Chapter 3
For the next few days, David Brooks worked from home.
He claimed it was to take care of me, but in reality, he was just afraid I’d sneak out and get rid of the baby while he was
away.
Even when Emily invited me out shopping, David insisted on tagging along.
“How noble of you, spending all day with a bloated, nagging old hag like me for the baby’s sake,” I said, my voice dripping
with sarcasm.
David’s face changed. “You heard that?”
I scoffed, “David, why are you so hell–bent on watching me? You’ve got a line of girls waiting to have your baby. Why risk
my life for it? Aren’t you afraid that in the end, neither of us will be able to go through with the surgery?”
David clamped his hand over my mouth. “I’ve told you, only you can bear my child.”
“The baby will be fine, and so will you.”
Just then, Emily waved at us from the entrance of the mall.
Seeing David, she teased, “Oh my, Mr. Brooks, so worried about Nora? Can’t even let her shop without keeping a close
eye-”
David laughed back, “Of course, my Nora’s quite the catch when she’s asleep-”
I stood between them, listening to their playful banter.
In the past, I might have laughed and told them to knock it off.
But perhaps the incident with his secretary had made me sensitive. Something about their dynamic felt off in a way I
couldn’t quite place.
I excused myself to use the restroom, asking them to wait by the door.
I stood around the corner, eavesdropping on their conversation.
They were still playfully bickering over me, and I suddenly felt guilty.
Emily and I had been best friends for 10 years. How could I doubt her like this?
But just as I was about to emerge, Emily’s voice softened, taking on a plaintive tone.
“Why haven’t you been coming to see me lately? I’ve missed you so much… Why are you always hovering around that
pregnant woman?”
“Or is it that your secretary is better than me?”
David cooed softly, “Nora’s been in a mood lately, how could I dare to go out and see you?”
“Besides, how long have we been together? That secretary is just a plaything, how could she compare to you?”
Growing Old Together
Chapter 4
