Chapter 3

Two days later, around noon, I went to a restaurant near my place to grab lunch.

I'd just walked in when Tatum's son came running at me.

"Auntie Sable!"

Reid stood in the doorway with Tatum, Greer, and Neve. All three kids were in matching family outfits.

He looked at me like he'd been expecting me.

"You checked out of the hotel and moved close to the places we're visiting. And you're still gonna tell me you're not waiting for me?"

"Like the world revolves around you?"

"Don't bother denying it. This restaurant was in that itinerary you made."

Reid pulled out a chair.

"You've had your tantrum. Sit down. After lunch, you're coming home with me."

Tatum smiled.

"Since we ran into her, let Sable eat with us. The kids like her."

Reid shut it down without missing a beat.

"It's the kids' first vacation. If she sits here, you guys won't be comfortable."

I turned to leave. That's when Fox grabbed my leg.

"Auntie Sable, I want you to feed me."

Neve pushed the bowl toward me.

"He's only ever listened to you. Just feed him and then you can go."

I didn't take it.

Reid pushed the bowl a little closer.

"It's just feeding him. Don't take it out on a kid."

The month after my abortion, he'd put Fox in my arms for the first time.He was six weeks old.

He said having a kid around would make me feel better.

I pulled Fox's hand off me.

"From now on, he can go find his own mom and dad."

Reid frowned and sent a return ticket to my phone.

"If you don't wanna stay, go home. I'll be back Sunday like always."

I looked at him.

"That's not my home anymore."

He let out a small laugh. He was about to say something when the photographer and his assistant walked over.

"Mr. Aldrich, we're ready for the family portrait."

He glanced at me, then followed the photographer outside.

I found a table and ordered lunch.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the shoot by the lake began.

Tatum walked Archer over to Reid and he put his arm around her shoulder.

The shutter clicked. Then Greer placed Cleo in his arms.

When it was Neve's turn, little Fox was already on his shoulders, and she was holding onto his arm, pressed against his side.

The photographer kept calling out:

"Dad, get closer to Mom."

"Kids, look at the camera."

Three kids called him Dad. He answered every single one with a smile.

When I was pregnant, I'd asked if we could take a family portrait before the baby was born.

He touched my belly and said:

"After the baby's born."

The baby was never born.

And we never got that family portrait.

I paid the bill and walked out. Tatum waved at me.

"You're Reid's wife. Want to get in one too?"

He was fixing Archer's collar. He didn't even look up.

"She's not their mother. Why would she be in a family portrait?"

I looked at him.

"Just because I don't have your kid doesn't mean I'll never have one."

"After the divorce, I'll have my own life. And my own kids."

He stopped. Looked up.

"Don't say things you don't mean."

"You're not gonna divorce me. And you're not having anyone else's kids."

"How can you be so sure?"

Neve blinked. Turned to look at him.

"You didn't tell her?"

Everyone went quiet.

"The day of her abortion, you had the doctor remove both her fallopian tubes."