Husband's "Concern"
Carrying feverish Lily home, settling her in bed, applying the cooling strip, I realized my own body was trembling. My phone rang. Mark’s name flashed. I stared at the screen, light stinging my eyes. Finally swiped, held it to my ear, silent. "Kate?" Mark’s voice came, office-quiet in the background. "Lily? Teacher called about a fever?" Normal tone. His usual steadiness. Like… like any concerned father. "Mmhm," I grunted. "Bad? Temp? Doctor?" His questions came rapid-fire, sounding urgent. "
Just wrapped up here. Stuck with lunch, but I’ll try to swing home early tonight." Home early tonight? Hearing his calm, caring voice, absurdity washed over me. Hours ago, he’d nonchalantly exited *that* hotel. Now, effortlessly playing the doting dad? "Over 38. Sleeping now," I rasped, voice like sandpaper. "Come back or don’t. Whatever." Silence on his end. My reaction surprised him. "Kate? You… okay? You sound… off?" Probing tone. "Fine," I cut him off, unable to bear it. Every word tore at me. "Handle your business." I hung up before he could reply. Only Lily’s soft breaths filled the room.
Leah's Call
Lily slept fitfully, brow furrowed. I sat by her bed, smoothing her damp hair. My phone screen glowed silently—not Mark. Leah. Our mutual friend, Mark’s company Finance Assistant. Warm, prone to gossip. Hesitating, I answered. "Hey, Kate!" Leah chirped. "Busy?" "Just with Lily. She’s got a fever." "Oh, poor thing! Feel better soon!" Leah cooed, then dropped her voice conspiratorially. "Listen, don’t tell Mark this came from me, okay?" My fingers tightened. "Yeah?" "That big industry summit today? Sequoia Capital? At the Four Seasons? Pretty high-level stuff." Leah spoke fast.
"Mark and Pete were the only invites from our firm. Well, Pete called me freaking out this afternoon! Couldn’t find Mark! Phone dead!" My stomach dropped. Four Seasons? Clear across town from the bar hotel. "And?" My voice strained. "Pete ran around inside—no sign of him! Others hadn't seen him check in either! Pete was livid—needed crucial data only Mark has!" Leah’s disapproval was clear. "Seriously, Kate? Missing that? Couldn’t even call? Left Pete hanging!" Leah droned on about Pete’s stress. Her words faded. Four Seasons. Major summit. Mark, a key guest. He never went. Where was he all afternoon? The precisely pinned bar hotel. The familiar figure in the dark suit exiting the revolving doors at 10:45 AM. All the fragments snapped together with brutal clarity, locked into place by Leah's unwitting revelation: his absence.
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