Chapter 3
Vera
I'm about to explain when Grayson cuts me off. "She's my cousin. She's staying with me for a bit. I haven't told anyone at the office yet, so..."
Before he even finishes, my chest tightens. It's not the first time. But every time I hear it, that feeling of being erased, it still cuts.
I pull Ella close. She looks up at me, confusion written all over her small face.
I need to get us out of here. I crouch down, keeping my voice light. "Ella, say hi to your uncle."
She hesitates. Glances at me, then at Grayson. Her lips press into a thin line. "Hi Uncle Grayson."
Her eyes are red. She grips my hand tightly and buries her face against my leg. "Mommy, let's go."
All the words I want to say stick in my throat. I stand, pulling the suitcase toward the elevator. Behind me, Daisy's voice drifts over. "Grayson, I've got so much stuff. Can you help me carry some?"
The elevator doors close. I pick Ella up. Her little body trembles.
"Mommy. Did I do something wrong?"
"No, baby. You didn't do anything wrong."
The elevator reaches the ground floor. The doors open. Footsteps pound behind us. "Vera!"
Grayson rushes down the stairs and grabs my hand. "Wait. What I said upstairs—that was just an excuse. I'll explain everything to Ella. She IS my daughter. That's never changed."
I turn to face him.
Five years.
Five years of "wait," "I'll explain," "it's only temporary." And not once has he followed through.
"Don't worry about us. We won't get in your way. Daisy's waiting for you."
His hand freezes mid-air. I pull free and head for the exit.
"Hold on. Let me at least take you to a hotel."
He follows me out. Before I can refuse, he's already opening the car door.
We drive in silence. Grayson tries to speak a few times but only sighs. Halfway there, he suddenly remembers something and pulls over.
"Give me a second."
He gets out and retrieves a box from the trunk. A cake box.
"Happy birthday, Ella."
I open it. My stomach drops. The cake has two sugar figurines on top, a man and a woman holding hands, with a heart beside them. This isn't a birthday cake for a child. It's for a couple.
I'm about to close the lid when Ella sees it. "Mommy, it's cake! Daddy bought me a cake!"
Her voice fills with hope, that fragile kind that's afraid of being crushed. My resolve softens.
"Daddy, will you eat it with me?"
Grayson pauses. Then nods. "Yeah."
The quiet returns. I cut the cake into three pieces and hand them out. Ella cradles hers carefully, like it's something precious. A small smile finally breaks across her face.
I lift a piece to my mouth. The second it touches my tongue, I freeze.
"Spit it out!" I knock the cake out of Ella's hand. "Spit it out! Now!"
I dig the cake out of her mouth with my fingers, frantically searching for napkins.
"Vera, what the hell are you doing?!"
I look up and lock eyes with him.
"Do you even know Ella's allergic to peanuts?! Did you even know that?!"
Grayson stares. Then turns to Ella. That's when he finally notices the rash spreading across her neck and arms. "I... I didn't know. I'm sorry. I really didn't know..."
Ella says nothing. She just presses her face into my chest, her small hands clutching my shirt.
"Hospital. Now."
Grayson starts the car. Minutes later, his phone rings. Daisy.
"Grayson, when are you coming back? I'm scared being here alone..."
It's on speaker. Grayson glances at the phone, then at Ella. His grip on the steering wheel tightens. He's hesitating.
"Just drop us here. The hospital's right up ahead. We'll walk."
"Vera..."
"Stop the car."
He pulls over. I slip the divorce papers between the back seats and lift Ella out.
"I'm sorry. I'll make this up to you both."
I don't answer. I just shut the door.
At the hospital, they treat Ella quickly and discharge us with medication. From there, I head straight to the airport. Before takeoff, Ella stirs in my arms.
"Mommy, where are we going?"
"Somewhere new. Somewhere it's just the two of us. Okay?"
She nods. "Okay. Wherever you go, I'll go."
Tears finally fall. I pull out my phone and delete every trace of Grayson.
Grayson, from now on, we're done.
The next morning, Grayson arrives at the office on time. Yesterday still gnaws at him. He should've taken them to the hospital. Should've at least made sure Ella was okay before leaving. He wonders which hotel they're staying at.
He reaches for his phone to call. Then an email notification pops up on his screen.
Resignation Request - Approved
Grayson frowns.
Whose resignation?
