Uncle Dominic's Touch Read Online Free PDF

subjected to that, but your aunt isn’t known for her subtleness.”
    Chloe moved over to where he sat and took a seat beside him. “I’m sorry.” Is that even the right thing to say? “Maybe I should just go home.” How could she stay here after all this? He appeared fine, but Chloe knew that even if he wasn’t upset about the outcome of his marriage, he still had to be upset over the situation in general. Who wouldn’t be?
    “No, I don’t want you to leave.” He turned and smiled at her. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I’m just sorry you had to be here when the shit finally hit the fan. I know this has to be awkward for you. Believe me when I say our marriage was in the hole a long time ago.”
    It was none of Chloe’s business, but she loved his honesty and wanted him to feel like he could tell her anything. So, against her better judgment, she asked. “If things were this bad why did you guys stay together for so long?” His heavy exhale made her instantly regret what she said. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business."
    “No, it’s alright. I think I stayed so long because I thought things would be different. I thought I could make our relationship work out when it was already damaged.” He chuckled humorlessly.
    When no one else was there for her, he was, and so she needed to be that shoulder for him to lean on if he needed that. “I’m sorry she…” How to phrase it?
    “Cheated on me?” She turned to look at him and felt some of the tension leave when he patted her knee. “It’s okay, sweetie, I don’t mind talking about it. We're both adults and it isn’t like you didn’t hear her say it anyway.” Breathing out wearily, he leaned back in the chair and ran a hand over his jaw. “Let’s just put it this way, after that, things were never the same. No matter how much I wanted to put it behind me, I couldn’t.”
    They stayed silent a while longer, but it wasn’t uncomfortable silence. Chloe didn’t know what to say, but knew that right now nothing needed to be said.
    When the sun had finally set she made her way inside and washed up. Chloe wished there was something she could do to make things different for Dominic, wished she could wipe away that look of disappointment off his face when he thought she wasn’t looking. Would things ever be the same? She had a feeling they wouldn’t.
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
    The next couple of weeks were tense around the cottage. Although she tried to make it not so, she knew Dominic was also trying. It was just a difficult situation that made everything awkward, no matter how hard they tried to ease the tension. Meals were eaten in silence, and when either of them did strike up a conversation, it was short.
    When Dominic got the divorce papers in the mail, both of them knew Clara had planned this, had known that the relationship was over long before the fight had taken place. She had watched him sign those papers, his writing quick and angry. How she longed to comfort him, but she knew it wouldn’t be welcome, especially not right now.
    There was a lot of turmoil behind her uncle’s eyes, and Chloe desperately wished she could ease it from him. The idea of going back home was sounding better and better Chloe knew that Dominic needed time to himself, but every time she brought it up he dismissed it and told her that he loved having her at the cabin, that her company was much needed.
    As they sat at the dinner table, the only sound was the silverware clanging against the china. She glanced up as she brought her fork to her mouth and watched Dominic chew tersely, his focus on the table. She went through the motions of chewing and swallowing, trying to push her worries, fears and the uncomfortable feeling surrounding her away. She reached for her glass, brought it to her mouth, and took a long drink.
    “So…Today really turned out to be beautiful.”
    “Yes, it did.” He didn’t raise his eyes to her when he responded. She set the