The Childless Sky Chapter 08

The Childless Sky Chapter 08

“Hannah, Marvin’s still fuming. Don’t stir the pot. He adores you, and once he cools off, he’ll come back. It’s just a phone call away for you.”

He laid extra weight on those last words, a not–so–subtle jab at me: man up and do not turn back.

I was over his mind games, but Hannah was still lost in the fog.

Maybe I had been too soft before, and she had bought it all. She called through the door.

“I’ll leave you be for now, take care of Grandpa. I’m heading home to clean up the bedroom, ready for when you come back.”

With that, Jack helped Hannah down the stairs.

That’s when they nearly bumped into a squad of soldiers in full gear.

Curiosity piqued, Hannah glanced back and saw them march straight into my ward.

Before long, the soldiers wheeled out Grandpa’s bed, with me in tow.

Hannah tried to follow but got a firm shove from two soldiers at my side.

“Ma’am, please step back!”

She had already cried herself dry, and that shove sent her tumbling down.

It took her a minute, but she got up, fixed her hair, touched up her smeared makeup, and put on a brave face, looking at me with hope.

“Marvin, where are you off to? When will you be back?”

The soldiers, seeing she kept her distance, relaxed but kept a watchful eye.

I was at a loss for words to snap Hannah out of her denial.

Then it hit me. I slipped off my wedding ring and tossed it her way.

“You don’t need to know where I’m heading, and you don’t need to worry about my return. The divorce papers are signed, just add your signature, and you can pick up the divorce decree. May you and Jack have a brood of your own soon.”

With a flick of my right hand, I turned and strode out of the hospital.

My escort, a soldier, carried my bags, while others hurriedly wheeled the gurney along.

Jack watched my determined departure, his heart swelling with secret delight.

He sidled up to Hannah, his voice dripping with feigned sorrow.

“Hannah, what in the world happened? Marvin was such a decent guy, how did he get so pig–headed?”

Hannah was beyond hearing Jack’s pretense.

Her tears, once dried, then streamed down her face as she stumbled after me, her legs heavy as if weighed down by lead.

“Marvin! Marvin! Please, don’t leave! I’m begging you! I won’t sign that paper. We’re married, and that’s something nobody can change!”

When I did not stop, the squad leader slowed down to block her path.

“Ma’am, I’m warning you again, keep your distance!”

Hannah, frantic, shoved at the soldier barring her way and cried out towards me:

“I’m his wife. Why are you stopping me?”

After ensuring I was gone, the soldier glanced calmly at Hannah.

“Sorry, ma’am, we were only sent to escort Mr. Rogers and his grandfather. There’s no wife on the record. If you keep interfering with our duty, we’ll have to take action.”

That stopped Hannah in her tracks.

She followed cautiously, stopping whenever the soldiers did.