“You know, I don’t believe you.”
“Why do you say that?” Clarissa asked.
“Because I know you. You make this little frown whenever you’re not being truthful with me.”
“This is not the time or the place to discuss this, Cole.”
“Why not? This guy does not speak a word of English. Fess up. What’s really going on?”
Clarissa looked away and started looking out the window. She seemed really embarrassed when I asked the question.
“Look, up until recently, we were married. I think that if you’re in trouble, I should know,” I said.
“Nothing like that, really. I’m sick, Cole.”
“I know you’re sick of me. Please stop kidding around. You look great. What are you talking about?”
She looked so beautiful, just sitting there. Her beautiful eyes and fine figure. She looked as sexy as ever.
What is going on with her?
“Yes. I’m sick of you, Cole.” She then turned to me. “All kidding aside, I’m sick. I’m really sick. I have a brain tumor.”
I gasped.
This can’t be true.
“How can this be? You look great.”
“It’s in my head, Cole. Not in my boobs or my ass.”
“Right, right. It’s only that you look so healthy.”
Is she really telling me the truth?
“When you said you wanted a divorce, I didn’t fight it. I didn’t want to be a burden to you or Michael. It was better to get out of your hair. I didn’t want either of you to feel sorry for me,” Clarissa said with tears in her eyes.
The Uber driver looked back and offered a handkerchief. I grabbed it from him and pointed for him to look forward.
“Give me that!” I said gruffly. “Pay attention to the road, please.”
The Uber driver nodded.
“Sí, señor.”
I turned to Clarissa and helped her dry her tears. She looked broken. She was really telling me the truth. I felt my heart ache. This wasn’t supposed to happen, not to her, the mother of my child.
“That’s why the lawyer fought so hard for me to get the best settlement. He knew about my condition but couldn’t say anything. I didn’t want him to. You know, client-lawyer confidentiality and all that.”
I simply nodded.
“I’ve burned through most of the money in treatments back in New Jersey. The insurance only covered so much and only certain types of medical treatments, and they took so long to get me approved. Before all the money ran out, I went to Mexico to check out their best treatment options, and now I’m here.”
My heart dropped.
“So this is why you said you didn’t want to take the secret to the grave?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
