Chapter 4
The test results were in. Emily was six weeks pregnant, and everything looked normal.
Frank smiled as he looked at the results on the report. He carefully folded it up and slipped it into his shirt pocket.
"I'll keep it safe for you," he said.
Emily watched as he tucked the report into his pocket. "Let me see it," she said.
"I'll show you when we get home. It's crowded here, and I don't want to lose it," Frank answered.
Emily didn't insist.
During lunch, Frank's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and said to Emily, "It's work. Let me get this."
Then he stepped outside toward the restaurant entrance.
Emily watched him through the glass window as he spoke on the phone, talking fast and looking serious.
After hanging up, he stood at the door for a few seconds, ran a hand over his face, then put on a smile as he returned.
"What's wrong?" Emily asked.
"It's nothing, just some work stuff," Frank replied.
Emily quietly went back to eating her pasta.
Later that afternoon, Frank said he had to head back to the office for a bit and told Emily to go home and rest.
But Emily didn't go home. She sat in the hospital hallway for half an hour, then made her way to the hematology outpatient area.
Sophia's doctor, Julian White, was in his forties and had an office at the end of the third floor.
Emily didn't go to see Julian. Instead, she lingered in the hematology waiting area, acting like she was reading the health bulletin board on the wall.
Two nurses were chatting at the nurse's station.
"You know that girl in bed six with leukemia? There's this guy who brings her food every day, but he's not related to her," one nurse said.
"Yeah, I know who you mean. He's tall, wears glasses. Last time he even went to Dr. White to ask about a bone marrow transplant," the other nurse replied.
"Isn't he her husband?" the first nurse asked.
"No, her emergency contact is her mom. That guy always comes when it's not visiting hours and leaves in a hurry," the second nurse said.
Hearing that, Emily turned and left the hospital.
She walked over to the bus stop and waited. Her phone buzzed while she was waiting for the bus. It was Linda calling.
"Emily, I've got some new info on what you asked me to look into. Sophia's hospital bills aren't being paid by her," Linda said.
"Who's paying for it?" Emily asked.
"Take a guess," Linda replied.
"Just tell me," Emily said.
"It's Frank. He's been covering everything, starting from the first deposit. All the payments went through his card. Altogether, it's already cost 60,000 dollars," Linda said.
Emily pulled her hand out of her pocket, still holding her phone, and rested it on the bus stop pole. "Anything else?"
Linda replied, "Yeah, there's one more thing. Three days ago, 15 thousand dollars got transferred to an account under Sophia's name, with the note saying 'living expenses.'
"Emily, that money came straight out of your joint account."
Emily didn't say a word.
"Hello? Are you still there?" Linda asked.
"Yeah, I'm here," Emily replied.
"Emily, when are you going to confront him? What does he think you are, his personal ATM?" Linda said.
"It's not the right time yet," Emily replied.
"What do you mean, not the right time? You're pregnant with his child, and he's using your money to support another woman. What are you waiting for?" Linda pressed.
The bus pulled up. Emily got on and found a seat in the back row.
She asked, "Linda, can you help me with something? Do you know any good divorce lawyers?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Yeah, I know someone. My old college roommate's husband. He specializes in divorce cases," Linda replied.
"Can you set up a meeting for me?" Emily asked.
"Sure. So you're finally ready to do this, Emily?" Linda said.
Emily hung up.
The bus passed by Emily's old bakery studio. The sign had changed. It was now a coffee shop.
She glanced at it a couple more times before the bus moved on.
When Emily got home, Sophia was sitting on the living room couch, talking on the phone.
As soon as Sophia saw Emily walk in, she dropped her voice in a hurry, said, "I'll call you back," then stood up and slipped her phone behind her.
"Emily, you're back! How did the check-up go?" she asked.
"Everything's fine," Emily replied, slipping on her slippers and heading to the kitchen.
Sophia followed her. "Emily, do you need any help with dinner? I'm not much of a cook, but I can help wash the veggies."
Emily stopped and turned to look at her.
Sophia had a gentle smile on her face, her hands crossed in front of her, her fingers fidgeting with the white hospital bracelet on her wrist.
"No, you just relax," Emily said.
Emily walked into the kitchen and closed the door behind her.
She leaned against the door, slipping her hands into her apron pockets. Her left hand found the folded copy of the test report.
She'd printed an extra copy of the test results at the self-service printer earlier, while Frank was off getting some water during the check-up.
*****
Over the weekend, Frank told Emily about a company dinner and asked her to come along.
"Everyone's bringing their families, so you should come too. It's been a while since everyone's seen you," he said.
Emily wore a gray-blue dress and kept her makeup light.
When they arrived at the private room, the table was nearly full with seven or eight people already seated.
Frank's department manager, Gordon Mitchell, was at the head of the table.
When he saw Emily walk in, he stood up with a smile. "Emily, you're here! Come on, have a seat. It's been ages since we last saw you."
Emily smiled and greeted everyone, then sat down next to Frank.