Chapter 18 Not Coming Home With Her (1)
Eliana was surprised. “You’re not at the hospital anymore?”
“I make time to be with you.”
Eliana’s heart swelled with love. “Wait a sec-” She hurriedly put away her textbooks, tidied up her appearance, and said into the phone, “Okay, I’ll be right out.”
After hanging up, she wanted to run.
But remembering the baby in her belly, she slowed her pace..
When Eliana reached the gates, she immediately spotted a familiar car parked at the curb a few meters up the street. She quickly walked over.
The driver got out and respectfully opened the door for her.
As Eliana got in the car, she saw Samuel wasn’t wearing a suit, just 501s and a white Tee. He looked clean–cut, manly. She softly called out, “Samuel.”
“Okay Eli, what do you want to eat?” Samuel reached out to smooth her messy bangs, his voice gentle.
Eliana casually replied, “Something light, anything is fine. Can we go to that little Greek place?”
The salads there were amazing. Plus she had read online that pregnant women should avoid certain rich meats, and unpasteurized cheeses.
Samuel nodded,” Mykonos? Sure,” he said, and told the driver to take them there.
They found the restaurant, tucked away and hidden at the end of a quiet street and below a striped green awning.
Eliana studied her menu. “I love this set lunch,” she said, “We had it before, with the couscous and tzatziki dip.” Samuel called over the server and ordered. He ordered for himself.
When the dishes came, Eliana looked puzzled, “Samuel, you ordered so much. How can just the two of us finish it all?” She counted eleven separate dishes. All yummy but rather a lot.
“Try to eat as much as you can,” Samuel said. “I’ve noticed you’ve gotten thinner lately. Is it because you’re unhappy and can’t eat?”
Eliana looked at her husband beside her and saw that he looked worn out too.
She knew he was working hard, working during the day and going to the hospital at night to be with Chloe. She didn’t dare to blame him, nor did she feel entitled to any complaints. She didn’t want to argue with him, she wanted to be reasonable. She knew that some things were bound to happen, so she just went with the flow.
Samuel looked at her small face with a pained expression. “Eli, I know you mind Chloe, and it’s my fault for not telling you about her before. If you’re feeling-
Eliana interrupted him, suddenly having a bad feeling. “What are you trying to tell me?”
Even though she had tried to take everything lightly, she was still afraid of certain things happening. Eliana spooned some hummus onto her sourdough bread.
Chapter 18 Not Coming Home With Her (2)
Samuel looked at her and said, “Chloe’s injuries are healing quickly, but temporary blindness remains. The doctor suggested she go home to rest properly. I should support her at home for a little while.”
He was trying to be gentle, she could hear it in his tone, but Eliana felt her chest tighten, almost unable to breathe. She set the spoon and bread down on her plate.
She thought, so he took the initiative to pick her up from school for lunch, just to tell her this? How could he be so cruel?”
Her husband, the father of her child, was going to stay with another woman.
Eliana lowered her head, looking at the dishes of colorful foods blurring in front of her eyes.
Samuel rested his hand over hers, looking at her pitiful expression. He couldn’t bear it and continued, “So-”
She couldn’t help but ask, “Let me ask you something Samuel, what exactly do you owe Chloe? Why does someone as powerful as you have to accommodate her like this?”
Samuel wasn’t inclined to mention the impulsive and life–changing mistake from his youth.
He looked at his wife, hesitated for a while, then changed the subject. “Alright, let’s not talk about her. Let’s eat. It’s delicious, Eli, Good choice.” He plucked an olive from a bowl and popped it in his mouth.
Seeing that he didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t press further.
She refused to let that woman spoil lunch with Samuel, and determined to enjoy her favorite dishes, she smiled at him and finished spooning the yogurt and cucumber dip. “Ooh, taramasalata,” she said.
There were tears in her eyes, but she squeezed shut her eyes, gave a little sniff, and munched on her bread.
Samuel had stopped eating.
Eliana looked up and watched him. Her voice a bit hoarse, she asked, “Aren’t you eating, Samuel? You seem to have lost weight too.”
“I think you were right. I did order too much,” he said, surveilling the table crowded with plates.
But Eliana insisted he eat, lifting the salad bowl. “Come on, eat with me, you love Greek salads.”
Only then did Samuel reluctantly take a few bites.
After eating. Eliana asked again, “So tonight you won’t be coming home with me either, you’ll go be with her?”
“I think so
He didn’t deny it.
“Then you should go quickly. I’ll take a taxi back to school later,”
Eliana urged, trying hard to hold back her bitterness, feeling a bit resentful, but buoyed up by the flavors of her meal.
She turned her head away, not wanting to look at him. She still felt angry, but she refused to yell at him or throw a tantrum.
Samuel was a perceptive person. How could he not know what she was feeling?
Samuel put down his fork and reached across and touched her hand.
Eliana kept all her anger bottled up inside. But with the sensation of his fingertips usually making her giddy, this time she couldn’t control herself and suddenly swatted his hand away.
She whispered fiercely to him, “Don’t touch me! You want to be with her? Just go.”
