Chapter Twenty
Her eyes widened and fixed on Cole, and she paled at the look of anger and betrayal on his face. She pushed frantically at Winston’s shoulders. Panic took hold when Cole started to turn away. “Wait!” she cried out.
Cole kept walking. “Your husband is anxious to see you, and I’ve got work to do, so if you don’t mind,” he said over his shoulder.
“Cole!” she cried out. A rock of dread hit the pit of her stomach, which made vomit climb up her throat when she watched Cole walk away from her.
Winston moved away from her, and she closed the door before turning back. Winston took off his drenched suit coat and placed it over the back of the sofa before running his hand through his wet hair.
“Darling, you’ve lost some weight. You look good.”
Emily crossed her arms over her chest to control the shaking that threatened to overtake her.
“Winston, what the hell are you doing here? How did you find out where I was? And why did you tell them you were still my husband?’
Winston walked around the small living room, picking up something, then setting it back down. He turned toward Emily.
“I’m here because I need you. Your daughter, Kara, told me.”
“She’s your daughter, too,” she interrupted.
“And I will always consider you my wife.”
Emily couldn’t seem to grasp what was happening. Did Cole just really walk away from her? Did he believe this man, whom he’d never met, over her? And the real reason Winston was here?
“Why in the hell are you here, Winston?”
Winston frowned at her. “Emily, you’ve never spoken to me like that before, and I don’t appreciate it.”
Frustration made her clench her teeth. What had she seen in him that made her want to marry him in the first place?
He’d always been thin with minimal muscle tone.
His skin always looked pale and pasty because he didn’t like being outside.
He didn’t like dust or dirt. Some women probably thought he was handsome, but she knew him now, and to her, he was just a pitiful excuse for a little man.
“I don’t give a shit what you appreciate, Winston. Why are you here?”
Her ex shook his head and pursed his lips but didn’t say anything for a moment. “I’ve come all the way here to take you home.”
She looked at him in disbelief. “Why would you do that? We don’t have a home together, remember? Besides, I’m happy here.”
Her heart tripped. “Is everything all right with the girls?”
Winston looked slightly taken aback. “Well, I assume the girls are fine. Wouldn’t they get in touch with you if they needed anything?”
Emily crossed her arms and dug her nails into the skin. Of course, he didn’t know what went on in the girls’ lives.
“Winston, stop your bullshit and tell me why you’re really here. And where is your girlfriend, Mona?”
Winston frowned in displeasure. “Her name’s Monica.” He cleared his throat. “I need you.”
Emily stayed quiet for a moment and stared at him in disgust. “You didn’t answer my question. Where is your girlfriend?”
“She’s probably at our condo, but that has nothing to do with us.”
“There is no us. There hasn’t been an us since you had another affair and walked out.”
“I know I made mistakes in our marri—”
Emily snorted.
Winston frowned. “Marriage, but I’m willing to work things out.”
A laugh burst from her throat. “You’re kidding me, right?” She had a hard time holding in her hysteria when he shook his head.
“Why in the hell do you think I’d ever consider that?”
Winston straightened, and his shoulders went back. “Because I know how hard the divorce was on you, and I’m willing to let you come back.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. “Let’s cut the crap, Winston. Why are you really here?”
Winston moved around the room before facing her again. “Okay. I need you back.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t have anyone to take care of me, and you enjoyed it so much.”
“Where’s Monica?”
“I already told you, she’s at home.”
Emily walked back and forth a few times before turning to him again, disbelief at this man’s arrogance tearing up her insides.
“So, let me be clear on all of this. You’re still with Monica, but you want me back to take care of you?”
Relief crossed his face. “Yes. All she wants to do is shop and go to functions. She has no idea how to cook or clean.”
Emily froze as a streak of fury raced through her. “So, you want me to come to take care of you, and you’ll still be in a relationship with her?”
Winston frowned at the tone of her voice. “Yes.”
Emily crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m curious. What do I get out of this?”
Winston spread his arms out. “Me, of course. I know you took my leaving badly. Just think, you get to do the things you enjoy, but you don’t have to have sex or go places with me. You know you always hated that.”
“I hated sex because you sucked at it, and I didn’t like the way you put me down when we went out. It was bad enough at home, but when you did it in front of people, it was humiliating.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. But look at you, you’ve lost so much weight, and you’ve grown your hair out. You look more like the woman I married than the one I divorced.”
“Winston, I’m only going to say this once to you, so you better listen carefully. There is no way in hell I would ever get back with you. You’re a total prick, and I know I can do a thousand times better than you. I have a new life and a career I love.”
“Are you talking about those little stories you’ve always written?”
Emily nodded. “Yes, the ones I’ve made close to a quarter of a million dollars from in the last six months. The stories my agent and editor keep begging me for because they sell so quickly. Yes, those stories.”
Winston looked dumbfounded. “You’re actually making money off of them?”
“Yes. I’ll be a millionaire by the time I’m fifty.”
“Well, I never imagined they would actually sell.”
“Did you ever read one of the manuscripts I gave you?”
“No. I didn’t have time for that. I was supporting our family.”
Emily snorted. “And having affairs.”
Winston looked uncomfortable for a second. “Yes, well. I had to get it from somewhere. You didn’t like me to touch you.”
“Is this a joke?” Emily shook her head in dismay.
“Why would you think this is a joke?’
“I knew you were a prick, but I didn’t think you were so stupid to think for one second I would want to take care of you. You’re a pitiful excuse for a human being, and if I never see you again in this lifetime, I’ll count myself lucky.”
“I can’t believe this. What has happened to you? You used to be so nice.”
“You happened to me, Winston. Would you want to be with anyone who told you were fat and ugly? You told me I was worthless and showed me in so many ways how much you didn’t care for me. Why would I want that?”
“And I told you, if you only tried harder, you could look attractive, and I’d want to have sex with you.”
A cold knot grew in her belly. Her anger collided with the suffocating sensation of losing the best things that had ever happened to her. Emily walked to the cabin door and opened it. “Winston, you need to leave. Now.” Winston looked surprised.
“But we have so much to talk about.”
“We have nothing to talk about. It’s over between us, and I thank God for that every day. Get out.” They both jumped as a loud clap of thunder seemed to hit right above the cabin.
“I can’t go out in that. Where would I go?”
Winston walked to the sofa and sat back, laying his arms across the back. “I don’t think so. We can still talk. I think I can make you see reason.” He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “We could make love. It’s been so long for you.”
A laugh bubbled up her throat before sadness gripped her. “Actually, I just had incredible sex this morning.”
First shock and then disbelief crossed his face. “With who?”
“None of your business.”
There was a moment of silence. “It couldn’t possibly be that rancher. He’d never go for someone like you.”
A spasm of pain hit her. She started to believe she was pretty enough for Cole. Now, seeing how quickly he walked away, she knew it was an illusion. Something she’d eventually have to think about later. There was no way she was going to break down in front of this sorry excuse for a man.
“I need you to leave, Winston.”
Winston leaned back with a smile on his face. “Well, darling. I’m staying.”
Emily stared at him for a moment. She slammed the door and walked over to the desk in the corner. She stuffed her computer and her essential papers into a large briefcase first. She snatched her purse off her dresser and walked toward the door.
“Where the hell are you going?” he asked.
She turned back at the door. “There is no way in hell I will spend another night of my life with you. Goodbye, Winston. Please stay the hell away from me.”
A laugh sounded from inside the cabin. “You’ll be back, darling.”
She heard his comment before the door closed. She stood under the small overhang outside the front door of the cabin and looked around. The rain came down rapidly, but she wasn’t about to stick around. She made a run to her car, careful to protect her briefcase and computer.
She looked toward the house, uncertain if she wanted to try to talk to Cole now, maybe try later, or perhaps never.
Emily didn't know how she’d get over the fact he believed she could be an adulteress.
She decided to ask for another cabin and deal with everything else tomorrow.
She just hoped Cole wasn’t around at the moment.
Emily’s heart sank at the angry look on Daisy’s face when she walked inside the house. Everyone seemed to think she was sleezy. She cleared her throat. “Daisy, is there another cabin I can rent for the night?”
Daisy frowned, confused, and her body stayed stiff. “Why would you want another cabin?” Her voice was tight with angst.
Emily sighed tiredly. “Because I refuse to spend another night with my ex-husband for the rest of my life.”
Daisy’s eyes widened. “So, he really is your ex? He made it sound like you’re still married and that you were waiting for him.”
Emily swallowed and blinked back the tears that burned her eyes. “I can see that. He’s delusional. I never lied to you or Cole. Please tell me if there’s a cabin?”
“I’m sorry, Emily, there is no other cabin.” Emily’s shoulders sank.
“Okay, thank you, Daisy. You’ve been nice to me, and I appreciate it. I will be back tomorrow for the rest of my stuff.”
“Wait, Emily.”
Emily turned back at the door.
Daisy came around the counter. “Let me talk to Cole. I think we’d be able to find a room in the house for you.”
“No, thank you. I’ll find a motel.”
She needed to get herself to a place where she could be alone because she was barely holding herself together.
“But, Emily, the weather is horrible. It’s too dangerous to drive in that.” Daisy’s heart sank. Emily looked like someone who had been struck in the face.
Emily looked out the windows in the doors. “I don’t care. It fits with the way I feel right now. Thanks, again.”