Chapter 5

The next morning, the first thing Charles did when he woke up was check his phone.

There was no message from me and no photos of the baby.

And there was no gentle message from me asking if he'd had breakfast, like I always did after every argument.

For seven years, no matter how long he ignored me, I would always come back to him.

The longest he ever stayed away from their apartment was three days.

Early on the fourth morning, I was waiting for him outside the office building, clutching a thermos in my arms. My eyes were…