Risking Fate (Mitchell Family #4)(49)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I slammed my hands on the dashboard. “God Dammit! I don’t know what to f**king do. I messed up so bad. This isn’t just about losing my wife, I’m losing my whole family. Heather knew this would happen. She did this shit on purpose to ruin my life.”

Conner pulled over the truck and put it in park. He held his hands up. “Just hear me out. I know the shit is crazy right now, but neither one of you are goin’ to do any good to each other by hashing this out tonight. Let her get to Kentucky and calm down. Call Colt and Van if you need to, but just wait this out, Ty. I got a plan that might just save your marriage. I need you to calm down and trust me. Can you do that?”

I shook my head and stepped out of the truck. I just needed air. I was paying the ultimate price for what happened, but I didn’t care so much for myself as I cared for Miranda. If the roles were reversed, I would want to lay down and die, hell, I wanted to do it, just imagining I could never be with my family again. They were my life and they were gone.

I climbed back in the truck and turned to Conner. “Just turn around. I don’t know what you have planned, but I will give you the night to figure it out. Even if I went to Kentucky, there’s nothing I could say to convince her to come back to me. I know she’s done. You can say she will forgive me, but she’ll never be able to trust me or look past it. I need to face the music. She’s gone. My family is broken because I’m the biggest f**king idiot on the planet.” I beat my head on the dash.

Conner got us back home, but refused to talk about his big plan. He handed me a bottle of whiskey and a glass, before getting a shower and heading out. I couldn’t get how he thought he could fix things. He didn’t even know Heather.

I drank half the bottle before I had the nerve to call Van. She was yet another person who would never look at me the same. Colt was going to be so disappointed. It was good that he’d threatened to kill me if I hurt Miranda. At least I wouldn’t have to feel this pain for very long.

While the phone started ringing and I waited for her to pick up, I looked around the walls at all of the pictures of my happy life. My wife was the most beautiful woman, but it hurt to look at her, knowing the pain she was feeling. I needed her so much. I wished she could know that she was my everything.

Hello?

Van, it’s me.

Hey, what’s up?

From the tone of her voice, I knew she hadn’t heard from Miranda yet.

I think there’s something you need to know.

Is this where you tell me that you’re madly in love with me and we should run off to an island together? Oh God, she assumed I was home with Miranda and playing a joke on her.

No, this is serious.

Is Miranda okay? Is she in labor?

No, just stop talking for a minute. This is hard for me to put into words. I don’t know how to say this without having you hate me too.

What are you talking about Ty?

She left me, Van. She took Izzy and all of their things and she left me.

You are kidding right? Let me talk to her. You guys aren’t funny.

This isn’t a joke. I came home from work to a note and empty dresser drawers. She’s probably on her way to you guys as we speak.

Why would she leave you? What did you do, Ty?

For the next ten minutes I explained how I asked for Heather’s help in getting the paternity test altered. I told her how Heather caused us problems. She cut me off before I could explain the night I ruined my life.

Why would you call that bitch? You know she only wants one thing, Ty. She’s only ever wanted you

I know, Van. You don’t have to remind me. I was desperate. I know it was a mistake and when Miranda found out she was pissed. She sent Heather a text that set all of this into motion. Heather got pissed and said we could forget about our money and the papers. So, Miranda got this bright idea that I should go over to her house and pretend she left me. We just wanted her to feel sorry for me and get the damn papers, I swear. I was there for a short amount of time and she kept questioning my intentions. When she tried to touch me, I got sick. I came back to a cup full of liquor and the next thing I knew, I was waking up naked next to her. Van, before you say anything. I swear to you and to God that I never went there to cheat on Miranda. I don’t remember doing anything, but saying no.

Then tell me how you woke up naked Ty? Do you expect me to believe this? I could tell she was already pissed at me. I sounded like a fool trying to convince her I was a victim. She would never believe me.

She drugged me, Van. The last thing I remember was feeling dizzy and waking up somewhere else. I swear I am telling you the truth. You can ask Conner. He helped me that night and convinced me to never talk about it again. I’ve been living with the guilt for months and it was killing me inside. So yesterday, I drove to Heather’s to make one last plea for the paternity papers. When I rejected her for the second time and she admitted to drugging me, I lost it. I went off on her. I walked out of there and hoped her house would blow up with her in it. That’s the f**king truth.

So you went home and told your wife the truth? Is that why she left?

No, I went home and decided I could never hurt her like that. I never would have cheated, and I never will. She’s my life and I don’t want to live without her, not for a second. My eyes started to burn as I looked over at the pictures that remained in my living room. Heather must have been pissed. She must have come to the house sometime this morning to confront Miranda.

Oh my God! She told her in person?

More like showed her. She took all of these pictures of the two of us. I don’t remember doing any of it, you have to listen to me. I’m telling you the truth. I love my girls so much. I’d never do anything to lose them.

Please don’t cry, Ty. It makes it hard for me to be angry with you, when I hear you in so much pain.

She won’t return my calls. I went to school to get Iz and she was gone. Miranda took all of their clothes. She isn’t coming back. I lost them, Van. Please tell me what to do. How am I supposed to live without them? I can’t do this, not for even one day. I’m so f**king lost right now. I need to hear her voice. I need to see her beautiful face and hold her in my arms.

Is Conner with you?

He went out. He said he had some crazy ass plan to help me, whatever that means. My crying was more apparent considering I could barely get my words out.

When Miranda get’s here I will keep her safe and calm her down. I can’t promise that I can get her to talk to you Ty. You know how she feels about cheating. It’s going to take her a while before she can deal with it.