But even while I was angry, something else ignited—a flickering of hope. Maybe she could shed light on his behavior. Maybe she’d see through the façade he carefully crafted for our lives.
I took a deep breath and typed, “Can we talk? Please?”
While I waited for her reply, my mind drifted back to the hospital. I could almost feel the presence of that nurse, her voice reassuring yet distant.
“They’re working on her.”
Now her words twisted painfully in my chest. I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything Ethan had done was a signal of far greater issues. A damning reality I’d ignored for far too long.
Finally, Carla responded,
“Meet me at the cafe nearby. I’ll explain everything.”
Without thinking, I glanced at Claire. She looked hesitant. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“I need to know,” I said, the urgency propelling me forward.
Once I arrived, the smell of roasted coffee and pastries enveloped me. I spotted Carla seated at a corner table—her resemblance to Ethan was striking. I took a seat across from her, the tension palpable.
“Thank you for coming,” she said, her tone sincere. “I wanted to reach out sooner, but...I had to know how things were with Ethan.”
Her question hung in the air, cold and heavy like a long-forgotten winter. “Now I just need you to tell me everything you know. Everything.”
Revelations
She sighed, biting her lip as if weighing every word. “Look, Ethan has changed since we were kids. He never talks about his emotions, but he has an older brother. He was a burden.”
My heart quickened. This was new territory.
“He wasn’t around much due to family troubles,” she continued. “But he disappeared three years ago. I think it’s been weighing on Ethan more than any of us can tell.”
Confusion tangled with anger. “This doesn’t excuse what he did. I was left alone when I needed him most.”
“I know, and it’s unforgivable. But what’s worse is…”
Carla leaned closer, her eyes darting around as if the walls had ears. “Ethan didn’t know how to deal with being a father. He thought he could avoid it, like he avoided everything else.”
Hearing this was like a fresh wound. I stared at the table, the grains of wood suddenly feeling more significant than the conversation.
“You need to protect yourself and your baby,” she concluded. “He’s not the same person you married.”
But even while I understood, there was that nagging feeling of loss. “So what now?” I asked quietly.
“You’re strong, Madison. I can help you with the legal stuff if you want.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, and my heart sank.
“I’m at the hospital. I need to see you.”
It was Ethan. And in that moment, the weight of my decision crashed onto my shoulders like an avalanche.
Confrontations
“What are you going to do?” Claire’s question echoed in my mind as I approached the hospital. I had not included her in my plans, but her support felt like an anchor. I stood just outside the entrance.
