Chapter 4

I found my parents' portraits in the storage room. Their ashes were long gone, scattered, and staring at the empty urn,

my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

My father never asked anyone for anything his whole life.

The one and only time he ever did was when he used his connections to lift Carl into the rescue-squad captain's post he holds today,

and my mother went even further, handing over every cent of her savings

to carry Carl's rescue squad through its hardest stretch.

All these years, Carl climbed on what they gave, and reaped endless flowers and applause.

And this was how he repaid them.

I burned every last one of the dolls and restored my parents' shrine.

By the time it was all done it was the small hours of the morning.

My phone rang. Carl.

'Martha...'

I had no patience left for his fake tenderness, and I cut him off, my voice cold.

'If you have something to say, say it.'

Thrown by my tone, Carl froze for a second, then his voice went a good deal softer.

'Today's the tenth anniversary of my rescue squad. We're holding a dinner at Galaxy Plaza.'

'It's also my birthday, our wedding anniversary. I want you to be there.'

'Fine.'

I agreed without a moment's hesitation.

This wasn't the first time.

To keep up that flawless image, the loving family man, the devoted husband,

almost every year I had to go with Carl to a few occasions like this,

and all this talk of a wedding anniversary was nothing but a line to make sure I'd show.

I couldn't help the cold smile that pulled at my lips.

'Martha, thank you...'

'It's nothing. I got your gift ready a long time ago.'

'See you tonight.'

And with that, I hung up, crisp and clean.

Five years of dating, ten years of marriage, and this was the first time I had ever been the one to hang up on Carl.

It was the smallest thing.

But the moment the line went dead,

I felt a lightness rise up from somewhere deep inside me.

That evening I took the gift I'd prepared for Carl long ago and went to Galaxy Plaza.

The place was packed, heads everywhere.

Dead center at Galaxy Plaza, on the largest LED screen in New York,

they were running a loop of Carl's greatest rescue moments over the last ten years,

along with all the speeches he'd given out there about loving his family, loving his wife.

Amid countless flowers and rolling waves of thunderous applause,

Carl walked up onto the stage, his face flushed and glowing.

He picked up the microphone and cleared his throat.

'All these years, thank you all for your support. But the one I most want to thank is my wife, Martha Roman. Without her quietly standing behind me all this time, I wouldn't be where I am today.'

As he spoke, Carl's gaze came to rest on me,

those fathomless eyes now filled with a tenderness you couldn't see the bottom of.

'Today isn't only the tenth anniversary of my rescue squad. It's also mine and my wife's tenth wedding anniversary. This year we've been blessed with a lovely baby. I'm about to become a father.'

'My wife told me this morning that she'd prepared a gift for me. Before the dinner begins, let me indulge one small selfish wish. I'd like to invite my wife up onstage, so we can all see the surprise she has for me...'

The words had barely left his mouth before applause and cheers broke out all around.

'Yes! Come up, Mrs. Delgado!'

'Oh, I envy Mrs. Delgado so much! If my own daughter could find a husband as devoted and responsible as Captain Delgado, I could die without a single regret!'

'Exactly, exactly! A good man like this comes along once in a lifetime!'

Under everyone's expectant eyes, I walked slowly up onto the stage

and stood beside Carl.

He lowered his voice and murmured close to my ear,

'Martha, I really do have to thank you. Whatever the surprise is, I honestly can't wait.'

I turned my head to look at Carl and let a small smile curve up.

Then I gently pressed the button on the remote for the big screen.

The screen went black in an instant,

and the moment it lit up again, what filled it

was our wedding night, Carl and Millicent tangled together on our marriage bed...