“Yes. Gina was his co-worker. He was driving her home the night of the accident. They were working late, and her car didn’t start. I’ve always felt badly for not sending her a card or calling her. It’s just…I was in shock when it happened. I knew she went to the ER, but his office said it was nothing too serious. I never followed up.”
Simon frowned, but said nothing.
“So that’s why you lied to me? You didn’t want to mention that the woman who is suing you is Gina because…because you didn’t want to upset me by bringing up the accident?”
The way Simon looked at me, I knew that wasn’t it. His face was etched with pain, and he was struggling to say anything at all.
“Simon,” I whispered. “What’s going on?”
“I’m so sorry, luv.” He just kept shaking his head and looking down. When he finally looked me in the eyes, I held my breath to brace myself. “Gina and Ben were having an affair. She admitted to it during the questioning at her deposition.”
Even though I was still sitting, the room started to spin as I grabbed onto Simon for balance. I was staring right at him—his mouth was moving, sound was coming out, yet I couldn’t hear the words that he said. It felt like I was underwater, everything was so muffled. He paused and tears welled in his eyes. Holding my head with two hands as if I was fragile and he was worried I might break, his voice broke through. “She has a daughter, Bridget. She’s three. Gina doesn’t think she’s Ben’s daughter, but she isn’t positive. Apparently, she also had a boyfriend at the time.”
He looked alarmed after a minute. It might have been because I had grown pale. The room started to spin faster and faster.
“Bridget? Breathe, baby. Breathe. Shit!”
I woke up with a cool rag on my head and an extremely nervous looking doctor holding my hand. “You scared the living shit out of me, luv.”
“What happened?” I was lightheaded and felt a bit queasy.
Simon went from nervous to full-blown panicked. “Please tell me you remember the conversation we just had. I can’t have it again.”
It all came back to me.
Ben.
Gina.
An affair.
A child.
For a moment, I’d thought I might need to get up off the couch so that Simon could lie down. “No, no. I remember. I guess I passed out?”
“You did. And you scared the life out of me.”
I reached up and touched Simon’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Just tell me you’re okay. How do you feel? Physically, I mean.” He picked up my wrist and began to take my heart rate. Still not satisfied, he felt my forehead for a fever, lifted my eyelids to get a better look at my eyes, and then began randomly patting me all over.”
“What are you doing?”
“Checking to see if you’re okay.”
“Did I fall?”
“Not really. You were sitting up, and I caught you in my arms and laid you down on the couch.”
“So, what are you looking for?”
Simon stopped patting my legs and looked up at me. He seemed to realize for the first time that he was acting a little crazy. He shook his head. “I have no fucking idea.”
Even feeling like the world as I knew it had just crumbled before my eyes, this man could make me smile. “I’m fine. You know I have a tendency to pass out.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I promise.” Although I was dizzy still, I sat up to reassure the concerned doctor. I also needed to know more information. “Tell me everything, Simon. I want to know every word that she said—anything you can remember.”
“Oh my, God!” Bridget bolted upright from the bed. It was after two in the morning, and we’d just settled in after talking for hours. I’d told her everything I knew. It was terrible to put her through that pain. There’d been a lot of pacing and yelling, but she hadn’t passed out again on me. I thought she was finally starting to fall asleep.
I sat up. “What? What’s the matter?”
“A blowjob. She was giving him a fucking blowjob!” Since I’d shared what the attorney had told me the hospital’s review panel had discovered—before we had any idea the receiver of said blowjob was Ben—I hadn’t bothered to reiterate that part of the story tonight. I was hoping she wouldn’t remember.
“I’m sorry. I was hoping you’d forget that.”
“My husband died over a blowjob. Maybe if he was paying attention to the road, my son would still have a father.”
I didn’t know what to say or how to make her feel better. She had bounced back and forth between angry and upset all night. “Come here.” I coaxed her back down to bed and rubbed her shoulders, attempting to soothe her. She was quiet for a few minutes, and I thought perhaps she was drifting off.