Fifteen Years, Then A Photo

he phone back into my purse. "Confirm

ily. I was getti

n. He pulled me into a hug, his chin resting on top of my head. "Tha

awl. I felt the familiar

to be sick," I sai

"I' m going to call that restaurant and ha

ice sharper than I intended. The sudd

th confusion. "Eli? What' s wrong?" H

ng in the anger. "I' m sorry. I just... I have

id, his voice soft and plac

urned a bruised purple. A storm was roll

and stared at myself in the mirror. I looked pale, m

behind me, his expression on

ion? Or was it all just an act, a p

A little slip-up. A dalliance. The world would wag its finger, then welcome him back with

t a love that was fractured, a commitment tha

have noth

is hand on my back. "I know a guy. The be

o the ultra-rich. The doctor, a man with s

t me over his spectacles. "It' s stress. A seve

aiting room. The do

Dustin asked, all

y is reacting to something that' s causing her great emotio

in his eyes. "Eli? Is there som

shook m

ack to the doctor, his voice full of his usual arrogance

mistress who' s carrying your child,

fix this was me. And my s

hy. The career I' d put on hold for him, for hi

ff," he announced on the way home. "We' l

g presentatio

dle it," he said, wi

in his pocket. He glanced at

e it,"

work,"

my voice quiet. "You prom

oyance, the struggle. He

I said, a chall

t the ringing phone. Finally

t later, it

tinny sound from the r

the volume. "It' s just Jami," he said, his

e dripping with false sympathy. "You s

"You' re sure? I can

" I said. "Fami

atched him jog across the street, not towards the office, but

A picture of her, looking tearful,

: 'He' s all mi