The Contingency Plan (The Lonely Heart Series) by Latrivia Nelson Page B

asked about the process of IVF and who had given their “eggs” away.  But Sully had felt that telling them that he didn’t know only protected them from feeling aba n doned by their mother. 
    Now, he’d have to face the entire truth, and more than likely, he’d not be alone in the inquisition.  Reporters were smart.  People had talked in the past about his decision to have multiracial children, and they’d also talked about his short relationship with Charlie.  It wouldn’t take long to put two and two together. 
    ***
    It was eight at night by the time that Charlie got home from work.  Pulling into the garage of their suburban white, two-story colonial home with the classic red door and the picket fence in Somerset, New Jersey, she turned off the car and put her head on the steering wheel.  She knew that she was in for it - two hours late for dinner and two hours late for the discussion that she and Alex were supposed to be having tonight spelled trouble for her.  
    They were having issues.  He was completely u n happy with her, and she wasn’t too thrilled with him either.  Still, he tried, and so did she.  He had called her earlier in the day and asked her to sit down and talk over a quiet dinner. He had bought the kids pizza and put them to bed early but he had fixed Charlie a separate, quiet dinner with wine and wanted to discuss rebooting their marriage.
    When she hung up the phone with him earlier that day, she had one intention – to meet him at six for dinner - but then they had a major client fly in, and she was asked to speak at the press conference, and then the day went to shit.  She called and missed Alex on his cell, and then she had her assistant, Frank, call and leave more messages, but the end result was the same. 
    Alex was pissed at Charlie.
    Well, what was new in the world?
    Getting out of her pewter Mercedes Benz with her bags hanging off both shoulders and her leather coat draped over her arm, she slowly drudged up the stairs and entered into the kitchen of their house. 
    Carefully, she closed the door behind her and hit the alarm, trying not to make a noise. 
    The lights were dim, and the dishes had all been washed and put away.  She kicked off her shoes and looked around, but there was no sign of Alex. 
    The television on the counter in the kitchen played CNN, the larger one in the sitting room played MSNBC.  The den was quiet and empty.  Everything was in its place and silent – a sure sign that he was pissed. 
    Normally, when everything was good between them homework, toys, shoes a nd random mess was everywhere. Alex only cleaned up when he was angry; it helped him think.  And based upon the look of the house tonight, he was furious. 
    “You finally made it home,” Alex said, rounding the corner with a pint of mint chocolate ice cream in his hands. 
    Charlie jumped. “ Jeesh , you scared me.”  Holding her hand to her chest, she shook her head.
    “A bit dramatic for so late in the evening aren’t you?” he said curtly as he walked passed and went to the stainless steel refrigerator to put away his late evening snack.
    “I could say the same for you,” she said, looking at the ice cream.  He only ate it when he was really upset too.  Taking a deep breath, she went over to the kitchen island and sat down. “Sorry that I’m late.  Did you get my messages?”  She tried to sound upbeat even though she was beat down. 
    “Yep.”  He slightly slammed the refrigerator, then turned to her and took the spoon out of his mouth.  “You know how I feel about you having Frank call me.”
    “Please don’t start with that homophobic crap,” she said offended.
    “I’ve asked you before not to have someone else call me. You call me; I’m your husband.”  His voice slightly rose.
    “Why don’t we get to what this is really about?” Her nostrils flared. “You want a housewife, someone who makes less than you, works less than you, and is here every time