Chapter 20 Glass Houses
GLASS HOUSES (KANE)
The kids don’t know how close we came to losing the woman they’re wild about.
By the time we made it downstairs and found Dan waiting impatiently at the table, all evidence of Margot trying to leave was gone.
I’m glad we moved those damn suitcases in time.
Yes, I could’ve explained it, and they’re good kids. They might have understood.
They know our time hasn’t gotten any easier between the break-in and the town gossip mill, so if she went home for safety and sanity, they’d get it.
But that wouldn’t have been the whole story.
And I’m glad as hell I don’t have to lie through my teeth.
I make breakfast while Margot chats with Dan about the War of 1812 and the drummer boy figurine he’s still obsessed with.
A few minutes later, Sophie comes down, having finished her fantasy book, and she takes her usual spot next to Dan.
We eat as one family again.
One big, cozy, loaded word I can’t believe I’m enjoying.
It’s been too long.
Even when I was married, we didn’t eat together often with our schedules. Even when we had the time, Daria would usually skip out with a smoothie on her way to the gym and then a photo shoot.
For her, spending little moments with the kids was just a chore of married life. Like everybody else in her circle, we were accessories, and we could wait while she came and went.
Sure, she loves them, in her own weird way.
The trouble is she’ll never love anyone more than herself.
That’s the bitter truth, a hard damn horse pill to swallow.
The kids are old enough to accept it now. I’m sure they’ll have sharper, more bitter questions for her when they’re older, and when that day comes, I won’t be part of my ex-wife’s regrets.
I want them knowing they had one parent who always put them first and last.
But Margot, she’s fallen into our life too easily, laughing and joking with them so effortlessly. Sometimes I just stop and stare like a deer in the headlights.
Dangerously good.
Comparing my ex to this temporary fling can’t be healthy.
She might’ve agreed to stay for now—just like I agreed to stop freaking out—but there’s still an end date coming we haven’t discussed.
In under a week, we’ll go our separate ways.
Maybe we’ll talk about seeing each other again.
That’s a big fucking maybe with razor-sharp teeth.
But we both want to figure out if this thing is worth fighting for, don’t we?
Me, I already know the answer.
I’m just not a reckless enough jackass to say it to her face. Not today and not yet when we were hanging by a thread.
“I have an idea,” Dan announces as we’re finishing our plates of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon.
“More drumming? You’re going to learn every ballad from 1812 and put on a show for us?” Margot asks teasingly.
“No! Uh, I mean, not yet. It’s sunny outside!”
Sophie looks out the window at the shimmering lake, breaking into a grin. “Bet you five bucks I can read your mind.”
“Of course you can,” Dan huffs. “Dad, are you in?”
“Depends what it is, Bud. Let’s hear it.”
“It’s such a nice day and we were already out in town, so… I think we should go canoeing again.” There’s a sly look in his eyes.
He knows I usually banish them after breakfast to get some schoolwork done. Even on vacation, they’re building good habits. Duty first, then leave the rest of the day free.
“Dad, he’s got a point,” Sophie joins in. “If we wait too long, it might not stay sunny like this. It’s Maine and you never know with the fall weather.”
I bite back a smile as Margot looks at me. There’s a happy question dancing in her eyes.
“What do you think, Dad?”
“Hmmm.” I take my sweet time, playing it up and leaving them in suspense as I look at their hopeful faces. “I suppose we should take advantage of this weather.”
The kids whoop, and Margot starts clearing the table.
“You guys head out,” she tells me. “I’ll catch up, after I’ve finished tidying up.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Go!” she insists, giving me a playful push. “It won’t take long to throw these in the dishwasher and wipe down the table.”
I reluctantly give up because the kids are already running for the door.
“Guys, get changed first,” I yell after them.
They skid down the hall, stopping just short of colliding with the wall.
“Ugh, really?” Dan says, but he turns and races upstairs with Sophie behind him.
Outside, the lake ripples in the breeze, one large mirror spinning the light overhead into gold.
It’s painfully gorgeous, but I wonder if we should expand our horizons. This could be the last good day for the water.
After a quick Google search, I settle on the other side of the lake down the road, the part we haven’t seen. I bump into Margot on her way out of the kitchen.
“Are we ready?”
“Yeah. There’s a place with boat rentals a little ways down the road. Thought we could explore a different part of the lake in something more durable than the canoe we brought.”
“Oh yeah, I know the place. Good idea.” She glances upstairs and then looks back at me. “You’re not scared something will happen while we’re gone?”
“That’s why we have the cameras. They’re still watching like hawks, last I checked,” I say grimly.
It’s not my main reason for choosing somewhere away from the house, but if anybody’s watching and waiting for us to leave, this could be an opportunity to find out who’s behind this shit.
She nods after a second. “We should make sure we don’t leave anything too valuable here, then.”
Right.
I hate that I almost wish something would go missing.
So far, they haven’t stolen shit, and that’s unsettling.
But she’s right, there’s no good reason to take any unnecessary risks.
“Pack up anything you don’t want to lose. Laptop, tablet, jewelry, whatever,” I say. “I’ll do the same for the kids and we’ll stow it in the trunk to bring with us. Can’t imagine anyone will try a vehicle break-in in these parts.”
“Yeah, okay.” She leans up to kiss my cheek. “I’ll be quick.”
She’s not wrong.
By the time I’ve packed away a few last odds and ends like Sophie’s telescope and put them in the trunk, Margot’s ready, and the kids are practically foaming at the mouth.
The rental place is just a short drive along the lakeshore. Once we get there, I grab us a bigger family canoe and we get out on the water.
Looks like a nice chance to explore the channels and the smaller connected lake that’s closer to this side.
Amazing what a difference one day makes.
We still have our burglar fuckwit hanging over us, along with our emotions, but I feel lighter every time I look at Margot Blackthorn. It’s easier to breathe.
I can’t stay pissy when I’m basking in her smile.
“Hey,” I say as she settles in next to me. Her hair is tied back and she’s wearing a bulky life jacket, but she looks ridiculously beautiful.
“Hey, yourself,” she says.
“Thanks for coming. The kids are having a great time.” I nod at where they’re sitting at the front of the canoe, chattering too fast for me to hear.
Every time they spot a small island, they’re making up stories about buried treasures and ancient dragon bones on the fly.
I miss having that much imagination.
And I’ve missed having a day this easy, bright and cool and soothing, one of the rare times that makes it worth living.
“Of course,” she says like it’s nothing. “It’s good to see them so happy—and even better when it’s you.”
“It’s been a rough season.”
“It’s over now. If you give it a chance, life turns over, just like the leaves out here.” She rests a hand on my knee. “Onward and upward, right? This is your year, big daddy. I can feel it.”
“Hope you’re right.” I watch them as I paddle along, steering us into one of the bigger channels next to a sandy beach. “That reminds me, I had something to ask you.”
I clear my throat as her eyes sharpen.
Why the hell am I nervous?
“If it doesn’t put you out too much, how’d you like to come visit sometime?”
She tilts her head, a tiny smile playing across her mouth. “I have an apartment in Manhattan.”
Of course she does.
That’s only a half answer and good reason to keep my poker face on.
“I’m spending a lot of time in Portland these days, but… my shoe stuff will take me back to New York sooner or later.” She taps a finger against her chin, her smile widening. “Especially if I have friends to visit.”
“You do, woman. We want you there.”
“I’d love that.” Her blue eyes soften. “Before today, I thought you’d never ask. I wasn’t sure if you wanted this thing to…” She trails off.
“Until now, I wasn’t sure either,” I admit. “But hell, watching you try to skip out made me realize I’m not ready for that. Not tomorrow and not next week. We can go our separate ways, but we don’t have to.”
Her eyes ignite, putting the blue lake to shame.
“Then it’s settled. No big goodbyes. Just see ya later.” She nods.
Sunlight crisscrosses her face, and she squints in the light.
“Dammit, yeah.” The kids are distracted, so I lean forward and kiss her lightly on the lips.
The softest moan spills into my mouth and her fingers dig into my thigh.
Just a peck, innocent and quick, wrapped in a dark and dirty promise.
No lie, I’m addicted.
I’m going to need her back not long after we put Maine in the rearview mirror.
It’s a struggle to hold in how addicted I am.
“Ew, you guys.” Dan turns around to see us just in time, his nose wrinkled.
“Ew yourself, little man. I’ll make you regret your words someday when you’re old enough to do more than pull a girl’s pigtails.”
To be fair, I suppose I never grew out of that myself.
I chuckle, though, leaning back.
Margot’s cheeks flush as she giggles and mutters something about how embarrassed he’ll be.
The rest of our outing passes in a happy haze. The heat in my gut grows heavier by the minute, and it has nothing to do with the sun.
When we get back to the dock for a bathroom break and lunch, the warmth fades.
There’s a slip of paper on my windshield.
A ticket? All the way out here with no one else in the parking lot?
Didn’t see a meter or sign of any sort asking for a fee, though.