That Ring: Chapter 20

Jennifer got back to Kansas City on Friday, and we’ve had a really great weekend. Devaney had a sleepover at our house on Friday night. It was good, seeing her hang out with her old friends. Jennifer ordered in a bunch of food for them, and we hid in my study, making out and watching film.

On Saturday night, both kids had sleepovers with friends, which meant we had a wonderful, uninterrupted evening alone. Most of it spent in my bed. And in my study. And the shower.

I let out a happy sigh. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt so content with my life. My shoulder is feeling better, the team had a great week of practice, and I’m excited for tomorrow night’s game against Philly. I just wish I didn’t have to leave home. My mom is feeling under the weather, fighting off bronchitis, so Jadyn offered to come over and stay with the kids tonight. She, Jennifer, Haley, and Devaney plan to watch girlie movies and paint each other’s toes or something. The team plane is taking off a little earlier than usual due to the fact that we have a storm moving in that could make our first snow of the winter a significant amount. I’ve heard predictions ranging from two to twelve inches, which means the kids are praying for a snow day and everyone else was at the grocery store, stocking up—including me and Phillip.

Jennifer is standing at the door with me, a dish towel in her hand, kissing me good-bye.

“So, you gonna win tomorrow night or what?” she says in between kisses. “I hear Philly is pretty good this year, and Vegas is betting against you.”

“I believe they will lose along with Philly.”

“I love your confidence,” she says, her lips moving to my neck.

“And I love you,” I say in bliss as the doorbell rings.

“Are you expecting anyone?” she asks.

“Nope,” I say, reluctantly letting her go so I can answer the door.

When I open it, I find Lori standing on my stoop.

“I rang the bell,” she says.

Once I get over the shock of it all, I notice that her mascara is smeared, her hair is out of place, and her silk blouse is buttoned wrong. I’m about to ask her what’s wrong when she bursts into tears and throws herself into my arms.

“Oh, Danny! Richard and I broke up. I’m so sorry about everything, but I need a place to stay. Just for a few nights.” She hangs on to me in a way she hasn’t for years.

“Uh,” I say as she lets go of me and goes inside.

“You again,” she says to Jennifer. She turns to me. “I want this whore out of my house.”

“It’s not your house anymore,” I remind her.

“We aren’t divorced, Danny.”

Devaney comes running down the stairs. “Mom? I thought I heard your voice. What are you doing here?”

“I’m going to be staying here for a few days,” she says.

“No, you’re not. I’ll put you up at a hotel.”

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Devaney says, throwing her arms around Lori.

Lori starts crying again. “I called off the wedding with Richard. I couldn’t stay there and didn’t have anywhere to go.”

“You can stay in my room,” Devaney says. “For as long as you need to.” She looks at me. “Right, Dad? Mom’s upset. She shouldn’t have to be alone. ”

“Uh, sure,” I say, not wanting a fight in front of our daughter.

“Devaney, honey, will you and your brother go out to my car, retrieve my bags, and take them upstairs?” Lori says sweetly. “I need to talk to your father for a moment.”

“Damon,” Devaney yells out. “Come downstairs. Mom’s here!”

Damon rushes to the top of the stairs, and Devaney waves him down. His mother gives him the kind of hug that I’ve never seen her give and then lets him go.

Lori takes a deep breath, seeming to compose herself after the kids go outside. “I hoped to not have an audience for this,” she says, glaring at Jennifer, “but so be it. I screwed up, Danny. I know that you still love me. I know how hard you took my asking for a divorce. My breaking up with Richard means we’ve been given a second chance. I’ll sleep in Devaney’s room while you’re in Philly, but when you get back, I’ll be moving into your room, where I belong.”

“Uh,” I say again, sounding like a broken record.

“Danny,” Jennifer says, bringing me out of my stupor. “You need to get going. I’ll walk you out.”

She drags me out of the front door but doesn’t say anything until Devaney and Damon have gone inside.

“You’re really going to let her stay here?” she says, her breath fogging in the cold air. “You wouldn’t let me stay with Troy.”

“That’s different. It was a safety issue.”

“Did you even hear what she just said? Why didn’t you respond? Do you to get back together with her?”

“No, not at all. I just—”

“You just what? I saw the way she batted her eyes at you. Played the victim. You’re falling back into old habits, and she’s taking advantage of you, your children, and whatever this situation is.”

“It’s their mother. What am I supposed to do? Look, I have to go. I’m sorry about all this. I’ll have to deal with it and her and you when I get back.”

“You’re going to have to with me? What the hell does that mean?”

I reach out and grab her hard, pulling her toward me. “I’m going to be late. But I am not leaving until you tell me you’re okay with this. It’s just a few days.”

“Yeah, and in those few days, she’s planning on getting back in your bed. She wants to move in permanently, Danny, so dealing with me would mean we’re over. If that’s what you want, I’d rather know now than have to wait to hear it later.”

“I love you. I want to marry you. I’ve been thinking about ways to propose to you. I’ve been praying that when I propose, you won’t think it’s crazy of me for asking too soon.”

“Really?” she says, tears filling her eyes.

“Yes. I want that more than anything. I’m not letting Lori stand in my way anymore. She gave me a parting gift when she left me. And that gift was my life. I feel like myself. I haven’t felt like myself in years, and I didn’t even realize it. It happened so slowly. You and me together is what I want. It’s what I think you want. And I know it’s what the universe wants. Because after fourteen years, you’re standing here in my arms. Don’t cry, sweetheart. And don’t worry. I’ll sort it all out when I get back. If you want to have your girls’ night still, you have my permission. Got it?”

“Got it,” she says, but she doesn’t look that convinced.

I pull a permanent marker out of my suit jacket and hand it to her, pulling my sleeve up. “Will you sign it again for luck?” I ask her.

“Yeah,” she says with a grin.

She signs my arm and then gives me a steamy kiss before putting me in my car and waving as I pull out of the driveway, still wondering what the fuck just happened.

I call Jadyn before going back inside, so she won’t be surprised when she gets here. When I go back inside the house, Angel greets me. I bend down, pick her up, and give her a snuggle. She’s growing so fast that, pretty soon, I won’t be able to hold her in my arms like this. I make my way to the kitchen, give her a treat, set her back down, and put the brownie batter I was working on while Danny packed in the oven to bake.

I’m stirring cheese into a homemade queso dip that we’ll be having tonight when Devaney and Lori come downstairs and into the kitchen. Lori takes a seat at the bar.

“That means Mom gets to join us for our girlie time!” Devaney says happily, seemingly having no clue about how awkward it will be.

But I have grown to care for her, and I know how much she wants her mother to like her.

“That’s great,” I say with a smile. Good thing I’m a damn good actress. I think it’s going to come in handy tonight.

“Devaney, would you get the chips and salsa out and put them into a bowl?” I ask, trying to go on with business as usual.

“Sure,” she says. “Mom, would you like something to drink?”

“I’d love a glass of wine,” Lori replies just as Jadyn and Haley come through the front door.

The evening goes surprisingly well. Probably only due to the fact that there are children present. But once the girls fall asleep on the couch and the clock approaches midnight, I decide to clean up the kitchen.

Lori actually helps, picking up a tray of snacks and setting them on the island.

Maybe we can get along.

“Now that the children are asleep, Jennifer, you can go crawl back under whatever whore-filled rock you came from,” Lori says to me. “Danny needs a cultured woman, not some Hollywood skank.”

“Lori!” Jadyn says. “Don’t you dare speak to her like that. If anyone is a whore in this situation, it’s the woman who cheated on her husband.”

“I really don’t care what you think, Jadyn,” Lori says, ice in her eyes. “You’re irrelevant to me, and she”—she points at me—“wishes she could me.”

“Actually, Lori,” I say, standing up straight. No one is going to talk to me like that or slam Jadyn. “It’s you who has become irrelevant. You became irrelevant the day you told Danny you were cheating on him. I don’t want to be anything like you. I am like you. You’re selfish and so wrapped up in yourself that you can’t see how your actions and words affect Danny and your children. All I want is for him to know I love him. You don’t respect him. You don’t respect your children. They are all pawns in some game to make you feel better about the decisions you made in your life. You chose to marry a professional athlete rather than be the doctor you dreamed about. That’s on you. Stop making others pay for your failures. Because it’s all on you, Lori. It’s all on you.”

“Well, I never,” she says, slamming her wineglass down on the kitchen counter so hard that I expect it to shatter. “I’m going to bed.”

I half-expect her to go straight to Danny’s room, but instead, she marches dramatically up the stairs.

“If we weren’t already,” Jadyn whispers to me, “you and I would have just become best friends.”