Unexpected

Chapter 42- Sorry

After Nick wiped Sara's tears, he took her hand and began his story. He told her about how they might never have married if she hadn't gotten pregnant and how Mel turned down a promotion when she found out she was expecting Jack. He explained he was the one who wanted the second child, and it was never right between them. He spoke of how he found out after her death that she had received another promotion and should have transferred to New Jersey.

"I knew she was out with Miles. We were friends, but stupidly I didn't want to go that night. He would never tell me who his date was, and so I convinced myself he didn't have one. I imagined them out together, and I didn't trust him. As his friend, I knew what he was like. What I forgot was that Mel knew, too. She used to make fun of him. In my grief, I believed she had cheated on me with him and he's so cocky he enjoyed my misery."

Sara squeezed his hand. "So that's why you always fought and were ornery after you saw him?"

"Yes, or if I saw you with him, especially you with him. I convinced myself, if he knew I was seeing you, he would want you out of spite."

"I would never choose him over you. Do you know what he was saying to me on Friday? No, of course you don't because you never gave me a chance to tell you."

Nick felt like a shit. "I'm sorry."

"He started by goading me, because he met Mila and called her my boyfriend's wife. Then he told me, he knew I had company, and I gave it right back to him. I ended it by saying I didn't care who he was with as long as she was an adult. So while you were glaring and getting jealous and angry, I was redirecting him so he wouldn't try to find out about us."

Nick smiled thinking about her saying those things. "Did you really imply that he could be with a minor?"

Sara smiled and nodded. Then she asked more seriously, "You said you thought they were together, you don't anymore?"

"No, thanks to your uncle, I understand so much more. He had information that eased my suspicions. He also has one of Mel's last conversations documented and she admitted we had things to talk about. I thought for a long time she would leave me. It's still possible if she had lived we would be divorced. If not, we would have moved away together. I'm not sure if she loved me enough, but I also know she didn't hate me."

It was his turn for tears. He felt them well in the corner of his eyes. Sara squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. I did not know you had so much conflict surrounding your marriage and her death. I understand if you need space to deal with what you've learned."

"I don't need space. I need you. I've learned I don't need to hold on to the hate I've had inside me. I can forgive and trust and not be jealous. I can love again. I can love you, Sara." He pulled her into his arms again and kissed her. Their kiss was full of passion. When he released her, he said, "We don't have to hide anymore. I want to spend time with you and I want you to spend time with me and Bridget and Jack."

Sara looked as if she would cry too. "You know I love them both."

"I know, and that is only one reason I love you. Remember that night you babysat, you asked about your nickname. I wanted to tell you, but how could I tell you that without telling you the story of the doctor and his nurse who fell in love. We had just kissed, and I wasn't ready to think about love. When my wife died, I felt like I was mirroring my father's life. Now I have you, I really feel that way. My mother loved Tim first and you love my children."

"Speaking of your children, who's with them?"

"Clare."

"Don't you need to go home to them?"

Nick frowned. "I don't want to leave you. Will you come with me? It's alright if you don't want to, but will you stay with me tonight?"

She nodded. "I'll need to leave early. I don't want to confuse the children."

When Nick got home, both his kids were in bed. Clare pounced on him the minute he walked in. He assured her that all was forgiven and tried to push her out the door.

"Thanks Clare for your help. I'm sorry for keeping you away from your family tonight."

She wasn't in a hurry and wanted to talk about him and Sara. "How long has it been going on?"

"A little while."

"When do you see each other?"

"Not nearly often enough. We steal a moment at the end of the day. Occasionally she would sneak over."

"So when you flipped about Jack getting all wet and Sara offered to help, you were glad?"

"Yes," he said embarrassed. Then he saw the lights of her car and heard her pull into the garage he had left open for her.

She walked in and saw Clare. "Oh! Hi Clare."

Clare smiled. "Why the secrecy and why not now?"

"Sara thought we needed to because we worked together, but I spoke to David Yates today and he said there is no rule against it."

"Like he would care, Sara is his niece."

Sara exclaimed, "That is exactly the reason! I needed to follow the rules."

Clare laughed. "This is strange. I'm so used to him glowering at you."

"I'll glower at you if you don't go home now," Nick said.

"Okay, I'm going. I know when I'm not wanted."

The minute the door shut behind her, Nick held Sara in his arms.