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She nodded. “I agree. Our baby has to come first now.”
“Where do you live these days?” His question brought up a whole new subject, one she’d been hesitant to broach because of his inevitable, negative reaction.
She stared at the opposite wall. “I’ve been staying with an elderly woman, taking care of her, but I ended that job to come into the hospital. When I leave here on Sunday, I’ll be living in an apartment in a nice residential area.”
A tension-filled silence pervaded the room. “How will you earn your living?”
“I’ll be all right for a few months, then I’ll find another caretaker position where I can live in with the baby. Mrs. Bromwell and her family will provide me with a good reference.”
By now
she had expected Cord to interrupt or give her an ultimatum. Earlier he’d told her he wouldn’t give her a divorce, yet he was silent on the subject now.
At the least she thought he would demand that she start accepting his money to help take care of additional expenses. It shocked her when he did none of those things. In fact, he said nothing at all.
Admit that it hurts, Ashley. Admit that you were hoping he would put up a fight.
She turned her head in his direction, only to discover him examining the quilt she’d left on the other chair.
“This is beautiful,” he marveled before darting her an unreadable glance. “I had no idea you knew how to do this kind of work.”
“Some ladies at the church I attend taught me how to quilt.”
“We’ll have our baby christened in it. Have you bought a special gown?”
Oh, Cord. If only you knew. I haven’t bought anything.
“No.” Her voice wobbled. “Not yet.”
“If you’d rather work on this than play a game, I’ll understand.”
“No. It’s almost finished. I can do it any time this week.”
She watched him put it back. His stillness alerted her that he was deep in thought about something earthshaking.
“I’m ready for a round of Boggle whenever you are,” she spoke softly to remind him she was still in the room.
“Ashley—if you don’t mind, I think I’ll pass on the game. Maybe what I need is a cup of coffee. I’m going to walk down to the lounge. Shall I turn out the lights for you?”
Her dejection at the thought of him leaving her alone was greater than she could believe.
“Yes, please.”
“Goodnight, Ashley. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Hot tears trickled from her eyes as she heard the door close behind him. Was his sudden need to get out of the room due to his going a whole day without a cigarette, or was there a lot more to it than that?
She had no idea what he was thinking and feeling. Always at the back of her mind lurked Sheila. Like a malevolent specter, the image of her wearing Cord’s robe haunted Ashley.
But Cord swore that there’d been no illicit liaison, that he’d been outside and had no idea Sheila had gone to his room. In front of Vince he’d claimed to despise his stepmother.
It’s my word against hers, Ashley. Whom are you going to believe?
The question went ’round and ’round in her head. Had he grown tired of asking it?
Is that why he’d walked out just now? Because she’d told him her plans after she left the hospital on Sunday, and what she’d said had let him know that she didn’t intend to live with him again?
He would translate that to mean she didn’t believe him and couldn’t forgive him. So why bother anymore…
