CHAPTER FIVE
Three weeks later, Addy found herself sitting in a counselor’s office wedged into a corner of the couch with her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. It took everything she had not to lunge across the couch and bury herself in her husband’s arms. It was either that or scream profanities at him for not being there for her when she had needed him the most. She didn’t know what was worst, him cheating on her with that skank, or him not being there when she had her miscarriage.
“We can sit here all day, Addison,” Link sighed. “I don’t have anywhere to be, please answer Dr. Anderson’s questions.”
She had to admit to herself that she hadn’t even heard the question. She looked at the counselor with a raised brow, but didn’t say anything, hoping he would repeat one of the questions.
“Do you feel that by being here, you and your husband can work out your differences and get back together?”
Addy stared out into space for several minutes, then she heard a ding.
“Unfortunately time’s up. I hope you’ll be more cooperative next week, Mrs. Murphy.” The sound of disappointment in the counselor’s voice set Addy’s teeth on edge.
Addy stood and it took everything she had not to burst into tears. As she walked to the door Link called out. “I won’t sign the divorce papers, Addy. I love you and want you back. I’ll do anything and everything to get you back. For the last three weeks, you’ve cancelled every appointment, then you finally decide to show up, you sit and not talk. You can bet I’ll let my lawyer know you’re not being cooperative.”
Addy couldn’t handle it anymore. She whipped around and didn’t realize she was crying until she saw the look of shock on Link’s face. “You want to know why I cancelled for the last three weeks? If you would answer your goddamn fucking phone, maybe you’d know.” When he didn’t say anything, she lost it further. “I’ve been in the hospital for the last two and a half weeks. I had a miscarriage, Lincoln. Fifteen weeks. Three and a half months! I got pregnant the last time we had sex in the shower. Remember that? Or do you have so many women you’re fucking that you can’t keep them straight. I called you! You either didn’t answer or some skanky chick answered your phone!
“So, forgive the fuck out of me for not wanting to talk today. I’ve been through hell these last three weeks. I’m tired, I’m sore, I’m depressed. So, go ahead and report to your lawyer. I don’t give a damn anymore.” She turned her glare onto the counselor and lit into him too. She was on a roll and didn’t pull any punches. “You are a piss poor counselor. Sitting there with your condescending attitude. Fuck you too, I want a different counselor because you fucking suck at your job.” She looked at Link with another glare. “If you want to continue with this charade, fine, but find some other yahoo to talk with us! I refuse to come back to this asshole.” She wiped her tears, whipped the door open and stormed out, making sure she slammed the door behind her, hoping to portray how pissed and hurt she was by their treatment of her.
Lincoln was so shocked he didn’t know what to do, but when he could move, he started toward the door. “No, Mr. Murphy. The way she’s feeling right now she won’t be receptive to anything you have to say. She’ll be even more cut off. In our next session, I can get her to discuss this. Do you know why you didn’t answer your phone when she called? I’m assuming since you’ve been together for five years, her name or number or even her picture would come up.”
“Seven,” Link automatically said. “We’ve been together for seven years, and yes, I have our home number, her cell, and her office number programed. If she calls me from any of those numbers, her picture comes up.” He pulled his phone and looked at it and passed it to the counselor. “See, it doesn’t show that she called me. I never got her calls, and I have no idea who would have answered my phone. The only time it’s not on my person is when I’m sleeping, but it’s on the nightstand beside me. I would have heard it.” He paced and ran his hands over his face. “What a fucking mess.”
“I know our time is up, but did your lawyer hire a private eye? To follow your wife?”
“He did, and I’m assuming Addy’s lawyer did the same. Like I said, a fucking mess.”
“Why don’t you take your phone to that private eye? Maybe he can do something to see if somehow someone messed with your phone. I’m only saying this because it happened to my daughter. Her ex hacked her phone, and certain numbers she had programmed went to him and he took the calls.”
“Who the hell would want to do that?”
“Would that woman you talked about do something like that?”
“No clue, but thanks for the advice. I don’t want to keep repeating myself, but I don’t think Addy heard anything I had to say today.”
“Unfortunately, I think you’re right. Call your lawyer and see if it would be okay for her to view that footage you said you had.”
“I’m going over there when I leave here. Thanks, Doc. As to what she said about finding a different counselor. I don’t agree with her assessment of your ability, but then again, I’ll be the first to admit I have no clue what she’s going through right now. I’m going to play it by ear. If she doesn’t walk out on our next session seeing you here, I’ll keep you. If she balks and leaves, then I’m going to apologize in advance and will have to find another therapist.”
“I hope that won’t happen, Mr. Murphy. However, in the likelihood that it will, I’ll come up with a list of other therapists I believe may be able to help you better.”
“Thank you.” Lincoln shook his hand and made his way down to the parking lot, and stopped short when he saw Addy still sitting in her truck. She had her head on the steering wheel, and the closer he got, he could see and hear that she was crying. Unable to see her in so much pain, and so alone, he saw that her door was unlocked. He opened it and then without saying anything he gathered her in his arms.
“Sh,” he whispered, and her sobs tore at his heart. He knew that if he said anything, she would push him away. He just held on tight and let her use his chest to absorb her tears. He held her for almost thirty minutes before she was able to get herself under control.
“Sorry,” she said, and pushed away from him.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I was here for you. I don’t know why I never got your calls. I would have been there in a heartbeat. But that’s not the issue here now. The issue is your health. Are you okay, medically speaking?” He moved her long black hair from her face and frowned. “What happened?” He saw the fresh scar on the side of her head, between her brow and temple.
“I passed out at work and hit my head on the conference table. I thought I was having my period, and when I stood, I passed out. Turned out I was in the middle of having a miscarriage.” She was too tired to try to fight him off, and in the past they had always been completely honest with one another. She didn’t see any reason not to tell him the truth of her ordeal.
“How bad was the pain?”
“Bad. I’m not saying this to hurt you. We’ve always been able to talk to each other. I’m saying this because of that. But they wanted me to pass it naturally. I was in the hospital until I did, with a few extra days thrown in. I don’t want to talk about it, but because you were the father, I thought you should know.”
“Thank you for telling me.” He gently kissed the scar on her head. He stepped back, and asked gently, “Do you need anything? Where are you staying?”
“At the office, but I’m good. I don’t need anything, but thank you for asking. I’ve got to get back to work.” She looked at her watch and noted she had thirty minutes before she had to meet clients. When he took a step back, she looked at him and felt her heart splinter a little more from the hurt he had caused her. “I’ll see you at the next meeting and I’ll try to be more cooperative. I was serious about Dr. Anderson. If he’s condescending toward me one more time, I’m leaving.” Not giving him a chance to respond, she closed the door, and her last sight of him was him standing in his dress shirt and suit pants staring after her.
“You idiot.” She berated herself as she pulled away and drove to her office. “How could you have caved like that?” she asked herself, then answered herself, “Because you never stopped loving him, that’s why. You probably never will, either.”
Back at the office, she made sure her makeup looked okay, there was nothing she could do about her red nose or eyes. But everyone in the office now knew that she was going through a divorce. She was grateful no one tried to set her up with anyone to get over her husband. She doubted she’d ever date again. Her personal life sucked so much right now. She walked into her building and Brian looked up, took one look at her, rushed to her side, took her into her office, and in minutes, she had a cup of hot tea before her.
“Thanks, Brian. It didn’t go well. I ended up sitting there the whole time lost in my own head. I lost it and screamed at Lincoln about the miscarriage. Then I screamed at the counselor and basically called him a worthless cow. Link found me sitting in my truck bawling my eyes out. He was nice, he held me and let me cry, then asked if I was okay medically, asked if I needed anything and where was I staying.”
“Did you tell him?”
“I did. I said I was okay and that I was staying at the office.” She looked over and gave a deep sigh. “I’ve got to start looking for a place to live. I can’t live out of my suitcases for much longer.”
“Want me to call around and see what’s available?”
“Sure, but I don’t want to be locked into a year’s lease. Something month to month. And preferably furnished.”
“How much space do you need?”
Addy couldn’t help it, she laughed and looked around her office and spread her arm. “Not much. That’s everything I own. So a one-bedroom or studio would be fine. Preferably close to the office.” They continued to discuss her requirements for payment and it wasn’t long before their clients showed up.
“How do I look?”
“Here,” Brian said, and as she opened the door, he stuck his suit jacket in her face. She immediately began sneezing.
“What the hell?” she demanded between sneezes. “Do you have a dog?”
“I do. But now you have an excuse for your eyes being red.” He grinned. He knew she was allergic to dogs, but her allergy to them wasn’t as bad as her husband’s to cats. So, they’d made a perfect couple that they couldn’t have any animals and couldn’t fight about it if the other wanted one.
“Excuse me,” Addy said as she finished a series of sneezes. They shook hands with Brian and when she returned she shook their hands apologizing about her allergies. After two hours, she walked them out with a grin at the check in her hand.
*****
Lincoln watched as his wife drove away from him, his emotions all over the place. “Son of a bitch.” He swore and began pacing the parking lot. It took him almost a half hour to calm down enough to be able to drive. He ended up driving out of town for almost an hour to clear his head, so when he arrived at his lawyer’s office, he had a clear head and clear plan of action. He felt better about his situation for the first time in weeks. Now that he had some information, he was ready to talk with Jackson and take action.