Chapter 3
I was sixty-eight that year. Addison and I had been together for forty years.
To everyone, he was a classic family man. He was always dependable and always put us first.
Addison was dashing, gentle-hearted, and provided for us without fail. Even his parents treated me like I was their daughter.
Before Valda came into our lives, I had no idea Addison could even cook.
He'd make her chicken soup and seafood soup.
When I wasn't home, he'd even wash her underwear by hand.
At his age, he started learning acupuncture from scratch, testing the pressure points on his own body for her.
The love Addison gave me always felt like a courtesy that he would offer to any stranger out of politeness.
But for Valda, he had a whole different kind of love. It was as if she were the only person on earth who mattered to him.
Whenever Addison was with Valda, he'd be grinning ear to ear, eyes all crinkled up, looking just like some carefree teenager again.
She'd tease him, and he'd just laugh right back.
But whenever it was just me and him, he'd always seem a bit aloof.
His feelings toward me were always shielded by an invisible barrier.
I spent forty years trying to get past that wall, but it just wouldn't budge.
But the instant Valda appeared, the barrier simply melted away.
I ended up not cleaning the pot, but Valda still got her chicken soup.
Addison frowned at the dirty pot, then ran out into the chilly wind to use the restaurant's kitchen downstairs.
He came back with a steaming bowl of chicken soup.
Addison didn't sleep with me tonight.
He grabbed a blanket and went to stay with Valda, keeping her company all night.
He stayed up all night fussing over her, finally crashing in the early hours.
Meanwhile, I slept like a log.
I slept soundly until daylight, headed out alone, and didn't return home until lunchtime.
Addison was busy tending to everything, completely worn out, while Valda lounged in bed, sighing and calling out for help every few minutes.
"Where have you been? I called you so many times, but you didn't answer. Did you forget Valda has her follow-up at the hospital today?" Addison asked, his voice anxious.
Without even looking back, I went straight into the room. "Fine, then you take her. I'm not the one who's sick."
Addison had nothing to say to that.
I was the one who knew Valda's condition better than anyone.
Every time I took Valda to the doctor, I would answer the doctor's questions for her.
Addison opened his mouth like he wanted to speak, but in the end, he just took Valda by the hand and walked away.
Valda didn't like me.
Right in front of me, she'd grab June's hand, grinning sweetly as she asked, "June, do you like Grandma Kyla or Grandma Valda?"
June, chewing on the candy Valda had just given her, didn't even look my way before diving straight into her arms.
"I like Grandma Valda!" June declared.
Valda dramatically widened her eyes, then shot me a smug, mocking glance.
"Kyla, she is just a kid, so she doesn't mean anything by it. Don't take it to heart," she said.
Even when Addison found out, he'd just tell June off a little—never really making a big deal out of it.
After all, Valda was sick.
Valda was a dying woman who also happened to be Addison's first crush in life.
Addison could never bring himself to be harsh with her.
Addison would always take her side and told me, "Come on, Kyla, Valda's just so pure. She would never pull any tricks."
I'd had enoug, so I had someone hire a caregiver to look after Valda.
But Addison wouldn't accept that.
He first complained that the caregiver nurse wasn't careful enough. Then, he complained that the caregiver put too much salt in the food.
Every time, he was just dropping hints at me, trying to push me back into taking care of Valda.
After the caregiver accidentally ruined Valda's favorite dress, Valda went ballistic, throwing such a tantrum that the poor woman ran out, never looking back.
But there was no way I was going to deal with that chaos again.
I started spending my days out of the house, hardly ever coming home except to sleep.
I treated myself to all three meals out, and at night, I'd dance with the crowd at the plaza until way past midnight.
But Samson wasn't having it. He called and made me come back.
Samson said, "Mom, Dad's getting older, and with a sick patient at home, how can you just leave him to deal with everything on his own?
"If something goes wrong, you'll be the one who regrets it most."
I gave a cold chuckle.
"I'm not young anymore either. My body can't take all this," I shot back.
Samson left in defeat, and when he looked over at Addison, there was that helpless softness in his eyes.
Addison and Samson were family.
Samson couldn't help but feel bad for Addison.
He thought, 'Dad is getting old, and now his wife is suddenly acting like a willful kid.'
Addison resigned from his rehired position after retirement, devoting himself entirely to looking after Valda.
The days blurred together into a foggy routine.
Then, our wedding anniversary arrived.
Addison went out of his way to invite Kyla and June, saying we should all take a road trip together.
It was a rare chance for the whole family to get out and enjoy ourselves, so I decided to set aside my misgivings, at least for today.
The trunk was stuffed full with Addison's and June's things.
It wasn't until everything was packed that I realized I hadn't set aside anything for myself, but by then, there was no more space for my stuff.
We were waiting downstairs for Samson to pull up the car.
The night air was a little cool, so Addison shrugged off his jacket and gently wrapped it around my shoulders.