No Longer Waiting For You Chapter 04
By eight the next morning, I had Tania discharged. We were just walking out the main doors of the hospital when my phone rang.
“You checked Tanny out?” Rodney demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me? I was just getting ready to come pick you two up.”
I smirked, “Would telling you have made a difference?”
“I’ve been busy, haven’t I? Look, do me a favor and iron my black suit. Today is Macey’s first day of preschool, and the teacher said a parent has to be there for the family photo.”
“Tanny just got out of the hospital,” I said. “She needs you to look after her.”
“It’s only for half the day. I’ll be back soon. Claire can’t do it all by herself—she has to carry things and fill out forms. Just stay home and watch Tanny. It’s really not that hard.”
“Rodney,” I asked, my voice steady, “can you just stay home today?”
He paused, letting out an irritated sigh. “I already promised her. How am I supposed to back out now? Can you just be reasonable for once? It’s hard for Claire to raise a kid alone. Macey is growing up without a dad, so what’s the big deal if I help out?”
Reasonable. That was the word I had heard more than any other over the last five years.
Because I was reasonable, I went to the hospital to give birth alone, raised our child alone, and took care of the entire house alone.
Because I was reasonable, he could casually fix another woman’s plumbing, celebrate her birthdays, and show up at her kid’s school events.
Because I was reasonable, I wasn’t even allowed to get mad.
“Fine,” I said. “I understand.” I hung up the phone. That was the last time he would ever get to tell me I was being unreasonable.
Holding Tania’s hand, I unlocked the front door and walked inside. Rodney was already gone. His half-eaten breakfast and a half-full glass of milk were sitting on the dining room table.
Konnor was already waiting for us downstairs. I started packing. I didn’t own much; everything I needed fit into a single suitcase. Tania didn’t have much, either—her things barely filled one small backpack.
I took a long look around the house we’d lived in for five years. There was a permanent dent in the sofa where Rodney always sat, and his sneakers were kicked off by the shoe rack. The fridge was fully stocked with the strawberry yogurt Claire liked, and the stuffed bunny Macey had left behind was still sitting right there in the nursery.
The evidence of their lives was everywhere, but there was hardly a trace of Tania and me.
I placed the signed divorce papers right in the center of the table, leaving a short note on top.
“Rodney, I’m leaving, and I’m taking Tanny with me. You don’t need to worry about us anymore.”
I grabbed Tania’s hand and walked out our front door, never looking back.
Konnor loaded our bags into the trunk. As we pulled out of the neighborhood, Rodney passed us going the other way.
Rushing to get Macey to her first day of school, he had his window rolled all the way down and a huge smile on his face.
He didn’t even notice us.
An hour later, we were at the airport.
Konnor went to check our bags while Tania and I waited in the terminal.
Clutching her picture book, Tania looked up and whispered, “Mommy, are we ever coming back?”
I stroked her hair. “No, sweetie. We’re moving somewhere we can see the night sky clearly. From now on, it’s just going to be you, me, and Konnor. Nobody will ever forget your birthday again.”
Tania nodded and rested her head against my chest. Overhead, the intercom announced that our flight was ready to board.
Konnor walked up, scooped Tania into his arms, and reached for my hand. “Let’s go.”
I met his gentle gaze, then looked over at Tania, who was grinning happily in his arms. For the first time in five years, I smiled—a real, genuine smile.
As the plane lifted off the runway, I pulled out my phone and blocked Rodney on absolutely everything.
Third person’s POV
Meanwhile, outside the preschool, Rodney was holding Macey’s hand, waiting in line for family photos. His phone buzzed with a sudden bank alert.
“Your account ending in 7890 received a transfer of 100,000 USD today at 10:15 AM. Sender: Konnor Warrington. Memo: Living expenses for Liv and Tanny for the last five years. Do not contact her again.”
He froze, suddenly overcome by a deep sense of dread. In sheer panic, he started dialing Olivia’s number, over and over again.
