5
Fresh from a miscarriage, the last thing I
needed was booze.
89
I looked at Jake, begging him with my eyes, but
he was too busy mooning over Abby to notice
anything.
I squared my shoulders and lifted the glass.
“Happy birthday, Abby.”
I threw it back, and my body immediately
screamed in protest. My stomach was cramping
so hard, I couldn’t hold my fork.
Nobody even blinked.
When Jake’s mom ordered me to fetch the hot
soup from the kitchen, I thought I could grab
<
11:16
some hot water for my stomach first.
“Claire, you used to being waited on or
something? Get in here and bring the soup!”
89
Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard. I took
a deep breath and picked up the steaming
bowl.
One step, two steps. It felt like a mile.
Out of nowhere, Abby jumped up. “Let me help
you with that.”
She reached for the bowl, and the second it left
my hands, it tilted, right towards her.
The crash was deafening.
“Ow! Hot!”
Abby was sitting on the floor, covered in soup.
The broken shards of porcelain had sliced up
Jake’s face went tight. He scooped her up in
his arms. “You okay? Let’s get you changed
and to a hospital, pronto.”
Abby snuggled into him, tears welling up in her
eyes.
I stood there, alone.
Jake’s mom folded her arms, like she was
watching a movie. “If you had any sense, you’d
divorce Jake right now. We don’t want any
woman who can’t have kids.”
Everyone stormed off.
I twisted my mouth into a smile, but it just hurt.
I grabbed my purse and headed for the door.
Jake didn’t even notice. He got Abby changed
and rushed her out to the car.
11:16
I glanced down at the red burn mark on my
hand.
89
I stood back and watched as Jake’s eyes were
filled with care for the lady in the passenger’s
seat.
“Abby, it’s all my fault you got hurt.”
“It’s fine, Jake. It’s just a little scratch. I’m just
glad you care.”
Jake pulled out that necklace he’d been
planning to give her and clasped it around her
neck.
He took her hand and held it tight. “Don’t worry,
Abby. I’ll always protect you.”
Abby looked up at him, all doe–eyed. “I miss
you so much, Jake.”
Then she leaned over and kissed him
Then, she leaned over and kissed him.
Jake cupped the back of her head, deepening
the kiss.
I turned and left.
My head kept replaying the scene.
I walked home, to our “home.” It was just a
place Jake and I lived. Big and empty, no signs
of life.
I fought back the nausea and went to the guest
room. I couldn’t stand to be near anything that
smelled like Jake.
Another sleepless night. My body was wrecked.
Looking in the mirror, my cheeks were sunken. I
wanted to laugh, but the pain was real.
I was gonna pack but I had nothing to pack
<
11:16
I was gonna pack, but I had nothing to pack.
Jake didn’t come home until noon, dragging
himself through the door.
But his cheeks were flushed. I knew what had
happened last night.
89
He saw me and wrapped his arms around me.
“Sorry, Claire. I took Abby to the ER. That’s why
I was out so late.”
At the same time, my phone buzzed. A text
from Abby.
[“Jake and I were together last night.“]
Then another. A picture. The hickeys on her
neck were proof of how “late” Jake had been.
She deleted it right away.
[“Meet me at the coffee shop.“]
<
11:16
30
I pushed Jake away. Even being near him made
me sick.
“I gotta go. Got some errands to run.”
Jake looked confused. He smoothed my hair.
“Okay. Just wear a coat. I’ll wait for you here.”
I got to the coffee shop and saw Abby in a low-
cut top, showing off her hickeys.
“Claire, let’s be real. Jake’s always loved me.
Just divorce him already.”
I balled my fists. “You’re disgusting.”
She just laughed. “So what? The one who’s not
loved is the homewrecker.”
Her eyes were daring me to do something.
“Jake’s so good to me. Making sure my kid’s
the anlu hale Making anRA VAL AAR RAvar hava
<
the only heir. Making sure you can never have
kids.”
I looked up, my eyes narrow. “What about your
dead husband?”
Abby waved her hand. “He’s dead. I got Jake
now. Why would I care about the past?”
I grabbed my coffee and was gonna splash it on
her.
Then Jake stepped in. He blocked me, and the
coffee went all over his suit.
I looked up and saw Jake’s angry face.
“Claire, what’s wrong with you? She’s family!
Why are you being so irrational?”
I laughed. “She’s family? You think your brother
wants you doing this? He’s dead!”
く
Jake froze.
“Jake, don’t be mad at Claire. It was my fault
for saying something.”
Abby snuggled up to him.
Jake didn’t say anything. “Apologize. Then I’ll
forget it ever happened.”
I struggled to stand, grabbing the chair to keep
from falling.
“Jake, the baby, Tommy, is gone.” Abby’s voice
was panicked.
Jake forgot all about me. He grabbed Abby and
hurried out of the coffee shop.
As they went, Abby smirked at me.
