Page 25 of After Everything
I poured myself a glass and sat down on the couch. The TV remote was somewhere, but I didn't bother looking for it. Just sat there in the silence, drinking, replaying the look on Emma's face when she'd saidNot anymore.
She'd looked... nothing. Not angry. Not sad. Just done.
Like I didn't even register as worth feeling something about.
My phone buzzed. I grabbed it too fast, pathetic hope flaring?—
It was an email from Margaret. Subject line:Document Review - Final Warning.
I didn't open it.
I poured another drink instead.
My phone rang.
For a second, I thought—hoped—but no. The caller ID saidMom.
I almost didn't answer. Couldn't handle another conversation where I had to pretend I was fine, that I was handling things,that this was all just a temporary setback before I got my life back together.
But it kept ringing. And my mom was persistent. If I didn't answer, she'd just keep calling. Or worse, she'd show up.
I answered. "Hey, Mom."
"David." Her voice was tight. Controlled. "I ran into Linda Peterson at the grocery store today."
Linda Peterson. Emma's mom.
My stomach sank.
"She was... polite. Asked how your father and I were doing. Made small talk." A pause. "But David, she could barely look at me. She was kind, but I could see it in her face. The disappointment. The pity."
I closed my eyes.
"And I realized I didn't know what to say to her," Mom continued. "Because what can I say? I'm sorry my son broke your daughter's heart? I'm sorry he threw away the best thing that ever happened to him?"
"Mom—"
"I've been thinking about this for weeks," she said. "About calling you. About whether Ishould say anything or just... let you figure it out on your own. But then I saw Linda today, and I realized I can't stay silent anymore."
"Okay," I said quietly.
"You need to stop." Her voice was firmer now. "Whatever you're doing… the texts, the calls, showing up places… you need to stop."
My chest tightened. "How did you?—"
"Emma's father mentioned something to your father last week. That you'd been trying to contact her. That she'd had to block you." She took a breath. "David. She doesn't want to talk to you. You need to respect that."
"I just want to explain?—"
"Explain what?" Her voice went sharp. "That you slept with another woman for five months? That you lied to her face every single day? What exactly do you think you need to explain?"
I didn't have an answer.
"Emma gave up medical school for you." Mom's voice cracked. "She moved across the country. She put her entire career onhold to support you. And this is how you repaid her."
"I know?—"
"I don't think you do." She took a shaky breath. "Your father and I... we loved Emma, David. We thought she was perfect for you. We thought she made you better. And when you two got married, we were so proud. We thought we'd raised a good man."
