The Only One for Me(25)

“You mean none of your ladies stood by your side while you spent two years working out your gambling problems.”

Eric lowered his gaze, and Corra had to restrain herself to keep from grabbing something to hit him over the head with.

“I’m sorry about that too. I never meant to hurt you. I just got caught up in my own bullshit. I was out of control.”

She walked over to the sink, wrung out her sponge, and placed it in the drying rack. Bullshit! I don’t want to hear all these lies!

“I went out to California to make some money. I wanted to pay you back for every dime I spent of ours. But I didn’t have my head on straight and wound up...well, you know. The two years I was away allowed me to think straight and get some help. Believe it or not, it was the best thing for me.”

Corra dried her hands and examined Eric for the first time since he’d arrived. She’d always been able to tell when he was lying. Like when he tried to convince her he went fishing with his buddies one weekend and she saw those particular guys downtown the same night. The next day he couldn’t look her in the eye when she asked about the trip. Tonight, he held her gaze. In fact, it looked as if his eyes were begging her to believe him.

“Did jail cure you from cheating as well?”

“No, maturity has. I was a young jerk who didn’t realize how good he had it. I’d never really had anything before so I didn’t know how to handle it. But, I do now.”

She cleared her throat and walked over to get a glass of water. She didn’t want to sit down with him. He’d already overextended his stay.

Eric leaned forward in his chair resting his elbows on his knees. “Corra, I know this might be too much to ask right now, but I need you to forgive me for my past transgressions. I’m a changed man, really I am. I cried many a night thinking about what I did to you...to our family. I lay in bed and closed my eyes hoping to see Jamie and Katie again. I missed them so much.”

She almost choked on her water. “Is that why you didn’t contact them once you returned?”

That left leg of his started shaking, as it did whenever he was nervous about something.

“I didn’t want to see them like this. I lost everything. I flew back from California with only a change of clothes to my name. But I’m waiting to hear about a job now. Once I get it, I hope you’ll let me spend more time with you and the kids?”

Oh, hell! Eric had returned and Corra had just started dating his nemesis, Chris.

“Eric, the kids would love nothing more than to spend more time with you. Me, however, I’ve moved on, we don’t need to spend time together.” The last thing she wanted was Eric back in her life.

He nodded. “I understand. I knew I couldn’t just walk back into your life as if nothing happened. But I can prove myself to you.” He stood up.

Corra took a few steps back. “The only people you need to worry about proving something to, are your kids. Be the father they need. You can never be the man I need again.”

He held both hands over his heart. “Oh, I’d forgotten about how brutally honest you can be. Still a straight shooter huh, Corra?”

“It’s the only way I know how to be.”

He turned around and slowly walked out of the kitchen. She followed him to the front door, thankful the evening was over.

“Well, now that I’m back maybe we can work out a schedule or something so I can take the kids sometimes.”

When he turned around Corra was shaking her head with her arms crossed. “I have sole custody. Those kids will not be leaving here with you. You’re welcome to come by and visit as long as I’m here.”

He opened the front door. “Okay, if that’s how we’re gonna play it.”

“That’s how it is.”

“Yeah, I was just hoping you’d see it in your heart to bend a little since I haven’t seen them in so long.”

She shook her head. “Court order.”

“Okay, well we wouldn’t want to go against a court order, would we? I guess I’ll see them the next time I see you,” he said with a smile.

Corra nodded. She didn’t like the crafty smile on Eric’s face. The old Eric would have exploded by now and gotten mad at her. This Eric stood on the porch smiling like everything was right with the world. Or, was he up to something that would make her regret looking him up?





Chapter 12

Friday morning went a little smoother for Corra as far as getting the kids off to school. When the bus driver turned the corner, Jamie and Katie were still in the house, but headed out. The bus driver never even honked his horn. Corra was only a few minutes behind them headed for work.