Page 8 of Feels Like Home

But in all the years we’ve been together? I’ve never seenthoseeyes.

He turns his head, looking directly at me, and I almoststumble.

Eyes filled withdespair.

Sadness.

Andrage.

But I know myhusband.

Thatrage?

It’s by no means directed atme.

Ather.

At theresults.

Atlife.

Atcancer.

Fuck.Cancer.

“Baby?” She says the name like she has the rightto.

She’swrong.

He lifts his hands and pulls on her back trying to get her to move. “Don’t call me baby,” hegrowls.

“But…”

“I’m not your baby. You’re not mine. I don’t know what the hell I wasthinking.”

“I can be here foryou.”

“You have about three seconds to dismountmyhusband before I take you by your cheap ass extensions and pull you off him. And, just so you know” —I point to the cell phone in my hand recording her— “whether he’s in this video or not? I’ll have no qualms posting this for the entire town to see, so everyone knows what a cheating, lying skank you really are. Not that anyone had any misgivings on that,anyway.”

“See, Christine? This is why Todd came around looking for me. Because you’re such abitch.”

I raise my eyebrows at her insinuation. First, that he came looking because — one glance at my husband tells me what I assumed in the first place. That she chased him down like the shameless whore she is. And second, because I’m not a bitch. Probably one of the people furthest from it. I’m…nice.A bubble of laughter bursts out of me, and I scoff. “I’m a bitch? Oh, that’s rich coming from you. The townbicycle.”

She narrows her eyes at me then smirks, the devil in her eyes shining with fury, then she twists her head and places her stupid breasts in my husband’s face, all the while he’s trying to twist and turn to get away from her, his hands bound, and his body weak. The reason for the weak body we were supposed to get when we went in for his appointment in an hour. Clearly, he had otherideas.

Cancer.

When we went to the doctor I never imagined that’s the word we’d be leavingwith.

Up until a few months ago, my husband washealthy.

Still rocked hard abs and strong arms andshoulders.

Helped coach Bri’s traveling volleyballteam.

Played basketball with hisfriends.

Then oneday.

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