Chapter 2
“Why didn’t you wait for the driver?”
Ethan stood in the entryway with a paper bag in his hand.
I paused while changing my shoes.
“I felt like walking.”
He reached for my purse.
“Drinking and then going out in the cold? You’ll have another headache tomorrow.”
He set the bag on the dining table. It was from my favorite rice porridge place.
He lifted the lid.
“I got you shrimp porridge. Light on the scallions, no ginger.”
I sat down and looked at the crushed peanuts floating on top.
The restaurant served a side dish with peanuts, and the staff sometimes added them to other orders by mistake.
Ethan used to check first, every time.
I was allergic. A bad reaction could make my whole face swell.
When I didn’t move, he stirred it with a spoon.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you hungry?”
“There are peanuts in it.”
Ethan looked down.
“Sorry. I had the driver pick it up today. He didn’t know.”
I murmured an acknowledgment.
He immediately took the bowl away.
“Don’t eat it. I’ll make you some noodles.”
Water started running in the kitchen.
I sat at the table, looking at the paper bag.
A receipt was tucked into the top. It listed another takeout item.
Warm milk custard, no sugar. A note read: For a pregnant customer.
When Ethan came out carrying a pot, I set the receipt on the table.
“Who’s this for?”
He glanced at it.
“The driver mixed up the orders.”
“The driver even knew to add a note saying it was for a pregnant woman?”
“Claire.”
He turned down the stove.
“Did someone say something to you tonight?”
I looked up at him.
“What are you hoping I heard?”
He came over, crouched in front of me, and took my hands.
He knew that position well.
Whenever I got angry, he always started by lowering himself.
“Was Sophie there tonight?”
“You knew she was.”
“I knew you were getting together. I didn’t know she’d play that kind of game.”
He sounded so sincere.
“Her husband really is having some problems. He asked me to look after her. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
“Looking after her includes buying a wedding dress?”
Ethan went quiet for a moment.
“She’s emotionally fragile, and she’s pregnant. You have to be careful what you say to her.”
“So you called her baby in your own voice?”
His grip tightened.
“She asked me to record that for her husband. He’s out of town, and they’re having problems. Claire, I admit I handled it badly.”
I looked at him.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Ethan didn’t get angry.
“I’ve never thought that about you.”
He stood and went to dish up the noodles.
“You’re smart, sensitive, and proud. The last thing I want is for you to feel hurt.”
I gave a short laugh.
“And yet here we are.”
He set the bowl in front of me.
Noodles in clear broth, an egg fried crisp around the edges, just two leaves of greens.
He used to make them like this when I came home after working late.
“Whether you believe me tonight or not, I owe you an apology.”
He sat across from me.
“I’ll sort things out with Sophie. Don’t question her. She scares easily. Something could happen.”
“What could happen?”
“Pregnant women have emotional swings.”
“Whose baby is she carrying?”
Ethan looked at me. This silence lasted longer.
“Her husband’s.”
I nodded.
“His name?”
“What name?”
“Her husband’s.”
Ethan picked up his water and took a sip.
“Claire, you don’t actually want a name. You want me to confirm whatever you’ve already decided in your head.”
I put down my fork.
“Will you?”
“I haven’t betrayed you.”
A message came in from Megan.
“Claire, Sophie left in such a hurry that she forgot a prenatal form in the dining room. The emergency contact says Ethan Bennett. Is that your Ethan?”
A photo followed.
Name: Sophie Bennett.
Age: Twenty-seven.
Emergency contact: Ethan Bennett.
Relationship: Husband.
I pushed my phone toward him.
“Does this count as her husband’s too?”
Ethan looked down.
A few seconds later, he lifted his head.
“She has health issues. The hospital needed a contact. I just let her put my name down.”
“And the relationship?”
“Someone picked it in the hospital system. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Ethan, do you expect me to believe that?”
He turned my phone facedown on the table instead of giving it back.
“Claire, don’t blow this out of proportion.”
“Are you afraid I’ll make a scene, or that she’ll find out I know?”
Slowly, Ethan released the phone.
“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
I stood.
“Too late to worry about that.”
He got up and blocked my path.
“Where are you going?”
“The guest room.”
“Claire.”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder.
“I know tonight upset you. Get some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll take you to buy that coat. We can buy two if you want.”
I looked down at his hands.
Those hands had washed my hair. They had also picked out another woman’s wedding dress.
“Ethan.”
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t marry you for twenty thousand dollars.”
“I know.”
I peeled his hands away, one finger at a time.
“So twenty thousand dollars won’t buy my forgiveness either.”