Page 12 of Trick of Light

Nick’s face echoed resentment. Bethany wondered when he’d started to hate her. Maybe he always had. Perhaps it had started as far back as medical school.

She’d never figured out why he’d asked her out. It remained a mystery, even with their children upstairs. Even with their house around them, filled to the brim with photographs and memories.

Life often felt like a collection of random events that didn’t add up to anything.

After Nick threw a few more insults her way, Bethany gave up. She hurried back to her office and dialed Amanda, who answered on the second ring.

“Amanda, hey,” Bethany said, her voice wavering, “I need your help. Could you watch the kids this afternoon? Maybe into the evening, as well?”

“You’ve got yourself a problem, Miss Bethany,” Amanda said as though she’d already prepared a monologue.

Whatever had happened at the hospital had already reached Amanda and Bob’s ears. Bethany was in the dark.

“You know, my Nick has always had a target on his back. Because of his father, people have always watched every move he makes. He can’t get away from it! And he puts such pressure on himself,” Amanda said. “He needs you now, more than ever, Bethany. He doesn’t need some wife who runs out on him during his time of need.”

Bethany rolled her eyes into the back of her head. She wanted to tell Amanda about the ten-year-old girl she planned to operate on that night. The girl who needed her far more than Nick did right now. The girl who hadn’t lived long enough yet to show cruelty or anger or selfishness.

“What happened, Amanda?” Bethany asked instead, her voice like a string. “He won’t tell me.”

“If only he felt he could talk to you,” Amanda said. “If only he felt safe in his own home!”

Bethany hung up the phone and stood in stunned silence. Her heart thudded, and she forced herself down the hall to find Maddie, Tommy, and Phoebe all seated on the floor. They looked so sad. Bethany tried to brighten her face and smile. But they could see right through her.

“Let’s get packed up,” she said. “You’re going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house today!”

Bethany’s three children filled their backpacks with books and games, followed her downstairs, past their father, whose bottle of whiskey was wide open, the cap thrown to the floor. He didn’t even look at them. It was as though they were ghosts.

During the ten-minute drive to the Waterstone mansion, Bethany, Maddie, Tommy, and Phoebe were quiet. When Bethany pulled into the driveway, Amanda stepped onto the front porch and crossed her arms over her chest. Still, Bethany knew Amanda wouldn’t turn her grandchildren away. They were Waterstones. They needed her.

More than that, Tommy was the spitting image of Nick at his age. Amanda practically gushed when he was around. She couldn’t help it.

Bethany followed her children, watching as they hugged their grandmother. Phoebe hung back and took Bethany’s hand as though she sensed that Bethany needed protection from Amanda. This wasn’t the first time Phoebe had shown such empathy. Bethany had once mentioned to Nick that she thought Phoebe’s emotional intelligence was “off the charts.” Nick hadn’t seemed to care.

Amanda wore a steely smile.

“The surgery is about four hours long,” Bethany explained. “I should be done by ten thirty or eleven and over here by eleven thirty.”

“They can spend the night,” Amanda said. “They know this is as much their home as it is mine.”

Bethany sighed. “Thank you, Amanda. I don’t know what I would do without your help tonight.”

With Phoebe still clinging to her hand, Bethany couldn’t ask what had gone wrong at the hospital. She would learn soon, she knew. And it change everything.

Chapter Six

Rod finished work Monday evening and checked his phone for the first time in hours. He had several messages from Renee—most of them frantic. He called her right away, standing in the parking lot outside the office as a July sun dimmed behind frothing clouds.

“Dad! Hey.” Renee sounded on the brink of tears.

“What’s up, honey?”

“It’s work,” Renee grumbled. “It’s a huge mess, and I can’t pick Felix up on time. Vinny can’t pick him up, either.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Rod assured her. “I’m on my way.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” Renee said. “I’ll make it up to you!”

“No need.”

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