Chapter 4

I gripped the surgery record, then let it go.

I tore it to pieces in front of her and dropped them in the trash.

"It's nothing important."

Angela glanced at me, then left.

The room swam. Drained, I sank slowly into a crouch.

In that moment even disappointment felt like too much.

Halfway through packing, I sat on the edge of the bed and finally slipped into a heavy, black-out sleep.

When I woke again, work hours had long passed. I came out to find Angela coaxing Edna through breakfast.

Seeing me, she got up and went to the kitchen for the porridge.

"You were sleeping so soundly I didn't wake you."

Edna looked at me, set down her bowl and chopsticks, and pressed in a small voice.

"Mommy, I'm done eating. You and Daddy take me to get the wedding photos now, okay?"

A knife went into my heart again. It just didn't hurt as much this time.

Angela froze.

Antony jumped up, alarmed, rushing to explain.

"Adam, it was that bedtime story last night—it had the parents' wedding photos in it, so she thought Angela and I... She still hasn't recovered. We only pretended we'd go take them so she wouldn't get upset..."

Edna listened to him and burst into tears.

"Why is it pretend? Aren't Mommy and Daddy people who love each other? You said last night you'd stay with me forever..."

She cried like her heart was breaking.

Angela was quiet for a moment, then crouched down to soothe her.

Her voice went very soft. "Daddy was only joking. Of course we love each other. We love each other and we love you even more."

"There now, no more crying. You're going to be my little flower girl later. If your eyes are all red, the photos won't come out nice."

I stood in the living room, once again the extra person.

Before she left, Angela finally looked at me.

"Adam, get some good rest at home. Wait for me to come back, and we'll have a proper talk."

As if she'd caught some hint of it, she turned back at the door.

"I know you're upset. After the wedding, I'll go with you to Bayshore for the honeymoon."

I said nothing, took the handle, and shut the door.

Outside, Antony's voice was low.

"Angela, you've done so much for Edna and me. What if it wrecks things between you and Adam? He looks like he hates me."

"Don't read too much into it. He's just in a bad mood."

"But he was packing his things last night. What if he really does leave?"

Angela was silent for a moment, then spoke quietly.

"He won't."

Antony paused. "You're that sure?"

"Adam loves me, and he gives in to me. Seven years together—he can't give that up."

All my giving in had let Angela hurt me without a shred of fear.

Seven years of love.

It had become her proof that I would never leave.

In that moment, the last thin, foolish thread of reluctance in me crumbled to dust.

I set the packed suitcase down in the entryway.

I called a renovation crew to demolish that nursery.

Then I shut the door and left.

By the time I reached the ground floor, Angela was calling.

There was an edge of panic in her voice. "Adam, Edna passed out."

"She's in the waiting room now. We're not sure if she'll need a transfusion. Come to the hospital now—"

I cut him off. "Angela, let's break up."

Her voice caught hard.

"What do you mean?"

Antony's voice came through the phone, thick with a sob.

"Adam, this is all my fault and Edna's. Don't use a breakup to scare Angela..."

I looked at the wedding photos he'd posted to his feed half an hour ago.

It only struck me as bitterly absurd.

Angela was about to speak when a hurried voice broke in first.

"Director Gilbert, you had me check the medical records to see whether Mr. Simmons was fit to donate blood."

"The report shows he had heart failure surgery yesterday morning. There was heavy bleeding during the procedure..."