Eric left, Barbara stopped calling too. I assumed she’d chosen his side.
The line stayed silent so long I checked whether we’d disconnected.
Still, when she asked, “What’s wrong?” I told her everything without protecting Eric once.
The line stayed silent so long I checked whether we’d disconnected.
Then Barbara said, “He told me you left him.”
I sat straighter.
“What?”
“He said you didn’t want me involved with you or the baby.”
“Barbara, he left me.”
I stared at the wall.
“Barbara, he left me.”
Her breathing changed.
“I see.”
Then her voice went flat.
“I’ll be there soon.”
She ignored my expression, washed her hands, then lifted Chloe carefully.
Before I could object, she disconnected.
An hour later, Barbara arrived with her coat thrown over pajamas and grocery bags hanging from both arms.
This was the same woman who had spent years finding something wrong with nearly everything
