Page 15 of Conquer
“…and then I wanna ride my pony, and—Tiffany!” Her tiny face breaks into a smile so wide it almost distracts from the alarming pallor of her skin. A sheen of sweat ghosts her forehead, gluing stray curls to the damp flesh. Gone are her neat braids, and the tousled style only enhances her similarities to the man nearby. While she may not be on a ventilator—thank God—a series of tubing extends from an IV. The mass of bandages looks monstrous encircling her fragile wrist. Not that the treatment has dampened her excitement any—she squirms, prevented from claiming the object I’m holding between two hands. “Is that for me?”
“It is,” I tell her, placing a giant bear nearly as big as she is on the end of her bed. She beams, too exhausted I suspect, to feign disinterest.
The figure beside her quietly rises to his feet. I sense his eyes on me, unusually wide—with shock? It doesn’t matter. In this moment, he doesn’t exist, and I pour all of my attention into Magda as I pull up a free chair beside her.
“Where were you all day?” she demands, eyeing me with an eyebrow raised.
This time, I do make the mistake of glancing toward Vadim. His expression is guarded, impossible to read. I guess he spared Magdalene his little rant. He didn’t even tell her I tried to visit.
But I don’t have the heart to challenge that now—for Magda’s sake. Instead, I smile and tug on one of her new bear’s enormous arms. “I was trying to find the perfect friend to keep you company,” I tease. “What shall you call him?”
“Hmmm.” She bites her lip and shrugs. “I don’t know yet.”
“Well, you better think of something good.” I slip out of my coat and fold it over the side of my chair.
“You’re staying?” she asks, her expression brightening even more.
I nod. “Of course. In fact, I’m going to stay with you all night.” As I speak, I fixate my gaze on the man standing near the doorway, letting every ounce of vitriol seep into my expression. It’s so much I almost can’t contain it without wanting to sob. Break.
But I don’t.
“Whatever you need, I’m here. I’ll always be here foryou.”
Vadim says nothing until he finally crosses the threshold, his back to us. “I’ll get you some more water,chérie.”
He leaves, and Magda promptly picks up whatever tale she was in the middle of conveying to him. Something about all of the things she wants to do once discharged from the hospital. Go on an airplane. See the beach. Ride her pony off the lead. Go bike riding. Eat ice cream.
I file away every request, determined to ensure she gets to do every last one.
* * *
“You came.”
The grated voice draws me out of a light sleep, and I blink my eyes open to a spacious hospital room, lit only by a few dimmed lamps. Magda is sleeping, her chest rising and falling, her new bear practically swallowing her though she tried her damn hardest to wrestle it under one arm. It lies tucked beneath the blankets on her other side, with Biphany on her nightstand.
The sight of her erases any doubts that may have crept in as I slept. I have no regrets. Motherhood wasn’t on my original list, but I can make an addendum. No relationships—butthis one. For Magdalene.
As for her father?
I stiffen the second I sense him enter the room, his face in shadow, his posture rigid. “You signed the documents?” He doesn’t sound doubtful—more prodding, as if this is his way of demanding proof.
Luckily for us both, I’ve come more than prepared to rub his nose in my decision.
Forcing out a cold laugh, I reach under my chair, snatching the adoption papers from my purse. I throw them at him, watching them scatter throughout the room like misshapen snowflakes.
“Yeah, I signed your fucking papers,” I hiss.
Despite the vitriol, my voice is barely louder than a whisper, and I keep Magda in my line of sight, watching for any signs she might be awake. She looks so peaceful in this moment. So innocent. Even in my anger, I can’t risk upsetting her. So, I direct every ounce of loathing I can into the harshest stage-whisper.
“But I did it for her,” I croak, my throat tight. “Not you. As far as I’m concerned, I’m a single mother forced to share custody with an asshole who doesn’t even have the privilege of being called my ex-husband. Congrats, Vadim. You’re below Jim on the‘people who have fucked me over’list. I hope you’re pleased with yourself. Now take your fucking papers and get the hell out. In the morning, you can have time with her, considering you barred me all fucking day!”
He flinches so slightly it could be a trick of the light. Then that telltale muscle in his jaw twitches before his expression hardens with resolve. He crouches, carefully gathering up every last document. Then he tucks them under his arm and leaves.
And I’m more confused than ever, slumping in my seat, my eyes blinking fiercely. He should have been angry at my change of heart, right? Angry that I had the nerve to show up at all. Not…resigned?
Like baiting me into agreeing to take custody was his plan all along.
Because that would be far too cruel. Way too manipulative.
