Chapter 5
“Go get changed and come with me. I brought Jenifer and Aster home today especially so you could spend some time together
When I didn’t move, Baillie frowned, grabbed a jacket, and brusquely shoved my
y arms through the sleeves, zipping it up for me
He didn’t forget to add a warning.
And one more thing–don’t say anything inappropriate. I’ll explain about Aster’s name another day?”
When we arrived, Baillie nudged Aster into my arms.
“Spend some time with Aster. Get to know each other.”
Then, crouching down and speaking to Aster with the same gentle tone he used with Jenifer, he said, “Aster, you’ll play
today, all right? Mommy and Daddy are going to pick out some new clothes and toys for you”
Aster beamed and nodded eagerly.”
I let Baithe lead me away, numb, toward the other side of the food court.!!
Like any kid, Aster’s eyes lit up at the sight of fried food.
with Veronica
I wasn’t sure if he could eat it, so I tried to call Baillie and ask, But he never picked up. Seven–year–old Aster noticed and, for the first time.
bared his teeth at me
“My mom and dad are busy on their date–why are you calling to bother them? You’re not my mom, so why do you care
ure what I can or can’t eat? Daddy told you to take me out to have fun, so just buy me what I want and let me do what I want. It’s none of your business. You’re just an outsider!“!
I was so stunned, I couldn’t even muster a response.
On the way back, Aster started complaining about a stomachache, clutching his belly, his face turning pale.
Jenifer burst into tears, terrified, and Baillie panicked, flooring the gas pedal all the way to the hospital.
After a senes of tests, the doctor said it was acute gastroenteritis–and it was serious.!!
Aster needed an IV and had to be kept under observation.
Weak and sobbing. Aster clung to his mother, shooting me a fearful glare.
“I told you I have a sensitive stomach and can’t eat sweets, but Veronica said she wanted some and bought it anyway. She even bought me this huge donut and made me cat it. As soon as I finished, my stomach started hurting…”
Jenifer was crying too, looking at me pleadingly !!
“Veronica, it’s my fault. I never should have fallen for Baillie, never should have come into your life. If you’re angry, take it out on me Please, don’t hurt my Aster–he’s my life, I carried him for nine months…
Frealized something was off and quickly tried to explain.
But Baillie’s slap landed before I could get a word out. His eyes blazed with fury, ad if he wanted to l
- me.
1 told you, if you’re angry, take it out on me! I can’t believe you’d go so far as to harm an innocent child!“)
I stiffened my neck in protest..
“It wasn’t me! He wanted to eat itt i even tried to call you to ask if it was okay, but you didn’t answers
“Enough Shut up!”
Baille stared at me coldly
“I remember you always loved sweets, Veronica You’re clearly not fit to be a niother
That une sentence was all it took to brand me leaving me speechless
He looked at me, full of disappointment, then pulled a folded set of divorce papers from his pocket and signed them with a hospital
“You’ve wanted a divorce for a while now, haven’t you? Well, let’s get it over with I can’t trust you to live with them when you’re this unstable. Once you’ve sorted yourself out, we can talk about getting back together“i
Suddenly, I felt a strange sense of relief I stopped defending myself calmly picked up the divorce papers from the floor, folded them, and put them away
Before I left I looked Baillie straight in the eye
“Haillie, I gave up sweets teri ymuts ago because
mouth opened, disbelief flickering in
ne a toothache. Did you forget?”
couldnt utter a single word
I went home alone, standing in the house Baillie and I had shared for ten years.
After our business took off, we moved back in with the Lamberts and renovated the old place.
