“My dad is going to be furious,” Simon said.
“Maybe so. But you can face that,” Logan replied. “I think your father being angry is a lot less intimidating than her father being angry. Especially if she loses that baby because of the stress you put her through. Then it wouldn’t be a choice anymore, it would be your fault. People don’t forgive that kind of thing very easily.”
“And what else?” Simon asked, the attitude completely gone now. His gaze was pinned on Logan.
“You’re going to have to change the way you treat women—all of them,” Logan said. “You know about the Me Too movement, I’m sure. Women don’t take that kind of garbage anymore, Simon. They get mad, and when you get enough of them supporting each other, they get even.”
If Simon wasn’t careful, he’d have a whole tribe of women coming after him for his bad behavior, and he’d have no one to blame but himself. Simon licked his lips. Was he imagining the same thing?
“You’re not too old to change your ways, kid,” Logan went on. “But until you have, I suggest you keep a respectful distance from Tilly.”
Simon nodded. “Yeah... Maybe she should go back with you, then. I didn’t mean to upset her like that. I was just... I don’t know. It’s pretty intense right now.”
Logan looked at Simon—young, spoiled, privileged. And somehow he’d gotten the message that he could treat women any way he chose. Would tonight make any difference in this young man?
Maybe it was a blessing to raise a son with less privilege—with a good woman by his side. Graham had learned to respect women. Logan might not have been a perfect husband, but he’d respected his wife, and Graham had seen that. How were the women treated in Simon’s house? Was it anything like how it had been for Melanie?
“You can choose who you want to be,” Logan said quietly. Simon didn’t answer, and Logan stood up and headed for the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “I know it can be confusing. It seems like you have to act a certain way to get the other guys’ respect. But the stories they tell aren’t true. They say they order their women about, but they don’t. It’s an act. Don’t buy into it. And don’t worry about everyone else. The trick is to behave in a way that you can be proud of when you look back on it when you’re my age. The years pass faster than you think.”
The night air whisked past his face as he stepped outside and the summer breeze carried the scent of trees and grass—fragrant with hope, in spite of it all.
The trick was to figure out when you were being a jerk soon enough, and figure out why...because that regret would cling.
Logan had never been as bad as Simon, but he’d been selfish. He’d put his own feelings ahead of Melanie’s when he left her behind. He’d been more worried about his own heartbreak than hers. And then he’d managed to make his own wife miserable with his thoughtlessness. He hadn’t meant to be that guy...
He headed toward the restaurant, his steps slow and tired. The young people thought they could mess up and make up all their lives...but really they had a small window, and they’d just keep repeating it and regretting it if they weren’t careful.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MELANIE TOOK A jaw-cracking bite of her cheeseburger. There had been a time when she denied herself some of these simple pleasures. She’d always been so focused on staying slim for Adam, on looking great in those evening gowns she wore to different charity events. She had people to impress back then, and postdivorce, she realized she no longer cared.
“So what happened?” Melanie asked past her bite of food.
Tilly swirled a fry in ketchup and popped it into her mouth. “He was just being such a jerk. He was blaming getting pregnant on me, saying it was my responsibility to make sure this didn’t happen, and...”
“He’s mean to you, Tilly,” Melanie said softly. “Love isn’t like that.”
Tilly picked up her burger and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully for a moment. “That’s what guys are like most of the time. If you want one, you’ve got to put up with something.”
“Something?”
“Either they’re mean, or they cheat, or they only want you because your family is rich, or...something.”
Melanie looked at Tilly thoughtfully. “Not all of them.”
“Enough of them.”
“Then why put up with any of it?” Melanie asked. “Isn’t it better to be alone than to be treated like that?”
“I don’t want to be alone.” Tears welled in Tilly’s eyes.
“And you never will be,” Melanie said quietly. “You’ve got family—that’s what they’re for!”
“What about you?” Tilly asked.
“You have me, too. Who came out to get you?”
“No, I mean, you’re alone. Your parents live far away, and you’re just sitting out in some lake house—”
Was this what Tilly thought of her—some pathetic woman alone in a vacation house? It wasn’t like she was some Miss Havisham living in the rotting remains of her wedding... Was that how she came across to Tilly now?
“Tilly, I’m okay with being alone,” Melanie said gently. “And I have good friends. I’m willing to face life alone rather than be cheated on. I don’t mean to speak badly of your dad, but I couldn’t go on like that.”
“I know.” Tilly sighed.
“Do you think you’ll be treated like I was?” Melanie asked. “When you get married, I mean. Do you think it’s inevitable that your husband will cheat?”
Tilly was silent for a couple of beats, then she said, “My dad’s one of the good ones.”
Melanie reached out and put a hand on Tilly’s arm. “He is one of the good fathers, but don’t confuse a husband and a dad. Your father would walk through fire for you, and you can trust him always. But that doesn’t mean he was good
