The Mother's Promise(48)

“Zoe’s staying again tonight,” she said to him, stirring the sauce. “She had an assignment to work on with a friend after school, but she’ll be here soon.” Kate paused when he didn’t say anything.

“Tonight? But it’s Jake’s birthday.”

Kate turned around. “Her mom is staying in the hospital for one more night. I didn’t know what else I could do.” She watched his face. “I mean … is that all right?”

“I guess it has to be,” he said finally.

David took the spoon from her. He began to lift it to his mouth, then appeared to think better of it and just stirred it instead. It was strange, feeling so awkward with the man who shared her bed.

“Zoe’s a quiet kid, isn’t she?” he said after a few seconds.

“She’s shy,” Kate said, oddly protective of her. “But she’s a sweet girl.” Kate took the spoon back. “I got a call from the clinic today.” She paused, letting that sink in, or perhaps, psyching herself up. “We don’t have any embryos left and they want to know if we were planning to do another stimulation cycle to harvest more eggs.”

The silence that followed felt charged. Finally, a sigh. “I’d been clear on this, Kate.”

“I thought I had, too,” she replied.

David was silent, which was a good sign. He was a thinker. He would understand that it was unreasonable of him, making this decision unilaterally. He might still worry, but he’d have to reconsider it if he understood how important it was to her.

“Kate, I just feel like this would be … prolonging the pain,” he said finally. “Haven’t we already implanted three embryos? Now to start the stimulation cycle again from scratch? Do you really want to go through all that again?”

“Yes,” she said.

David closed his eyes. “Well, I don’t.”

And that was it; they’d both finally come out and said it. Whoever said the truth was cathartic must never have been in their situation.

“So what do we do?” Kate said.

The question hung between them—a guillotine blade, ready to cleave them apart.

“Do you want us to, uh … come back?”

They both looked at the doorway, where Hilary, Danny, Jake, and Scarlett stood. A purple helium balloon with the number 17 on it bobbed above their heads.

David sprang into action first. “No, don’t be silly. Come in, guys.”

They stumbled into the room. It was hard to tell how much they’d heard, but from the way they were acting, they knew they’d walked in on an argument. Kate hustled to straighten up, to look nonchalant—everyone would be more comfortable if they covered it up, pretended it never happened. Kate knew the rules. At the same time she suddenly saw the utter ridiculousness of it.

“Yes, come in,” Kate said, pasting on a giant smile. She stepped forward to hug Jake. “Happy birthday!”





34

Zoe sat in Kate and David’s sunroom. She’d let herself in the back door when she’d found the front door locked. There had never been any discussion of a key and there was no way she was going to ring the bell—what if David or one of his kids had answered? She’d planned to creep into the kitchen, say a quick hi, and then rush up to her room, but then she heard the voices. Lots of them. There was some sort of gathering in the back room.

Now, she sat on a wicker chair, trapped. She had no intention of walking into a room full of strangers so instead she stayed put, thinking about Harry. Wishing she was back in that bedroom with him.

“Oh,” Kate said, coming into the room. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were home.”

“I let myself in the back door,” Zoe said. “Sorry, I should have—”

“No, it’s fine. I should have given you a key.” Kate pushed her hands back through her hair, uncharacteristically flustered. She wore skinny jeans with a white T-shirt, under a casual multicolored kimono. Zoe wondered if she put a lot of thought into what she wore or if it was just a talent of hers, looking effortlessly cool. “I was just … taking a minute. It’s Jake’s birthday, we’re having a gathering. Did you want to join us?”

“Thanks, but I’m okay.”

Kate nodded slowly, perching on the arm of the wicker sofa. “Did you see your mother today?”

Zoe shook her head.

“She’s doing better, Zoe. She’ll be fine to come home tomorrow.”

“Will she be in pain?” Zoe asked.

“She’ll have to rest for a week or so,” Kate said. “No heavy lifting. She should stay in bed, or on the couch.”

“I’ll download some Leo DiCaprio films,” Zoe said. She thought of the time they’d watched Gatsby and her mom had actually moaned when Leo came onto the screen. “Mom loves Leo.”

Kate smiled. “Who doesn’t love Leo?”

Zoe shrugged. She didn’t tell her that she thought Leo was old and a little wrinkly.

“So did you finish your assignment?” Kate asked her.

“I … think so.”

“What’s it about?”

“A debate. My side is arguing that we should call teachers by their first names. I’m the first speaker.”