Chapter 2

He kissed my forehead.

"You smoked too much, and you've been on medication. The doctor says the risk is too high."

"We'll have another one."

When I came out of the anesthesia, the only person in the room was the nurse's aide.

He texted that he'd gone to get me some chicken soup.

He didn't come back until midnight, carrying an insulated container.

I was in so much pain I couldn't get up, and I was still worried he was worn out. I kept telling him to get into bed and sleep.

So that was how busy he'd been that day.

First he got rid of my baby, then he had to rush off to welcome a son and a daughter.

"When she gave birth, were you there?"

Julian reached out to touch me.

"Let's go home first."

I stared at him and asked again.

His throat worked.

"She doesn't have any other family."

I nodded.

"Got it."

Vanessa suddenly spoke up.

"Nora, I know you're hurting, but raising two kids on my own hasn't been easy these past few years."

I looked at the bag in her hand.

Last month, Julian had given me one just like it.

He'd said he had someone wait on a list for over half a year, and they only managed to get one.

"No, it hasn't been easy."

I took a photo of the girl's registration form.

"You even had to use my name."

Julian followed me out to the parking lot and grabbed the car door.

"I never meant for you to find out, and I never wanted her to affect our life."

"Enrolling the kids under my name doesn't count as affecting it?"

"That's only because this preschool has partnership spots through your company!"

The moment it was out, he froze too.

I slowly raised my eyes.

Three years ago, I'd fought to get a block of enrollment spots for my employees' kids.

He'd found that kind of thing too petty and never once asked about it.

So it turned out he remembered.

And he'd used it here.

"Let go of the door."

"Nora, Mom and Dad are waiting for us at home tonight. It's our seventh anniversary. Don't make them worry too."

I looked at him.

"Do they know?"

He went quiet.

Right then, my phone rang.

My mother-in-law's voice came through the receiver.

"Once you've picked up the kids, come home early. Vanessa has a weak stomach, don't let her wait on an empty stomach."

Julian lunged for the phone.

I'd already hit speaker.

"Mom, which kids do you mean?"

The other end went silent.

I went back to the Whitmore house anyway.

When I walked in, my mother-in-law was having someone clear two children's high chairs away from the dining table.

When she saw me, her hand stopped.

"Nora, you're just in time..."

"Leave them."

I set my bag down.

"Let me see how you all usually sit."

There were six place settings on the table.

The two children's bowls were already filled with warm chicken soup.

A bouquet of flowers sat by my seat, with a card that said Happy Seventh Anniversary.

They hadn't even forgotten the things meant to keep me happy.

My mother-in-law glanced at Julian, who had followed me in.

"Let's eat first. Whatever it is, we can talk it over slowly."

I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"How many years have the kids been calling you Grandma?"

The smile on her face slipped.

"Children can't go without knowing their own family."

"Then what am I?"

"You're Julian's wife, of course."

She sat down beside me and lowered her voice.

"Vanessa had her tubes tied right after the birth. She won't fight for anything more. Don't worry, you're the only daughter-in-law this family has."

I looked at her, and I finally understood why these four years had gone so smoothly.

They'd divided it all up for me long ago.

I'd be the wife, keep up appearances, earn the spots.

Vanessa would be the mother, with a son and a daughter.

As long as I didn't know, everyone was happy.

Julian put a document in front of me.

It was a gift deed for a house on the Southside.

"Consider it my way of making it up to you."

I opened it.

The house had been bought five years ago.

I'd seen the floor plan.

Back then, I'd just found out I was pregnant. Julian said that once we got the keys, he'd save the south-facing room for the baby.

"Who lives there now?"

He didn't answer.

"You're making up for the baby I didn't get to keep with a house they've been living in?"

His hand tightened on the document.

"I can buy another one."

I pushed the deed away.

"I want a divorce. My lawyer will contact you tomorrow."

My mother-in-law slammed her hand on the table.

"Nora Hayes! Julian nearly burned to death for you, and now you want to break up this family over something like this?"

Julian stood where he was and didn't stop her.

His right hand hung at his side, the ugly scar showing past his cuff.

Every time a fight reached its end, that scar got brought out.

I stared at it for a few seconds, then rolled up my left sleeve.

From my wrist to my forearm, there was a burn scar too.

"When the stairs collapsed that day, I didn't leave him behind and run either."