Chương 2 - Người Đàn Ông Đến Từ Singapore

“Hi, Mom.”

Mom.

stomach turned.

, “Where’s birthday boy?”

Noah launched himself into the frame.

“Grandma!”

immediately started singing.

finished, , “I made the chocolate cake with the strawberries. I’ve got the ribs Daniel likes.”

pointed Tessa through the screen.

“You look pale.”

“I’m fine.”

“Did you drink the tea?”

Tessa rolled eyes.

“Yes.”

“Don’t drink anything cold. Your throat was bad yesterday.”

“I know.”

“ Daniel you are not carrying anything heavy tonight.”

“Mom.”

“I mean .”

Tessa turned the phone toward Daniel.

“Your mother is bullying me again.”

laughed.

“I have to. Nobody else can keep you two organized.”

I never heard sound .

Warm.

Teasing.

Maternal.

With me, every conversation been an evaluation.

Was I cooking enough?

Working too much?

Saving enough?

Trying another baby?

the doctor anything new about fertility?

After Lily died, called me month later , “You can’t mourn forever. Daniel needs family.”

Apparently he already one.

Tessa carried the phone toward the playroom so could talk to Noah.

paused the doorway.

“Daniel, cool tea , please.”

He picked up the cup.

He blew across the surface.

completely automatic gesture.

Tessa disappeared the hall, the room went silent.

Daniel put the mug .

“.”

I stared him.

“ did you move in here?”

“Let me explain.”

“?”

“’s complicated.”

“How long?”

He rubbed hand face.

“.”

“Nobody can hear us right now. me.”

voice dropped.

“ little three .”

Three .

Exactly “Singapore assignment” started.

I laughed once.

He flinched.

“You moved twenty minutes away told me you moved to Singapore.”

“I was still traveling.”

“You sent me pictures.”

“Some real.”

I almost admired the stupidity of .

“Some.”

“, I never meant you to find out this.”

“Was there better way?”

“I was going to you.”

“? Noah’s college graduation?”

“Keep your voice .”

I stared him.

“Don’t me to keep voice in your other wife’s house.”

“’s not—”

He stopped.

I caught .

“?”

Daniel looked toward the hall.

“ you about to say?”

He didn’t .

Tessa came back carrying the phone.

“Mom wants us there by six.”

Daniel immediately stepped away from me.

Tessa handed him the phone.

saw me shoulder.

smile disappeared.

one second.

recovered.

“Who’s ?”

“Noah’s teacher,” Tessa .

’s eyes flicked to Daniel.

back to me.

“How nice.”

I knew look.

knew exactly who I was.

I closed notebook.

“I think I have everything I need.”

Tessa looked disappointed.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“But ’s pouring.”

Rain started hammering the windows.

“Wait until slows .”

“I’ll be okay.”

“ least take some cake.”

“No, thank you.”

I called Noah .

“Happy birthday, buddy.”

He hugged me around the waist.

I almost broke.

He smelled crayons strawberry shampoo.

None of this was fault.

“Thank you, Ms. Morgan.”

I touched hair.

“Have good party.”

I walked out.

Daniel followed me carrying an umbrella.

“.”

I kept walking.

He grabbed wrist.

I stopped.

“Let go.”

“Please listen.”

“Let go of me.”

He released me.

The front door was still partly open.

Warm yellow light spilled across the porch.

From inside, Tessa called, “Daniel, make sure doesn’t get soaked!”

Daniel looked back toward voice.

me.

I , “Five ago today.”

face tightened.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t ?”

“You know I’m sorry about Lily.”

“ you?”

“Of course.”

“Where you?”

He swallowed.

“.”

“ you trying to get to the hospital where I was losing our daughter?”

He nothing.

“Or you here?”

Still nothing.

I stepped closer.

“ you grieving Lily or waiting Noah to be born?”

face went white.

was .

I nodded.

“Okay.”

“, wasn’t .”

“ me was .”

“Tessa was pregnant. Things already gotten complicated.”

“Complicated.”

“I was trying to handle .”

“You handled beautifully. I didn’t know five .”

Rain blew across the porch.

Daniel opened the umbrella.

I pushed away.

“I loved you fourteen .”

“I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

“—”

“I’m done.”

He stared me.

“ does mean?”

“ means whatever we are is .”

“We’re married.”

I laughed.

I couldn’t help .

“ go inside .”

mouth closed.

I stepped into the rain.

By the time I reached car, clothes soaked.

I cried so hard on the drive home I to pull twice.

Not because Daniel another woman.

would have been simpler.