Ashes in Hand, Divorce in Tow

Gerard's yelling jerked Nadine awake.

She latched onto my shirt, bawling.

She was still so tiny—her cries barely made a sound, but damn, they hurt.

I rocked her, whispering nonsense, hoping it'd help.

Gerard? Just stood there, arms crossed, looking like I was the problem.

Then Peggy called.

"Honey, when are you coming back? The food sucked. I want your cooking."

Like magic, his whole vibe changed.

"Babe, what do you want? I'll hit the store now."

He started listing dishes, then grabbed his coat and dipped.

Outside, rain was coming down hard.

He walked straight into it, umbrella up, all in for Peggy.

I stayed behind, holding our crying kid, shivering as the cold seeped in.

***

After the party, Peggy stopped me, all smug, waving her phone.

She couldn't figure out why I looked shaken when she called Gerard earlier.

She unlocked her profile and tilted the screen toward me.

"Danielle, what was that look for? Don't tell me you didn't know Gerard and I have been together for almost two years?"

I didn't answer. Couldn't.

She rolled her eyes and shoved her phone in my face.

"So what if you have a kid? You still couldn't keep his heart!"

Her feed? A Gerard highlight reel.

Every post screamed 'he's mine.'

Two years ago:

[Finally got the guy I like! Chased him forever. He only told me he liked me too after he said yes.]

While I was pregnant:

[Boyfriend kept rubbing my belly today. I asked if I was getting fat—he kissed me and said no. Then, teary-eyed, he asked when we'd have a baby of our own. I told him I was scared, and he said we didn't have to.]

Four months ago—two months after Nadine was born:

[He brought up having kids again. I pouted and said I didn't want to give birth, just wanted to play with a baby. Then he actually brought one to me! But that's when I realized, it's not just babies I like—I want a baby that's ours.]

I bit my lip so hard it split.

With blurry eyes, I tapped open the photo from Peggy's last post. My chest caved in.

Nadine—my sweet, carefully watched-over Nadine—had been snatched by Gerard and handed to Peggy behind my back.

In the pic, Peggy was holding a flower to her nose. Nadine's skin? Covered in red splotches.

Heart racing, I pulled Nadine close. Guilt and panic clawed at me. Sleep was out of the question.

That damn bouquet from Gerard? It triggered the same rash—red dots flaring up everywhere.

It hit fast. She was already wheezing.

Her face was puffing up. I gave her her meds, but they weren't working.

I bolted out, half-blind with fear, searching for Raphael.

"Mrs. Busch, Mr. Busch has ordered that you are not to leave the house at night."