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He visited the coast I’d loved,where I’d told him I wanted to retire and spend the rest of my days.
I’d done it.
He sat there from sunrise to sunset,as if reliving my life.
But when I needed him,he was always with Emily.
A feeling of unease stirred within him. He powered on his phone.
Hundreds of calls and messages flooded in,crashing it.
Everyone was searching for him frantically while he was away.
Emily had gone to his hometown,telling his mom the baby was her grandson.
His mom had been bitter over my childless six years, and she was thrilled at the prospect of a grandchild—until Nathan vanished.
She panicked,even calling the police.
The firm was in chaos too.Emily’s divorce case was done,and Nathan hadn’t taken new clients,but disappearing for half a month was unacceptable.
Before he even had a chance to respond,the police called him.
He explained and apologized.
Then his mom’s call came,her voice booming.
“Nathan!Is that you?You finally answered!You had me worried sick!”
“Emily says she’s carrying your kid.Where are you?Come back right now—you’re gonna be a dad!”
Her initial worry was quickly overshadowed by glee at being a grandma.
She didn’t mention me,his wife,still legally bound,welcoming a mistress and her child.
“Mom,I’m not ready to come back yet.”
Emily’s panicked voice cut in.“Nathan,where are you?Why aren’t you home?”
Home?I let out a cold laugh,feeling nothing.
A dead woman has no emotions.
Nathan pictured our lifeless house—less welcoming than this hospice room.
Anger flared up within him,fueled by his mom’s disregard for me.
He hung up.
He’d always seen Emily as his one true love.
When we were together,he loved me,but Emily’s shadow loomed larger.
Before she returned,he buried those feelings.
When she did,he couldn’t resist.
Now,with me dead,regret consumed him.
