“Luna’s health is in terrible shape. I’ve decided to bring her home so I can take care of her.”
I lowered my gaze. Sitting next to the steaming dishes I’d just set on the table was a medical report.
A cancer diagnosis.
This was William’s idea of an eighth wedding anniversary gift.
Sensing the tension, Luna leaned into his arms, her voice soft and pitiful. “William, forget it. I don’t think Susie wants me here.”
She let out a delicate sigh. “Besides, I’m dying anyway. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Don’t talk like that, Luna. You’re going to get better.”
Then William turned to me, his expression dark with anger. “Susie Winters, do you even have a soul?”
“You can’t even make room for someone who’s sick? How are you supposed to be a good example for Caleb?”
Right on cue, Caleb picked up on his father’s anger, his tiny fists smacking against my leg.
“You’re mean! If you don’t let the pretty lady stay, I don’t want you as my mom anymore!”
The soup on the table had gone cold.
Just like my heart.
Two matching faces—one grown, one small—stared me down with righteous fury.
One was the man I’d loved for eight years. The other was the son I’d raised for seven.
Through all the lonely nights when William didn’t come home, the only thing keeping me going was Caleb.
Once upon a time, he used to hold my hand, look up at me with wide, innocent eyes, and call me Mommy.
Now, for another woman, he was ready to throw me away.
For a moment, the disappointment swallowed my anger whole.
I let out a hollow laugh and turned to leave.
But William wasn’t finished. “Susie, Luna is sick. Let her have your room.
“Pack up your things. You can move into the attic.”
I took a deep, steadying breath and walked into my bedroom. My hands trembled as I reached for my phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Lily, I’m ready to come back to work.”
The voice on the other end practically shrieked with joy. “Are you serious? Susie, you finally snapped out of it!”
“You walking away from your career for a man was the biggest tragedy the fashion design world has ever seen! I’ll set everything up for you right now.”
I forced out a laugh. “Thanks.”
That night, I booked a flight for next month.
Lily was so excited that she posted about it online.
And right below her post, I saw William’s.
His username had always been WillWaits4Moonlight.
He once told me that “moonlight” refers to me and the whole username meant that meeting me was his greatest reward after enduring the hardships of life.
