Dr. Salinas sat beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You are safe here,” she said.
Safe.
I had not realized how long it had been since I felt that word.
I left the clinic with two ultrasound photos in my purse and a new fire in my chest.
Outside, Diego was waiting near the parking lot.
Paula stood several feet away from him, arms crossed, face hard.
They were arguing.
I could hear Paula’s voice.
“You told me she cheated.”
Diego answered sharply, “I thought she did.”
“You thought? You destroyed your marriage over something you thought?”
He saw me and stopped talking.
I walked past both of them.
Diego stepped toward me.
“Laura.”
I did not stop.
He followed.
“Laura, wait. Please.”
Please.
He had found that word quickly.
Too quickly.
I turned around.
“What?”
His face looked different now.
Not sorry exactly.
Shaken.
“I need time to process this.”
I stared at him.
“That’s funny. You didn’t need time to condemn me.”
Paula came closer.
Diego ignored her.
“I made a mistake.”
“No, Diego. You made a choice. Many choices.”
His lips pressed together.
“I didn’t know the timeline.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“I was hurt.”
“You were cheating.”
Paula gasped.
Diego’s eyes flashed.
“That’s not—”
“What? True? You moved in with her the same night I told you I was pregnant. Did she already have a toothbrush at her apartment for you?”
His silence answered.
Paula looked away.
I nodded slowly.
“That’s what I thought.”
Diego lowered his voice.
“Let’s talk at home.”
I laughed.
“You don’t live there anymore.”
“I can come back.”
“No.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Laura, those are my children.”
