Chapter 48: Building Strength

RIEKA

When I reached our room, and the door closed behind me, I just stood there an let the tears fall freely. I was too overwhelmed to decide if I would fall apart in the shower or sobbing on the bed, so I collapsed to my knees in the middle of the room.

I know that Aleksandr isn’t perfect because no one is, but a part of me hoped. He had already proven to be so much better than I ever expected. I guess I started to believe that he would never disappoint me or let me down like Isaac had.

That was a secret I planned to take to my grave. I would never soil the kid’s memory of their father with information about his failings. I always knew without a doubt that he loved me, but he made mistakes, and they were painful.

I’d never intended to remarry after Isaac died. I guess I was a bit jaded and was convinced that every man would fail me. I didn’t have the strength to deal with someone else’s issues. It was just easier to keep my world focused on my kids and raising them, but bein