Secrets beneath the surface

pte

e Pre

hint of regret, "We

ight?" The man asked excitedly, "Once Paul accepts Martha Janet as his

sly dog, you've really

ned this f

o

ons with the child were

onde

her's place, she would immediately p

oster th

onde

teachers called Mart

still trying to convince

ollably. I desperately tried to

d the chance to answ

e rang a

immediatel

ul slit h

, I'm coming

k me like a bo

the choice between me and Mar

e have been happy afte

suddenly do some

t make se

ned against the wall, struggling to stay upright, but my l

the office and fr

anted to show some dignity,

ehind him sto

nged uneas

new what

ed me into his arms. "Sweetheart, Paul will be fine. Th

unwilling to let outsiders w

ear-jog, rushing us toward the elevator an

y?" one of t

than I imagined-both h

ter refuses t

gorgeous who adored me uncondi

basta

to the passenger seat. Too drained to resist, I sat

arge hand brushed against my cheeks, attempting to wipe

mouth, poise

tersely. "Let's just get to the hospital

gine, speeding toward the hospital. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel wit

e window, I muttered, "Ke

m, Peter blurted out, "Sweethea

opping before I shut my eyes entirely. The

glances at my reflection in the rearview mirror. His voice faltered

gether-raising a child, build

ck," I interrupted, my voice cracking under the weight of un

made it past the

was th

ars of quiet

ce, every uns

ant nothi

eluctance to finalize the divorce was just because

ade time for Martha Ja

et

ul has accepted Martha Janet-she'

at abou

lanning to bring

ered carried more w

y my anger, his tone flustered:

hen Martha Janet first came back

houg

s might rekindle,

o a stop in fron

longer. I reached for the pass

e time I was with her, only one thought fille

to sides

e again. "I could neve

at him, meet

Aren't you too old to storm off mi

nst the car, cupping my face in his han

was Paul and his bandaged wrist. Was he okay? The

s with all my strength. "Let'

if snapping out

-

ce. His left arm was wrapped in thick layers of gauze, the stark w

myself, the sight of him sent ano

took his wrist, my voic

something like t

iced Martha Janet

family apart and turn my own son agai

estraint, "So this is how you take care

Paul, lying weakly on the hospital

like that!" His voice trembled with de

refused to

at him,

as if his words weren't tearing me apart. "

His lips moved with chilling detachment, as though

e to divo

like a sledgeha

blurring in my vision as

could barely breathe, gasping

for him as a weapon to

kness suddenly engulfed my vision. My body

rli

e, I heard Pete

cto

.

e to, it was alrea

with an irrepressible grin. "Darling, I'v

hort of a relentless storm, each blo

ood news could possibly remain. "

e preg