Chapter 6
Walter turned his face away and pushed her off with his still-working right hand.
Her eyes shimmered with hurt as she said, "Walter, why..."
"Lindsey," he rasped, voice hoarse and expression frosty, "open your eyes—I'm Walter, your brother-in-law, not your husband."
Macy went rigid.
The name "Lindsey" hit her like a curse, snapping her out of her delusion instantly.
She trembled all over, eyes welling with grief.
She knew she had no right to feel hurt by his coldness.
But she also had her own reasons, her own pain, things she couldn't say aloud.
Macy hoped he could understand her.
The room fell so silent that Walter could hear his own heartbeat.
After what felt like forever, Macy lifted her head, her face now wearing a polite, distant smile.
Macy said, "Thank God you're fine, Walter. I'll go get the doctor, you just rest."
With that, she fled the room in such a panic she didn't even notice slamming into Connor by the door.
Walter didn't want to worry his parents, so the only person he told about the accident was Kareem.
Kareem brought a few friends to visit, including Walter's cousin, Genesis.
"This place is cursed for you," Genesis declared confidently.
"Since you moved to Northernville, you've been bitten by a dog, hit by a car, and even lost your wife. You're basically a widower now..."
Kareem tugged her sleeve and muttered, "Jesus, if you can't speak like a normal person, just zip it."
Genesis immediately clamped a hand over her mouth and gave Walter a sheepish look. "Sorry..."
Walter lowered his eyes and said, "It's fine. It's all in the past now. I stopped being sad a long time ago."
"Wait, for real?" Genesis's eyes lit up. "So you've finally moved on?"
Walter smiled faintly and said nothing.
"That's great!" Genesis leaned in with excitement. "Since you're moving back to Southernville, maybe it's time to meet someone new?"
As she spoke, she pulled out her phone. "Remember Sylvia from next door? She just came back to the country. For the past two years while you were a mess, she's been helping your parents out a lot. If your heart's clear now, why not add her on WhatsApp and keep in touch?"
Before she could finish, a figure rushed in and smacked the phone right out of her hand.
Genesis didn't even have time to get mad before the newcomer snapped, "Who said you could set him up with random women. Don't you know he has a wife?"
Genesis blinked, completely confused. "Lindsey, what do you mean 'random women'? Macy's been gone two years, and Walter's been half-dead ever since. If he wants to date someone new, the Wilson family has no say."
"You want him to stay a widower forever?" she continued. "He's their only son. His parents want grandkids, and the Wilsons can't be that selfish, can they?"
"It's too soon," Macy said, her face pale as a sheet, lips trembling, fighting the urge to tell the whole truth.
But then she thought of Connor—and of Lindsey's final request—and swallowed the words back down.
"Walter and Macy were in love," she said softly. "He's not ready to start over—not yet. Pushing someone new on him now is like stabbing him in the heart."
Genesis stood frozen, speechless.
But to everyone's surprise, Walter unlocked his phone and accepted the contact Genesis had sent.
Macy's eyes were full of disbelief. "Walter, how could you do that?"
Walter's eyes dropped to her slightly swollen belly, and his voice came out flat and cold.
He said, "Macy has been dead for two years. It's time I moved on."