Learning to Live, Again

Chapter Eleven

Corbin's POV

I sat in the car in front of Niamh's old house. I wasn't invited to the memorial, and I couldn't blame anyone for it. I had done so much shit to Niamh and caused her so much heartache that I didn't deserve to be at the memorial, much less Heath's life. 

My fingers traced the papers that sat in the passenger seat beside  me. They were custody papers telling Caleb when to come to court so I could fight for my son. If it had been any other day, any other time, I probably could have walked up to the door, knocked, and handed it to her. She would have been mad, tears in her eyes clouding her vision as she tried to understand why I was doing what I was doing to her.

I wanted to tell her that I was sorry. I didn't want to hurt her so bad, but Addaline, she made it so hard to tell her no. She'd look at me with those blue eyes, and I'd feel guilty. She made me feel guilty, and I couldn't understand exactly what it was I needed to feel guilty for. I married her, spent my entire life's saving and Angel Academy's rent on the damn wedding and honeymoon. I bought everything she wanted. I shut down Angel Academy, my dream, so she wouldn't have to work; so she could stay home with the girls. I took care of the girls when I was home so Addaline didn't have to. I did everything she asked, never told her no.

So why did I feel so damn guilty?

I reached over to turn the car on, and that's when I saw him walking down the sidewalk. It was Jeremy, and he was sporting a huge grin as he turned into Niamh's driveway. My stomach dropped, and I got out of the car. I had a bad feeling something horrible was about to happen.

I tried to catch up with Jeremy and stop him before he opened the door, but I was too late. He slammed the door open, making everyone in the room jump.

"What are you doing here? No one invited you." Caleb stood in the doorway of the kitchen, his eyes murderous as they took in mine and Jeremy's forms. I was standing behind him, and I wanted to tell Caleb that I wasn't with Jeremy; I was trying to get rid of him, but Jeremy beat me to it.

"Well, well, well, isn't this nice? A memorial for my little dead girlfriend."

Caleb's jaw clenched, and so did his fists. They were closed so tightly the knuckles were beginning to turn white. "She wasn't your girlfriend. She was your play-thing, murderer."

"Caleb, please." Beth set her hand on Caleb's arm, and I could see him fight the urge to shove her off. The air in the room was charged with the anger these two men were emitting. "Jeremy, we didn't invite you because we thought you wanted to grieve alone. You seemed like a solitary man, so I was trying to be courteous to you. I'm sorry for upsetting you and hurting your feelings. You are welcome here." She turned to me, her eyes softening. "And so are you, Corbin. I'm surprised you weren't here sooner."

I frowned, but didn't say anything. She seemed so sincere, and I didn't want to call her out on this day. Jeremy strutted into the room like he owned it, a smile on his face as he began talking to the others. Caleb walked up to me, his face a mask with no emotion, but when he stood next to me, I could see the anger in his eyes. "I'm sorry for accusing you of having something to do with Niamh's.. disappearance, but I refuse to forgive you for being so late to her memorial. How dare you? You were her best friend, and even after everything you've done to her, she still loved you with every part of her being. How dare you be late to her memorial, and how dare you bring that man." 

Jeremy's laugh rang out through the silence, and Caleb's eyes flared. "I would have been here sooner, but I wasn't invited. I loved Niamh, and I understand why you didn't invite me, but then accusing me of being late just because? That's a shit thing to do."

"What are you talking about," Caleb snapped. "I mailed you an invitation. I personally put it in your mail box."

I frowned, my eye brows scrunching together. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course I'm sure." After a few moments, Caleb's anger at me subsided. "What?" 

Shaking my head,  I replied, "Must have been at the bottom of the stack then, and I didn't see it."

"Corbin, I can tell you're lying."

I shook my head again. "My wife checks the mail, and ever since the girls were born, she's been exhausted. She tends to forget about things."

Caleb scoffed, an angry smile on his face. "And I'm sure it's so easy to forget about a your husband's son's mother's memorial." I could see my suspicions mirrored in his eyes, and I felt my stomach drop. 

It's probably just crazy Caleb being crazy. He's grieving. 

Then how did Jeremy find out about the memorial? I know damn well no one here would tell that asshole, and he was at my house the other day while I was gone.

Before Caleb could say anything else, Jeremy's booming laugh filled the room, and Caleb's anger was reignited. "What is so goddamn funny that you have to laugh in the middle of this memorial? It's highly inappropriate, asshole."

Jeremy's laugh died out, and his face was a mask of anger. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

"Fine, then please, share with us your oh-so-funny-mood-lightening joke."

Jeremy's smile was a dangerous one, and I felt my blood run cold, even before he began talking. "Well, actually, I was telling him about the first time Niamh and I slept together. It was so funny. She was like a child, fumbling about, unsure as to what to do." Caleb's eyes flared, and I took a step back from him. "Don't worry, I taught her some tricks. I'm sure you noticed when you slept with a taken woman. Did you like when she touched you? Running her fingers down your body to-"

Jeremy was able to say no more. Caleb was on him, all fists and fury. 

~~~~~

A/N:

Hello readers,

I wanted to tell all of you that I am currently revising Angel Academy, you know, adding things, removing others. Changing things. 

I am trying to get his published. How exciting is that?! I'm excited! Anyway, I have changed Heath's age. I hope you all aren't too mad at me, but I thought it would be better in the long run. Heath is a little over a year old in the first draft of these books, but in the final draft he will be 4 and a quarter. I'm sorry if I have angered any of you, but I thought it'd be better. It'd make him more of a participating character and what-not. 

Anyway, from here on out Heath will be five, since he had a birthday at the end of Angel Academy. Dean is still 6, so don't worry. I haven't changed everything.

Also, since I am adding things to Angel Academy, I will also be adding things to this book that you may not remember from the first book, memories and the like. I hope this doesn't totally ruin your enjoyment of this book.

Thank you for being such loyal readers, and I hope you will continue reading!

I'm sorry for the long Author's Note,

Jax Nicoles