Melanie had cried for hours. Brad had called no less than ten times, so she’d finally unplugged the bedroom phone and closed the door. That way she wouldn’t hear the other extensions ringing, either. She’d then silenced her cell.
Through all her tears, she’d tried to come to terms with what had happened, but no matter how she attempted to rationalize it, the idea of Brad having an affair and having a baby with another woman wasn’t something she could stomach. It wasn’t doable for Melanie—it wasn’t the kind of thing she could ever live with, and she wouldn’t. She knew all about the importance of forgiveness, but more than anything, she knew she would never be able to trust Brad again.
Throughout the morning, she’d felt gut-wrenching pain, tremendous shock, and downright rage. Now, she didn’t feel much of anything, and she was on her way to her parents’ house. If she’d had her choice, she wouldn’t be going anywhere, but because she’d promised her dad that she’d give him a check today, she didn’t want to disappoint him. He’d offered to come get it himself, but the more she’d conversed with him by phone, the more winded he’d sounded. So she’d pulled herself together as best as she could, refusing to focus on Brad or the awful falling-out she’d had with Alicia a few hours ago. She’d been annoyed with her for taking Brad’s side and suggesting that Melanie “talk to him,” and then Alicia had tried in a sly way to suggest that Melanie wasn’t eating. First she’d mentioned breakfast, and then going to lunch, and all that had done was remind Melanie of how Alicia and Brad had discussed her behind her back. Melanie wasn’t happy about her fight with Alicia, but after learning what she had about Brad’s affair, she didn’t feel she could trust anyone.
The one positive about her visiting her dad this afternoon, however, was that her mother wasn’t home. Melanie rarely enjoyed seeing her, but today certainly wasn’t a day when Melanie would be able to deal with her. Although, Melanie still thought it strange and heartless of her mother not to have visited Brad one time since Saturday. The woman hadn’t so much as called her own daughter to see how her husband was doing. Melanie also knew she shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course, now Melanie herself didn’t want to see Brad, so the whole subject was a moot point.
Melanie rang the bell, and after a couple of minutes, her father opened the door. She hugged him, but when they went into the family room and sat down, he seemed bothered by something.
“Have you been crying?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”
Melanie had tried disguising her swollen eyes with makeup, but clearly it wasn’t working.
She passed her father the check, and he set it on the coffee table.
“I know something’s wrong, sweetheart, so tell me.”
Without warning, tears filled Melanie’s eyes, and she told her dad everything. She hadn’t planned or wanted to, but it was as though she’d needed to confide this to someone other than Alicia. She needed words and compassion from a parent.
Melanie’s tears fell faster, and her father struggled to get to his feet. When he did, he went over and tried to console her.
“Sweetheart, I’m very sorry to hear all this, but everything is gonna be fine. It may not seem like it now, but it will be.”
Her father rubbed and patted her back until she settled down. Then he sat back in his chair. “Have you talked to Brad since leaving the hospital?”
“No, I’m through with him.”
Andrew sighed. “This thing right here has really caught me off guard. I saw the news coverage this morning and again at noon, but I never imagined that child was Brad’s daughter.”
Melanie’s phone rang, and when she saw Brad’s cell number, her stomach turned somersaults. Until now, he’d been calling from his hospital phone, but apparently he’d gained access to his personal belongings. Melanie dropped her phone back in her purse.
“Was that him?” Andrew asked.
Melanie nodded.
“You’re gonna have to talk to him at some point.”
“Maybe so, but not today.”
Her father sighed again. “I tell you…this just doesn’t seem like something Brad would do.”
“Well, he did.”
“When will he be getting out of the hospital?”
“I don’t know. Maybe in another day or two. Just depends on how he continues to progress.”
“Sweetheart, I’m really sorry because you certainly don’t deserve this. No woman does.”
“It’s really hard, Dad. I’m at such a loss for words.”
“Have you eaten anything?”
“Yeah,” she said, telling her father what he wanted to hear and trying not to become irritated. Why wouldn’t everyone leave her alone when it came to food? Melanie wished they’d all get over it and accept that she was fine. She was thin, and that meant she’d never been healthier.
Andrew stared at her, seemingly not believing her, but he didn’t say anything else. Then sadly, her mother walked in, and Melanie hated that she hadn’t simply dropped off the check and left.
“Hi, Melanie,” Gladys said, walking closer to her. “I didn’t know you were coming by today. How’s Brad?”
Her tone was noticeably cordial, and Melanie was dumbfounded. “He’s better.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been out to see him. I just haven’t felt very well,” she said, spying the check on the table and picking it up. “What’s this for?”
Melanie and Andrew looked at each other.
Gladys set the check back down. “Melanie?”
“It’s to help with bills.”
“Oh, really? Well, we certainly need it. Especially since it doesn’t look like your father here is ever going back to work.”
“You don’t know that, Gladys,” he said.
“Hmmph. With the way you walk around here, huffing and puffing? And steadily gaining more weight? Please.”
Melanie knew it was time to go, so she stood up.
Her mother perused today’s mail. “Are you heading to the hospital?”
“No,” Melanie said.
“Oh, did you just leave there?”
“No.”
Her mother eyed her suspiciously. “Is everything okay? And come to think of it, have you been crying?”
Gladys was the last person Melanie wanted to tell her marital problems to, but since her mother was sure to find out eventually, Melanie got it over with.
“That baby that died in the car crash was Brad’s.”
Her mother frowned. “Who told you that?”
“He did.”
Gladys widened her eyes in shock, but interestingly enough, she didn’t comment. She simply stared at Melanie like she was some pitiful excuse for a wife.
Melanie grabbed her bag. “Well, Mom, I’m sure you’re loving every bit of this, aren’t you? The fact that you were right about everything you said.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course you do. You’ve always said that if I didn’t lose weight, Brad would find someone else. And that’s exactly what he did, a long time ago.”
Gladys still didn’t say anything, which was very odd, so Melanie turned to her father.
“I’ll see you later, Dad.”
“Sweetheart, you take care of yourself, and I’ll call you later. Just wanna make sure you’re okay. Or maybe you should stay here for a couple of days.”
Melanie appreciated her father’s suggestion, but even if she were homeless, she would never sleep under the same roof with her mother. Not for one day.
“Thank you for the offer,” Melanie said, “but I’m going home. And please don’t worry.”
“I can’t help but worry,” he said. “I just hate this for you.”
Melanie glanced at her mother, who stood there watching, yet she still wasn’t ranting or criticizing Melanie the way she normally did. It was completely out of the ordinary for her not to say “I told you so,” but Melanie was glad she hadn’t. Melanie wouldn’t have been able to bear it. Not when, at this very moment, she felt like dying.