Page 66 of How to Walk Away

“Yes,” she agreed. “And he’s not out all night at bars anymore.”

“Progress,” I said.

“But,” she said then, taking my hand and squeezing it, “I don’t think he’s happy.”

Happy?Was that an option? I was just shooting for “conscious.”

“That’s why I’m here,” she went on. “I’m worried about him.”

“I’m worried about all of us,” I said.

But she had something to say, and she was going to say it. “He’s been so crushed by what happened. It really has torn him to shreds. He has to force himself to come here every time he visits. Every time he looks at your poor face, the guilt is just overwhelming.”

“Are you asking me to feel sorry for Chip?”

Her voice took an indignant turn. “It’s been hard on him, too, Margaret.”

“I’m sure it has. Hard on his liver, at the very least.”

“Not everyone is as strong as you are.”

“I’mnotstrong. I’m just trapped. My body keeps breathing against my will.”

She wasn’t having it. “Don’t be dramatic.”

I leaned back against my pillow and squeezed my eyes shut. I was giving up my nap for this.

Evelyn took that moment to get herself back on track. “Chip’s father and I have talked about it, and we’d like to ask a favor of you.”

I opened my eyes. “A favor?”

“You know how loyal Chip is. You know how important it is to him to do the right thing. You know he would never, ever let himself call off your engagement.”

“I’m not even sure that we are technically engaged,” I said. Had we settled that?

“You’re wearing my mother’s two-carat diamond. I think that counts.”

“If you say so.”

“I’m just not sure what your expectations are—given your situation.”

Where was this headed? “My situationthat Chip caused?”

“You wouldn’t want him to marry you out of guilt, would you?”

“What are you saying?”

She sat back a bit. “He’s in a very strange predicament.”

“Aren’t we fucking all?”

“Please watch your language.”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

She blinked at me for a second. “We’re all coping the best we can.”

“Some of us better than others.” My thoughts started spinning. “Hold on—did he send you here? Did he sendhis motherto break up with me?”

---