In the dark of night, I had been so sure this was the answer. This was going to save my wife. As I climbed in bed beside her, I realized that I hadn’t lost the fight, because it wasn’t my fight to win or lose. It was Greer’s. If this was what she wanted, then I had to take it like a man. Because it was her cancer. It was her choice.
Standing in front of the door to Amelia’s apartment that early morning, after that cab ride, I still wasn’t sure what I would say. But I guessed that, like Greer, I had a limited amount of time. And maybe I should get on with living.
One thing was for sure: I missed Amelia. I missed her face. I missed her smile. I missed the way she looked at me like she understood me even better than I understood myself. I was going to lead with my heart.
I was about to knock when the door opened, seemingly of its own accord. It wasn’t Amelia. And it wasn’t Martin.
I was getting ready to say that I must have the wrong apartment when Amelia appeared in her bathrobe.
“Parker?” she asked. She looked confused. “What are you doing here?”
Now I was racking my brain. Was this guy with Martin?
“Um,” I started. “I wanted to talk to you.”
She raised her eyebrows.
The man in the suit stood awkwardly in the doorway and then said, “Well, I’ll call you, Amelia.”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to it.” Amelia smiled giddily, and I wanted to punch this guy. He was definitely not with Martin.
He shook my hand and smacked me on the back. He had declared war.
Amelia tightened her robe string and put her hands up likeWhat in the world?Then she gestured for me to come in.
She shut the door behind me and led me over to a Lucite table with a gold base and two chairs. Jesus, this place was gaudy. “I was just getting ready to make some coffee,” she said, ignoring the elephant in the room.
“Sure,” I said. “With—”
“Two sugars, Parker. I know.”
Her tone wasn’t angry exactly, but it wasn’t friendly, either. It was a tone I had never heard from her. Like a stranger.
“Did I just walk into something here?” I asked.
She turned to me, leaning on the small expanse of counter, and bit her lip almost guiltily. That was when I noticed how hot she was when she had just woken up. Bedhead suited her.
Before she could answer, Martin’s voice preceded him into the tiny kitchen. “Good morning, beautiful people!” he trilled.
He was already in his suit and perfectly coiffed. He stopped when he saw me. “Oh. Not the beautiful person I was expecting.”
I stood up and hugged him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
I nodded my head toward Amelia. “Just came to talk to this one.”
“Ah,” he said, looking almost embarrassed for me. It was not my favorite look on him.
He kissed Amelia on the cheek and said, “Actually, I think I’m going to grab my coffee on the way.”
I saw him mouth,Call me, to her.
She poured boiling water over a funnel/strainer combination filled with grounds, which was way fancier than my Nespresso.
She stirred in my two sugars and said, “Not to be rude, Parker, but I need to get ready for work.”
I shook my head. “No, you don’t. I mean, you do, but it’s okay if you’re late.”
