Page 54 of Absolution

Tonight, I’m not a wife. Not a student. Not a woman with a Plan.

I grab three mismatched wine glasses from the cabinet and pour generously. We settle onto the pull-out in a loose triangle, me onone corner, Marianne curled into the other, Cory sitting cross-legged at the bottom.

“So,” I say, tucking one leg under the other. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Marianne’s the first to start. “Well, going back part-time was the best decision I’ve made in years. I actually have a life outside of the hospital now. No more back-to-back sixteen-hour shifts, and I’m out of all the administrative drama, so that’s been fun.”

Cory lifts his glass. “Cheers to escaping capitalism.”

Marianne grins. “Seriously.”

He swirls his wine. “What about Yaz?”

I freeze. “Yaz?”

Marianne makes a face. “Oh, did I not tell you?”

“Yasmine is the paramedic captain in my district,” Cory supplies, smug. “Basically runs the show.”

“The real title is EMS District Commander,” Marianne adds, sipping. “I met her during that First Responder Appreciation Walk back in April. We’ve been talking since. We kind of have a date tomorrow.”

My mouth drops. “You have a date?”

“Brunch,” she says, brushing her hair behind her ear.

“What?” I nearly jump up. “Why am I only hearing about thisnow?”

Marianne laughs. “Relax. It’s brunch, not a vow renewal. She’s nice, but we both have demanding jobs. I don’t know if it’s anything serious yet.”

Cory groans. “Oh, stop it, Debbie Downer.”

She rolls her eyes. “Sorry, should I do whatyoudo and serial date until one of them ghosts?”

He shrugs. “Better than being cheated on.”

The words hang there.

He looks over quickly. “Sorry.”

I turn away, sip my wine. “It’s fine.”

Silence falls for a few seconds, long enough for the weight of it to settle between us. When I turn back, they’re both watching me.

“What?” I ask.

Marianne tilts her head. “Something’s different.”

I blink. “What do you mean?”

“You,” Cory says. “You’re hiding something.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m not.”

They just stare.

I hold it for as long as I can, then break. “Fine. It’s... Kyle. He’s been different lately. More present.”

Cory doesn’t even blink. “Yeah. It’s the guilt.”

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