4
The next day, David left early, even though it
was his day off.
The housekeeper said he’d taken Sarah and
Chloe to tour the factory.
I told her I was visiting a friend and went to
the clinic.
The doctor asked about the father. “He’s busy
with work,” I said.
David didn’t want a baby. So there wouldn’t
be one.
Half an hour later, the procedure was over. I
was pale and shaky.
When the pain subsided, I made my way
home.
David and Sarah weren’t back yet.
I packed everything he’d ever bought me.
The baby clothes his mom kept giving me.
I signed the divorce papers and put them on
top.
Exhausted, I collapsed on the bed.
Г
I woke to someone near me. David.
He touched my burning forehead, his face
etched with worry.
“Amy, you’re burning up! Let’s go to the
hospital.”
Normally, I’d have snuggled into him, seeking
comfort.
But now, I smelled Sarah’s soap on him. I felt
sick.
I turned away, burying myself in the blankets.
“I’m fine. Just a cold. No hospital.”
He didn’t notice my revulsion.
L
“Of course we need to go! I hate seeing you
sick. Please?”
My head swam. I just wanted to sleep.
“I took some medicine. I’ll be fine after a
nap.”
He didn’t push it, kissing my forehead.
“Okay, sleep tight. I’ll make you some seafood
- Have it when you wake up.”
Thunder woke me. I called David’s name.
Over an hour had passed. No.
I put on a robe and went to check on him.
Moaning sounds came from the guest room.
I stopped at the door. Sarah, half-dressed,
her back to me.
David held her close, comforting her.
“David, I’ve missed you so much. Did you miss
me?”
He groaned, his eyes flushed with desire.
He kissed her. “Sarah, I missed you too.”
Tears streamed down my face. My chest
ached.
I was in the house, and they couldn’t wait to
jump into bed.
I grabbed my bags and left.
I found Mr. Jones, the mailman who delivered
the college acceptance letter.
He remembered. “A letter from the University
of Chicago? Of course I remember! Big deal.”
“The woman who signed had a scar on her
forehead and part of her thumb missing.”
That was Sarah. Injuries from her time
volunteering in rural America.
Mr. Jones still had the signed receipt. Sarah
had forged my signature almost perfectly.
I offered to buy it. He just gave it to me, after
Lexplained why I needed it.
Г
I thanked him and made a copy. I mailed the
original, along with a letter, to Sarah’s
university.
I had a newsboy deliver the copy to David’s
house.
Then I took my bags and boarded the train
home.
That night, David stayed in Sarah’s room.
At dawn, he woke from a nightmare.
Remembering the unfinished, he planned to
buy more seafood.
く
Amy could have it when she woke up. He’d
check on her then.
The door burst open.
His mom, supported by the housekeeper,
clutched a piece of paper.
“David! Amy… Amy knows about the
acceptance letter!”
David scrambled to get dressed, his mind
racing.
He grabbed the letter. It was the forged
signature from the acceptance letter.
Amy knew. About everything.
“How? How did she find out? What’s going
く
