Chapter 3
Sadi took a delicate bite, and her eyes widened.
“Honey, I’ve been telling you for years we should open a dessert shop together. I am so, so happy you finally came around.”
She looked at me with warmth that was both proud and relieved.
“I was honestly starting to think you were going to be a housewife for the rest of your life.”
Then she hesitated.
“But my shop is in the next city over. Are you sure you can bear to be away from Leo?”
I didn’t answer.
My mind drifted back to the events of the day.
Leo’s fifth birthday. I had woken up at dawn to prepare everything. I cooked a whole table of his favorite foods, but he hadn’t even glanced at it. He was used to my cooking. No matter how creative or delicious it was, it could never compete with fried chicken and soda from a fast-food place.
He had only given the table a cursory look before turning to David.
“Daddy, it’s my birthday. Can Auntie Rosalie take me to the amusement park? I don’t want Mom’s food. I’m so sick of it.”
And that was when David had said it.
“Go give Mommy a slap.”
How could I even begin to explain all of this to Sadi?
I had chosen my husband. My son was my own flesh and blood.
I looked at her and sighed softly.
“People really do change. I used to think all I ever wanted was a family of my own, that a husband and child were my destiny. When you told me a career was a woman’s real foundation, I didn’t agree. I even tried to convince you to get married.”
My voice thickened with emotion.
“Thank you for not holding that against me. And thank you for still being willing to give me a chance.”
By the time we finished talking business, it was nine o’clock.
When I got home, I found Rosalie sitting on the sofa with David.
She was dressed in something light and revealing, and they were sitting very close together.