Chapter 10: Mine

Lana's POV

I did the math at my sister's kitchen table after Junie fell asleep.

Eli was eight. His birthday was in early March, and Mona had mentioned it once at a barbecue.

Nine years ago in June, I had lost the baby.

I could still see the hospital ceiling, the paper gown, the folded form that gave the date.

Brad had not come that day.

He had a client emergency, he said, and he would meet me at home.

He came at midnight. He slept on his side of the bed and did not touch me.

The next week he started working late on Wednesdays.

I did not write anything down. I just sat there with a pencil in my hand.

My sister put a cup of tea next to my elbow and sat down across from me.

"Say it," she said.

"Eli is his."

She did not tell me I was wrong.

In the morning I took Junie to school as usual.

I waited at the fence until the first bell rang and the children went inside.

Brad's truck pulled into the lot at eight-twenty.

He got out and went around to the passenger door and helped Mona down, one hand under her elbow.

She wore a soft green coat. She was smiling at something he said.

Eli climbed out of the back seat and ran toward the doors.

A few parents were still on the sidewalk, finishing their coffee.

I walked across the lot.

"Lana." Brad saw me and straightened. "If this is about the other day, I'm not doing this here."

"Junie told me what Eli said."