Chapter 34
Sage
“I need you.”
“What’s wrong?”
I sighed and leaned against my car. “I think my battery is dead, and I really don’t want to go back into Mary and Dale’s.”
“I’m on my way. Stay on the phone with me ‘til I get there.” And just like that, Roman was on the way to save me.
“Is Sam okay?”
I looked into the car to see Sam playing with his toys. “He’s fine. He didn’t hear anything Mary said to me.”
“Wait, she said something to you?”
I was just as shocked as Roman was when Mary talked. It had been two months since we had told everyone that Roman and I were married. Well, we had told everyone but Mary and Dale. “Sam let it out today we were married.” We hadn’t told Sam to not tell them; we just left it up to fate. Fate had decided today was the day.
Roman whistled. “Oh Lord. I’m not sure I really want to know what she said because I’m not into hitting women.”
I laughed and looked up at the house. “It really wasn’t anything I didn’t expect. What was I doing? How could I do this to Sam? What about Jack’s memory? Blah, blah, blah. I’m really kind of relieved. I knew she was thinking all of those things, but now they are out there, and I don’t have to walk on eggshells around her anymore.”
“How could you do what to Sam? Give him a dad that cares about him and actually wants him?” Roman was steaming on the other end of the phone.
“You need to tell them, Sage. They can’t go on blaming you for living your life because they think their son was a damn saint who loved his wife and unborn baby.”
I sighed and shook my head. “I can’t tell them, Roman. I know she’s just heartbroken about Jack. That would just kill her.”
“So she gets to treat you like trash for the rest of her life?”
Yes. That was how it was going to be. “How long until you get here?”
“Now you’re going to ignore everything we just talked about?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, because we’re never going to agree about this, Roman. Mary and Dale can think whatever they want about me. They don’t dictate my life.”
“Well, you’re a bigger person than I am, Sage. I’m pulling into the driveway right now.”
“Sage, are you okay?” Double shit. Of course, Dale would walk out of the house as soon as Roman pulled up.
“Uh, yup. I’m all good,” I called. “Just a dead battery.”
“Why didn’t you come into the house? We would have helped you.” Dale stood in front of the car and motioned for me to open it.
Roman stepped out of his car and moved to the front of my car next to Dale. Lord have mercy.
Dale looked him up and down.
Roman returned the gaze.
“I’m Dale.” He stuck out his hand.
Roman shook it. “Roman.”
“Sage’s husband.”
I still got a little thrill when I thought about Roman being my husband. Even when it was Dale saying it.
Roman nodded his head.
“Thank you.”
My jaw dropped.
Pretty sure the world ended.
“Um, excuse me, sir?”
“Thank you. Thank you for taking care of Sage and Sam. They both needed someone in their lives to take care of them. Mary and I have been worried about them since the accident.”
Roman shook his head slightly. “Sir, I don’t think I’m following you. From what I’ve heard from Sage, she hasn’t had the easiest time with you and Mary.”
Dale frowned. “That’s my fault. There are things Mary doesn’t know. Things that would change the way she thinks of Jack.”
“So you’ve had the power to make Sage’s life easier and decided instead to do nothing?”
Dale sighed. “I’ve fought with this for so long. Before you came into the picture, it really wasn’t a problem. Now she’s got it in her head Sage is disrespecting his memory.”
“He didn’t want her,” Roman thundered. “He didn’t want anything to do with her.” There went Roman not saying anything.
“I know, I know.” Dale hung his head. “He sent me a letter about a month before he died. He told me he wasn’t happy being married and was seeing another woman. He asked me to contact a lawyer for him and get the ball moving on a divorce.”
I couldn’t hold back my gasp. That rat bastard had asked his dad to help him get a divorce.
“I’m sorry, Sage. Jack was so confused about what he was doing. He told me he loved this other woman, and that he didn’t want,” he cleared his throat and looked into the car.
“He wasn’t confused, Dale. He told me the same thing.”
He hung his head. “I know. I’m sorry, Sage. I was hoping to talk to him when he came back and talk some sense into him. I wrote him back telling him he needed to think everything through and to not throw away one of the most precious things he’d ever have in his life.”
“He didn’t care,” Roman growled.
“I know. I’m sorry for everything Mary has said. I knew after today, I was going to have to tell her. She can’t keep blaming you for what happened to Jack.”
“She has to live her life. That life is with Sam and me.” Roman was right.
Dale looked at my stomach. “And your baby. I think that’s what is driving Mary the craziest. She remembered being there for Sage when she was pregnant, and now she has nothing to do with the baby.”
“She made it that way, Dale. I never once told her she couldn't have anything to do with the baby.” Mary had been there for me when I was pregnant the first time. With Jack being gone and not really caring about the baby or me, Mary was amazing.
“I know, Sage. I know everything you are saying. It’s just hard.”
I got that. I understood that more than he could ever know.
“I don’t want Mary being nice to her, only to rip the rug out from her when she decides she is still pissed about Jack.” There was Roman. Always looking out for me.
“It’s going to take time. She loves Sage and Sam. Even though she acts differently, I know she loves them both. And in time, she’ll learn to love you and the baby, Roman. My wife may be a stubborn woman, but once she decides on something, she’s committed for life.”
Roman looked back at me. “This is your call, baby. I’m just here to make sure you’re safe.”
And this was why I was uncontrollably in love with Roman Yeck. He just wanted me safe.
“You can tell her, Dale. But I want you to know Sam and I won’t be around while she adjusts to it. I can’t have her being mean to Sam.”
Dale shook his head. “She would never take this out on Sam, but that’s fine. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Just please don’t turn your back on us.”
“You and Mary will always have a place in Sam’s life. I’d never take that away from him or you.”
Dale nodded. “I’ll talk to Mary tonight and keep you posted on what’s happening.” Dale shook Roman’s hand again, nodded to me, and disappeared back into the house.
Roman stared back at me. “You good?”
“Um, I’m scheduling a breakdown for about nine o’clock tonight.”
He nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll be there.”
Roman got my car started.
We fed Sam.
Watched the newest Transformer movie.
Put Sam to bed.
And then I lost it.
But Roman was there the whole time.
*