Chapter 2

When Ethan entered the room, I was on the phone with my sister, and the machine beside Dad's bed had gone quiet.

I raised a hand to keep him from speaking while Leah asked whether anyone was with me.

"The nurse just stepped out."

I said.

"Ethan's here now."

He looked toward the bed and put a hand on my shoulder.

I didn't lean into him, continuing to tell Leah that she didn't need to buy a more expensive ticket.

I would handle things here until she arrived.

After I hung up, Ethan pulled over a chair.

"I'm sorry, Nora. I didn't think it would happen this quickly."

I put my phone in front of him with the birthday photograph still open.

He studied it, then took his hand off my shoulder and rubbed his knee.

"It was Vanessa's birthday. Her first since the divorce. She didn't want to spend it alone, so everyone got together."

"I can see that."

"I was already planning to leave."

I looked at the cake plate beside his hand.

That afternoon, I had thought the hardest thing would be explaining why Leah couldn't get there.

I hadn't imagined sitting beside Dad's body while my husband explained a birthday party.

"When I called, I told you what the doctor said."

Ethan glanced at the bed and lowered his voice.

"Your dad's had bad nights before. Last month, you thought he was going to..."

"Last month, nobody told me he might not survive the night."

He stopped.

After a moment, he reached for the water cup in my lap.

I kept hold of it, and he withdrew his hand.

"I thought there was more time. I wasn't deliberately staying away."

I opened my call history, showed him our last conversation, then brought up his message.

"When you said you were on your way, had you left?"

"I was getting ready to."

"So you hadn't."

He leaned back, the patience leaving his expression.

"Do you have to pick apart every word? I'm here now."

A cart rattled past outside, and we both paused.

He watched the doorway as though concerned someone might hear us.

I noticed the ultrasound picture beside Dad and slipped it into my bag so it wouldn't get left behind.

When the nurse returned, she asked which funeral home we wanted contacted.

I gave her the name Dad had chosen and asked her to write down what needed to happen next.

Ethan picked up the paper and asked whether we had to decide immediately.

"Dad already chose."

I said, taking it back.

"I'll make the call."

He had visited this hospital with me before and heard Dad mention his arrangements, although he had spent much of those visits handling work in the hallway.

Once the nurse left, Ethan asked whether I wanted something to eat.

"Vanessa was upset too."

He added.

"I couldn't refuse to stay another ten minutes. You're making it sound like I don't care about you."

I closed my bag without asking when those ten minutes had started or how often he had extended them.

He waited for an answer while I picked up the number I needed to call.

My phone rang first.

It was Julia.

I stepped toward the door.

When I told her Dad had died, her voice changed, and she apologized several times.

"Your sister's still there, isn't she? Let her stay with you tonight. Don't drive yourself."

I looked back at Ethan.

"Why do you think Leah's here?"

Julia hesitated.

"Ethan said she'd already arrived. That's why we didn't come."

But Leah's flight wasn't landing until tomorrow morning.