Chapter 2

By the time Callum came downstairs after his shower, I had hidden the card in my desk drawer.

He sat at the dining table and waited, as usual, for me to set dinner in front of him.

"No wine tonight?" he asked casually when he noticed the sparkling water in my glass.

My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.

"My stomach has been bothering me lately."

"Then ask your doctor for something."

He lowered his head to answer a message and did not ask another question.

The light from the screen played over his face. For a second, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile he never wore when reading work emails.

The words I had rehearsed, "I'm pregnant," died on my tongue.

A moment later, he put down his phone.

"I need to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Noah's tuition is going up next year. It isn't easy for Tessa to raise him alone, and the company cut the assistance budget again. Can we pay it from our household account for now?"

He spoke as if he were merely pleading on behalf of an employee in need.

It had been the same for the past two years.

The first time, he said Tessa had just been abandoned by her child's father and needed help.

The second time, he said Noah was an excellent student who should not have to leave his school because his mother had a limited income.

I had even chosen the boy's backpack and Christmas presents myself.

Now I understood that every dollar I paid had helped my husband support his own son.

"His father has never shown up?" I asked.

Callum looked up at me.

"No."

"Not even once?"

"Not once."

There was disgust in his voice.

"Any man who leaves a woman to go through pregnancy and childbirth alone does not deserve to be a father."

Under the table, my nails dug into my palm.

So a man could condemn himself while calmly eating the dinner his wife had made him.

"Fine," I said. "Send me the invoice."

Relief crossed Callum's face.

He came around the table, wrapped his arms around me, and kissed my hair.

"I knew you would understand. You have the kindest heart."

I caught an unfamiliar perfume on his neck, and my stomach turned.

He assumed I was sick. He poured me a glass of water and gently told me to get some rest.

His phone rang before nine.

"There is a problem with the company server. I have to go in."

He grabbed his coat.

"I may be late. Do not wait up."

I stood in the foyer and watched him fasten the black watch around his wrist again.

"Callum."

He turned.

For one moment, I wanted to pull out the ultrasound image and ask whether he could still be excited about this baby now that he had already been a father for five years.

Then a carefully muffled child's voice came through his phone.

"Daddy, when are you coming?"

Callum immediately covered the speaker.

"Someone brought a child into the conference room," he explained.

I nodded.

"Go."

The moment the door closed, I opened the vehicle app.

The blue dot marking the SUV did not move toward his office. It followed the familiar route and stopped outside Tessa's townhouse.

Ten minutes later, it began moving again.

Its destination was Saint Oak Elementary.

The school's website said the rehearsal for the end-of-year family breakfast was being held that night. Only students and guardians were allowed to attend.

I picked up the spare key to our other car.

This time, I did not stay home and invent excuses for him.

I followed.