She Erased Him, For Her Son

Cook

e, a palpable absence that felt like a breath of fresh air. Leo and I had laughed, eaten ice cream until our tummies hurt, and snuggled on th

he thick manila envelope I'd prepared weeks ago. The divorce papers. Seeing them now, k

briefcase. He walked into the dining room. I heard a sharp intake of breath as he saw the untouched lion cake, the deflated ball

or the guilt he felt, the inconvenience of facing it. He was sorry that his carefully constructed façade of a perfec

table, staring at the cake, his back to me. "I need you to sign these, Elijah,"

at looked vaguely like remorse. He saw the envelope. His brow furrowed. Before h

rom Chelsi. "Elijah! My apartment is floodin

n it." He snatched up the phone, tapping out a quick reply. "I'm on my way

insisted, pushing th

emergency." He scribbled his messy signature across the dotted line without even reading. It

ding away a final nail in the coffin of our

ay. I had a mountain of handover documents to prepare, a lifetime

he night before, but a shadow still clung to his eyes. "Elsie," he said, holding out the package. "This is f

The words were a fresh wound. I took the gift, my fingers brushi

small, hopeful smile

eautifully crafted toy snake. A boa constrictor

ear that stemmed from a documentary he'd watched almost a year ago. I'd told Elijah

ppointment, the profound sadness coiled tightly inside me.

. very thoughtful, Elijah. Thank you. I'm sure Leo wil

od taste. She's really something, isn't she?" He paused, then his eye

an cold. T

ightly apologetic, yet firm, tone I knew so well. "And it's going to take a few days for r

him, my mind struggling to process his word

uld, you know, stay at a hotel for a few days. Or with Mrs. Gable. I' ll cover all the expenses, of c

a painful hammer blow against my heart, "so your protégé can move in?"

e. It's a temporary arrangement. She's a colleague, and sh

efully constructed calm finally shattering. "Because Chelsi Bowers had

is is precisely why we can't be public. Think about the rumors, Elsie. Think about the comp

. "Is that what you tell her too, Elijah? Just a temporary a

. "That's unfair, Elsie. You kn

ed through the air like a razor. "Do you, Elijah? Be

I'll leave. We' ll be out by the end of the day." My voice was steady, betraying no hint of the earth

I didn't mean it like that. I'll make it up to you. I prom

k mask. There was nothing more to sa