Free Sacrifice Love: Saints Protection & Investigations by Maryann Jordan Page B

Adam, who had the emotional maturity of a child at times. He realized what a predicament Dani had been in. And I, one of her best friends, wasn’t around for her to talk to. Hell, if I’d been around, they wouldn’t have slept together.
    She continued, “Adam’s dad abandoned them when he was very little, and he was adamant we marry. I even told him that I’d never keep him out of his child’s life and we didn’t need a piece of paper, but he presented a good argument. Or, at least it sounded good at the time. Now, looking back, it sounds pathetic.” Seeing Chad’s attention still riveted on her, she said, “He said it made sense to get married because he’d never planned on getting married and if he was going to do it, it might as well be with someone he was friends with. And he pointed out that my chances of finding a man who was willing to take on a child were not great.” She observed Chad’s incredulous expression and grimaced. “Yeah, I know. Hearing myself say that now sounds ridiculous.”
    “But you got married,” he stated simply.
    Sighing, Dani nodded. “Justice of the Peace. No church. No fancy dress. No reception. Just two of the biggest idiots in the history of the world getting married.” Before he had a chance to argue, she threw her hand up. “I’m not looking for sympathy. We were adults and made a decision.”
    They were quiet for a moment before she spoke again, her expression full of resignation. “Chad, I’ve come to accept that there are times in life when we make decisions…based on what seems right at the moment. Sometimes, it’s only later when we look back with clarity and see where we made a mistake.”
    She discerned the emotions cross Chad’s face, taking in all of the information. “Since there’s no child, you can figure what happened. We were married a month. I was about two and a half months pregnant and had a miscarriage. It was devastating,” she choked, losing the battle of the tears. “I was at home, alone. I’d already gone to bed when I started bleeding.” She stopped, breathing deeply as she pulled herself together. “I drove to the ER myself since Adam was out late that night. By the time I got ahold of him and he arrived…it was over.”
    Chad closed the space between them, engulfing her in his embrace. Holding her head against his massive chest, he murmured into her hair while stroking her back. She did not sob. Just silent tears that fell wetting his shirt. After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked up at him. Her moist, green eyes glistened brilliantly. Kissing her forehead, he did not ask any more questions, showing her he would listen when she was ready to talk.
    Taking a shuddering breath, she said, “That was one month before you came home. I talked to Adam about getting a divorce since the reason for the marriage was now no longer a necessity. He insisted that he wanted to be with me. Said I made him a better man. Said we could try again for children.” Shaking her head, she looked up at Chad, anguish in her eyes. “I know what we did makes no sense. But he really was good to me…or at least I thought so. We didn’t fight. We enjoyed the same things. Living with him was actually easy. I was worried about when you came home, wondering how you would take the news, but then I’d convinced myself that you only felt friendship for me. I figured I’d blown any chance with you anyway.”
    “And I didn’t take it very well did I? Fuck, Dani, I’m sorry. You’re right, though. The thought of seeing him with you killed me. There was no way we could go back to being the fun trio again…not when I cared for you the way I did. I assumed you two were happily in love and Adam never let on that you weren’t.”
    The two sat, both reflective in the silence.
    “Did you change jobs because of us?” she asked softly, grabbing a tissue from the end table and wiping her face.
    Keeping his arms around her, he said, “Not entirely. It’s true