“If you can come in tomorrow, we can discuss palliative care.”
A sob ripped its way out of my throat. Palliative care, end of life. “I’ll be in tomorrow, but we won’t be talking about that until we have exhausted every single other option,” I said with more force than I felt.
“Of course. Good evening, Mrs.—”
I cut the call off before he finished. I didn’t want to be called that. I couldn’t stand to be called his wife when he had let my sister and me down so badly. How could he do that to me? How? A choking sob ripped its way out of my throat.
“Amy.” Mrs. Coles went around me, and I crumpled in her arms. “Oh, sweet girl, it’s going to be OK. All of it. You’ll see, Alexei will fix this.”
At the sound of his name, I pulled away, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand. Alexei didn’t believe that he was thereason this was happening, and if my sister died, I would never forgive him.
“He didn’t—”
Reaction flooded her face and made it a mask of horror. “It must have been a mistake. Talk to him. He will make it better. He wouldn’t let you down like that. Just go and talk to him.”
“You think I should?” I couldn’t help but remember the way he had been looking at Violet as they danced.
“Amy, he is your husband. He will want to know.” She smiled down at me. “Now wipe those tears.”
I did what she asked because what other choice did I have? I couldn’t just blame Alexei without knowing the whole truth. That wouldn’t be fair to him when he had done so much for me.
“Alexei.” I touched his arm softly, and the crowd around him went silent. All eyes on me. I knew they could see I had been crying.
“What is it, Amy?” Alexei barely looked at me.
“I’ve just had some bad news from the hospital,” I said in a whisper. “Can we go somewhere and talk in private, please?”
His head snapped around to me. Catching sight of my red-rimmed eyes, his face fell. “What’s happened?”
“No, I mean, there was a mix-up with the transplant and—” I fought back the urge to cry again. The lump in my throat was so big I could barely breathe.
“Alexei, darling, do you remember that time in Paris when—” Violet sidled up to him, her hand sliding into the crook of his arm. “Oh, Amy. You will love this story,” she gushed.
“Yeah, I remember.” My husband turned his attention away from me.
“Akexei,” I tried again.
“Not now, Amy. It’s my birthday, and you’ve done such an amazing job with this party. Let me enjoy it.”
Violet’s smile was sly. “It is the most adorable little gathering. Don’t you think? So anyway.” She went back into her story, her beautiful face animated, and everyone’s attention turned to her and ignored me.
“Alexei, this is important,” I hissed.
“I know, Amy, and I promise you, I will deal with your little problem tomorrow.”
My eyebrows shot down. My sister dying wasn’t a little problem. It was a great big problem.
I bristled, anger bubbling up to the surface.
“Go to bed, Amy.” Alexei softly slid his fingers up my cheek, and I leaned into his hand. Even that small touch gave me so much comfort. “You look exhausted, and I don’t think you are having fun here. We will talk tomorrow at some point.” Bending down, he pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.
“Please, Alexei.” I hated begging. He didn’t notice he had already turned back to his group. Taking a deep breath, I plastered my face with a smile and moved through the room.
“Amy?” hanging on her husband’s arm, Gabriella called after me. Her eyes flickered between the group and me. I had just left, and all the blood rushed from her face. I turned to find her gaze.
My husband had another woman in his arms. The only woman he had ever loved, in fact, and they were laughing as they danced.
And he looked impossibly happy.
