At First Sight - Nicholas Sparks [67]
“Not to him. To him, it happened on Friday. I’d probably be angry, too.”
“You sound like you’re on his side.”
“On this, I am.”
“Doris!”
“You’re engaged, Lexie. I know Rodney’s been your friend for years, but you’re engaged to Jeremy, and the rules change. It would have been fine if you had told him up front what you were doing, but you were sneaking behind his back.”
“That’s because I knew how he’d react.”
“Oh really? How did you know?” Doris fixed her with an unwavering gaze. “All you would have had to do was call and tell him that you wanted to talk to Rodney, that you were trying to find out where Rachel went, that you wanted to find out whether you were somehow responsible. I’m sure he would have understood that. But you didn’t tell the full story, and not for the first time. And then he finds out that you were pregnant before?”
“You mean I’m supposed to tell him everything?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. But this? Yeah, you probably should have told him. It wasn’t like it was a big secret in town, and even if it was something you wanted to forget, you had to figure that he was going to find out anyway. It would have been better for you to tell him than for him to have found out the way he did. Or worse, what if he’d heard it from someone else?”
Lexie turned toward the window, her mouth a stubborn line, and Doris thought she might leave. But she stayed seated, and Doris reached across the table to take her hand.
“I know you, Lexie. You can be headstrong, but you’re not a victim. And neither is Jeremy. What’s going on with you two, all this stress you’re both under . . . that’s called life. And life has a tendency to throw curveballs when you least expect them. Every couple has ups and downs, every couple argues, and that’s the thing—you’re a couple, and couples can’t function without trust. You have to trust him, and he’s got to trust you.”
In the silence, Lexie thought about Doris’s comment while continuing to stare through the window. A cardinal landed on the window ledge, hopped from spot to spot as if the ledge were on fire, then flew off. She’d seen the bird land here a hundred times before, maybe a thousand times, but as she watched she was struck by the absurd conviction that somehow this bird was trying to tell her something. She waited, watching for the cardinal to reappear, hoping it would come back. But it didn’t, and she realized how foolish the thought had been. Above her, the ceiling fans whirred, moving the air in empty circles.
“You think he’ll come back?” Lexie finally asked, her voice betraying her fear.
“He’s coming back,” Doris said, squeezing her hand with conviction.
Lexie wanted to believe it, even if she wasn’t so sure herself. “I haven’t heard from him since he left,” she whispered. “He hasn’t called once.”
“He will,” Doris said. “Give him time. He’s trying to sort through everything, and he’s with his friends this weekend. It’s his bachelor party, don’t forget.”
“I know. . . .”
“Don’t read anything extra into this. When’s he coming back?”
“Supposedly Sunday night. But—”
“Then that’s when he’ll be here,” Doris said. “And when he does show up, just be happy to see him. Ask about his weekend, and listen with interest when he tells you all about it. And afterwards, make sure he knows how special you think he is. Believe me, I was married for a long time.”
Despite the turmoil she was feeling inside, Lexie grinned. “You sound like a marriage counselor.”
Doris shrugged. “I know men. Let me tell you, they can be rip-roaring mad or frustrated or worried about work or life, but in the end, they’re pretty simple to figure out if you know what makes them tick. And one of the things that make them tick is an almost desperate need to feel appreciated and admired. You make them feel that way, and you’ll be amazed at what they’ll do for you.”
Lexie simply stared at her grandmother. Doris had a mischievous grin as she went on. “Of course, they want great sex and want you to keep the house clean and neat and organized while looking beautiful and still