Redesigning His Regret After She Left

the outline of the tiny, pulsi

a soft, reassuring presence. "Everything looks perfe

a frantic, joyful beat against her ribs. She had undergone examinations before and had been told that her body

octor. Thank

instinctively laid a hand over her flat stomach, a silent promise to the new life within. She

shimmering. She would give her husband

ked by composure and restraint. She allowed herself to dream that he could shed his armor, if only for a momen

he curb. Gus White, their driver fo

ice softer than she intended.

filled the air. Maria Kowalski, their housekeeper, had alread

heduled to arrive at JFK at seven

lock on the wall. Four

you,

tuals, a way to bring a sense of normalcy and warmth in

chopping vegetables grounding her. A smile played on her lips, a

ent of roasted chicken and rosemary filling the air. She'd even opened a bottle of Bl

me and went. Bl

she told herself. It

r. She pulled out her phone, her thumb hoveri

d ring. But the voice that answe

s voice. Soft,

ower. Is there anything you'

hy did she have

t familiar, but she couldn't remember who it was. Her heart felt l

e slipped from her numb fingers, landing wi

The questions echoed in the sudde

to move, to pick up the phone. Her

g, agonizing time before Bla

d, a sharp edge of im

t to keep her voice steady. "Are you

aid. His voice sounded distant, and the background was compl

ld hear the dismissal in his voice, t

that woman, but the words refused to come. She dared n

lina. I'll see

before she

smell, covering her mouth with her hand. The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows that danced like mo

e city, and the thought that Blake could be somewhere out there made her stomach turn again.

d in her hand. A text fro

ed to