous position. His dreams continued through the night and when he woke up, calling his lawyer was at the top of his list. He’d had enough of the lying and wanted it all to be over. Before he even got ready for work that morning, he outlined what he wanted to say to the lawyer and what he’d like to propose to the courts. After showering and heading to work, Chad closed his office door for privacy. He dialed the lawyer’s office as soon as it opened.
“Mr. Miller?” Chad asked once the legal secretary patched him through.
“Yes, who am I speaking with?” the lawyer asked.
“This is Chad Wetzel. I know the last time we spoke, I’d asked for a personal meeting in your office; however, I’ve decided that I’d like for
“And what about us? You’ve seemed so distant. I don’t know what to think,” she said wiping her tears away.
“You and I are perfect. Don’t ever doubt that. I’m here for you, I promise.”
“Do you mean that? That you’re here for me?” she asked, wide-eyed and hopeful.
“I am, but I do have to admit something else to you. I sometimes wonder if our relationship is right…you know, the timing and all.”
“What do you mean by that? Do you think that we shouldn’t be together?” she asked, on the verge of an outburst.
“No, don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that we’re together. Ever since you came back into my life, I’ve never been happier. I just sometimes wonder if the timing is right, that’s all.”
“If you don’t want to be here, nobody’s holding a gun to your head,” she became defensive.
“Audrey, believe me, I want to be here. I have a question for you, though.” She looked at him, waiting to hear what wanted to ask. “If you’re on the verge of relapsing, have you thought about going to those meetings? Or do you have a sponsor or someone you can talk to?” he suggested.
“Yes, I do have a sponsor. I need to call him, but I don’t want him to know what’s going on. It’s shameful to admit that you’re so weak that you want to start using again, you know?”
“Will you promise me something? Will you promise me that if you feel like using, you’ll call me, and not some drug dealer?”
Audrey laughed. She didn’t need to call a drug dealer, at least not yet. Her stash was safely hidden in her jewelry box. Instead of using that night, she decided to put it away and take a hot shower instead.
“I don’t need to call a dealer,” she said, almost sadistically.
Chad wondered why she responded the way she did but decided to trust her.
“You had me worried. Do you know that?” he said, pulling her in for a hug.
Something had to change, though, he didn’t know what. Tomorrow, he thought, I should call that attorney and get the ball rolling on this custody issue. What will Christina think when I serve her with court papers?
Chapter Eight
On his drive home from Audrey’s house, Chad came to the realization that this had to stop. He couldn’t stand lying to both women and he knew that he was hurting Audrey in the process. In a way, he almost felt as if he were leading Christina on, which made him feel guilty. Tomorrow, he thought, I’m calling Thomas Miller and I’m going to talk to Christina; come clean with her about my intentions and my relationship with Audrey.
That night, he could hardly sleep. Tossing and turning in bed, he dreamt of Audrey crying on the couch. She didn’t deserve any of this, and it was putting her in a dangerous position. His dreams continued through the night and when he woke up, calling his lawyer was at the top of his list. He’d had enough of the lying and wanted it all to be over. Before he even got ready for work that morning, he outlined what he wanted to say to the lawyer and what he’d like to propose to the courts. After showering and heading to work, Chad closed his office door for privacy. He dialed the lawyer’s office as soon as it opened.
“Mr. Miller?” Chad asked once the legal secretary patched him through.
“Yes, who am I speaking with?” the lawyer asked.
“This is Chad Wetzel. I know the last time we spoke, I’d asked for a personal meeting in your office; however, I’ve decided that I’d like for
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