Before I could get angry, his phone rang.
It was Lily’s ringtone.
He ignored it, but it rang persistently, and
after I pushed him away, he reluctantly
answered.
Lily’s sobs were audible.
His face changed. After hanging up, he
hesitated.
“Lily’s alone at the beach. I’m worried.”
“It’s not safe,”
I watched him suspiciously. “Go get her.”
“But I don’t want to leave you alone…”
“Don’t be a jerk. Lily will be mad if you’re
late.”
He tried to pull me back, but Lily called again.
He gritted his teeth, saying, “Nena, I’ll be
back soon. We’ll talk then.”
After he left, I took a cab to a hotel.
I slept until morning, surprised to see dozens
of missed calls from Jack.
When I got home in the afternoon, he was on
the couch, unshaven and distraught, asking
where I’d been.
I said, “I found a new place. I’ll move my
stuff.”
“”
Seeing the moving truck, he looked at me,
distraught.
“Grace, do we have to do this?”
I went to the study, put the signed divorce
papers on his desk.
“I said this is serious.”
“Grace, I swear nothing happened with Lily. If she hadn’t threatened suicide…” I interrupted, “It doesn’t matter.”
He looked stunned. “What?”
We made eye contact. I smiled.
“From now on, whatever happens between
you and Lily is none of my business. You
don’t need to explain.
دو
His bloodshot eyes turned crimson.
Three days after moving, I met a friend for
afternoon tea. Jack called, but I didn’t
answer.
Then I got a text:
“Grace, I’m sick. Can you come see me?”
My left ribs, fractured years ago, throbbed.
I’d been in a bad car accident.
Jack was out of town.
Before the ambulance arrived, clutching my
injured abdomen, I called him, four times
before he answered.
His voice was cold: “I’m in a meeting.‘
وو
When I sobbed about the accident and how
scared I was, he snorted.
Even over the phone, I could imagine his
disdain:
“Grace, you’re an adult. Why call me? Can I
teleport to help you, or rewind time?”
“Jack, I’m not trying to bother you, I’m
scared…‘
“”
“Enough. Be mature. Handle it yourself.
Beep beep…
That call ended with a busy signal; now it was
Jack’s ringtone.
“Hello…? Grace, why haven’t you been to
work?”
He sounded surprised I’d answered.
“I’m on vacation.
“”
“I heard. You haven’t had a vacation in years.
Take your time.”
He was overly cautious, afraid I’d hang up.
く
I said impatiently, “What do you want?”
“I’ve felt awful since yesterday. I went to a
dinner and vomited all night. I think I have a
fever.”
“So?”
Hearing my flat tone, he fell silent.
His breathing was heavy. He wasn’t lying.
But what did it matter to me?
“Hey! Long time no see, Nena.”
My friend arrived. I said to Jack, “I’m having
tea with a friend. Bye.”
My friend asked, “Who was that?”
“My ex–husband.
“”
“Wow, I didn’t believe you were divorcing
him. Tell me everything!”
We enjoyed cake and tea, venting about bad
men.
A few days later, my mother told me Jack had
severe pneumonia and was hospitalized.
“Nena, I support your divorce, but you’re not
<
officially separated yet. People will gossip if
you don’t visit him.”
I scoffed silently.
