The woman said something too quietly for me to catch.
Then Elon answered.
« No, Sierra. She doesn’t suspect anything. »
Sierra.
At least the woman had a name now.
« She’s too busy with the baby. Everything is about the baby. »
« No, Sierra. She doesn’t suspect anything. »
« And you? » Sierra asked.
« What about me? »
« You keep saying you’ll leave. »
A pause.
Then his voice softened.
« I will. »
« You keep saying you’ll leave. »
« Promise? »
« Of course. I told you, I want to be with you. »
Sophie shifted in my arms.
I bounced her automatically.
Then Elon said, « I barely touch her anymore. I can’t stand being around her half the time. »
« I told you, I want to be with you. »
My mouth went dry.
Sierra murmured something.
Elon laughed again.
« Of course I hate her. »
I stared at my daughter.
Her eyes had closed.
« Of course I hate her. »
« I’ll divorce her, » he said. « Then I’ll marry you. »
A kissing sound came through the speaker.
My hand finally moved.
I ended the call.
For a few seconds, I stared at the dark screen.
« I’ll divorce her. »
Then Sophie made a hungry little noise.
I picked up her bottle and tightened the lid twice.
It was already closed.
« Sorry, baby. »
My voice barely worked.
« Sorry, baby. »
I fed her.
I didn’t call Elon back.
That was the first decision I made for myself.
***
Two hours later, the front door opened.
« Maddie? »
I didn’t call Elon back.
I wiped under my eyes and walked into the kitchen.
Elon stood there holding grocery-store daisies and a box of chocolate.
« For my favorite girls. »
I looked at the flowers, then him.
« Thank you. »
He kissed my forehead.
« For my favorite girls. »
« Missed you two. »
The lie came so easily that something inside me went still.
« Long day? » I asked.
« Brutal. Back-to-back meetings. »
« Did you even eat? »
« Barely. »
« Missed you two. »
He loosened his tie and walked toward Sophie’s bassinet.
The moment he saw her, his face changed.
« There’s my girl. »
Sophie curled her fingers around one of his.
He smiled.
« There’s my girl. »
A real smile.
That hurt in a different way.
I wanted him to become simple:
Cheater, liar, bad husband.
