There
was a bang on the door and Shelby got up to answer it. She pulled her
robe closed as she walked down the stairs, the bangs getting louder.
“I'm coming!” she yelled walking to the door.
At
the door was Liz, holding Sam in her arms. “I could kill someone
right about now!” She set Sam down and walked through the living
room to the dining room into the kitchen.
“Come
on in.” Shelby shut the door and picked Sam up, smiling down at
her. Sam smiled back, leaving her binky in her mouth. “Didn't I
tell you that you have to get her off the binky?” Shelby placed Sam
in the play pin she set up in the living room.
“Tell
that to Denny!” Liz said pouring herself a drink.
“It's
8 in the morning. Why do you need a drink?”
“We
got into a fight last night while the kids were asleep and he stormed
out and he hasn't come back.” Liz said trying to keep herself
together.
“What
were you fighting about?” Shelby asked sitting at the island across
from Liz.
“Money.
The kids. Work. Everything pretty much. And he said he doesn't love
me anymore. He said that Luke was a mistake and Sam was a sorry
attempt to try and keep him around. I don't know what to do Shibbz. I
can't do all this parenting without him.” Liz said speaking fast.
“He
said that?!” Shelby asked outraged that those words would come out
of Denny's mouth.
“Those
were his words exactly. He doesn't want to be with me anymore Shibb.”
“He's
just mad. He just said those things out of anger. He doesn’t mean
them. He loves you, Luke and Sam more than anything. I've seen the
way that he looks at you, its the way I used to look at...you know.
That's how I know it's real.”
“But
you didn't see him last night. He was bullshit. And he wasn't drunk.
He was completely sober...it was as if he was being possessed. I have
never seen that side of him. And then he left. Its not like our other
fights where he said fuck you and goes to sleep on the couch. He
left. He took an already packed bag and he walked out of our front
door.” She paused and took a sip of her drink. “And when Luke
woke up this morning he was asking for his dad. And I didn't know
what to tell him so I just said daddy went to work early.”
“He'll
be back wife. I promise you that. He'll be back. Whether or not you
guys planed to have Luke and Sam you did. You can't go back and
change whats already happened. You can't go back and wear a condom
because the reality of the situation is that you didn't and 5 weeks
later you found out that you were having Luke. Then you guys did it
again and you had Sam. Sure having one baby might be a mistake but
you don't do it a second time. You guys started a family and if I
know my cousin like I hope I do, he won't walk out on you, Luke and
Sam.” She turned and seen Sam standing in the play pin with a
stuffed monkey in her hands. “He loves that little girl more than
life itself. He'd never leave her. No matter how hard things were
with the two of you.” Shelby looked across from her and seen Liz
wiping away tears.
She
took a deep breath and before she could get up and console her
friend, there was a hand on her shoulder, startling her and making
her quickly turn around. Felix smiled down at her and she smiled
back. “Babe.” she whispered as he gently kissed her lips.
“Good
morning baby.” He raped his arms around her and she leaned back
into his body.
Liz
looked up and seen Felix standing behind Shelby. “I didn't know you
had company Shibbz. I wouldn't have come over if I knew.” She stood
up and started walking over to Sam.
Shelby
stopped her before she left the kitchen. “I'm always here for you
and you know that. Don't talk to me like I'm some type of stranger.”
“Sorry
Shibbz. I'm just--” Liz stopped when she seen Denny walking through
the living room from the basement. He looked at Sam and then his head
shot toward the kitchen.
“What?”
Shelby asked looking at where Liz was staring. She seen Denny and her
mouth opened. “What are you doing here?”
“You
told me 5 and a half years ago when you bought the place that there
was always a spot for me in your basement if I ever needed it. Then
you gave me a set of keys.” Denny
said looking at Liz.
“Oh...I
forgot.” Shelby mumbled looking at Liz.
“Why didn't you
come home?” Liz whispered on the verge of tears.
“That's not my
home anymore.”
“Yes it is.”
Liz said walking toward Denny.
“No. We're not
working out. It'll just be best if I moved out. You can have the
apartment and the kids.”
“Denny I don't
want you to leave.” The tears started flowing.
“I have to.
It's not you, its me.”
“Dennis
Shipley! I can not believe the way that you're talking to your
fucking wife! You two are married! She's not a fucking toy that you
can throw away when you're done. You made a vow to her in front of
your friends and our family that you would love her. And all of a
sudden you're done?” Shelby said looking at Denny in disbelief.
“This isn't all
of a sudden Shelby. We don't talk anymore and all we do do is fight.
I'm not the man she thought I was going to be and I'm not a good
enough father. Liz and the kids don't deserve it.”
“Liz chose to
marry you. She knew what she was getting into and you both decided to
have those two beautiful kids. You may not have known that's what you
wanted when it happened but you knew it was for you. I remember
seeing your face the first time you held Luke. And I remember you
chose to name Sam after Samantha because she's important to you.”
“She cheated on
me Shelby. Did she forget to mention that? We haven't had sex in 3
years—explain Sam.” Denny said as Shelby's face dropped. “Yeah
I figured she didn't tell you that.” Denny pushed past Liz and
walked to the fridge.
“Wife...”
“I'm sorry
Denny! I didn't mean for it to happen. It just kind of did.” Liz
said turning to look at him, wiping the tears off her cheek.
“Ya know, I
might actually believe that except you did it with David.” Shelby's
mouth opened completely. She looked at Liz and grabbed Felix's hand.
“I was drunk.
You have to believe me.” Liz pleaded.
“You had a kid
that belongs to another man and never fucking told me. You never
mentioned it until last night. I can't deal with that Liz.”
“But Denny I
love you!”
“I don't love
you.” Denny grabbed the orange juice and walked past Liz, back into
the basement.
“I need to
leave.” Liz mumbled quickly walking over to Sam.
“You slept with
David and you never told me?” Shelby asked standing up. She walked
over to Sam and Liz, waiting for a reply.
“How the hell
was I supposed to tell you Shelby? Oh, by the way I cheated on your
cousin and I slept with David. Not to mention the fact that Sam isn't
Denny's, she's David's and he'll never know.” She picked up Sam and
started walking to the front door.
“You know I
would never judge you. I would have been by your side.”
“You can't
change the past.” Liz said opening the door.
“But I can make
sure you don't ruin my cousins future.” Shelby said shutting the
door in Liz's face. She took a deep breath and locked the door,
placing her back against it.
“You okay?”
Felix asked walking over to her.
“I basically
just said fuck you to one of my best friends. I don't think I'm
honestly okay.”
Without another
word, he rapped his arms around her, pulling her head into his chest.
“You'll always have me.” He whispered patting her hair down and
kissing the top of her head.
Felix left and
Shelby sat on the couch, staring at the TV, not wanting to hear the
noise it would make if she were to turn it on. Denny poked his head
out of the basement door before he came out. “Liz isn't here. And I
wouldn't expect her to be coming over anytime soon.” Shelby said
not turning to look at him.
“What
happened?”
“I took your
side. I told her I wouldn't let her hurt you anymore.” Denny walked
over to Shelby and sat down next to her.
“What?”
“It's a nice
way of saying fuck you, followed by a door being slammed in her
face.”
“Thanks Cuzzo.”
“Family comes
first, right?” Shelby asked, still never looking at Denny.
“Why won't you
look at me?”
“Why didn't you
come talk to me? You had to have known that something was up when you
found out Liz was pregnant. Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't want
anyone to know. How the fuck does it make me look if my own wife went
out and banged another dude and got pregnant by him? That makes me
look like a fucking bitch.”
“What is with
you guys? I'm not a judgmental asshole! I would have helped you get
through it. I wouldn't have sat here and called you a pussy cause Liz
fucked some other guy! I would have been by your side.” Shelby
paused and looked at him. “And the fact that you didn't confide in
me hurts me.” She stood up. “Who did I go to when he broke my
heart? You and Liz. And neither one of you came to talk to me about
your problems until it was too late. If that's not a kick to the face
than I don't know what is.” Shelby walked into the kitchen and
started to do the dishes.
“No one wants
to admit that their marriage was a joke. That it was falling apart
and there was no way for it to be fixed. Once you say it out loud
then it becomes real. I guess I didn’t want it to become real.”
He took the cup from her hands and started to dry it.
“Well you're
welcome to stay here as long as you need Cuzzo. But after 3 months I
charge for room and board. And I buy the food that I want to eat and
the liquor that I want to drink. You're welcome to help yourself but
if you don't like what I eat or drink, you know where the store is.”
Shelby looked up at him and a half smile appeared in the corner of
her mouth. “Oh, and Felix is usually here. If you have a problem
with that then feel free to leave.”
“No problem
here. I seen the way he's always there for you, hes good to you.”
“I know this.
And he supports me in all that I do. That's why I keep him around.”
Shelby laughed and Denny joined in. It was obvious that Shelby was
still hurt, but they could move past that and actually live together.
“Then he comes
in and he tells everyone that I slept with David!” Liz said as she
and Vici sat at her table in the kitchen.
“You slept with
David?”
“It was an
accident but I don't think that Denny realizes that.”
“You ever think
that maybe you should just accept the fact that you and Denny's
marriage is over? That maybe it is just best to let go instead of
being the only one fighting for this thing to work?”
“I love Denny.
And so do my children.”
“So now they're
your children? Not you and Denny's children? Your children. I'm
telling you Liz. You should just let go and take him to court for all
that he's worth.” Vici said drinking her beer.
“He already
said that I could have the kids and the house.”
“Then what more
is there to fight for?”
“We got married
7 fucking years ago. I was faithful to him for 7 years--”
“Minus one
night.”
“Yeah, minus
one night but he is so quick to over look that!”
“Because the
daughter that he thought was his is not actually his. He's been
raising some other mans baby, another man who he hasn't like for over
8 years. You fucked up. Admit it and move on.”
“I can't move
on. He's my husband!”
“But he doesn't
want to be your husband. Just listen to me. I know a lot about
husbands.”
“Cause you've
had 5 of them in the past 6 years.” Liz mumbled rolling her eyes.
“Exactly. Its
best if you just let them go. Take everything you possibly can from
them and just fuck them and move on to the next one.”
Liz waited a few
minutes before she spoke again, trying to piece together her
thoughts. “Would it honestly kill you just to be supportive in what
I want to do? Would it kill you to just say maybe you and Denny's
marriage can survive this?”
“Yes it just
might. I never supported your marriage to begin with!”
“Because he's
Shelby's cousin. When the fuck are you going to get over that shit?
Shelby doesn’t give two flying shits about you anymore and she was
honestly kind of happy for your first marriage. She just wants you to
be happy because whether you want to fucking admit it or not Victoria
she was once your best friend.”
“Was! I know
she's just using you and that all those Shipley's want to see you
hurt!”
“Newsflash
Victoria! They're not using me. And Shelby wasn't using you. You're
the one that replaced her with Lexi and you're the one that
ultimately gave up on the friendship. Sure Shelby changed but its a
fact of life. And the fact that you're still holding a grudge after
10 fucking years is PATHETIC! Grow the fuck up and stop following in
moms footsteps. I'm kind of surprised that that isn't Bacardi and
Pepsi.” Without another word or thought Liz got up and walked into
her bedroom.
“Fuck you! I
knew your marriage was going to fail! I'm just glad I can say I told
ya so!” Vici got up, chugged the rest of her beer and walked out
the front door.
Shelby was laying
on the couch, looking through the copy of her 3rd novel
that the publishing company sent over. She had to review covers and
page design and it was honestly her least favorite part about it all.
Whatever she picked she'd have to see for the rest of her life. And
if she chose wrong then everyone would see it.
She took a deep
breath and put it on the coffee table in front of her. The only ones
who have read this novel was her and her editor. It was the first
time that she didn't share if with the 5 people closest to her. She
didn't even mention to them that she had been writing another book.
Chanel kept asking when she was going to but she kept putting off
answering it.
Personally Shelby
thought that this might have been her favorite piece yet. It felt
more realistic than all the others, it was the one that she put most
of her inner thoughts, pain and frustration into. This was the novel
that she thought would take her to the top. It was one that more
people could relate to because of the topic that it covered—cheaters.
The design could either make her or break her.
Shelby took a
deep breath and closed her eyes, slowly falling into a deep sleep.
“Thanks for
coming over.” Liz said as she shut Sam's door after putting her
down for a nap.
“No problem
babes. If you need me I'm always just a phone call away.” Sasha
said sitting down with Liz at the kitchen table.
“I have no idea
what I should do about the whole Denny/David situation. I don't know
if I should still fight for Denny or not. He made it pretty clear
that he wanted nothing to do with me. He no longer loves me. He
belittled me in front of Shibbz, Felix and Sam. And yet I can't seem
to get him off my mind. It's not the same not expecting him to walk
through that door after a long day at work.”
“Boo you have
to follow your heart. You have to do what you think is right for not
only you but what's right for your two children too. If you really
think that you and Denny can work this out and move past it, then you
have to fight for him and make him believe that too.” She paused
and sipped her juice. “But regardless of whether or not you truly
believe that fighting for Denny is what is right or not, you have to
tell David that he's Sam's father. He deserves to know.”
“I guess.”
“And you have
to be aware of the fact that by things crumbling with you and Denny,
it's making for a rough situation regarding you and Shibbz
friendship. She has to back her cousin, regardless of whether she
believes you're in the wrong or not. Family is important to her.”
“But she's
Sam's godmother. She can't just turn her back on her because I fucked
up.” Liz said standing up to walk to the fridge.
“Has Shibbz
ever been the type to walk out on a kid? She may hate your guts but
she won't take that out on Sam. Trust me.” Sasha finished her cup
and looked over at Liz. “And be careful. Fighting for Denny would
damage things with you and Shibbz even more than they are.” Sasha
looked back at her empty cup while Liz took a deep sigh, not knowing
what steps she should make next.
