That was the best way. She could get through this as long as she didn’t do anything to mess this up publicly.
Reggie was upstairs. He’d spent the night in the guestroom of the condo she’d moved into yesterday. After she’d told Wallace she wanted a separation.
She’d originally intended to divorce him, but her soft heart had had her agreeing to a trial separation first. Wallace had looked so heartbroken at her words she’d given in against her better judgment.
Then the dumbass had gone and shot a woman. On camera. In front of witnesses.
What was she supposed to do now?
“Mom?” Reggie asked from behind her. She hadn’t heard him come in. “I’m going to order some takeout. You want anything in particular?”
He had refused to go home, and she hadn’t pushed the issue. Reggie thought he was protecting her. Supporting her in her time of need.
What she really needed was for her son to go home. So she could get with Dennis Lee and figure out what she needed to do to protect herself in whatever storm was coming. She needed a strategy meeting and access to Dennis Lee’s massive connections throughout the city and region. It was her only hope.
She’d wait until Reggie was asleep, and then call Dennis Lee. No matter what the hour.
“I’m ok. Why don’t you call a friend and go out for dinner?” He had that girlfriend of his. Jennifer wasn’t overly fond of her, but she wasn’t a hovering mother. Reggie was old enough to know what he needed out of life without her interfering too much. She’d raised him to be as independent as she possibly could.
She hadn’t wanted him being ruled by his gonads like his father. She had wanted him ruled by a sense of honor that ran to his core. Honor, determination, hard work, respect—she’d pushed and pushed those with her son during his more formative years.
She’d been so afraid she’d fail him when it mattered most.
She’d succeeded in that, at least.
Reggie was a good man. One of the best she’d ever known. She loved him. So much. The last thing he needed to be doing tonight was hovering over his mother. “I’m ok. Go.”
“I…Amanda ended our relationship. Because of what happened yesterday.”
She winced. She heard the pain. Her baby was hurting, and she couldn’t fix it. Damn that stupid bitch. “I’m sorry.”
“If she can’t stand beside me now, then she’s not the woman for me. I’m trying to remember that.” But his hurt was right there.
“No. She isn’t. You deserve someone who supports you.”
“Why did he do it?” Reggie slammed one hand down on the granite countertop. He was a tall man, an inch taller than his father’s six three. Built strong, like her side of the family and hardened by his years working next to his construction crew. “What would drive him to shoot that woman? I’ve never even heard of her.”
“It’s possible…oh, honey…you know about his affairs.”
Reggie blanched. “Yes.”
“He’s had far more than you realize. It took me hiring a private detective to find out about all of them.” Most of them. She’d probably always have her doubts.
“And Izadora MacNamara? Was he having an affair with her? With Nikkie Jean Netorre? I’ve never even heard of either of them.”
“You know her. Nikkie Jean. She used to be Dannica Carrington. Jordan and Darla’s daughter. A few years or so younger than you are, I believe.”
He paused for a moment, confusion on his face. Of course, he wouldn’t remember that little girl from so long ago. “The one who disappeared? Rumors said she disappeared. Others said she died from cancer.”
“Well, she didn’t die.” Jennifer wished she had. Then maybe none of this would have ever happened. “She works in the surgical department at FCGH. With your father.”
Jennifer had her theories about that, too.
“So why the other woman?”
“I suspect…I suspect she’s another one of his lovers, son. Something she said put him over the edge. With what happened to Ray and with me finally being honest with him about what I know. Feel. Your father always has been emotionally weak. Fragile.”
“I understand why you couldn’t stay,” Reggie said quietly. “I never thought Dad would do this.”
“Me, either.”
Jennifer stood, then wrapped her arms around him. He had a good foot of height on her now, but he was always going to be her baby.
Her baby.
There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to keep Reggie from hurting.
Anything.
She pulled in a deep breath, sucked it up like she had so many times before. She needed