“Larry Tate, how did I not realize before that you’re such an idiot?”
“It’s one thing that you don’t believe me, but you don’t even believe your own son?”
“Get out!”
“Get out of here!”
Larry Tate frowned, muttering under his breath, “Crazy woman,” as he held Katie Baker and turned to leave.
In that moment of silence in the hallway, my heart twisted in pain, so much that tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.
After pulling myself together, I smiled at Kevin Branch, who was standing nearby.
“I’m sorry, you had to witness that.”
Unexpectedly, he hugged me, catching me off guard.
“I saw him when I was abroad.”
“Back then, you seemed so happy with him.”
“So, this isn’t your fault.”
Time changes everything, people most of all.
Kevin Branch volunteered to take care of Anders so I could go home and get some rest.
I quickly declined-he had already helped so much.
“Besides, you have work tomorrow, and from now on, the road ahead will only get harder.”
Indeed. Without Larry Tate, I’m just an office worker making three to four thousand a month. How would that be enough to live on?
When I got home, Larry Tate was sitting on the sofa.
The air was filled with the smell of nicotine. Who knows how many cigarettes he’d smoked.
Why not smoke yourself to death?
I thought angrily to myself.
I turned and went to the bedroom to pack my things.
It wasn’t until I dragged a suitcase out that he stood up, full of impatience.
“Where do you think you’re going now? How long are you going to keep sulking?”
I laughed. In the past, when we argued, he never came looking for me after I stormed off. I always returned home on my own, embarrassed.
“This time, I’m not the one leaving. You are.”
“This is my house. Get out!”
I kicked the suitcase outside, and with the force, it sprang open, clothes spilling everywhere.
Larry Tate froze, as if only just remembering that this house had been left to me by my late parents.
“Are you crazy? Is this really necessary?”
He tried to drag the suitcase back inside, but I blocked the door, refusing to let him in.
“I wish you and Katie Baker a happy life together.”
As soon as the door closed, I slumped against it, sitting on the floor.
The knocking outside grew louder and louder, mixed with Larry Tate’s curses.
I was such a fool. From the moment I had Anders, and he still wouldn’t marry me, I should have seen through this man.
Ten years of love, reduced to nothing.