Reese, your vows still echoed in my ears. How could you treat me like this now?
Was your so-called love nothing more than pity? A transaction?
I didn’t know when I had dozed off on the couch. When I opened my eyes again, morning light poured through the window. My head was heavy, my nose stuffy, and I must’ve caught a chill after sleeping in the cold all night.
Suddenly, Reese opened the bedroom door, her voice bright and cheerful as she answered a call.
"Yes, yes, just follow the location I sent. Four cleaners right away; the sooner, the better. I’ve got relatives arriving this morning. I can pay extra if needed."
Relatives? I stared at her in confusion. Most of her relatives had already severed ties with us, and mine had long been out of the picture.
A strange unease crept into my chest, coiling tighter with each passing second.
No, it couldn’t be. She had just said yesterday that the white guy wouldn’t be coming to the U.S.
She promised she wouldn’t stir up our lives.
Watching Reese bustle around, light on her feet and humming softly, I asked, my voice laced with doubt, "Reese, who’s coming over?"
She froze for a beat as if only just remembering I was still there. Then, with an awkward smile, she walked over and spoke in a soft, careful tone.
"Matteo, I’m sorry. Evander suddenly decided to come with the kids last night. He only told me after boarding the plane. I couldn’t stop him."
"You know how he is, impulsive and emotional. Don’t be mad, okay?"
She slipped her arm around me, her touch light as she patted my back.
"Don’t worry. They’ll only stay a couple of days. I’ll send him back right away, alright?"
"Don’t be upset. I’ve got so much to prepare, rooms, supplies for the kids, so many things..."
She paused, then added casually, "Oh, right, Evander wants to try some American specialty liquors. Could you run to the supermarket and grab a few types? He also wants to try some local food, so get those too. I really can’t spare the time."
"And pick up the best pajamas and toiletries for them," she added with a wave of her hand as if it were no big deal.
As she spoke, she directed the cleaners, organizing them to freshen up our bedroom, changing the sheets and carpets.
My eyes widened as I watched them start moving my things out of the master bedroom and into the guest room downstairs.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The words exploded out of me.