Page 24 of Little Empty Promises

“I was going through our closets last week, removing items we no longer wear and outfits Lark has outgrown.I planned on donating it all.I just need to get everything bagged up so I can drop it all off.”

“I have some time.Do you want some help?”

“I’d love some.Are you sure?”

“Tell me where the bags are.I’ll load everything up and drop it off for you.”

We walked to the kitchen, and she opened one of the cabinets, pulling out a box of plastic bags.I removed the ice cream from the paper sack, setting both pints on the counter.

“It’s nice of you to bring ice cream, but I don’t think I can eat it right now,” she said.“I’m kinda doing a liquid diet, if you know what I mean.”

“It’s fine.I just ate, so I can wait on having mine too.”

I opened the freezer, placing both containers of ice cream inside.

“It’s not like me to drink wine in the middle of the day,” she said.

“I know it’s not.There’s no judgment here.”

She reached for her wineglass.“Want some?”

Given it was one in the afternoon, and I had a meeting later with Simone and Hunter, I passed.“I’ll tell you what, let’s share a bottle next time I’m here.Sound good?”

“Sure.”

She added more wine to her glass, and we headed to the living room.As soon as she sat down, she said, “I know why you’re here.I’m guessing he’s told you what happened.”

I stared at her for a moment, trying to think of the right words to say.

“Come on, now,” she said.“I’m too exhausted to dance around it, Gigi.It’s not like you to stop by unannounced with pints of ice cream in the middle of the day.”

I sat on the floor next to a pile of clothes and started bagging.“You’re right, and yes, I know what happened, and I’m so … sorry.”

“When did you find out about the miscarriage?”

“Foley told me this morning.We can talk about it if you want, or we don’t have to talk about it at all.It’s up to you.I just want you to know I’m here for you, for whatever you need.”

“I appreciate it.”

“And hey, I hope you’re not upset with him for sharing the news with me.As far as I know, I’m the only person he’s talked to about it, and even then, I had to pull it out of him.I knew something was wrong the minute I saw him today.He needed to tell someone, to express how he’s feeling.I’m glad he told me.”

She leaned back, yawning.“I’m not upset with him for sharing it with you.It wasn’t fair of me to ask him not to tell anyone.It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot today.He’s been so attentive to me over the last week, waiting on me from the moment he gets home until we go to bed.He’s been taking care of Lark, helping her with homework, picking her up from school.”

“He’s a good guy.”

“This morning, I realized I’ve been so involved in my own grief, I hadn’t stopped to think about what he’s going through.Ididn’t lose a baby—we both did.”She took a sip of wine and added, “How did he seem to you when you saw him?”

“A bit irritable, and not like his usual self, but it’s to be expected.He’s worried about you.”

“Lark is too, and I feel so bad about it.The last thing I want is for her to carry the burden of what’s happened.She didn’t know I was pregnant.No one did.When I had the miscarriage, we thought it was best to tell her, so she’d know why I haven’t been acting like myself.Maybe we shouldn’t have told her, though.I’m thinking it was a mistake.”

“Why?”

“Every morning when we get her up for school, she says she feels unwell, and the truth is, she’s fine.I think she’s nervous to leave me.”

“It’s understandable.”

“I know.I just sit here thinking about it all day, knowing she’s at school and unable to concentrate because her mom is having a meltdown.”

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