Page 58 of Around the Bend

“There’s no need to rush this. Maybe I just want to take you all in.”

Jess gazed at the floor and then met his eye again, refusing to ignore the elephant in the room. “How long do I have before you go?”

Myles placed his finger to her lips. “We don’t have to decide that now.”

“Unless one of us already has.”

He lowered his tone. “I said we’ll talk about it later.”

To his surprise, she didn’t push back. And, he found this both a blessing and a curse.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Myles watched the rise and fall of her chest as she slept. Leaving her was going to hurt like hell. But he was made for leaving. It’s what he knew. One thing about military life was that there was no way of making everyone happy. If he stayed, neither of them would be happy, but if he went, they at least stood a chance apart. She wouldn’t ask him to stay, he realized. She wasn’t that kind of woman.

He was being called toward something bigger. His expertise being called for elsewhere, his brothers needed him back in the Navy. He had a duty and it was becoming more and more clear that it was in the military. So, while it wasn’t an easy decision, it was at least clear-cut. You go where you’re needed, and Myles knew as well as anybody that place was no longer where he was. Jessica would be fine. The kids would be fine. It was win-win, really. He wasn’t cut out for family life and never had been. Even the small part of him that wanted to stay knew that if he listened, they’d ultimately all lose.

She stirred, opening her eyes. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

Light poured in and filled the room, causing her to squint. “What time is it? Did you sleep?”

“It’s six-thirty. A little...”

Jess frowned. “That means no.”

He smiled faintly.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You looked peaceful.”

She swallowed. “So are we going to talk about this?”

“We’re talking…”

“When do you leave?”

“After Christmas.”

Jess nodded. “Wow. That’s right around the corner.”

She wasn’t going to make this easy. “How did you know?

“I don’t know. Lucky guess…”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. “I’m sorry, Jessica.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I knew who you were when we started this. I didn’t exactly take you for a family man, Myles.” The way she said his name killed him. “ Plus I have a lot going on with the kids, the divorce, and the upcoming trial. That’s enough to keep me busy for another lifetime.”

“I know you’re hurt…”

“Disappointed, more than anything,” she whispered, not missing a beat.

“Yeah.” He forced a smile. “But you’ll move on. You’re a smart, incredible, beautiful woman. You’ll do all right for yourself…”

Her eyes welled up and she swallowed hard. “And you?”