Chapter 1

My wife had an abnormal fetal position and her water had broken. She needed an emergency C-section, and the doctor told me to go pay the ten-thousand-dollar surgery fee.

I walked into the operating room and held out my payment app to my wife where she lay on the table.

"The baby belongs to both of us. We split the surgery fee, half and half. Send me your five thousand."

Her weak face filled with distress.

"You know I don't have any money..."

I frowned.

"Then take out an online loan."

Her eyes reddened.

"I already borrowed online for the last prenatal checkup. I couldn't pay it back, so my credit's blacklisted. I can't borrow anymore."

"Please, just pay the surgery fee first. I can't hold on much longer."

I shook my head.

"We agreed to split everything down the middle, and that doesn't change. You have no money, so there's no way I can pay this fee either."

With that, I walked out of the hospital without looking back.

1

Coming out of the hospital, I saw the latest gaming console sitting in the window of the electronics store next door.

I walked over, took a look, and pushed the door open.

"How much is this one?"

"Twelve thousand. Just came in. Newest model."

I pulled out my phone and paid the twelve thousand without a second thought.

Once I had the console in hand, I was in a great mood.

The first thing I did was head straight to my good buddy Quinton Finch's place.

Quinton's eyes went wide when he saw me.

"Wait, what? The hospital just called and dragged you out of here."

"It's barely been any time at all. How are you back already?"

I held up the console in my hand.

"Came to play the new console I just bought, with you guys."

Darren James, the other buddy who'd been drinking with Quinton, looked at the console in my hand, confused.

"Didn't the doctor say your wife had an abnormal fetal position and needed an emergency C-section?"

"You're not at the hospital with her having the baby, and you came here to play games?"

I unboxed the console, hooked it up to the TV, and answered casually while I set it up.

"The surgery didn't happen."

Quinton's brow furrowed.

"Didn't happen? Why not?"

Eyes on the TV screen, I said offhandedly, "Because Ida Simmons didn't have the money to split the fee with me."

Darren stared at me in disbelief.

"Your wife's in the hospital having your baby, and you're making her split the surgery fee?"

"Mick Fox, have you lost your mind?"

I found the whole thing baffling.

"The kid isn't just mine. Ida and I agreed a long time ago that all expenses get split down the middle. The surgery's ten thousand. If she won't put up her five, I can't be expected to cover all of it myself, can I?"

"Five thousand?"

Darren let out an angry laugh, looked at the console in my hand, and asked, "How much did that console cost you?"

I told him the truth. "Twelve thousand."

Darren's voice shot up.

"Your wife's lying on that operating table waiting for a C-section to save her life, you won't cough up five thousand for the surgery, but you'll blow twelve thousand on a gaming console?!"

"Mick, you've completely lost it!"

I picked up the controller and said calmly, "It's not about being willing or unwilling."

"The console is for me to play. Of course I pay for it myself."

"But the baby belongs to both of us. Why should I be the only one paying? That's not fair."

Quinton pulled out his phone, his tone serious.

"I'll transfer you the five thousand. Now go pay that surgery fee right now, and stay at the hospital with your wife."

I stopped his hand before he could send it.

"This is between Ida and me. There's no reason for you to pay it."

Darren's brow knotted.

"Then get to the hospital, now. Having a baby is no small thing. Even a small delay can cost a life. Don't pick this moment to lose your head."

I paused, then said flatly, "I'm perfectly clear-headed."

Quinton and Darren exchanged a look. Seeing not a trace of urgency in me, Quinton asked, puzzled, "Mick, I've wanted to ask you for a while now. Did you and Ida get into some kind of fight?"

I shook my head. "No."

He frowned.

"If you didn't, then why are you treating her like this?"

"She's the woman you chased for seven years. The one it took everything to finally marry."

"You used to dote on her so much. She'd get a little stomachache and you'd run across half the city in the middle of the night just to get her medicine."

"Now she needs an emergency surgery and you just up and leave. Is that any way to act?"

The hand holding the controller went still for a second.

A tightness settled in my chest.

I didn't answer. I bent over the console in silence, forcing down the bitter ache surging up inside me.

Seeing me stay quiet, Darren spoke up too, curious.

"Mick, the three of us grew up together. Quinton and I have seen exactly how much you love Ida."

"On your wedding day, you cried like a mess and swore you'd love her right."

"How is it that two years into the marriage, you've turned into this?"

Darren paused a moment, then ventured a guess.

"Unless... Ida did something behind your back? Something that wronged you?"

I shook my head and said, seriously, "No."

"She's always been good to me."