Chapter 6: Papers

Regina came home from the harbor at one in the morning.

She slept in the guest room and did not mention the cake.

My lawyer filed the petition on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning I put a copy on the kitchen table next to Regina's coffee.

She came in dressed for work and picked it up.

"What is this?"

"A petition for divorce."

She read the first line.

She read it again.

"You can't be serious."

"I'm serious."

"Because of one birthday?"

"Because of the one before it, and the one before that, and every year you let Colby call you away from this house."

My voice was steady, and I was glad of it.

"On Saturday you stood up in front of our daughter with the candles lit and walked out. You chose a phone call over her face."

Regina set the pages down.

"Jasper couldn't breathe."

"You've never once asked a doctor what is actually wrong with him."

She frowned, and for a moment she had no answer.

Then her phone rang.

The screen said Colby.

She looked at the papers.

She looked at me.

Then she picked up the phone, and I knew I had my answer.

"Colby, what's wrong?" she said, turning her back. "No. No, don't cry. I'm coming."

She grabbed her keys.

At the door she turned and said, "We'll talk tonight. Don't do anything stupid."

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