“Like what?”
“For one, praying that my children can get their mother back—healthy—keeping my ass out of jail, and saving my business. My plate is kind of full.”
“What about your marriage?”
“What about it?”
“You didn’t mention it. Is it not on your list of priorities?”
Nicole held her breath.
Davis wouldn’t look at her. “My marriage is more than I can deal with right now.”
“Hmm . . . that’s interesting.” Dr. Carmen made another note.
Nicole wanted to shove that pen up her butt until she asked the one question, she both wanted to know and didn’t want to know the answer to.
“Do you still love her?”
Could she be even less impersonal in asking the question that could destroy my life? Nicole wondered as she held her breath and awaited his answer.
Davis rolled his head around his shoulders. He expelled a long-exaggerated breath. His words were strained. “I’ve thought about that question a lot lately.” Davis dropped his head, and his chin rested on his chest. He spoke quietly. “Yes. I do still love her. Nicole is . . . the love of my life.”
“Why don’t you tell her that?”
“Because I can’t. Not right now.” Davis just didn’t have the capacity to do any more than he already had.
“Then if you can’t tell her that you love her, tell her what you are feeling.”
Slowly, Davis raised his eyes and looked in her direction. “There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you . . . even when I thought you might be having an affair with Roman.”
“Davis, I’m so sorry. I-I . . .”
He cleared his throat. “The bottom line, Nicole, is that I am still dealing with that night and trying to process it all. I know the blame doesn’t rest completely on your shoulders. I honestly don’t blame you for coping the best way you knew how. But I’m still angry. I’m still devastated, and I need time.”
She held her body rigid to keep from falling apart. She responded in a barely-there whisper. “Thank you for telling me that. If it helps, I haven’t forgiven myself for that night either.”
Dr. Carmen felt if they continued down this path, there might be hope. She broke the silence in the room. “Today was a good start. Honesty can be painful but is always good. Time can heal a multitude of issues but not without a lot of communication. Davis, thank you for coming and making yourself emotionally available to help Nicole.”
Was that it? The session was over? Her eyes darted to his. He basically just told her that he loved her but didn’t have time to and didn’t want to deal with their marriage right now. Was Dr. Carmen going to introduce a plan to help them? “What do we do now?”
Davis sounded tired, exhausted. “Right. What’s next?”
“Well, Nicole has a little more than a month before she can be released, but we’re making progress. I would like to sit down with you both again next week.”
Davis groaned.
Dr. Carmen continued. “The good news is that I’m approving limited visits with you and if that goes well, maybe we can approve time with the kids. I think it might be helpful. As a matter of fact . . .” She stood. “Since we’re done here for today.” She looked at Davis and Nicole. “Would you like a few minutes to be alone?”
Nicole was hopeful. “If it’s okay with Davis, I would like that very much.”
Davis was feeling ripped open and apart. He stood too making more of an effort than necessary to put on his jacket. Anything not to look at Nicole. “I’ve got to get home to DJ and Rayna. Maybe another time.”
Chapter 22
Davis had been home for a couple of hours. His visit with Nicole had drained every ounce of energy he had. What he wouldn’t give for a drink. If he hadn’t had the entire house drug and alcohol proofed, he would have thrown a couple back. Instead, Davis fell face first into his bed not bothering to take off his clothes. He closed his burning eyes and just lay there until his phone rang. Davis debated whether to answer it or not, but it was after 11 p.m. The call could be important. He rolled over and reached up to the nightstand to grab it. He answered. “Davis.”
“I am sorry to have to call you this late.”
Davis pinched the bridge of his nose at the sound of his lawyer, Braylee Hinsdale-Manchetti’s, voice. “What? Is the FBI headed to my house to arrest me?”
“Nothing that dramatic but very disappointing. Tonight, I was tipped off that the press has found out Nicole is at Serenity. That news is going to hit the press tomorrow morning.”
“My family can’t catch a fuckin’ break. She doesn’t need that.”
“No, she doesn’t. You might want to think about alternative arrangements.”
“Alternative arrangements? Like, move her? She’s literally weeks away from finishing the program. I doubt Serenity will agree that that’s a good idea.”
“Can they handle a high-profile case? Those bastards in the media have been trying to get an interview with Nicole ever since the news broke. Security will need to be tight.”
“I can tell you that a couple of Senator’s wives and a pop singer have stayed there before. But I don’t know if their stays were ever discovered.”
“Hopefully, they can, but you and I know, tomorrow is going to be a
