Ashley pressed the screen.
His younger voice filled the entryway.
Stop calling me.
There is no baby, Kesha.
You’re lying because you can’t stand that I’m leaving.
If you contact my family again, I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of person you are.
The recording ended.
No one moved.
Marcus looked smaller than he had when we arrived.
Ashley placed the phone on the table as carefully as if it were broken glass.
“You told me she was unable to let go,” she said.
“You said she invented a pregnancy after you asked for a divorce.”
“That’s what I believed.”
“You never checked.”
“She was emotional.
Everything was chaos.”
“You never checked,” Ashley repeated.
Marcus turned on me.
“Why didn’t you take me to court?”
I almost laughed, but Noah was watching, so I answered without bitterness.
“Because staying alive and keeping four premature infants alive took every ounce of strength I had.
Later, when I could finally breathe, I decided I would not chase a man who had threatened me for telling the truth.”
“You kept my children from me.”
The accusation made Patricia recoil.
“No,” she said.
“You threw them away before they were born.”
Marcus stared at his mother.
She walked past him and lowered herself in front of the children.
“I’m Patricia,” she said, her voice trembling.
“I am your grandmother.
I did not know about you.
I should have asked more questions, and I am very sorry.”
Olivia studied her.
“Did you get us presents?”
A nervous laugh escaped someone in the room.
Patricia began to cry.
“No,” she admitted.
“But I wish I had.”
Olivia considered that, then nodded.
“You can get some next year.”
Patricia looked at me before responding, silently asking whether there could be a next year.
I gave her no promise, but I did not close the door either.
“We will talk about that later,” I said.
Ashley picked up the engagement-ring box once more and held it out to Marcus.
He stared at it.
“I was going to propose,” he said, as though the intention itself deserved sympathy.
“I know.”
“I love you.”
Ashley’s expression hardened.
“You invited the mother of your children here because you wanted me to watch you punish her.
What did you think that would prove?”
Marcus did not answer.
“That you were powerful?” she continued.
“That women who disappoint you end up alone? Was I supposed to feel lucky because you chose me instead?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“It was exactly like that.”
