Chapter 10 · While I Was Away, He Left

Chapter 10

Alfie's mom, Jaylene, was staying at the Archen Hotel, just three blocks from Layla's place.Layla dropped Camryn off at home with the nanny, grabbed a cab, and waited in the hotel lobby for twenty minutes.When Jaylene came down, she was wearing a navy blue cardigan, her hair immaculately styled with not a strand out of place, and she wore pearl earrings.She was fifty-eight, but she looked years younger."Layla, have a seat," Jaylene said.She settled onto the sofa in the hotel lobby, her voice gentle, as if this were just another casual family conversation.The lobby was filled with soft background music, a gentle melody with the deep, lingering notes of a cello.A waiter brought over two cups of hot tea, and Jaylene waited until he was out of earshot before she spoke."Alfie said he was giving you a chance to come meet me, and you actually came. That shows you've got a good head on your shoulders," Jaylene said.Layla held the teacup in her hands, saying nothing."What I'm about to say might not be easy to hear, but I'm not going to sugarcoat it," Jaylene said, her eyes steady. "How long have you known Moises?""Almost ten years," Layla replied."I know." Jaylene nodded. "I knew about it back when Alfie first started chasing after you."She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and set it back down.Jaylene said, "Back when you two had just started dating, Alfie came to see me. I asked him how things were going with you."He said you were great, but you had this close male friend you'd known for years, and you two were really tight. Still, he said he trusted you completely,"She paused, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her teacup."I told him that when a guy and a girl spend a lot of time alone together over the years, either one of them has feelings for the other, or both do, but they're just keeping it to themselves."There's no other possibility."Layla's fingers tightened around her cup.Jaylene said, her brow furrowing slightly, "Alfie didn't believe me. He said you and Moises were just friends."That's just how he is. Once he makes up his mind, he never changes it. Once he decides you're good, he only sees the best in you, no matter what."The rain outside had eased up, and the lobby was so quiet that they could hear each other breathing."He'd put up with anything for you," Jaylene continued. Her tone wasn't accusing, just calm, so calm it made Layla feel even worse."The year you two got married, there was a divorced client at his company who was really into Alfie."She sent him some inappropriate messages. Alfie didn't reply to any of them and just blocked her. The next day, he brushed it off like it was nothing, just said he'd handled a bit of trouble."She set her teacup down and looked up at Layla.Jaylene said, "He's never even mentioned divorce before."This is the very first time."The background music in the lobby changed, and the soft notes of a piano drifted up from the speakers."Layla," Jaylene said, her voice softened a little. "I want to ask you something. You don't have to answer me now, take your time to think about it before you say anything."Layla looked up.Jaylene continued, her eyes fixed on Layla, clear and calm, "What is Moises to you?"Layla's lips parted, but no words came out.She thought she knew the answer.But now, as she opened her mouth to speak, the words just wouldn't come.Jaylene didn't rush her.She pushed her teacup aside, took an envelope out of her purse, and set it on the coffee table, sliding it gently toward Layla.Jaylene said, her voice calm as ever, "This is a legal notice. Alfie wanted me to give it to you."He's not pushing you to sign anything. He just wants you to know he's serious about this."Layla stared at the white envelope.She didn't reach for it.Jaylene said, standing up and adjusting her cardigan, "You've been married for five years, and Camryn is three."I know all of that. That's why he's giving you one last chance, and why he wanted you to come see me."She paused, then leaned over, picked up the envelope, and slipped it back into her purse.She said, "I'm taking the envelope with me. But Layla, you need to know this."She turned away, her voice so soft it seemed to sink into the quiet lobby, like a stone dropping into the depths of a lake."This is your last chance. Once it's gone, there won't be another."She headed for the elevator.The sharp clack of her heels on the marble floor echoed with each step through the lobby.The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside.As the doors began to close, Layla caught a glimpse of Jaylene turning her head, already dialing a number on her phone.When the call connected, Jaylene murmured something quietly.Layla couldn't make out what she said.But the expression on Jaylene's face, it wasn't the gentle look of a mother comforting her child. It was something colder, more resolute.It was the look of someone making sure a decision was set in stone.The background music in the lobby flowed on, low and steady.Layla sat on the sofa, not moving.The hot coffee grew cold, its color slowly turning from golden to deep brown.Suddenly, Layla remembered the moment Jaylene had walked in, she'd greeted her with a gentle smile, her eyes lingering on Layla's face for just a split second.That moment was gone in a heartbeat, but now Layla realized it wasn't the way a mother-in-law looks at her daughter-in-law.It was the look of someone measuring their bargaining chips for a negotiation.Her phone buzzed.It was a message from Alfie.[What did my mom say to you?]Layla picked up her phone, typed a short reply, then erased it all.A young couple walked into the lobby. The man was carrying a suitcase. The woman was holding an umbrella, and they were talking and laughing softly together.Layla watched them head for the front desk, her finger hovering over her phone screen, but she didn't move.Jaylene's words from earlier were like a nail, stuck somewhere deep inside her, in a place she couldn't even name."This is your last chance. Once it's gone, there won't be another."Layla knew Jaylene meant every word.But that call Jaylene made, it wasn't to Alfie.She dialed a different number.

Chapter 10