The Reunion: Shelby's Chance Meeting (Starting Over Series) (4 page)

“
Well, I have to be honest. My intention today was to ask you on a date
…”
he confessed.

“
Since I can admit I would have said yes, I hate that our first date is this,
”
she waved her hand around at the interstate.

“
So you would have said yes?
”
he asked with a grin as he looked over at her.

“
Definitely,
”
she said returning the hand squeeze.

“
Good. Well, let me say that I would have planned something more fun than this for you to do. I know you must be tied up in knots right now,
”
he said rubbing his thumb across her index finger. The small movement soothed her more than she cared to admit.

“
I
’
m just praying in my mind over and over again,
”
she said.
“
My kids are my life. I just can
’
t help but think this is my fault
…”

“
What? Why would this be your fault?
”

“
My ex-husband runs a camp for disabled kids every summer, and my kids love to help out. Normally, when we were married, I would be there too. Instead, Austin was on a four wheeler with his cousin and they flipped it.
”

“
Shelby, this is not your fault. You have to know that
…”

“
I wouldn
’
t have let him get on a four wheeler. Maybe if I wasn
’
t so selfish to want to divorce their father for no good reason
…”

“
Obviously, there was a good reason. You wouldn
’
t have left your marriage if you didn
’
t have valid reasons. I don
’
t know you that well, but I can tell what a good person you are.
”

“
Good? I came to your office to complain,
”
she said with a forced giggle.

“
Rightfully so,
”
he said.
“
My guy smashed your car.
”

“
To a lot of outsiders and even some of my own family, I was the bad one. I left the marriage. Kenny was devastated. The kids were upset and confused, of course. I just couldn
’
t do it anymore. I wanted to live a bigger life. Kenny was content to stay in our hometown and run the farm until the day he died. I was getting antsy and bored. I
’
ve always wanted to travel and have a good job and give my kids the things they wanted
…”
she was rambling, but he let her talk as long as she wanted.

“
You have a right to your dreams, Shelby. Being a mother doesn
’
t mean you stop living and dreaming for yourself. You showed your kids that even when it
’
s hard, you have to make tough decisions to be happy in your life.
”

“
So what about you? I know you said your wife wanted to date other people, but how did that happen?
”

“
Well, we dated for over a year before we got engaged. She was an aspiring actress, and I was rehabbing houses. After we got married, I started noticing weird text messages on her phone, she was staying late at work
…
You know the drill. I told her I was coming back home to visit my Dad in Atlanta, but I really wasn
’
t. Instead, I came home a few hours later and found her in our bed with one of her co-workers at the restaurant where she was waiting tables.
”

“
Yikes.
”

“
Yep. Yikes is right. I broke my knuckle on his nose, and then I ended it with her. Trust is a big thing with me,
”
he said gritting his teeth a bit.

“
Trust is huge to me too. I
’
ve never told anyone this, but Kenny cheated on me too.
”

“
Really? But I thought you said you left because you grew apart
…”

“
That
’
s what I told everyone, and it is partly true. Kenny was my best friend and husband for so many years, and I did not want our kids to know he cheated on me. They would hate him for it. So, I just lied about the reasons
…”

“
And you took the fall for him
…”
he said softly.

“
I guess some people could see it that way,
”
she said looking out the window.
“
I was trying to protect my kids.
”

“
You are an amazing woman, Shelby Ashwood,
”
he said quietly as he patted her hand.

“
Not so amazing,
”
she whispered back.

“
Oh, yes you are. I
’
ve never met anyone who would take the fall for their cheating ex just so the kids didn
’
t have to suffer. So, how did you find out he cheated?
”

“
He admitted it. He has a very guilty conscience. He thought I would stay. He was wrong. In one way, I was relieved because it gave me a valid reason to leave. He is the only man I
’
ve ever been with in my life, so it was hard. But, I felt like there was so much more for me to experience in life, and he wasn
’
t willing to give up anything he wanted for anything I wanted.
”

“
For what its worth, I understand why you made the decision you did. And, I would venture to say if you did decide to tell people what he did, they would understand too.
”

“
Maybe, but I will never tell. It
’
s just not worth it to hurt my kids. I want them to love their Dad and have the best relationship with him possible. And, if I have to take the fall, I will do it gladly,
”
she said looking out the window wishing the miles would move faster.

As Brian and Shelby pulled into the small Southern town of Morgan Springs, she felt waves of anxiety wash over her. Would her son be okay? Would he make it? Kenny had not called her, so she had to assume he was going to be okay, right?

Brian parked and ran around to open her door for her. She wasn
’
t used to that at all. She smiled at him as he put his arm around her shoulders and walked her to the hospital door.

“
Do you mind if I come with you?
”
he asked.

“
Of course I don
’
t mind. I can use all the support I can get,
”
she said.

With that, they walked through the doors and started asking for information. They learned Austin was still in the ER, so they were escorted to his room. Outside of the room were Elena, Kenny, and Kenny
’
s mother, Margaret. She could tell Elena had been crying, Kenny was pacing back and forth, and Margaret was sitting in a chair with a Bible in her lap.

“
Mommy!
”
Elena yelled when she noticed Shelby walking toward her. Shelby threw her arms around her daughter as Kenny walked to her. He hugged her tightly, as if his life depended on it.

Brian was careful to stand back a few feet out of respect. Kenny finally noticed him standing there as Shelby pulled back from him.

“
How is he?
”
she asked looking Kenny in the eye. His mother ignored her completely. She had developed a hatred for Shelby since the divorce. Of course, she didn
’
t know her son had cheated either.

“
The doctor said he has a concussion. They did a CAT scan, and we are waiting on results. He was knocked out completely for about forty five minutes. They are concerned he could have bleeding on his brain
…”

“
Oh, my God
…”
Shelby said as she started to feel weak in her legs.

“
Shelby, are you okay?
”
Brian asked as he put his hand on her lower back and stabilized her.

“
Who are you?
”
Kenny asked in an accusatory tone.

“
He
’
s a friend of mine. My car was in the shop, so he gave me a ride. It was very kind of him to drive me all this way,
”
Shelby said in a sharp tone letting her ex know that he had better tread lightly.
“
Brian, this is my ex-husband, Kenny and my daughter, Elena.
”

Brian shook Kenny
’
s hand as Kenny glared at him. Then, he knelt down to meet petite Elena
’
s eyes.
“
Hello, Elena. I have heard a lot about you from your mother. She is very proud of you.
”
Elena
’
s face softened as she smiled at him. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying.

As Brian stood back up, he caught Shelby
’
s eyes staring at him in amazement. She nodded once with a slight smile to say thank you to him.

The family sat quietly waiting for word from the doctor. Shelby asked if she could see him, but the doctor wanted everyone out of the room while they ran more tests. All they could do was sit and wait.

“
Do you want some coffee?
”
Brian finally asked Shelby.

“
No thanks.
”

“
Okay. I am going to grab a cup. Kenny, can I get you anything?
”
he asked trying to be nice.

Kenny glared at him and shook his head.

“
I think I will get a cup myself,
”
Margaret said, obviously trying to give Kenny and Shelby a moment alone. Elena was fast asleep in the chair across from them.

“
So, are you dating him?
”
Kenny asked.

“
That is none of your business, Kenny.
”

“
I guess that
’
s a yes. Have you slept with him?
”

“
Seriously? I cannot believe the nerve you have asking me these questions while our son is in there fighting for his life,
”
she snapped as she stood up and turned her back to him.

“
I
’
m sorry, Shelby. I just didn
’
t expect you to bring a date to our son
’
s hospital room,
”
he said sarcastically.

“
I already told you that I had no way to get here. My car was damaged and in the shop. Besides, I don
’
t owe you an explanation. I stopped owing you anything when you slept with another woman,
”
she whispered through gritted teeth.

“
I never wanted you to leave me, Shelby. I still love you. I made a mistake
…”
he said standing up and putting his hands on her shoulders.