Chapter 3
When I got home, I went into my study and slipped the abortion discharge papers into the last page of my romance diary—the one I hadn't touched in ages.
I started that diary the day William and I first got together, and it was packed with memories of us.
I used to write: [Today I rubbed my feet raw from walking, and William cradled my foot and put ointment on it. He was so gentle.]
[I totally forgot it was the anniversary of when we first met, but William had a surprise waiting for me. I couldn't help but cry.]
[It was the fifteenth day of William's business trip, and the project still isn't done. But he made a special trip back just to ring in the New Year with me. I was so happy.]
[Today I had a blowout with my parents. They absolutely don't want me to be with William. But I love him so much. I'd give up everything for him.]
Page after page, my eyes started to tear up.
*****
That evening, William came home and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.
"Yvette, what were you doing at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?" he asked.
I pried his hands off my waist.
"It's nothing. I just went for a check-up," I replied.
He stared blankly. at me for a moment, searching my face for any sign something was wrong. When he didn't find anything, he finally relaxed.
"Good. Glad you're okay," he said.
"Oh, and I picked up some food—all your favorites. I'll cook dinner for you tonight," he added.
With that, he headed into the kitchen, getting busy with the food.
This was his way of making peace. Every time we fought, he'd cook for me, and we'd just silently make up without ever talking about it.
An hour later, William brought the dishes to the table and kept piling food onto my plate.
For a split second, it felt like the old days.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He picked up right away.
Whatever he heard made him suddenly look tense.
Almost immediately, he stood up.
"Okay, I'll be there right away," he said.
He hung up and rushed to the door, ready to leave.
"There's something urgent at the company. I have to go take care of it right now," he said.
I went up to him, tugging at the hem of his shirt.
"Can't you just stay? Or how about I go with you? Maybe I can help out with whatever's going on," I said.
"Don't bother," he said.
He pried my hand off and walked out the door without even glancing back.
I threw all the food from the table straight into the trash.
Then I slumped onto the couch, scrolling on my phone and sulking.
Before long, Cecilia updated her social media again.
[What a great dad—always putting the kid first,] she wrote.
The picture showed William with Alex sitting on his shoulders, with a look of pure affection in William's eyes.
If Alex didn't look biracial, I'd totally believe he was William's.
My phone pinged—a message from the college group chat, inviting everyone to a reunion set for tomorrow night.
William and Cecilia had both signed up.
I didn't RSVP, but I made a mental note of the time and place.
When the reunion started, I was standing outside the private room at the bar.
Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw Cecilia perched right on William's lap.
Everyone inside was hyping them up.
"Man, back in college William was head over heels for Cecilia. Looks like he finally got what he wanted," someone joked.