The Way That I Love You(Book 2)

Reason

Morgan

She's spent a week and a half at the hotel with their kids. Of course she has sort of passed it on as just a vacation for Knox's sake.

So Thursday morning she checks out and they go home.

Of course she doesn't know how she feels being there; but she just gathers everything up and goes in. The moment they get in, when she turns around she sees Colin sort of bounding down the stairs to greet them.

"Daddy!" Knox shouts, running to meet him at the bottom. He picks him up and holds him close.

"Hey buddy, I missed you."

"I missed you too daddy. Guess what?"

"What?"

"We went to see grandma and pop. I made cookies!"

"Good job, I bet they were great. Did you have fun?"

"Yes." They smile at each other and her heart just sinks.

"Good."

"Knox why don't you go upstairs and play? I'm sure you missed your toys." Colin put him down and he ran upstairs.

He looked to her then down to the carseat before moving closer, leaning down to take Darlene out of her carseat and cuddle her to his chest.

"Hey beautiful." She sort of gurgles to him and he kisses her hair.

Their eyes meet again and she tries her hardest not to fall into the trap that is her husband. Tries not to just give up any kind of feelings of anger or betrayal toward him and wrap herself around him.

"Welcome back." He murmmures...

"We need to talk."

"I know. Get settled first, we don't need to be at each other's throats just yet. You just walked in the door."

**********

"I missed you." He speaks up as she sits in the middle of the bed. She had no idea he had come back from putting Darlene and Knox down for a nap.

She doesn't say anything back, thinking about whether or not she even had time to miss him while she was away. Did she miss him? God, of course she did. She missed him so much but she doesn't want to give in.

"You look exhausted." She speaks up.

"I am. I haven't been sleeping."

"Good."

"I told Alyssa that we couldn't and wouldn't be seeing each other again. That whatever was going on is over and it won't happen again. I want to make this work Morgan."

She stares down at her hands; watches as they short of shake before she folds them in her lap. Maybe the were shaking because of the situation. Maybe they were shaking because she can't even recall the last time she's eaten. Who knew?

She felt rather than saw him sit on the bed and he sighs before speaking again.

"Say something. Please."

"What do you want me to say Colin? Everything is fine again, I'm glad we got that out the way?"

"No but I know you, and you definitely have more to say."

"I want to know, what I did to make you want to do this."

"Nothing. And that's the problem. I knew things were going well and I think that's why I had to go and do something shitty. It didn't start out like this...it wasn't supposed to be something like this."

"We have a family Colin. Not one, but two kids. What are we supposed to tell Knox? Yeah mommy and daddy are married but daddy had a girlfriend on the side? It's shitty alright. You know something else shitty? You were talking to this woman while I was pregnant with Darlene. What next Colin? She pregnant with your baby now?"

"No. We never slept together Morgan; I told you that and I meant it. She tried but...I couldn't do that. I know it wasn't right, and I know we're not going to work this out tonight but we're going to make it work. I feel awful about all of this, and I'm disappointed in myself. I hate that Knox had to see us like that and Darlene is too little right now but I don't want a man treating her like that. Ever. It's wrong for me to tell her that when I've done the the complete opposite with her mother. I need to treat you better because you deserve it. I can only imagine how I've made you feel."

She hides behind her hair as she manages to start crying again. It's silent, her head sort of bowed as she curls into herself a little.

"You hurt me Colin. I'm hurting." She sobs; tired of trying to be strong.

"I know...I'm so, so, so sorry." He moves farther up on the bed, wrapping his arms around her.

She doesn't fight him; doesn't bother trying to push him away. She wraps her arms around his neck; crying into his shoulder and letting her body relax in his hold.

"Never again, I promise."

***********

When she wakes up she's still in bed.

Her head is oddly clear for the moment and her bones feel creaky. So she climbs out of the blankets and goes to take a shower; washes off any kind of fear or doubts she has for the moment.

When she gets out she dries, lotions, and dresses herself before brushing out her hair. Then she makes her way down the stairs and to the kitchen. Colin is just finishing up the dishes as she enters and she sort of clears her throat to let him know she's there. He turns and smiles softly at her.

"Hey...you sleep okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you hungry?" She moves over to the island and sits down.

"No, I'm not hungry." She stares at her fingers as the water cuts off. It's silent for a few moments before she speaks up again. "I have to go out for a few hours tomorrow."

"Okay. Work stuff?"

"No, I have an appointment with a real estate agent tomorrow."

"Why are you doing that?" She looks up and catches his eyes; her decision set in her mind. She's not going to budge.

"Because I'm moving out."