Chapter 4 - What the Divorce Cost Her
Sophie was furious with Dr. Brooks.
I could see it immediately.
“You didn't have to tell him that.”
“He asked.”
“It isn't his problem.”
I stood.
“Yes, it is.”
Sophie looked at me.
“No, Ethan.”
“Yes.”
“You signed papers making sure it wasn't.”
The sentence struck cleanly.
I sat again.
Dr. Brooks watched both of us.
“There is another practical issue.”
Sophie sighed.
“Please don't.”
Dr. Brooks ignored her.
“Her insurance situation changed after the divorce.”
I stared at Sophie.
“What happened?”
“I handled it.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“I lost coverage through your military plan.”
I already knew that.
What I hadn't known was what came next.
“My employer's insurance has a high deductible.”
“How high?”
“Ethan.”
“How high?”
She looked away.
Dr. Brooks answered instead.
“High enough that Sophie delayed one scan and canceled an appointment with a specialist.”
Anger rose in me.
Not at her.
At myself.
“At any point,” I said, “did you think about telling me?”
She laughed once.
“You mean after the calls you wouldn't answer?”
I shut my mouth.
She was right.
Again.
Dr. Brooks placed a folder on the table.
“None of that changes what we do now.”
“What do we do?”
“We admit Sophie tonight.”
Sophie straightened.
“No.”
The doctor didn't flinch.
“Yes.”
“I have things at home.”
“You have a fever.”
“It's barely a fever.”
“Your blood counts are concerning.”
“I can come back tomorrow.”
“Sophie.”
Something in the doctor's voice changed.
Not louder.
Harder.
“You are done postponing this.”
Sophie stared at her.
Then her eyes filled.
“I can't afford to be admitted.”
I felt something inside me break.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
The way ice breaks beneath too much weight.
I reached for the folder.
“I'll pay.”
“No.”
“Sophie.”
“No.”
“I have savings.”
“I don't want your money.”
“It isn't charity.”
“What is it?”
I didn't know how to answer.
Guilt?
Love?
Duty?
A desperate attempt to repair something money could never repair?
“It's yours.”
Her expression hardened.
“No, it isn't.”
“Half of everything in our marriage should have been yours.”
“I took what I wanted.”
“One suitcase.”
“I didn't want anything else.”
“You left your books.”
“I bought more.”
“You left your grandmother's dishes.”
“I didn't have room.”
“You left your wedding photos.”
That silenced both of us.
Dr. Brooks looked away.
Sophie whispered, “I couldn't take them.”
“Why?”
Her eyes found mine.
“Because I was trying to survive you.”
I felt my face go cold.
She looked immediately regretful.
But she didn't take it back.
And she shouldn't have.
I nodded.
“Then let me do one thing that doesn't require you to forgive me.”
She shook her head.
“What?”
“Let me make sure you get treated.”
Her chin trembled.
“You can't fix this.”
“I know.”
That was the first true thing I had said all afternoon.
“I know I can't.”
I leaned toward her.
“But I can stay.”
Sophie stared at me for a long time.
Then she whispered, “Tonight.”
I nodded.
“Tonight.”
May you like
I didn't know it yet.
But that single night would become the first step back into a life I thought I had already destroyed.
