Chapter 3
I asked the manager to change the dinner reservation back to two.
“This is our anniversary dinner. Please don’t add anyone without checking with me.”
He nodded and made a note.
I took the printed records and went to Building B.
My window overlooked the hotel gardens.
Through the trees, I could see the terrace on the top floor of Building A.
I closed the curtains, ate something, and locked my pregnancy report inside my suitcase.
Tonight, I had other things to ask him.
I arrived at the restaurant at six fifty-five.
Two place settings waited on the table. An anniversary card from the hotel stood beside the candles.
I set the reservation records next to me and poured a glass of water.
At seven ten, Daniel walked in.
Rachel was holding his arm.
She’d changed into a pale blue dress, her hair pinned loosely up.
When they reached the table, Daniel pulled out a chair for her first.
“Why are there only two places?”
I looked at him.
“Because you agreed it would be just us.”
His hand paused on the chair.
“She hasn’t eaten. I didn’t want to leave her alone in her room.”
“Is this the hotel’s only restaurant?”
Rachel let go of his arm.
“Maybe I should go back.”
Daniel was already signaling a server.
“We need another place setting.”
I rested my hand on the plate across from me and looked at the server.
“One moment, please.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Nora, don’t put the staff in the middle of this.”
Someone at a nearby table turned to look.
He leaned toward me and lowered his voice.
“Let’s eat first. We’ll talk afterward.”
I slowly withdrew my hand.
The server brought a third chair.
The place setting that had faced mine was moved to the side.
Rachel sat and accepted a menu.
“He’ll have the pan-seared sea bass. Sauce on the side.” She looked up at Daniel and smiled. “You still don’t like anything too sweet, right?”
He nodded and poured her water.
She pointed to another dish.
“Remember that place on our honeymoon? You said the food was so good, you took me back three days in a row.”
I set down my glass.
Rachel closed her menu, as if she’d only just realized what she’d said.
“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Five years ago, Daniel had promised we would take our honeymoon as soon as work settled down.
After that, whenever I brought it up, he told me married couples didn’t need those kinds of gestures.
Apparently, he’d once been willing to return to the same restaurant three days in a row because someone loved it.
“Today is our fifth wedding anniversary,” I said.
Daniel looked up.
“I know.”
“Then why did you bring her?”
Rachel lowered her head and twisted her napkin.
“Nora, I wasn’t trying to ruin anything.”
“I’m asking him.”
Daniel set his menu on the table, his brow furrowing.
“She just went through a breakup. Do you have to keep reminding her how long you’ve been married?”
I watched him for a few seconds.
Then I turned the anniversary card toward him.
“This dinner was supposed to celebrate our marriage.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” He leaned back. “What difference does one more person make?”
I placed the reservation records in front of him.
“The room change. The extra guest. The additional charges. You made every one of those decisions for me.”
He glanced at the papers without touching them.
“So that’s what tonight is about? Keeping score?”
“I’m trying to find out whether I can still count on you to keep a promise.”
His lips tightened.
But his eyes went to Rachel.
She was dabbing at the corner of her eye. He immediately slid a tissue toward her.
I waited until he drew back his hand.
Then I picked up my phone.
“I don’t want to continue this trip.”
Daniel finally sat up.
“What does that mean?”
I opened the return-flight page and looked at him.
“I’m going home tomorrow. Are you coming with me?”