Chapter 7
That afternoon, Layla went home alone.
She slid the key into the lock, twisted it twice, and at last managed to push the door open.
The place looked like a tornado had swept through.
Three takeout boxes were stacked on the coffee table, one lid half-open, revealing congealed grease and leftover soup.
The sink was filled with pots and pans, a greasy film floating on the surface.
Blue and red Lego blocks were scattered across the floor.
Several picture books were spread out on the ground, one page showing a mother elephant and her baby, the little one's trunk draped over its mother's back.
Layla paused at that page, bent down, and closed the book.
She walked into Camryn's room.
The little bed still had that light blue blanket, with stars stitched on it, crooked and uneven.
The cotton was soft now, after being washed so many times.
On the bedside table was a family photo from last year's Christmas. The three of them stood under a plum tree. Camryn was sitting on Alfie's shoulders, grinning, his two front teeth still missing.
Layla was leaning against Alfie, her hair blown by the wind. He was turning his face to look at her, a faint smile on his lips.
In that photo, there was a spark in Alfie's eyes.
Layla sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled out her phone.
In her photo album, Camryn's pictures were right next to the ones from their trip to Varachonar.
She kept scrolling back until she reached the night before their trip.
Camryn was snuggled in her arms, his chubby little hand poking at the elephant in the picture book.
"Mommy, the elephant's trunk is so long," Camryn said.
The phone screen dimmed, reflecting her own face, blurry, like a reflection on a river.
Her phone buzzed.
It was Moises.
[Layla, I'm downstairs. I need to talk to you in person. Can you come down?]
Layla walked out onto the balcony and slid open the glass door.
Cool night air swept in.
Layla glanced down from the balcony.
Sure enough, Moises's car was parked in its usual spot. He was leaning against the door, a cigarette between his fingers, the tip flickering red in the night.
She went downstairs.
Moises looked up, snuffed out his cigarette in a metal case, and gave her the same gentle smile she'd always known.
"Layla, are you okay? Your eyes are swollen," he said.
"What do you want?" Layla asked.
Moises stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"I think your husband crossed the line this time. Using divorce as a threat, he's really forcing you, isn't he?"
He paused.
"I talked to a lawyer friend. Even if it really comes to that, the court would almost definitely give you custody. So you really don't need to stress about it..."
"Moises," Layla said.
She looked up at him, her eyes still red.
"Be honest with me," Layla said.
"What?" Moises replied.
"Do you really think I wasn't at fault at all this time?" Layla asked.
Moises opened his mouth. "I'm not saying you were completely blameless, but, "
Layla cut him off, "If it were your wife, and I turned off my phone for five days, off traveling with some other guy. Your kid's in the hospital, and nobody can get a hold of me."
She stared straight at him. "What would you think?"
The smile at the corner of Moises's mouth stiffened.
"Would you really believe that guy was just her friend?" Layla pressed.
Each word landed cold and hard, right in his face.
Moises swallowed hard and turned his face away.
Under the streetlight, his profile was drawn out into a long shadow.
Silence stretched on for a long time.
Then he spoke, his voice dry.
"It's whatever you say it is," Moises said after a pause.
Layla didn't move.
His words washed over her like a bucket of ice water.
She remembered so many things.
She remembered all those so-called "work gatherings" on Alfie's phone that she never really paid much attention to.
She remembered those nights when he was away on business, always claiming the signal was bad.
She remembered how she'd joke, "Are you messing around with someone else?" and he'd just ruffle her hair and say, "What are you even thinking?"
Ten years.
She'd always thought she was the luckiest person alive.
But now, standing outside this familiar building, seeing Moises dodge her gaze, she felt like a piece of her heart just crashed down inside her.
'There was a question Layla had never really asked herself, now it hit her, clear as day, and honestly, it was terrifying.'
'If Alfie had acted just like Moises, what would I have thought?' Layla wondered.
She already knew the answer.