No Reason But Us

Chapter 67 : Better Man

Leon just finished a meeting with a client who was just leaving in a restaurant. He stayed for a bit to pay the bills until all of a sudden, someone placed a cup of coffee right in front of him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't order that." He thought he was talking to a waiter, then looked and was surprised to see who it was.

It was his ex-wife, "I know, I just take it upon myself to order it for you," she said to him. "I've been meaning to speak with you. Do you mind if I sit with you?"

"I don't see why not," the man sighed and took the cup from the table to take a sip.

"I ordered you French roast coffee. Is that still your favorite? I'm not sure what you like lately. It seems like everything about you changed."

"I wouldn't call it change. It's more like upgraded. Also, the coffee is fine, but no, it's not my favorite anymore. Eva advised me to switch to Malt Coffee instead."

"Oh. How's Odette doing? I heard she woke up from her coma."

"A bit shaken, but she's getting better."

"I'm glad."

"So, no news about your, what I assume, your soon-to-be ex-husband?" He questioned.

The woman shook her head. "No."

"What do you want, Marie?" Leon asked directly as he drank the French toast coffee. "I'm sure you're not here to just buy your ex-husband his old favorite coffee and spend an afternoon with him in a spur of a moment."

"No, of course not. I've been wanting to talk to you, and since I saw you here, I just thought this is my chance," Marie rambled. "I want to say thank you for letting my son be with Odette."

"I have no right to meddle with their relationship in the first place."

The ex-wife gave him a gentle smile and held his hand. "I understand why you doubted him, and it's my fault. You were just trying to protect Oddey from the pain that Adrian and I put you through."

The man got all choked up, then glanced at her again. "Ahem... There's something I have to confess to you," he stammered. "I know I wasn't a perfect husband to you."

"Leon, no..."

"Let me finish. I know you wanted to have kids when we were married, and I'm sorry, I couldn't give you that time."

"You were at work a lot, but that didn't mean I should..."

"It's not just my work," Leon claimed. "I didn't tell you this because... I was afraid you'd leave me. I went to a doctor one time to do a physical for health insurance. I... found out that I couldn't give you, or even Eva, a child."

Marie was taken aback by that and felt even more guilty from what she had done. "Oh... I see," she muttered.

"I would've understood if you wanted to leave me because of that, or anything," He added.

"Leon, you were a wonderful husband. I couldn't say the same about myself as a wife."

"Or we're just not meant for each other," Leon remarked.

"Perhaps not, but our kids are," Marie replied. "Who would've thought, my son, and your daughter together."

That made Leon snickered from the coincidence that was happening. "My reaction exactly. I guess life works in mysterious ways."

"You can't be anymore true."

"Anyway, I'm sorry too that I misjudged your son. I must say, you raised him well. Not only will Gage be an incredible architect someday, he's the kind of guy I liked for Odette. He's a fine young man."