PART 6: After I gave birth to our triplets, my husband walked into my hospital room with his mistress at his side, proudly carrying a luxury bag. 14009
Priya had advised me to allow calls to go to voicemail, but something in me wanted to hear his voice when he realized I was no longer alone.
I answered and placed the phone on speaker.
“What are you doing?” Kenneth demanded.
Samuel blinked up at me, unaware of the anger spilling through the room.
“I’m feeding your son.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m responding to the papers you brought to my hospital bed.”
“The order on the house is unnecessary.”
“Then why did you forge my signature?”
There was a pause.
“I didn’t forge anything.”
“I was in the hospital on the date the deed says I appeared before Marilyn.”
“That can be explained.”
“How?”
Another silence.
When Kenneth spoke again, his voice was calmer.
It was the tone he used with clients when he needed them to believe a disaster was only a misunderstanding.
“Katherine, we’re both emotional. Brenda shouldn’t have come to the hospital. That was a mistake.”
My mother stopped beside the counter.
“But you should have?” I asked.
“I was trying to be honest.”
“No. You were trying to make me feel powerless.”
“That’s not fair.”
I looked down at Samuel’s tiny hand curled around my finger.
For years, Kenneth had used that sentence whenever I named something he had done.
That’s not fair.
As though the real injury was my refusal to accept his version of events.
“Do you want to speak about the babies?” I asked.
“They’re fine.”
“You haven’t asked about their health.”
“They’re with you.”
“That is not an answer.”
He exhaled sharply.
“Call off your father.”
“My father isn’t handling the divorce. My attorney is.”
“Don’t be naive. Andrew has wanted to ruin me from the beginning.”
“My father did not sign my name to a deed.”
“You have no idea what your parents are capable of.”
The words were meant to unsettle me.
They succeeded, though I refused to let him hear it.
“Speak to Priya from now on.”
“Katherine—”
I ended the call.
My hand shook after I set down the phone.
My mother took Samuel from me and placed him gently against her shoulder.
May you like
“You did well,” she said.
“I don’t feel like I did.”
