“What are you asking?”
“Permission to call the person conducting it. He should hear the truth from us.”
The ceremony was six weeks away, with Duncan’s christening the next morning. Invitations had already gone out.
Byron was still arguing in the hallway.
“He should hear the truth from us.”
“Call,” I said. “Tell him there’ll be no vow renewal.”
Thomas nodded and stepped outside.
***
Five minutes later, Thomas opened the door and looked at me.
“He wants to speak to Byron.”
I nodded.
Thomas stepped back into the hallway and held out the phone.
Thomas nodded.
“Take it.”
Byron glanced at the screen. “Who is this?”
His expression changed the moment he heard the voice.
“I can explain.”
Thomas stayed between him and my door.
Byron listened, then lowered his voice.
“Who is this?”
“The ceremony is between me and my wife.”
The reply carried through the partly open doorway.
“A vow isn’t decoration, Byron. You don’t repeat one after breaking it.”
Byron looked into my room.
I held his gaze until Nurse Patricia closed the door.
“A vow isn’t decoration, Byron.”
***
Later that evening, after Byron and Mary had left, I opened the Notes app on my phone and typed three lines.
Protect Duncan.Protect my recovery.Stop protecting Byron.
***
The next morning, Nurse Patricia came in after checking the hallway.
“Mary’s asking to see you,” she said. “I can send her away.”
I adjusted Duncan against my chest.
“Give her five minutes.”
