Chapter 3
Summer woke up feeling groggy. Her whole body was burning up, eyelids so heavy she could barely keep them open. She hadn’t slept a wink, and the balcony door had been left open all night Everything just felt off.
She fumbled around for her phone on the nightstand and called Alan.
No answer N
She tried again. And again. More than ten calls,
Just when she was about to give up, the line finally connected, ”
A bright, unfamiliar girl’s voice answered, “Who’s this?”
Summer’s heart stopped. Her phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor. On the other end, she heard muffled confusion, and then Alan’s voice came through.
“Sweetheart?”
He called her a few more times before she managed to pick up the phone, her voice shaking. “Who was that with you just now?”
picked up my phone by mistake. Don’t overthink it, okay?”
Alan jumped in, talking fast. “No one, I was discussing a project. My business partner must p
Before she could say anything else, he changed the subject. “So, what’s up? Did you need
Summer wanted to tell him she was burning with fever and ask if he could come home, maybe take her to the hospital.
But then, on his end, a girl shrieked, “Ouch!”
Alan’s tone changed instantly, flustered and rushed. “Something’s come up here–I have to go. I’ll
call you back.”
The call ended. Just like that.
Summer stared at the screen, her chest tight and aching. He’d never hung up on her before. Even in the middle of urgent meetings, he’d always made sure she was okay before saying goodbye.
Now, she was left alone, sick and spinning. After lying there for a while, she finally dragged herself out of bed and rummaged through the medicine cabinet for something to bring her fever down. She swallowed some cold medicine and curled up again, drifting in and out of feverish sleep.
She didn’t know how long she was out. When she finally came to, she was lying in a hospital bed.
Alan was right there, relief etched all over his face as he gently pulled her into his arms. “Sweetheart, you scared me half to death.“4
He told her he’d tried calling back, but she hadn’t answered. He’d rushed home, only to find her burning up and barely conscious. He’d carried her straight to the hospital
Alan stayed by her side the whole day, never leaving her for a second. He did everything for her–fetching water, checking in with the doctors, fussing over her like he always used to. For a moment, Summer felt her heart melt. It felt like the old Alan had come back.
But then, his phone rang again.#
Alan hesitated, glanced at her, and then slipped out to the hallway to take the call.
* 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 5 2 5 3 2
The walls weren’t thick enough to hide the conversation. Summer could just make out a girl’s whiny, playful voice: “I don’t care, I want you here with me right now! If you don’t come, trust me I’ll take your son and leave!”
Alan didn’t even sound annoyed. Instead, he was gentle, almost doting. “I have something to finish up here. As soon as I’m done, I’ll come over, okay?”
Summer stood frozen behind the door, her mind spinning. Did she hear that right?
Alan’s son?
She thought back to that prenatal test result she’d seen, the pregnant woman Alan had been supporting at the hospital, the whispers she’d overheard in the maternity ward….
1
Her grip tightened on the blanket, hands trembling.
Suddenly, the door opened. Summer quickly shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep.#
Alan peeked in, breathed a sigh of relief, kissed her forehead, and left quietly.
The second he was gone, Summer ripped out her IV and silently followed him down the corridor, her heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe.
Alan tumed corner after corner until he finally stopped outside the maternity ward.
Summer watched from the shadows as Alan wrapped his arms around a young woman coming out of the exam room, his voice soft and coaxing. “Hey, baby, were you good today? Did you give Mommy any trouble?“%
The girl in his arms looked up, and right then, Summer saw her face clearly
She froze, because that girl looked almost exactly like Summer had when she was younger!
