Chapter 6
At five forty, I placed my key card on the front desk.
The manager had left instructions about the bill.
Daniel would pay for the additional room separately.
I checked my charges, signed, and put away the receipt.
It was still dark when the bellhop loaded my suitcase into the car.
I settled into the back seat and told the driver my terminal.
I didn’t look up at the terrace.
After security, I bought breakfast and sat near the gate.
Halfway through eating, my phone rang.
Daniel’s name flashed on the screen.
I waited for the ringing to stop, then sent a message.
“I’ve checked out. I’m at the airport. I forwarded the cancellation confirmations. Please handle your own arrangements and expenses from here.”
His reply was immediate.
“You actually left?”
Then he called again.
I declined it and finished my breakfast.
“I made myself clear last night.”
“Rachel wasn’t feeling well. You had to leave without even saying anything?”
I stared at the message, my finger still against the screen.
Last night, I’d asked him twice if he was coming home.
He’d only been concerned about leaving Rachel alone.
“I’m boarding soon. Text me if there’s anything necessary.”
The boarding announcement began.
I switched my phone to airplane mode and picked up my backpack.
My sister was waiting outside arrivals when I landed.
She spotted me and hurried over, taking my suitcase with one hand and holding my arm with the other.
“You look exhausted. Didn’t you sleep?”
“I was up early.”
She glanced behind me.
Her lips tightened, but she didn’t ask.
At her house, she poured me some water and went to get a clean towel.
“Wash your face. I’ll make something to eat, and then you can sleep.”
“Can you sit down first?”
She turned.
When she saw me take the document folder from my bag, her hand went still around the towel.
I handed her the report.
“I’m pregnant. Ten weeks.”
She read it twice, then looked up sharply.
“Ten weeks? And you flew home alone? Where’s Daniel?”
“Still at the hotel. With Rachel.”
My sister put the towel down.
“His ex-wife?”
I nodded and told her about the suite, the dinner, and everything that had happened the night before.
She stood beside the table, gripping the edge of the report until her knuckles whitened.
“He sent you to another building and stayed with her?”
“He told me to change rooms. I checked the records at the front desk.”
I took out the printed reservation change.
After reading it, my sister grabbed her phone.
I put my hand over hers.
“Don’t call him. Not yet.”
“Nora, he can’t treat you like this.”
“I know. That’s why I came home.”
She looked at me, her eyes slowly filling.
Then she set down the phone and pulled me into a hug.
“You should’ve called me sooner.”
I leaned against her for a moment and gently patted her back.
“I’m telling you now.”
She released me and glanced at the report.
“Does he know about the baby?”
“No. I was going to tell him at our anniversary dinner.”
Her mouth opened, but no words came.
Instead, she carefully slipped the report back into its folder.
“What are you going to do?”
“Confirm my prenatal appointment. Get my work sorted out.” I picked up the water. “And figure out what comes next with the marriage. I’m not going back to waiting for him to have time for me.”
She nodded.
“Okay. Stay here. We’ll get anything else you need.”
I sent the clinic an appointment confirmation, then opened my email to check Monday’s project handoff.
A message from Daniel appeared at the top of the screen.
“Why was the boat trip canceled? We’re already at the marina.”