3
Numb, I went to my room and called my mom.
Hearing my voice, she asked,
“Amy, what’s wrong? Is David giving you
trouble?”
<
“If he is, tell me. I’ll come down there and
deal with him!”
I pretended to be calm, but my voice cracked.
“Mom, I’m fine. Just miss you. Can you pick
me up in a week?”
A week. Enough time to say goodbye to the
last seven years.
Mom didn’t pry, just promised to be there.
I hung up and the front door opened.
David walked in, holding a little girl.
A familiar voice followed. “Amy, long time no
see.”
Sarah. Wearing a dress from David’s factory.
She handed her purse to the housekeeper.
“Chloe, say hi to your aunt.”
Chloe mumbled, “Hi, Aunt Amy,” then turned
back to David.
“Daddy, I’m hungry. Can we eat now?”
My breath caught.
David looked away, not correcting her.
Sarah fake-scolded Chloe.
“Honey, how many times? It’s Uncle David.”
“No! I want Uncle David to be my daddy.”
David soothed her with a look of pure
adoration.
I laughed silently, too numb to argue.
“Hi, Chloe. Let’s eat.”
At dinner, David and Sarah flanked Chloe.
They looked like a happy family.
Chloe took a sip of chicken soup, then spat it
out, spilling it everywhere.
“Careful!” David shielded them.
The soup splashed my hand, burning my skin.
“Spicy!” Chloe cried.
Sarah checked her tongue, then gave me a
wounded look.
“Amy, do you not want us here?”
“If you’re unhappy, tell me. Don’t take it out
on Chloe.”
David glared at me.
“Amy! Chloe can’t handle spice! Why did you add pepper?”
I stared at him, thinking how stupid I’d been.
I didn’t know about Chloe’s sensitivity, but
David loved pepper in his soup.
He always added it. But, hey, his sweetheart’s
daughter was more important.
My hand throbbed. I gasped.
David noticed and softened.
“Amy, I’ll take Chloe to the hospital. We’ll talk
later.”
That night, David took Sarah and Chloe out to
dinner.
He came back, put Chloe to bed, and finally
remembered my burn.
He gently applied ointment, apologizing.
“Amy, I’m sorry I yelled. I didn’t mean it.”
<
“But Sarah’s my sister. Be nice to them while
they’re here.”
Be nice to his lover. Right.
I nodded. “Okay.”
He smiled and hugged me.
His warm breath on my neck, I tested the
waters.
“David, should we have a baby?”
It was the first time I’d suggested it. He
sighed.
“Amy, can we wait? The factory’s growing. I
don’t have time to focus on a baby right
<
now.”
Not no time. No desire with me.
I mumbled something and went silent.
