Cheater, liar, bad husband.
But Sophie knew his voice. He loved making her kick her feet.
He could betray me and still love her.
I had to live with both truths.
The next evening, Elon sat on the edge of our bed while I folded Sophie’s laundry.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“About?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t rush back to work.”
I looked up.
My maternity leave was almost over.
We’d always planned for me to return.
“Why?”
“Childcare is expensive. We’re doing fine on my salary.”
“I make good money too.”
“I know. But why go back just to hand half of it to somebody else?”
“My job isn’t just a bill-paying exercise, Elon.”
“Sophie’s tiny, Maddie.”
Guilt landed exactly where he meant it to.
“I know.”
“You could stay home longer.”
Before the phone call, I might’ve heard love in that.
