Contract Hearts

IA'

tion this in the contrac

lence of the living room. His eyes flick to the little girl sitting c

he wasn't part of the co

could hear, eyes burning with barely contained anger.

her forehead. She looks up at me with wide brown

six and needs a home." I didn't admit that the babysitter I'd arranged had a family

r home," he sna

use that word. It makes the co

tanding. "And I wasn't leaving

child running through the hall, nannies, distrac

ay from his fierce gaze. "But I didn't think

on his heel, and walks straight into the study, slamming the door

she asks in h

"No, sweetheart. He's just surprised. Adu

tes bitter

n the mansion

iture and unused rooms. Now it's full of soft hums and light footsteps. Eliza fil

ke she's a ghost haunt

s tense, quiet meals across a ten-foot table, he keeps his gaze fixed on his plate wh

ce, eyes blinking up at me as I tuck her in

y, adjusting her covers. "Li

s. "He's

ck a laug

he's stone-walling, unyielding. Mayb

ust long enough to listen. The way his eyes flick to the living room doorway when he hears her

ter, I found hi

up, tie loosened. There's a whiskey glass in his hand and a tired slump in his shoulders that I've never

up when he speak

realize he's not ta

lied with my

He asked, still no

eart tapping out a nervous

mirked, taking anoth

I snapped, grabbing a bottle of w

unpredictable. "Everything u

ice low. "Our marriage is a business

is lips. "You think this

nestly. "But I'

e nods to the hallway, a gesture of dis

s yours. Don't expec

d bitterness pooling in my c

nough that I catch a trace of his cologne.

tle feet thudding down the hall, followed by the unmistakable cre

h her chunky crayons. A stick figure man in a gray suit, a woman with curly ha

t the paper like

ng into the room. "Come on, s

ng the paper higher. "See? That's yo

ising in my throat.

s face is unreadable as he rounds th

e asks, pointin

the suit. I gave you a smile

hen without a word, he takes the pape

art d

I steppe

lready dro

nks. "Why

s, voice cool. "W

pping around her small frame, pulling her clos

I whisper, rage buildin

y shoulder just once. Josh is sta

r looke

p beside me, her tiny fingers gripping the edge of

e's not part of this war. She's the only pure thing left in my w

t of the plan.

et to destro

ag

asleep. I need clear thoughts, not clouded

ge. His door was left open. The lights were on. And on the far wal

t have a name for, but I ignored and turned to

pposed to see t

the man who threw away a child's drawing with the one who se

e breakfast table. Inside was a photograph,

it: "Things aren't

to read the meaning of t