“Yes.” Grant opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but thought better of it and closed it again.

“When?”

“Months ago. Before you told me about – about… everything. That night we had the fight. I wanted you to open up to me, and…” Grant trailed off and raked an impatient hand through his hair. “If I had known what you were going to tell me, if I had known the reason you had been keeping me at arm’s length… it wouldn’t have happened. I swear to you, Tina. It never would have happened.”

Tina remembered the night of that fight. She couldn’t help feeling upset with herself, taking on some of the blame. She should have told him the truth that night. Not that it excused his behavior, but maybe all of this could have been avoided if she’d had the courage then to speak up… “How did it happen?”

“I went to Ellis’s. I wanted a drink. Shelly was there. We were talking about old times and I was drunk. And…”

“I can fill in the rest.”

“It was one night. It meant nothing.”

“It means something now, doesn’t it?”

“Tina…”

“Don’t say anything else, Grant. I need to think. Give me a few days. Ok? It’s a lot to take in.”

Grant looked down at his shoes and nodded.

“I’ll… I guess I’ll call you or something.”

“Can I come by tomorrow?”

“Grant…”

“Day after tomorrow,” he amended. “First thing in the morning.”

“Fine. Goodnight.” Tina got up and went inside, closing and locking the door, then leaning against it. She didn’t want to see him day after tomorrow. Grant always had been able to talk her into things. She couldn’t tell him no. The one time she did, he ran off to be with another woman. Shaking her head in disgust, she wandered back into the kitchen and busied herself with nothing. She and Grant were quite a pair. She couldn’t say no and he couldn’t stand to hear no. The one time they’d been forced to do both had destroyed their relationship. Even if she took him back – and Tina didn’t think she could – nothing would ever be the same again. There was a child now that would always be a part of their lives. How could she deal with that?