But exhaustion can make you cling to strange hopes. I convinced myself that maybe a phone made it too easy for him to be detached. Maybe if he actually saw Chloe, something inside him would finally respond.
So I drove to the address I had for him.
Chloe was in her carrier when I walked to the door.
A woman named Tessa answered.
She was wearing one of Eric’s shirts.
Her eyes moved to the carrier, then back to me.
“Eric,” she called. “Claire’s here.”
He appeared behind her looking annoyed.
I lifted the carrier slightly.
“Please look at your daughter.”
He did, but only briefly.
“I’m not asking for anything for myself,” I said. “Her treatment is expensive.”
“I have a life now.”
“So does she.”
He looked away.
“Stop coming here.”
Tessa folded her arms.
I waited for Eric to soften.
He didn’t.
The door closed.
