Chapter 1

The first year, he had someone on the side, I found out.

Me? I ate well, drank well, played around, and smiled through every day.

Thirteen years later, he lay in a hospital bed, hands trembling as he transferred six school-district apartments and two cars to his illegitimate son.

Weakly, he said to me, "Accept this."

I smiled, leaned down, and whispered in his ear, "Honey, I have a secret too. I've been hiding it from you for thirteen years."

The smile on his face froze instantly.

*****

The smell of disinfectant hit my nose.

Edward was propped up against the headboard, his face gaunt and hollow, eyes sunken deep.

He clutched a stack of papers and passed them over to the man standing by his bedside. "Is everything done?"

The man nodded, flipped through the documents, and pointed out each page. "Six houses, two cars, everything's in Ryan's name now."

Ryan was his son with the other woman. He was thirteen years old.

I stood at the doorway, holding some soup. I simmered it for three hours.

When Edward saw me, he froze for a second, then quickly shoved the papers under the blanket.

He moved too fast and jerked the IV line.

I walked over and set the soup on the bedside table. "Take your time. It's hot."

He stared at me for a few seconds, then managed a weak smile. "Susan, you've worked hard all these years."

I pulled up a chair and sat down. "No big deal. You're my husband."

He paused, then pulled the papers out from under the blanket.

He spread them out in front of me: six deeds and two car title transfers. The recipient was Ryan.

"Susan, I need to talk to you about something." He cleared his throat. "You know my illness. I don't have much time left. Ryan is my son. I can't leave him out."

I didn't say anything.

Edward kept talking, "The houses and cars are his. You get the savings, over 130 thousand dollars. That's yours. That should last you for the rest of your life."

Over 130 thousand dollars, six school district houses, and two cars, together, were worth at least fifteen million dollars. And he was giving me over 130 thousand dollars.

"Accept this." He actually looked at me with a bit of pity, as if he'd gone above and beyond and I should thank him.

I lowered my head and smiled. I got up, leaned in close, and whispered in his ear, "Honey, I've got a secret too. I've been hiding it from you for thirteen years."

His face slowly stiffened. "What did you say?"

I straightened up and patted his blanket. "Soup tastes bad when it's cold. Drink it while it's hot. Secrets are best revealed slowly."

I turned and left the room.

He shouted after me, "Susan, stop! What do you mean?"

I didn't look back.

The hallway lights were harsh and white.

My shadow stretched long across the floor.

It had been thirteen years, and at last, the day had come.