Pursued by Kristin Vayden Page A

way, we moved here, my hometown, so that I’d be next to my parents. Jack floundered for a job, then was hired by a local engineer, effectively using his undergrad minor. As time went on, Jack began to be more and more angry, demanding, and worst of all, demeaning. It got to the point where I wrote lists of things I could and couldn’t do so that I wouldn’t forget and mess up. When I found out I was expecting again, the morning sickness compounded everything. I don’t need to go into detail, but it was bad. About six months before Chase was born, Jack came home and after dinner spoke with me for about three hours, telling me he wanted out, had never loved me, just lusted after me, and now didn’t find me attractive any longer. He wasn’t happy, didn’t like the responsibility of coming home to a family, and didn’t see any reason to say. I promised to work harder and begged him to stay, to think about what he was saying, and how his children needed him. Nothing seemed to faze him. It was like his mind was already made up, and he was just giving me the courtesy of telling me before he did it.”
    I shook my head, and the movement caused a building tear to sweep down my face, leaving a warm salty trail on my skin. Though I didn’t love Jack like that anymore, the hurt, the raw pain of someone saying those things, wasn’t easy to forget. The kitchen was silent, and I glanced up at Levi, who was crossing his arms. The veins in his forearms stood out against his skin with his sweatshirt sleeves pushed up. His expression was carefully neutral, but his posture gave away his anger.
    “Frank and Samantha were the reason he stayed as long as he did. I don’t know what happened, or what Frank said, but I do know that Jack turned around for a few weeks before things went from bad to worse.” With a deep sigh, I finished my sad tale.
    “He left shortly after Chase was born, at least officially left. He had been here and there for about two months before that.” I paused. “But when he left, it was the worst day of my life, trumped only when he told me he had been having an affair during our now non-existent marriage.” I released a deep sigh and leaned back.
    “Abby, I…” Levi shook his head, then reached back and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know where to begin but to say I’m sorry. Yet at the same time, I’m not. I’m glad that sonofa—“He glanced at me before finishing. “—gun, is out of your and the boys lives. Good riddance. It makes me angry just thinkin’ of him in your home, coming in uninvited—“ He huffed, closing his eyes to control his clearly building anger. “I’m sorry he hurt you, Abby, but I’m glad he’s gone. Does that make sense?”
    “Yes, I understand completely. I often think the same thing.” I reached across, touching his hand with my own. The contact sent tingles up my arm and gave my body a delicious shiver that I barely suppressed. Levi’s eyes locked with mine as he turned over his hand. With intense slow movements, his warm fingers caressed mine before they interlocked within my own. His thumb traced circles on the back of my hand, and my belly flipped. How could I have such a response to him simply holding my hand… heaven help me if he ever kisses me!
    “The legal stuff, what does that all say?” Levi asked quietly as he took his other hand and traced my fingers, causing me to shiver with pleasure.
    It took me a moment to collect my thoughts.
    “Jack didn’t contest anything, except for the issue of spousal support.”
    “Spousal support?” Levi’s dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
    “Alimony.”
    “Ahh, got it. So he didn’t want to pay it?”
    “He didn’t want to pay anything, but I didn’t want to fight him because then he might change his mind about custody of the boys…” I let my voice trail off as Levi nodded, understanding.
    “So I have a year of spousal support, and then I’ll need to get a job. But the good news is that