The Rose Wilted, The Marriage Followed Chapter 06

The Rose Wilted, The Marriage Followed Chapter 06

The first person my mom asked about when she woke up was Arthur.

“Is he outside?”

I dabbed the corner of her mouth.

“Yes.”

“Did you two argue?”

I kept my eyes on the towel as I wrung it out.

“No.”

My mom looked at me.

“Eleanor, don’t lie to me.”

My hands went still.

She’d barely opened her eyes. Her voice was barely above a breath.

But she still saw straight through me.

“We’re getting a divorce.”

The room went quiet.

My mom closed her eyes. When she finally spoke, it felt like minutes had passed.

“Then that’s what you should do.”

I didn’t expect that.

She took my hand.

“I used to tell you to be patient with him. I was afraid if you pushed too hard, you’d lose him. But last night, lying on that table, watching him walk away, I finally understood.”

She caught her breath.

“If someone always needs you to be understanding, it’s because they’re not giving you much to hold on to.”

My eyes burned.

I turned my face away.

But my mom smiled.

“Don’t cry. I’m not dead yet.”

I nodded.

“I won’t.”

Arthur was still in the corridor when I came out.

He was holding a thermal container. His white coat was badly creased.

“I made some chicken broth for your mom. Low sodium, gentle on the stomach. The nurse said she might be able to have a little once she woke up.”

I didn’t take it.

“She can’t have anything right now.”

Arthur paused for a moment.

“Then I’ll wait.”

“No need.”

He looked at me. His eyes were red-rimmed.

“Eleanor, I know you don’t want me here right now. But let me try to make this right. Last night was my fault. I never should’ve left that OR.”

“Arthur.”

I looked at the container in his hand.

“You used to make soup for me, too.”

He froze.

“Once, when I had a fever, you sat up with me all night. Then Clara’s husband died, and you started taking her calls in the middle of the night. The next time I got sick, you told me to take some medicine and go to bed. You said I was a grown woman. I should know how to take care of myself.”

His mouth opened. Nothing came out.

So I said it for him.

“You didn’t forget how to take care of someone. You just stopped taking care of me.”

The container shook in his hand.

The elevator opened behind us. Clara.

She had another bouquet of white roses in her arms.

She stopped when she saw us. Her eyes were already filling with tears.

“Arthur, I heard Mrs. Vance was awake. I wanted to come check on her.”

Arthur’s face hardened.

“Who told you to come here?”

Clara was stunned.

“I just wanted to apologize.”

“No need.”

He stepped in front of the ward door.

“Stay away from me. And stay away from her.”

Clara’s face crumpled.

“Arthur, you’re cutting me off because of Eleanor? You’re all I have left.”

“You have doctors. You have a therapist. You have family.”

Arthur’s voice stayed low and hard.

“I’m not your husband.”

Clara’s face turned pale.

She looked at me.

“Are you happy now, Eleanor?”

I didn’t say a word.

But Arthur did.

“Don’t speak to my wife.”

Clara went still.

The roses slipped out of her hands. They hit the floor, and the wrapping burst open.

White petals scattered to the edge of my shoe.

I looked down. Then I stepped around them.

Arthur came after me.

“Eleanor, I ended it. It’s over.”

I pressed the elevator button.

“That’s between you and her.”

“She won’t get between us again. I promise.”

The elevator doors opened.

I stepped inside and turned to face him.

“There is no us anymore.”

Just before the doors closed, I saw his hand jerk out to stop them.

But he didn’t hold on.