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“Youdon’tknow?”Betty immediately caughton,her voice sharp with irritation. “I booked a two–day retreat at Quillan’s Peak
foryouandJayson! When I asked him yesterday, he said he’d already given you the tickets.”
Ariel was stunned. Jayson hadn’t mentioned a word to her.
Clearly,he had no intention of going on a trip with her and had simply told Betty what she wanted to hear.
“Grandma,I had something come up,so-”
“It’s the weekend! What could be so urgent? Don’t cover for that brat. Listen to me. Head over there now.I’vealready made all
the arrangements.I’ll give himapush.”
Ariel tried to stop her.“Grandma, actually,Jayson and I-”
“What aboutyoutwo?” Betty’s tone softened again.
It was obvious that she had no idea that Ariel and Jayson were about to get divorced.
Jayson hadn’t informed his family yet?
Otherwise, why would Betty still be planning a couple’s getaway for them?
Ariel felt a headache coming on.
Betty had unstable blood pressure and a heart condition. Was Jayson waiting for the right moment to ease her into the truth?
If that was the case, then spilling everything now might send Betty into a health crisis. Ariel didn’t want to be responsible for
that.
The divorce papers were already signed anyway. All that was left was making it official. There would be time for Bettyto
acceptit.
After a moment of careful thought, Ariel said, “It’s nothing,Grandma. I’ll go now. He already told me about it.”
Aslong as Betty was reassured, that was enough. She had no intention of actually going.
ButBetty wasn’t giving her a choice. “I’ll arrange for a car to take you. The driver knows the way. Young couples need freshexperiences! Use this trip to rekindleyourbond. Maybe by the end of the year, I’ll have a chubby great–grandchild tohold!”
Her voice was filled with hopeful anticipation.
Bettydidn’teven give Ariel a chance to refuse. She hung up and immediately started making arrangements.
Ariel rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Sheknewexactlywhat Bettywasthinking.
Threeyearsof marriage,andanyonecouldsee that Ariel’s relationship with Jayson had been lukewarm atbest.
Especiallysince,inallthat time,there hadbeenno children.Fortraditional elders,that was hard to accept.
This was why,forthepastthreeyears, Ariel hadusedtheexcuseofcarryingonthe Larkin family linetosleepwithJaysonduring her ovulation period everymonth.
The restofthetime, he had nointerestintouching her.
Jayson wasinexcellenthealth. Duringthatone week each month,theirroutine wasset–threetimes a night.Everytime,helasteduntillateintothenight.
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She could barely keep up with that intensity.
And yet, she had never conceived.
At first, she had thought it was due to an old injurytoher uterus that made pregnancy difficult. She had believedthat, with
treatment, things would eventually work out.
But now,after her endometrial cancer diagnosis, any hope she had was completely crushed.
Betty worked quickly.
The driver contacted Ariel before long. She gave him a pickup location near a convenience store,carefully avoiding revealing the fact that she and Jayson were already living apart.
She had no idea what Jayson’s plans were regarding their divorce,so she decided to play it safe fornow.
Onthe ride there, Ariel didn’t bother informing Jayson.
She figured if he hadn’t told her about the trip, it meant he had no intention of spending it with her. He probably wasn’teven
going.
So, she might as well go alone for a couple of days to appease Betty. Plus, it’d be a good chance tounwind.
Quillan’s Peak had a high–altitude resort with cozy lodgings, a ski area, and breathtaking views of the sunrise over the
mountains.
After checking in, Ariel pushed her suitcase toward her room, only to freeze at the sight ahead.
Jayson and Nancy had just returned from outside, walking side by side, chatting about something.Nancy’s eyes crinkled in
laughter.
Ariel’s eyes flickered. This scene hit her like a slap in the face.
Jayson’s gaze darkened slightly when he saw her, but his face remained emotionless.
Nancy, on the other hand, smiled, as if she found the whole situation amusing.
Ariel felt a wave of humiliation rise in her chest.
What were they thinking of her right now?
“Jayson, where’s the roomkey?”Nancy didn’t greet Ariel, nor did she feel the need to.
Jayson handedNancythe key. She walked straight into the adjacent room, leaving the dooropen–clearly an invitationfor
him to follow.
They were sharing a room?
Jaysonturnedto Ariel“Grandmatoldyou?”
Ariel’svoicewas steady.“Yes.”
“Maybeyoushould switch rooms.” Hisgazewas cold likeice.
Itwasphrased like a suggestion,butthe tone was undeniablyassertive.
Ariel understood immediately.
HeandNancywerestayingrightnextdoor. Iftheywantedtodoanythingintimate, the ideaofher–thestill–officialwife-beingjustawallawaymustdisgusthim.
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Ariel came here all theway,butshe was the one being inconsiderate.
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