ck was the only thing that bro

a heavy thud. He loosened his tie as his eyes scanned t

Are yo

rom the couch. I

ll sitting on the coffee table. Then it drifted to the ki

oyance. "I work a twelve-hour day, and I come

est. It used to be that I'd rush to apologize, to explain that the

anym

" I said, my

dge and pulling out a bottle of wat

s eyes finally seeming to register that I was th

only irritation. As if my pregnancy

ving quickly. A moment later, my own phone buzzed on the ta

n. "Go buy yourself something nice. A new bag o

night. He threw money at the problem until it went away. In the beginning, I thought it was his w

on without touching my pho

oice quiet but clear.

ess laugh escaping his lips. "What? Are you serious?

about th

the money, go shopping tomorrow, and you'll forget all about thi

and this time, I saw it. I saw the scre

cture of me. It wasn't a pi

name was Chloe. His "little girlfriend," as my friend Mark sarcastically called her. In the photo, she

n, nine years ago. We were on a beach, and I was on his back, laugh

ver had someo

ng-annoyance, not guilt-crossed his face befo

tart," h

" I said, my voice still ee

ng toward the bedroom. "We'll talk a

ed it, his voice instantly changing. It became soft, gen

he's here." He glanced over at me, his expression turn

decade, this man who was the father of my child

It was from the disgust churning in my stomach. He was disg

him. "I already told her. Chloe is taking Lil

volved in our daughter's life. He was replacing

ps. "Chloe? You're letting h

's wrong with that? Chloe is great with Lily. She actual

mother for her already? Ho

ll is wrong with you tonight, Ava? Can't y

h my lower abdomen. I clutched my stomach, trying

pain. His eyes were hard,

id, my voice breaking slightly. "I'm

ight in the eye, I del

aby is