My Sister's Lover, My Husband

nd to the surrogacy discussi

ce, her disapproval a heavy blanket o

se remained thick with unsp

small part of her was reli

ughout the meal, picking a

afterward, a quiet, "Jess, I

ough her, her face p

ing to a beautif

ess Sarah fel

rah his mother had given him

said, pulling Sarah clo

d, Sarah. No one is forcing you to do anything.

was a balm to he

ved him.

ing partner she had al

o another week, Sarah noti

eter, more

ming home late, smelling of hops and a w

ls he'd take in the other r

y business, supply chain issues, the s

eving his twin, his business partner. The b

were due to stress, to the

s distance, his occ

ed of unease began t

ng paranoid, overly sensitive after the trauma

nner, Jess was still staying i

t be alone, and Mark, ever the dutiful so

ce a constant, uncomforta

eep. The house was too quiet

o wake Mark, though he seemed to

allway, intending to

he guest room,

ices. A l

for Jess. Was she havi

d, concern

er bare feet silent

y ajar, a thin sliver of light

hump, a slow, heavy drea

elf she was b

just an inch, to p

her eyes burned its

in Mark

embrace. Not sibl

were tangled in Jess's hair

passionate kiss that spok

hitched. Her

wasn't a moment of s

as a betrayal so profound it

d. Shock, icy and shar

to stifle a gasp, a sob, any sou

tant, blurring her vision

rk. With Jes

hemently defended her

protective words – all

s they broke apart, "I wish... I wish it did

ice thick. "Don't. We ca

hispered, a desperate, clinging soun

were lik

enda's proposal wasn't for Sa

David's child. Je

d back, her l

spun, then crash

every moment of perceived trust – all of it replayed in

fool. A blind

been about her autonomy; i

hild, not even his dead brother's, because he wa

. It was months. Their hushed conversation revealed mo

r bedroom, her moveme

rs, the occasional sigh, followed her, seeping

iling, tears streaming silently d

ach tick of the clock w

thing, coiling in her st

, the sounds from th

en footsteps, then the almost silent click of her o

settled beside her, his brea

isy was su

, Sarah looked a

len, her face pale

and the grief, a new

hard kno

wouldn't be the victim the

ressed, and wen

e lawyer, [her tow

to Mark's phone, which

en you wake up. Don'

y anymore. Not

swers. And then she

hour later, stre

her, a customar

ay, moving to the

He looked at her, his brow

r voice flat, devoid of

resser, and picked up a singl

tion agreement templa

," she said, hold

"What? Divorce? Sarah, what are you talking about? Is this about my

t to feign ignorance,

ht, Mark?" she asked, he

s here. In bed. With you." A little

ped Sarah's lips. "

f panic in his eyes b

ake, Mark. I hear

denial drained away, rep

you wit

is composure shattered.