My husband forgot to hang up, believing the call had ended — the moment I heard what he truly thought of me, I planned a little surprise he would never forget.

“And you?” Sierra asked.

“What about me?”

“You keep saying you’ll leave.”

A pause.

Then his voice softened.

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“Of course. I told you, I want to be with you.”

Sophie shifted in my arms.

I bounced her automatically.

Then Elon said, “I barely touch her anymore. I can’t stand being around her half the time.”

“I told you, I want to be with you.”

My mouth went dry.

Sierra murmured something.

Elon laughed again.

“Of course I hate her.”

I stared at my daughter.

Her eyes had closed.

“I’ll  divorce her,” he said. “Then I’ll marry you.”

A kissing sound came through the speaker.

My hand finally moved.

I ended the call.

For a few seconds, I stared at the dark screen.

“I’ll divorce her.”

Then Sophie made a hungry little noise.

I picked up her bottle and tightened the lid twice.