Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 73

Hem Nuth C

Chapter 6

When I wake up, everything I see is white.

Look closer–little blood spots splattered all over the ceiling.

Nurse said they’re short on rooms, that’s why they put me in the one where they handle difficult births.

“You’re really lucky.”

She hooks up my IV, tucks the blanket tight around me.

“If the baby had been further along, you might not be awake talking to me right now.”

“Your blood might’ve been up there on that ceiling too.”

I’m lying in bed, not moving. Head turned toward the window.

Bare branches already weighed down with snow, hunched over, leaning toward the window.

One more snowfall and they’ll probably snap, buried forever in Minneapolis‘ brutal winter.

“You’re from San Diego, right?”

The nurse smiles.

“Your winters must be so warm. What made you come here? You settling in okay?”

I try to smile back. But lips are dry, hurt.

“Not really.”

“…So I’m going back.”

She nods, picks up the empty medicine bottles, and when she gets to the door she suddenly remembers something.

Turns around and tell me. “Mr. Calloway wanted me to tell you–stay put, okay? He’ll be back soon to check on you.”

She lowers her voice a little:

“His friend’s ex showed up yesterday making a scene. Mr. Calloway’s out getting her a lawyer right now. Shouldn’t be long.

I don’t feel anything.

So calm it’s like this is exactly what Garrett’s supposed to be doing.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes. Message from Garrett.

Ex Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now

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Chapter 6

[Cass, once you’re better we’ll get married. We can have another baby later, don’t be too upset.)

Upset.

What a surface–level word.

I delete all our chats, block him.

Then book the next flight back to San Diego–this afternoon.

I rip out my IV, find some burst of energy from nowhere, dodge the nurses, and head straight for the airport.

Minneapolis winters are too cold.

I’m never coming back.

Soon as I land, I see dozens of missed calls on my phone.

Forgot to block his number after blocking him on everything else.

Screen suddenly lights up with an incoming call.

I accidentally hit accept–Garrett’s pissed–off voice bursts through:

“Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? Cass, your body’s a serious thing, you can’t mess around like this. It’s freezing out…”

I hang up.

Not long after, more messages come through–Garrett using Lauren’s account.

[Stop being so dramatic. If you don’t come back I’m coming to get you.]

[Cassie, don’t block me. I’m seriously getting mad now.]

I’m so annoyed. Just delete my account entirely. Yank out the SIM card too.

If I’m cutting ties, I’m doing it clean. Nothing left.

Just like that, I’m alone again.

Walking through the narrow alley reeking of cigarette butts and damp concrete, have to hunch over to squeeze through the stairwell. Handrail’s covered in thick grime–can’t even touch it, just press against the wall and inch forward.

Old Mr. Cooper next door is white–haired now, sitting in the hallway dozing off. His son says he’s got dementia.

But when I walk past him, he still remembers me. Still pats my head gently like he did when I was little.

“Good girl, you doing okay now? Happy?”

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Chapter 6

“Your parents were useless, left you here all alone so young. I watched you grow from this tiny-” he gestures with his hand, “-to this tall.”

“You always told me you wanted a home. Wanted someone who’d love you forever and never leave you.”

“I don’t get you young folks, but I could see that handsome guy before had it here for you-” he taps his chest.

“Six years gone by, you two must be married now, right? Probably got a kid too.”

“Seeing you happy makes me happy.”

I start crying out of nowhere.

Emotions hit their breaking point, all spilling out at once.

I collapse by Mr. Cooper’s legs sobbing like a kid whose candy got stolen, can’t stop hiccuping, can barely breathe.

“Oh no, did I say something wrong…”

He wipes away my tears.

“My good girl’s going to find happiness, right? I support you.”

After I’m done crying, I lift my head up and press my face into his warm palm.

“Yeah.”

I’m not trapping myself in the past anymore.

“I’m going to find happiness.”

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