Blessings of Love
Chapter 1
I took a tumble down the stairs.
The baby… it didn’t make it.
The nurse kept asking where my husband
was.
Without even thinking, I was making excuses
for him.
I was lying there, all alone in that hospital
bed, feeling life drain away.
Then I checked my phone and saw a post
from my husband’s best bud:
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“Easy living when the ball and chain isn’t
around! Good looking out, Chad, taking care
of Tiffany!”
Attached was a picture of Chad staring all
doe–eyed at his childhood sweetheart,
Tiffany, who was hooked up to an IV in a
hospital bed.
I hit “like” on the post, and it was gone
almost instantly.
Then Chad texted, all careful and apologetic.
I just laughed. “Have fun.”
Chad freaked out. “Lindsey, why aren’t you
grilling me about this?”
Г
I’d rushed home to surprise Chad for our
anniversary and took that stupid fall.
Earlier, I’d asked him to pick me up from the
office.
I was so excited to give him the flowers |
bought.
But he texted back, cold as ice: “Guys‘ night
tonight. Grab something easy.”
Then he added, like he knew I wouldn’t like it,
“Just the usual crew, people I’ve known
forever.”
It felt like I’d been doused in ice water.
I threw the flowers in the trash and called a
<
The doctor asked where my family was. “He’s
in a meeting,” I blurted out.
It sounded pathetic, even to me.
So, I changed my answer. “Sorry, I’m basically
widowed.”
The D&C was fine, nothing I couldn’t handle.
But it felt like someone had scooped
something out of me, left this hollow space
inside.
On the way home, I saw Chad’s truck heading
toward the hospital.
I almost texted him to ask if everything was
okay.
But then I saw his friend’s post: “Easy living
L
when the ball and chain isn’t around! Good
looking out, Chad, taking care of Tiffany!”
Tiffany was one of those guys he’d grown up
with. Four guys, one girl.
Everyone always said Chad and Tiffany were
made for each other. If she hadn’t gotten
scammed into marrying some European dude,
I wouldn’t have stood a chance with Chad.
When Tiffany got divorced and came back to
the States with her kid, I became the evil
home–wrecker.
They’d never blame Tiffany for ditching Chad.
It was all my fault for getting in the way.
Their little group liked to party till all hours. I
used to call Chad to come home because his
<
They hated me for it. Called me the “ball and
chain” behind my back.
When they came over, they treated me like
their personal maid.
And now Chad had chosen them over me,
again.
Fine. At least I wouldn’t be a sucker anymore.
I “liked” the post. His friend deleted it quick,
like he forgot I was on his friends list.
Three in the morning, Chad finally stumbles
in, reeking of beer and cheap perfume. He
futzes around in the kitchen, then quietly
pushes open the bedroom door.
He saw I was awake. He looked guilty for a
split second, then smiled and tucked the
blanket around me.
“No hangover cure tonight?”
I just grunted.
The smell of the perfume was stronger than
the booze. It made me gag.
He sighed, started to say something, then
stopped. “You’re pregnant. Get some rest.”
I went to the office early the next day.
Whatever was going on with my marriage, I
couldn’t let it affect my job.
Since I had been so busy taking care of Chad,
I used to be late to the office, so the manager
was surprised I was there so early.
After the morning meeting, she pulled me
aside.
“Lindsey, there’s an opportunity to work at
one of our international offices. I was
wondering if you’d be interested.”
“I’ve always admired your work ethic, but I
was just worried about…”
She trailed off, but I knew what she meant. I
cut her off. “I’d love the opportunity.”
“Really?”
She looked surprised, maybe even a little worried. “I think I saw you throwing away
some flowers last night, did you and Chad get
I laughed.
