Page 12 of Good Intentions, Vol. 2

Sometimes, I feel like she’s really trying. Trying to get to know our son, trying to be a mother. Trying to get us back where we once were, a husband and wife. Unfortunately, I fear it’s too late.

Not just because I’m in love with Heather.

Because I don’t know if I could ever be able to trust her again.

I focus on my son’s happy face and long for times like this. For what could have been.

All three of us could be together in this precise moment, without me standing at the sidelines watching the scene play out before my eyes, if only Claire gave us a chance.

“What’s wrong?” Claire’s voice breaks and I look at her. Her face is pale, her posture became rigid as she looks at the equally pale faced Marina.

“Mr. Thomas is here,” Marina never liked Claire’s brother, not that I blamed her. I don’t like him either. The man drinks too much, brags about his conquests with woman even more. Not to mention his gambling problem that Claire’s family tried to brush under the carpet.

He swears that that’s all in the past. Maybe it is. I wouldn’t know since I stopped spending any time with him after Claire basically threw me out of her life.

She looks quickly to me, then back to Marina. “Tell him I’ll talk to him later.”

Whatever is going on between them, I don’t want to know. And it gives me the perfect opportunity to leave.

I take the three steps that bring me to Ben, kiss the only clean spot on his face and murmur, “Later, buddy.”

Walking out, I don’t acknowledge the man that is staring at me or take another look back at the kitchen.

If I did, maybe I would see how scared Claire became.

And maybe I would step in.

The only problem is, she probably wouldn’t let me.