Chapter 6

• This is the third time I've burned my hand. I grab the tray full of food and slam it on the table, disregarding the three hours I spent preparing it. The sound reverberates sharply, and Jeremy rushes over.
• I force a smile at him, approach the table, pull out a chair, and sit down. Since yesterday, I've felt like staying in bed for a whole year.
• "Mommy, are you okay?" Jeremy asks, touching my hand. I lift him onto my lap and hug him.
• "Just tired, honey," I whisper into his ear.
• It's been a while since I've felt this stressed... Actually, I'm in a foul mood. A REALLY foul mood. Dave noticed last night when he tried to hug me, and I instinctively pushed him away. He remained silent, turning away. This morning, sensing my mood, he gave me a chaste kiss and locked himself in his study.
• I felt terrible, and not just because of Dave and the intruder from last night. Also, because of my mother, Demetria, and Alison. Neither of them were here for me when I awoke. It hurts immensely that they didn't support or help me handle the jerk who showed up last night looking for a fight.
• Demetria lives just a few blocks away, and my mother... Instead of staying with her distraught daughter, she left for a damn cruise with her husband. What kind of mother does that? Oh, and to top it off, I'm sure she'll call today to give me an earful for ruining her perfect wedding.
• And as for Alison... I know why she wasn't here when I woke up. I know perfectly well. What I don't understand is why she did this to me. Knowing everything I went through, she backstabbed me. Now I see what Demetria meant when she warned me not to trust Alison. I should've listened.
• "Do you think Henry would like to play with my blocks?" Jeremy asks, his eyes shining brightly.
• Another knife in the back. I rest my head on Jeremy's little shoulder, silently cursing.
• "I don't know, Jeremy," I reply with all the patience I can muster. It's not his fault, and I know that.
• "But you know him better than I do, Mommy," he counters, and my patience wanes.
• "I don't know him, Jeremy," I assert, placing him on the floor. Guilty about my reaction towards him, I let out a sigh and kiss his forehead.
• I take plates from the cupboard and set them on the counter. Then I grab glasses and cutlery. There will be two settings. Only Dave and the jerk will eat. I'll be "sick" and in bed, while Jeremy will be playing at a friend's house—his mother owes me a favor.
• "But, Mommy, I..." he starts, inching closer to me.
• "Enough," I snap. I look at him, my heart breaking slightly, but I don't want to discuss Henry anymore.
• "It's just that, Mommy..." he persists, moving even closer.
• "Jeremy, go to your room. I'm not feeling well; please, just listen," I say, covering my eyes, struggling to keep my voice even.
• I hear his slow footsteps as he heads to his room. I hate myself for speaking to him that way, but I'm hurting.
• There's a series of knocks at the door, and I rush to it, hoping it's the mother of Jeremy's friend. But when I open it, my heart sinks.
• "Hello..."
• The woman who claims to be my friend stands outside. By the look on my face—a clear warning—Alison knows I'm aware of her betrayal.
• "I come in?" she asks, looking at her feet.
• "No, you can't," I curtly reply.
• "Listen, Ann, I meant to tell you, but I couldn't," her voice quavers, avoiding eye contact.
• "Alison, more than anyone, you know how I suffered, how I cried, how I screamed when he left me, and left me with a baby that I had to raise, with Dave by my side. You could have thrown him out. You could have called the police. But you just looked and turned away as if nothing had happened," I retort, pained and swift.
• I feel betrayed. She was my friend. I thought she cared about me, that our friendship meant something to her... but no. Now I see that I've never been more wrong in my life.
• Correction, I was wrong. I was wrong to trust people from afar, knowing they'd end up hurting me.
• "I didn't do that. I went straight to the room where you were to tell you he was there, but..."
• "But what?"
• "The door was ajar, and I saw you looking at yourself in the mirror. You looked beautiful, but not radiant. Your face didn't shine with joy. Your smile seemed forced all the time. You seemed indifferent to the wedding, and that's not how brides feel on their wedding day. You should've been crying with joy, knowing today was the day. I saw no emotion cross your face."
• "You know nothing of what I felt," I snapped, venom dripping from my voice. She met my gaze, as if I'd wounded her.
• "Oh, Anna. Believe me, I know you better than anyone. You seemed happier when you cried on my shoulder five years ago," she replied tersely.
• "I love Dave. I hate Henry. And I'll hate you too if you pick the wrong side," I warn her, stepping closer.
• This talk of "sides" sounds childish, I know. But I don't know what else to call it.
• "Is this a war? What the hell are you talking about?"
• "Yes, this is a war. He wants my son, and he won't get him. I'll fight tooth and nail for him."
• "I love you, and you might hate me for saying this, but... He has rights."
• I slammed the door in her face, not wanting to hear anymore.
• HE HAS RIGHTS?! He has no damn rights to anything.
• "Anna! I know you can hear me, and I wanted to tell you that the reason I didn't tell you he was there is because I want to see you live again. Whether you like it or not, darling, you're either dead inside or slowly dying. You love your son, and I believe Jeremy is the only reason you haven't completely faded. Just now, I saw more life in you than I've seen in four or five years. Your eyes sparkled with determination. It's not the glow I was hoping for, but I'll settle for something rather than nothing. I love you, Ann. You're like a sister to me, and I know you understand what I'm saying. I don't want you to go back to Henry, because I know he's not what's best, and it's unlikely anyway, but I want you to end it with Dave. I want you to finish college and quit working where you hate. I want you to be happy, and Henry might make you realize you don't love him, that you never did, and that you aren't happy..."
• Each word ALMOST touched my heart, but the protective bubble around it made them bounce off, leaving me indifferent.
• I am happy.
• I am very happy.
• I hear her sigh and rest her head against the door.
• "Anna, I have to go back to England. I love you very much, and call me when you realize I'm right because I know you will. And one last thing... Jeremy has the right to know his father."
• Then she leaves, and I don't know what the hell to think.
• I've lost my peace, my life, and my best friend. Once again, Henry returns to ruin everything.