Circle of Friends, Part 2 by Susan Mallery Page A

against that, Jimmy had been old enough to claim his mother’s attention with his activities.
    â€œNo matter what I did, it wasn’t enough,” his father said. “She slowly cut me off from my friends until she was the only one I saw. I knew we’d reached the end when she admitted that she wanted me to quit my job and stay home with her twenty-four hours a day. I knew that was a symptom of something being very wrong. I tried to get her help but she refused. So I ran. Emotionally at least.”
    Dev nodded slowly. He’d been about twelve or thirteen when his father had pretty much stopped showing up at home. That’s when his mother started to go downhill. He remembered hearing her crying all night, waiting for a man who wasn’t coming back.
    â€œI took the easy way out,” his father said. “I’m not proud of that. I let you and Jimmy down, I let my father down, although he was used to that. He’d been disappointed in me since the day I was born.”
    â€œDad, no,” Dev said.
    â€œIt’s true. I didn’t care about the company, I wasn’t interested in finance or engineering or any part of the business. Oh, I liked the money well enough. I still do. Those monthly checks keep me going.”
    Dev didn’t know what to do with all the information. There had been too much in too short a period of time.
    â€œYou’ve done well,” his father said unexpectedly. “For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. Your grandfather would have been proud, too. You’ve grown his company in ways he never could.”
    â€œI... Don’t be proud of me,” Dev told him.
    His father sighed impatiently. “Dammit, Dev, quit being a martyr. If you have to claim some trait from your mother, for God’s sake pick something else. You didn’t kill your brother.”
    Dev stood. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œOf course I do. Let it go, or the guilt will kill you. You’re not like me. You can’t turn your back on the people you’ve hurt and still live your life. It’ll eat you up inside. You’ve got something good with Noelle. Drop the past and move on.”
    Dev sank back into the chair. “I don’t have Noelle.”
    â€œOf course you do. She loves you. Anyone can see that.”
    â€œIt’s not what you think. The reason I married her, I mean.” He quickly told the story of Noelle’s relationship with Jimmy and subsequent pregnancy.
    â€œIt’s a marriage of convenience,” Dev concluded.
    His father looked surprised by the information but he recovered quickly. “It may have started out that way, but it isn’t anymore. She loves you and I think you love her. Only you’re acting like a jackass. An unfortunate trait you get from me. The good news is Noelle’s heart is bigger than her sense of self-preservation. You haven’t blown it completely. You can still get her back.”
    â€œWhat if I don’t want her back?”
    â€œThen you’re a fool. You won’t do better.”
    â€œI don’t expect to do better. I expect her to find someone who can be all she needs.”
    His father finished his coffee and tossed the container into the trash by the desk. “You’re willing to let another man touch her and tell her he loves her? You’re willing to let someone else raise Jimmy’s child.”
    Dev’s chest tightened. He didn’t want any of that. He especially didn’t want Noelle curled up in another bed, laughing after an amazing night of lovemaking. He didn’t want her making peanut butter cookies for another man, or talking about her day or...
    â€œIf I love her, then I’ll break,” he said quietly.
    â€œLove isn’t for sissies,” his father told him. “So you break. Noelle helps you put the pieces back together and you move on.”
    â€œAs simple as