“I got divorced,” Mike said. “She lied to me the whole time.”
Anna gave a short, incredulous laugh. “Oh, now someone lied to you?”
Mike ignored the edge in her voice and kept going. His younger wife, Lena, had had a child by another man. The truth came out when Mike happened to notice the boy’s blood type in his chart. At first it had never occurred to him to question anything.
But once he did the math, there was no way the child could be his. There had been a blowup at home, shouting, tears, accusations. In the end Lena admitted she had also been involved with a surgeon from the clinic.
Even though she insisted it had been a mistake, Mike didn’t believe her. The surgeon himself admitted there had been a relationship and said he wouldn’t mind continuing it.
“I quit the clinic,” Mike said, rubbing his hands together. “I couldn’t stand seeing him every day. I’m at a private practice now. Better pay, better hours. Honestly, I should have done it years ago.”
“And I’m sure there are plenty of pretty young nurses there too,” Anna said dryly.
“Anna, I’ve changed,” Mike said, looking at her with real urgency. “This whole thing made me rethink everything. I know now that you’re the only person I ever should have held on to. We have a wonderful daughter. We built a life.”
“Yes,” Anna said quietly. “And I know for a fact our daughter is yours. No mystery there. But Mike… something in me is done. Burned out. I don’t want to build anything with you anymore.”
“I’m not asking you to decide right now,” he said. “Just think about it.”
“Do you want tea?” she interrupted.
He nodded. They drank tea with homemade jam in silence. Anna studied him over the rim of her mug. He looked worn down, older, chastened.
And what surprised her most was this: she felt almost nothing. Just the day before she had been walking home feeling unwanted and finished. Now life had handed her a chance to restore her family, and she didn’t want it.
Or maybe she was deciding too quickly. Maybe the old hurt was still too fresh. There had been good years once. She had loved him deeply.
Mike said something she didn’t catch. She turned toward him. “I said the renovation looks great,” he repeated. “Did you hire a crew?”
“No. Polly and Daniel came by and helped. We only hired installers for the doors.”
“It looks good,” Mike said. “Bright. Comfortable. I never realized this place could feel so different.”
“So it wasn’t comfortable before?” Anna asked.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said quickly. “You were always a good homemaker. A good wife. A good mother. I just didn’t appreciate it.”
“Glad you figured that out eventually,” Anna said.
And yet, somewhere deep down, something stirred. Not love exactly. But something old and familiar. She shook it off.
“Thanks for the flowers,” she said firmly. “But you should go.”
“Are you expecting someone?” Mike asked at once.
“Yes,” Anna lied smoothly. “I have a date.”
Mike visibly deflated. “I see. Sorry to intrude.”
“That’s right,” she said coolly.
He stood, walked into the hallway, then turned toward the rooms. “I just want to look around once more,” he said, not meeting her eyes.
Anna leaned against the wall and waited. A moment later she heard him call out from the living room.
“Wow. You never had jewelry like this before.” She stepped in to see what he meant.
The gold locket was lying on the side table. Mike stood over it, staring. “Anna, that’s real antique gold. That’s expensive.”
“You don’t say,” she replied.
“Where did you get something like that?”
