Love, Honor, and Betray by Roby, Lawson (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

had a feeling Matthew would somehow blame himself. He would be convincedthat he hadn’t said the right things to Mr. Rush, and that he should have handled things a whole lot differently. This would,of course, be very untrue, but Charlotte knew her son and how he always wanted to save people. He wanted to protect them,make them happy—she saw that more than ever before whenever he was with Curtina—he wanted to show as much love as possibleto everyone. He had a huge heart, and while it was much softer than her own, Charlotte admired him because of it.

Charlotte made sure Curtis was still in his study and then went upstairs to check her BlackBerry. Sure enough, Michael hadsent her ten text messages, the last just five minutes ago, and she knew he was wondering why she hadn’t called him back yet.Especially after so many hours had passed. So, she closed the bedroom door and then went down the hallway toward the bathroomand called him.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey, yourself. What happened to you? I was worried sick.”

“It’s a long story,” she said, keeping her voice down. “But long story short, one of the teachers held some students hostageand my son was one of them.”

“What? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. We’re home now, and in time he’ll get be­yond this.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I knew something was wrong when I didn’t hear back from you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t call.”

“No. I completely understand.”

“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know, but I’ll have to talk to you later.”

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

“I don’t think so. Matthew is really hurt over what happened, and I really need to be here for him.”

“What about Thursday or Friday then?”

Charlotte didn’t know how to tell him she wouldn’t be able to see him for a while. Not until she knew Matthew was back tonormal. Or maybe never again. She just didn’t know anything anymore, now that Matthew had openly expressed how troubled hewas over her and Curtis’s constant bickering, silent treatments, and marital breakdown. She loved being with Michael and didn’twant to give him up, but Matthew was more important. Her son was her life, and she would make whatever sacrifices she hadto if it meant keeping him happy. She wanted him to be content and to not have to worry about anything until he finished bothhigh school and college. Matthew, like most children in a two-parent household, couldn’t imagine his parents not being together,so she knew she had to make some changes. She had no choice but to bypass some of her own wants and desires and make him herpriority again.

“I don’t think that will work either,” she finally said.

“Well then, when?”

“I don’t know, but it won’t be soon.”

“Why?”

“Because of Matthew and everything that happened today.”

“I understand how you must be feeling, but baby, please don’t shut me out.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Charlotte, I love you. I knew it when we were down in Florida, but now I’m positive.”

“Maybe you just think you are because of all the problems you’re having with your wife.”

“No, that’s not it. I stopped loving her years ago, but I’ve never fallen in love with anyone else until now. I’m so sureabout my feelings for you that I asked Sybil for a divorce two hours ago and told her I was moving out by the end of nextweek.”

“Michael, you shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not leaving Curtis. I’m not leaving my son.”

“Maybe you can’t right now, but you will in due time. You don’t love Curtis. I know you keep saying you do, but that’s onlybecause you’ve been with him for such a long time and you have a child together.”

Charlotte was a little shocked by the things Michael was saying, and she hoped he wasn’t planning to cause the kind of troubleAaron had caused a few years back. Now that she thought about it, ten text messages was a lot for anyone to send, even ifthe person hadn’t been able to get in touch with you. But, no, Michael was far too sophisticated and too levelheaded to fallinto the “fatal attraction” category, so she refused to even think on that level. He was nothing like Aaron, and she knewMichael’s tiny obsession with her was clearly being fueled by his miserable marriage to Sybil. He wanted out and had beenhoping Charlotte was the answer to his problem.

“Charlotte,” he said. “Baby. Please don’t stop seeing me. I mean, go ahead and spend some time with your son, and then I’lljust see you for Valentine’s Day. We’ll talk tomorrow about the details.”

“I can’t see you on Sunday either.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“I don’t understand. You contacted me on Facebook, slept with me one day later, and then flew to a whole other state to spendan entire weekend with me. And now you’re ready to just cut me off?”

“No, I didn’t say that.”

“Then, what are you saying?”

Charlotte walked back toward the bedroom, making sure the door was still shut. “That I can’t see you for a while.”

“How long is a while?”

“I don’t know. I can’t put a time frame on my son and how soon he’ll be feeling better.”

“Baby, your son is seventeen. He’s had a tough time today, but he’ll forget about this whole hostage business in no time.”

“I hope he does, but until I’m sure of that, I’m going to be here for him.”

“And who else are you going to be there for? Curtis?”

“Michael, let’s not do this, okay?”

“Do what? Tell the truth?”

“Look, I really have to go now.”

“So basically what you’re saying is that you pretty much used me,” he said, ignoring her last comment.

“No. I would never do that.”

“Of course you did. You hated the fact that your husband moved in his daughter, that innocent child you hate so much, andthen you came looking for me. You were looking for a way to pay Curtis back because you couldn’t get your way with him, butnow you’ve decided you do want to stay with him after all.”

“I never lied about my feelings for Curtis. I