986 Nights of Betrayal

orgiving. I was alive, no thanks to my husband. The paramedics

ction. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the

tried to call him. The first time, it rang and rang befo

as Ivana' s voi

sharp it almost made me

" I asked, my voic

ied about me. The stress of your... episode... really set my recover

just squeezed the phone,

inued, her voice dripping with false concern. "It' s so se

ed against the wall. The action did nothing to quell the storm inside me. I yanked the IV out of

e papers, against medical adv

mess of concern. "Jenna! What are you

away from his touch. His arms dropp

your phone?" I asked, my

on silent. I was w

"She told me. She also told me how self

na, she doesn' t mean

finished for

ting through the tense silence. He glanced at t

eyes pleading. "I

ifted. "What? She pulled out her stitc

ace etched with worry. "I have to

led me and he had abandoned me, he was still choosing h

promised, his hand on the doorknob.

bother,

then rushed out of the room

ctures of him taking her on a shopping spree to cheer her up. Pictures of them throwing coins into the fountain at Lincoln Center, a place he had o

wife who couldn' t stand the sight of her hu

pital. He sent his assistant to ha

living room with my favorite flowers, white gardenias. He had a private chef m

is face in my hair. "I missed you, Jen

a violation. I stood

face. "Let me take care of y

my chair. He served me himself, his movem

d took my hand. "I' ve been thinking. I think

ised. Was this it? Was

. The memories of Elenor are so strong in her family' s old apartment. She was won

k. I knew wh

"She thinks it' s beautiful. She wants to use it as a centerpiece in

her' s last gift to me. The

d, my voice q

to her. It would help her heal. It' s the last step.

d no, C

sk, Jenna! Why are you being so difficult? After everything I do for

I said, my voice rising

back, his face twisting in anguish. "

ntless. I was tired.

rd tasting like poison.

ding there amidst the gardenias and the gour

ned by a noise from downstair

oom and looked down

with them, my perfume organ. She was standing over it, her h

e of guilt and resignation. He saw me standing on the stairs, but he did