Chapter 7:
After a while, he spoke: “If something’s bothering you, just say it. Don’t act like a
mute.”
Emma’s voice was calm as still water: “Nothing’s wrong. You misunderstood – like you said, I was just joking.”
This feeling of punching cotton left James nearly unraveled. Not knowing how to handle it, he changed the subject.
“Why did you start folding paper cranes?”
He walked to the bedside and picked up the glass jar containing two paper cranes. Emma didn’t turn around, speaking slowly: “Oh, I was just bored.”
James remembered how Emma had once folded a thousand cranes for his birthday when they were young. But it had been so long ago he’d forgotten where he’d put
them.
While lost in thought, Lucy called.
Her voice was hoarse and tearful,
“What should I do, James? I ate something bad and lost my voice. I’m supposed to record my new song tomorrow – I don’t know what to do!”
James immediately comforted her: “Don’t worry, I’m coming right now. Don’t
panic.”
Hanging up, he explained to Emma: “You heard it’s work–related. She’s really
stressed.”
With that, he left.
Emma got up and threw back the covers, starting to pack up the house.
Some things she couldn’t take or send home would go to her best friend Sarah’s
place.
This was when Emma finally told Sarah about the divorce.
Sarah was shocked: “Divorce? Really? Will your parents allow it?”
Emma laughed bitterly: “If I don’t divorce him now, his mistress will show up pregnant demanding to be his wife.”
Sarah spoke gently: “It’s okay, come quickly. You don’t need to fear anything when
I’m here.”
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Emma’s nose stung with emotion.
At this point in her life, her best friend was still her safe harbor.
She took a deep breath, quickly composing herself.
The moving company arrived promptly. She packed several furniture pieces she’d designed herself.
If she hadn’t married James, she’d be a famous designer by now.
Next came clothes, summer items ready for international shipping.
Emma spent three days packing while James hadn’t come home once.
On the third night, Emma got a call from James’s phone – but it was Lucy calling. “Mrs. Foster, please come quickly. Mr. Foster is drunk at the celebration party.”
Emma then remembered seeing on social media that today was Lucy’s new song release and her twenty–second birthday.
James had probably gotten carried away celebrating.
After some thought, Emma went.
The private room was chaos alcohol fumes everywhere, a five–tier cream cake toppled on the floor.
James was passed out on the couch, beside an unattended mini skirt.
Lucy’s clothes were disheveled. She smiled awkwardly at Emma: “Thank goodness. you’re here, Mrs. Foster. Mr. Foster is drunk and I can’t drive. I really didn’t know
what to do.”
Emma didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the diamond ring on Lucy’s left ring finger.
It was an engagement ring.
Emma’s heart clenched.
She was certain because Lucy’s ring matched James’s perfectly.
Emma’s ring had been lost a year ago. She’d kept asking James to buy her an
identical replacement, but he always forgot.
The ring she’d been yearning for was on Lucy’s finger.
In this moment, Emma felt she’d hit rock bottom.
Looking around at the five–tier cake and the massive bouquet of roses in the
corner,
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07
she suddenly understood.
This wasn’t a celebration party it was James’s proposal to Lucy.
Emma laughed coldly and called a car service to take James to a hotel. Lucy was completely surprised by Emma’s decision.
She asked bewildered: “Why not take Mr. Foster home?”
Emma walked toward the door, smiling as she said: “No one wants to bring their
ex–husband home.”
20
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