Why should I be the one to raise someone else’s child?
I was done playing the fool.
My brother arranged for me to meet with a lawyer friend to discuss divorce. Since he knew I was in a bad mood, he set the meeting in a private room upstairs in a bar.
Partway through, the lawyer excused himself to the restroom. But when he came back, his expression was off.
“Mr. Bowman, what’s wrong?” my brother asked.
The lawyer hesitated, but then narrated, “Uh… Mrs. Higgins, I just passed by the next private room. I saw a man and a woman kissing, and I thought I heard your name mentioned. I can’t be sure, but I think the man might’ve been your husband.”
Even though I’d already prepared myself for this, my chest still tightened when I peeked in and saw Phyll holding Barbara, kissing her like his life depended on it.
Barbara was clearly drunk, perched on his lap with tears in her eyes.
“Phyll, why do you think I told you I wanted a child with you? Because I want to marry you, you idiot!” she cried. “I’ve loved you since we were kids, all these years. But I never dared to confess. I was afraid you’d reject me, afraid we wouldn’t even stay friends.”
She sniffled and continued, “If I’d known Sabrina would steal you away, I would’ve been braver. Phyll, I love you so much.”
Phyll’s eyes filled with pity as he listened to her, then he answered her with a kiss that dragged on for three whole minutes.
Others in the room chimed in, egging her on.
“Exactly! If Barbara had confessed earlier, that broke Sabrina wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“Poor Barbara, and Sabrina gets to act innocent like she didn’t do anything wrong. Remember how she humiliated Barbara the other day? Phyll, you’ve got to stand up for her.”
Phyll finally pulled back, panting, his voice hoarse. “And how exactly should I stand up for her?”
“Tomorrow’s your son’s three-month birthday party, isn’t it?” one of them said. “Don’t show up. Let Sabrina deal with the guests and the baby on her own. See if it doesn’t break her.”
Another added with a laugh, “Not just that. You and Barbara should spend the whole day in a private room next door, just to rub it in.”
Barbara’s face flushed. “I’d like that. I’ll even wear that lingerie tomorrow, just for you. I promise, it’ll be better than Sabrina, who’s already had a kid.”