Beyond the Breaking Point (47 page)

“Eat that and stop playing with it,” he ordered. When she wanted to argue, he nixed it by saying, “Think of the baby.”

She sighed but ate. While she did, Max considered the ramifications. His specialty was business law, specifically contracts, but he knew enough of family law from school and had refreshed his understanding of it when he believed he’d have to sue Phillip to get his paternity rights acknowledged. Basically, Cassidy would be stuck in a marriage she didn’t want for two years minimum. Two years was an eternity when you wanted out
now
.

“You didn’t meet the separation requirement of two years,” he mused aloud.

Cassidy neither confirmed nor denied. Just dug into her food with grim determination.

“So we wait,” he said, wanting her to know he was willing to wait however long it took for her to be free. “I know the news wasn’t what you wanted to hear, but the time will pass quicker than you know and when the time is right, we’ll file again. The next time it will go through, no matter what Phillip tries.”

When she didn’t respond, he covered her tense hand which lay fisted on the table. “Cassidy, this is simply a minor setback. Don’t let it get to you.”

Cassidy gave him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes, leaned over and kissed him. “You’re a good man, Max Desalvo. Thanks for coming last night. I didn’t realize how much I needed you until you arrived.”

“I love you. Of course I came.” He waited for Cassidy to return his declaration of love, but she didn’t. He could see how much she loved him. Feel it in the way she touched him. Her actions positively screamed it, but she never gave him the words. Max wanted those three not so little words. He knew Cassidy would never say them lightly. From her, they would be a commitment and he wanted that pledge with every fiber of his being.

They had plenty of time, but he would feel a lot better about their relationship if she would admit her feelings, or move in with him. That would send a clear message to him and the world she was with him for the long haul, the same way he was with her.

Cassidy glanced at her watch, stood, and picked up her plate. “If I don’t leave now I’ll be late.”

“Leave the dishes. I’ll tend to them. I have plenty of time.” As she placed the plate to the table, Max rose, pulled her close, and kissed her. He desperately needed the contact. She was with him, but Max got the feeling she wasn’t really
there
.

The minute his arms closed around her, Cassidy melted, which relieved him of much of his worry. “I’ll call you later,” he said when the embrace ended.

She cupped his cheek and gave his eyes a penetrating glance. Max didn’t know what she searched for and could only hope she found what she needed. She rose up on her toes and laid her lips against his. There was no movement, no heat, no teeth and no tongue. Just lip to lip contact. When she broke away he thought he saw tears in her eyes before she blinked them away.

Cassidy gathered her things and with keys in hand, rushed out the door. As she left, Max wondered what it was Cassidy hadn’t said, and what put that haunted look in her eyes.

She’d done a good job of fooling Max, but the reality was she was only marginally calmer than she’d been last night. Her chest was still tight and her mind a mass of confusion. The crying jag helped but it had left her tired, depressed, and with a nagging headache as well.

She needed to talk with Chris and get a copy of her file so she could see exactly what it was Phillip had said to impress the judge so much. Then once again, she needed to decide what her next course of action should be. Unfortunately, that meant speaking with Phillip.

Before she could change her mind or talk herself out of it, she sent him a text.
We need to talk.
 

Ironically, as soon as she hit
SEND
, guilt consumed her. Cassidy felt like she was cheating on her lover with her husband. How screwed up was that?

Phillip’s reply was swift.
When and where
?

Cassidy didn’t care where. She simply wanted this over with.
You decide
. 

The house after work. Come alone
.

As if she’d bring Max. No, there were things she needed to say to her husband and she didn’t want Max hearing them. She texted Phillip the time to expect her and put away her phone.

At Temple she focused completely on her job. During one of her breaks she managed to reach Chris and get a thorough rundown of her situation. The information didn’t improve any with the second telling.

When she took her lunch break, she called Max and tried to chat as she normally did, but doubted she’d been successful.

She sighed and said, “I spoke with Chris again. She didn’t have anything new to add.” Which was technically true. However, since she hadn’t given Max all the details, it would be new to him. “I told her I’d swing by the office and get a copy of the paperwork. I want to see what Phillip wrote in his response to the court.”

“That’s a good idea.” Max paused and Cassidy had the sense he wanted to say something. In the end he must have changed his mind. “I’ll see you tonight when you get home. Are you coming to me, or am I coming to you?”

“Actually, I’m going to be late. Since I have a meeting with Phillip tonight, I’ll come to you. It’s closer.”

“Oh?” Max said, and she could hear caution creeping into his tone. “Where are you meeting?”

“His house.” Again that niggle of guilt crept down her spine.

“Want me to go with you?” he asked quietly.

She paused to choose her words carefully. “I think this will go smoother if I go alone.”

There was silence. In the background she could hear typical office noises. Cassidy nibbled on her lower lip while she waited for Max to speak.

“What do you hope this meeting will accomplish, Cassidy?”

“To be honest, I don’t know but I have to do something. I don’t like feeling so…powerless,” she admitted.

“I don’t like it. I’d rather you meet somewhere public. I’d actually rather you didn’t meet with him at all, but I understand. Be careful, please.”

She frowned. “Phillip won’t hurt me.”

“Hasn’t he already?” Max asked, and the line went silent. He’d hung up.

Cassidy didn’t blame him. After all, what else was there to be said?

Hours later, Cassidy parked on the street in front of her old home. She couldn’t help feeling a bit nostalgic. Having fallen in love with the place the first time the realtor showed it to her, she was dismayed but not surprised to note her feelings for the house hadn’t change even if the ones for the man living there had.