Page 96 of Every Version of You

“Yes. Please,” I beg.

“Go to therapy,” she says slowly. “Whether you guys stay friends or—I don’t know—going to therapy will show her you’re serious about the health of yourself and your relationship, whatever form it takes. That will make her feel better.”

“Really?”

“She’s scared about what this means for the stability of your future family. If she knows you’re serious about making this work, that will put her at ease,” Cora says with a soft smile. “And maybe there’s some other things you need to unpack.”

“What?”

“Just…talk to someone, okay?”

My need to please and goal-setting brain shake hands without another thought. “I’ll start researching today and book something right away.”

“Seriously?” Cora asks with a skeptical look, then adds under her breath, “That was easy.”

So what if I’m desperate—I don’t care. All I want is for the people I care about and my babies to be happy, and once they are, I will be too.

Chapter 33

October 12th

Angie

After living with Cora for a week, I’m ready to talk to Rafael. I’ve been taking my time going over my plan, weighing my emotions and trying my best to be logical. I’m grateful for Marco and Jay as sounding boards because bouncing my plans off another pregnant woman didn’t always yield the best results.

When I suggested we all start a commune, kill Rafael, and bury him there, Cora was the one who suggested we get pigs and feed him to them so there’s no evidence. She’s very smart, my best friend.

Marco put a stop to it when we started looking up property for sale. Killjoy.

Cora hasn’t said anything about what he’s been like to work with this last week, and I haven’t asked. I don’t want to know if he’s content, looks tired, or comes to work crying because I needed this time to figure myself out without his influence.

It’s futile though. Every time the babies kick, I think about him and how much he’d love to feel what I’m feeling. Then guilt gnaws at me for taking these moments away from him and I cry some more because that’s all I’m capable of as a human incubator.

As I walk through historic Rittenhouse Square Park, rays of sun shine through the old tree-lined sidewalks and scatter over everyone in its wake, just like the autumn leaves. I wanted to go for a walk to give Cora and her husbands some alone time, but I also wanted to be in the right mood when I send Raf the text I know he’s been waiting on.

Taking a seat on the edge of a fountain, I type.

Angie: Thank you for giving me space. I’m ready to come home tomorrow and talk if you are.

His reply comes only a few moments later.

Raf: You needed it and I understand. I’m ready when you are. I have so much to tell you too.

What does he mean by that?

No, I stop my train of thought. I need to stick to my guns.

I need to tell him moving out is the best option. He’s not going to like it, but I have a plan for that too. Since he and Joaquín sold that apartment building in DC a while back and purchased three more homes in the same block as the Chestnut Street house, I’m going to ask to move into one of those.

Rafael showed them to me last month, and the one looks to be in decent-enough shape to live in. This way, he’ll live close but we’ll live separately. It's the right choice for all of us.

Rafael

It’s a bye week for our team so my father coming to town works out perfectly. Since the city is packed because of The World Series, we agreed he would come to my place, which I’m both nervous and excited for him to see. It’s been a while since he’s seen how I’m living. Sure, this townhouse was only ever temporary, but I hope he’s proud of what I’ve made for myself.

I’ve stocked the place with his favorite beer and organized everything. Not that it was a mess before, but just in case he looked in my kitchen utensil drawer, I wanted to make sure that was presentable.

Smiling to myself as I shut the drawer, I think of Angie and her nesting habits. I guess I’m no better.

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