Chapter 2

The next morning, Ethan kissed my cheek. He acted like he had not signed away our marriage for a laugh the night before.

I sat at the kitchen island. Ethan poured a glass of warm milk and set it in front of me.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked. His voice was soft.

"Yes," I said.

He smiled and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I saw the pastry box on the kitchen counter when I got back," Ethan said gently. "Did you stay up baking those for me last night?"

I looked at his perfect, loving smile.

He had no idea I took that box all the way to his private room door. He thought I just stayed home waiting for him.

"Yes," I said.

"You shouldn't tire yourself out."

He sounded concerned.

Last night, he had told a room full of people that pregnancy was the reason I wouldn't leave him.

This morning, he bent down and spoke to my stomach.

"Be nice to your mom today."

My fingers went cold around the glass.

He straightened and kissed my cheek.

He didn't know I'd heard him.

Worse, he didn't seem to think there was anything he needed to tell me.

Then, Ethan stood up.

"I cleared my schedule for Friday evening," he said. "Let's go pick out a baby crib together. Just the two of us.."

He showed me a picture on his phone.

I had sent him that model weeks ago.

"Are we moving before it's delivered?"

"The house still smells. We can't risk that with you pregnant."

He said it easily.

The new house had been one of the reasons I stayed. Now I was supposed to be grateful that he kept delaying it.

He checked his watch. "I have to go to the office. Have a good day, sweetheart."

He left with his coffee and reminded me to eat.

I stood at the counter until I heard his car pull away.

The house went completely quiet.

The milk cooled untouched while I walked into his study and opened his leather briefcase.

There it was.

The separation agreement was tucked inside a pocket. His bold black signature was right on the last page. He had brought it back home like it meant absolutely nothing.

For a moment, I simply stared.

The page looked the same as it had three weeks ago, except now he had signed it.

He had done that for a laugh.

I picked up my phone and photographed the document.

Then I called the lawyer who prepared it.

"I want to continue with the separation."

She asked me to send the signed document and arranged a time to speak. We still needed to review the terms and the next steps.

His signature had not finished anything.

But I didn't need another argument with him before I could begin.

I ran my thumb over the edge of the page. Last time, I had put these questions away because he asked me to trust him. I wasn't putting them away again.

Afterward, I requested Friday afternoon off.

I gathered my identification, work files, and prenatal records.

The next appointment was already written on a card. Ethan had said he would try to come.

My sister called while I was gathering the pages.

"The room is ready whenever you need it."

"Friday," I said. "Can you come after he leaves?"

"Yes."