“You’re up early,” he said, grabbing a mug from the cabinet.
“I have court this morning.”
He nodded. “A big one?”
“Routine,” I said, flipping through my notes again.
He poured himself coffee, moving around the kitchen with practiced ease. “You’ll do fine,” he said. It wasn’t dismissive. But it wasn’t warm either.
We lacked passion in our relationship. I don’t know when the sex turned into an obligation, and his gentle words of encouragement felt like control.
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
He glanced toward the living room. “She’s up?”
“Mhm. Go play with Genny.”
“Justice got her. I gotta get to the office.”
I noticed more and more how he disengaged with our baby girl. When I brought it up to him, he would deflect and tell me I was being sensitive. Maybe he was right, and I was sensitive, but after losing a child, I earned the right to love deeper and love harder.
Charles didn’t go to her. He didn’t kiss her forehead bye or even wave. The sad part was that Genesis was my whole world, and he didn’t even notice.
“Don’t forget we have plans with my parents tonight at eight,” he said. “My mother wants us there on time tonight.”
I didn’t respond right away.
“Okay,” I said finally. Because although I hated these family gatherings, I knew what it meant if I didn't go. I looked down at my wedding ring as I gathered my things.
It was beautiful and expensive, but it was the opposite of what I wanted. It was gaudy. I once told myself it was ugly, but it was the exact one I favorited on the Pinterest page Janessa forwarded to him three years ago. So if I practically picked it for myself, why did I hate it so damn bad? I spun my ring around and thought about the infinity symbol promise ring that I kept in my grandmother’s old jewelry box in the garage.
* * *
Charles pulledinto the driveway without saying much, cutting the engine as the porch light flicked on automatically.
“They’re already home,” he said, glancing at the house.
Of course they were.
His mother didn’t do late.
Didn’t do unstructured.
Didn’t do anything that didn’t align with how she believed things should be done.
I smoothed my dress down over my hips before stepping out of the car, adjusting Genesis on my side as she rested her head against my shoulder.
Charles’ parents lived in a beautiful gated community. Their house had 8 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. Their lawn had shrubs cut into different statue shapes. Every time I was here, I couldn’t believe that there were people with so much money that they wasted it on stupid shit like this. God forbid Charles’ parents watch TV like a normal fuckin’ couple. Instead, they served shrimp cocktail and sandwiches cut into triangles with mini champagne flutes. They enjoyed displaying their wealth by hosting elaborate get-togethers and parties most.
His mother opened the door before we even knocked.
“Finally,” she said, stepping back to let us in.
Her eyes moved over me quickly. “You’re late.”
“It’s 8:03,” Charles said calmly.
