The Childless Sky Chapter 03

The Childless Sky Chapter 03

I was surprised by my leader’s swift action; he had sorted everything out so quickly.

Hearing the familiar voice on the phone, Hannah’s delicate fingers clenched the fabric of her dress. “Who’s on the line?”

Jack noticed the shift in conversation and began to stir.

“Hannah, I’ve had a fall, and my back is killing me. Please… help me get to… my medication.”

Hannah always put Jack first, dropping any conversation with me, no matter how serious, to tend to his needs.

As they left, close and cozy, I spoke into the phone with a steady voice, “Understood, I’ll be at the hospital tonight.”

I pulled out the wedding photo I had just packed, giving it a long look. It used to be my motivation for all those late nights at work, but then, it meant nothing to me.

Without a second thought, I tossed it into the trash.

Hannah came back shortly, her cheeks flushed and her clothes slightly askew. She did not get mad at the sight of our wedding photo in the trash; instead, she looked taken aback.

She did not scold me for the mess. Instead, she walked over, retrieved the photo from the bin, and held it

in her hands.

“Marvin, Jack’s sick. I need you to be understanding.”

I gave her a quick side glance and said, “Got it, I know.”

Seeing my willingness to play along, Hannah let out a relieved breath and handed me the wedding photo again. “This is our wedding picture. How could you just toss it in the trash like that?”

Her words only made me smirk.

‘Who’s the one really trashing our marriage?‘ I wondered silently.

She stood there, fidgeting, when I did not take the photo from her, lost in her own indecision.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s old news. Once Jack’s back to the hospital, you can move back in. After the baby’s born, we’ll be a family of three… um… we can take a new family portrait.”

Her old tactic of mixing scolding with sweetness did not faze me anymore. I was over it.

My chilly reaction only added to Hannah’s anxiety.

Finally, she tackled the elephant in the room. “Um… Marvin, I thought you quit your job. Why are you going on another business trip?”

I saw my chance to lay everything out on the table.

I was about to stand up and grab the agreement from my briefcase when Jack’s whiny voice floated in from outside.

“Hannah, this medicine tastes awful. Can you feed me?”

Hannah’s face flickered with rare hesitation. She chewed on her lip, but ultimately, she decided to step out.

“Marvin, just wait for me. I’ll go give Jack his medicine, then I’ll come back to help you pack, and we can talk more.”

I nodded, giving her a knowing smile.

Once I had all my stuff packed, I was ready to sort out Grandpa’s room.

Crossing the living room, I caught sight of Hannah in the dining area, spoon–feeding Jack his medicine. They were shoulder to shoulder, and Jack’s hand was nonchalantly draped over her waist.

Spotting me, Jack put on a dramatic grimace. “The medicine’s too bitter. I just can’t take it.”

Hannah looked puzzled as she took a spoonful of the concoction and tasted it. “It’s actually not that bad, ” she remarked with a slight grimace.

“Maybe it’s just my illness messing with my taste buds,” Jack mused before downing the rest of his medicine in one go.