Now Liz was really confused. It must have shown because Francis continued.
“If your reason was because you didn’t want to sever my boys’ relationship, then I am grateful. If you didn’t tell him because you’re afraid of losing him, then I’m glad that he’s found someone that loves him enough to carry that secret.” Her look turned distant again. “If you lied to protect the purity of the way he sees you…then I understand.”
Liz couldn’t believe that this woman had been sitting beside her, understanding every reason that Liz had to keep this from Matt. The man she loved more than anyone. She fought this battle with herself for years only for it to end tragically. Regardless of her mother-in-law’s kind and understanding words, the venomous pain tugged at her chest again.
Liz couldn’t hold back anymore. She started sobbing. “It’s all of the above.”
Francis put a warm hand on Liz’s back and rubbed it gently, pulling her coffee from her hands and placing it on the wicker table in front of them. “I know it is,” she whispered.
Francis stood to go back inside. No doubt giving Liz time alone in her current state. Liz followed shortly after recovering. She finished her coffee then walked back into the kitchen. Megan, Ben’s wife, was sitting on one of the stools, with a large mug of coffee and an open laptop. Megan was a real estate agent, one who didn’t take days off. So it was no surprise that she’d be up and at it early, checking her listings. Megan hadn’t looked up right away. She never did. Her business came first.
“Morning, Megan.”
Her head popped up. “Hey. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear anyone come in.” She turned back at her work.
Ben met Megan two summers ago, when Megan was showing him some condos on the Island. They hit it off and were living in one of those condos along the beach together a year later. They tied the knot last Christmas. Liz liked Megan a lot. Envied her at times. She was honest, strong and independent. She was by no means a people pleaser. If anything, Megan’s first impression might be a turnoff, but Liz appreciated every aspect of her. Her sister-in-law knew about what happened with Ben. Apparently, Ben had told her fairly soon after they started dating. Liz always appreciated that he had never been pushy about telling Matt. But by telling her that he’d been honest with Megan from the beginning, it was an unspoken suggestion.
Liz shook her head. It was too late now.
“It’s ok, I just came by for a refill. Then I’m heading back to my room to pack.”
Megan frowned and opened her mouth to speak when Francis came back up into the kitchen from the basement.
“What’s this about packing?” she asked. “I thought you weren’t leaving till Monday morning.”
“Francis, I’m sorry. I just have so much to do for work,” she lied.
Francis raised her eyebrow. “You teach the second grade and you’re not due back until September.”
“August,” Liz weakly corrected.
“That’s still a month and a half away,” she started to argue.
“Francis, thank you so much for having us here this week.” Liz meant every word, but didn’t miss the hint of disappointment and regret in Francis’s eyes.
Liz knew that Francis felt partially responsible for the recent events, for no other reason than insisting they all spend the Fourth of July weekend at their beach house.
“Well you all need to have something other than coffee, I’m making eggs and pancakes for everyone.” Francis brushed away and started pulling at pots.
“I’ll cut some fruit,” Liz offered.
“Megan.” Matt’s greeting cut through the room.
Unlike Liz and Ben, Matt and Megan hadn’t hit it off. Matt proclaimed to Liz once that he thought Megan was obnoxious and ‘too into her work’, and that she’d lacked warmth and sincerity. For this reason, the most Megan had ever got from Matt was a polite smile, a few cracks about Ben, and an occasional few words of advice.
Megan smirked back, barely glancing away from her laptop. Francis got busy cracking eggs and mixing pancake batter. The woman was always quick and determined to keep her family together for as long as possible. Megan’s phone buzzed and she jumped on a call.
Liz carefully stripped the leaves off the strawberries. The heartache and the distance that was so thick between her and Matt made her feel almost incapable of completing the simple task. She willed herself to keep her eyes on the fruit and suppress her every temptation to look at her husband.
As she stood at the island counter, Matt brushed past her to reach for a coffee mug in the cabinet above and behind her head. She tried to ignore the way molten heat slid through her body with just a brush against her arm. It was as though they hadn’t touched in years. Her senses were filled with him and there was nothing she could do but wait until it faded. She swallowed hard. He must have known. Matt always knew when he affected her.
“Morning,” Matt said, leaning in, inches away from her.
“Morning,” Liz replied, matching his indifferent tone.
Liz started to feel the world spinning around her. With the inability to concentrate on the task at hand, and her body in a vulnerable position, her senses seemed to heighten intensely. And it wasn’t just Megan’s side of the conversation she heard. Matt was shuffling and pouring coffee behind her. She glanced over at Francis, who’d already been flipping her first set of pancakes as the sizzling intensified. She was grateful for the warning of the shadow behind her before the warm breath that followed.
“How’d you sleep?” His words seemed forced.
