Page 79 of Interference
She nods but doesn’t say anything.
“It’s up to you. If you want to wait until the baby is born, we can. If you want to open it next week, that works too.”
She looks down at the envelope once again and studies it for a moment. After a few seconds, she nods.
“I think I want to wait,” she says slowly.
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “Yeah, but I’m worried.”
“About what?”
She holds up the envelope. “I’m worried that if I have this, I’ll cave. Knowing me, I’m going to have a moment of weakness and want to know. If I have the envelope, I’ll look.”
“Then you won’t have it,” I say as I take it from her. “Now that we have that solved, let’s go get some ice cream.”
We get out of the car and head toward the shop.
Halfway to the door, Emery grabs my arm. “Wait.”
“Did you change your mind?”
She shakes her head. “What if you cave in a moment of weakness and look?”
Well, shit. I didn’t even think of that.
A man exits the ice cream shop and pulls out a lighter and a cigarette.
“Come on.” Grabbing Emery’s hand, I pull her toward the shop.
“Excuse me, could I borrow your lighter for a second?” I ask the man.
He gives it over without a second thought.
Holding the envelope out, I light a corner of it on fire. Emery and I stay quiet until it’s turned to ash.
“Thanks, man,” I tell the guy as I give him back his lighter.
“Did you just burn a photo of our baby?” Emery asks slowly.
Shit. Oh fuck. I didn’t even think about it like that.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Emery begins to laugh, making my panic pass.
“Does this make me a bad parent?” I ask slowly, making her laugh harder.
“If that makes you a bad parent, then I am too, since I didn’t stop you,” she says between fits of laughter.
“Well, problem solved. Neither of us can cave now.”
“Very true.”
“Do you regret it?”
She shakes her head. “No. Do you?”
