“You don’t get to keep hiding behind ‘later,’ Mark.”
I felt my heart pounding.
“What are you two talking about?”
Mark closed his eyes.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Claire said,
“Your husband has been supporting me because he believes he owes me something.”
I looked at Mark.
“Owes you what?”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Everything.”
Mark’s face tightened.
“Claire, stop.”
“No. She deserves to know.”
I stepped closer.
“Know what?”
Claire looked at me.
“When Mark and I divorced, we didn’t tell everyone the real reason.”
I felt a chill run through me.
“What was the real reason?”
Claire looked at Mark.
He whispered,
“Don’t.”
She ignored him.
“Mark didn’t leave me because he stopped loving me.”
My stomach dropped.
“Then why did you divorce?”
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I couldn’t have children.”
Silence.
I looked at Mark.
He looked down.
Claire continued.
“We spent years trying. Doctors. Treatments. Specialists. Everything.”
