“Do you need anything?” she asked.
My usual answer almost escaped automatically.
No, I’m fine.
Instead, I sat down and opened my phone.
There was one person I never expected to call.
Barbara.
Eric’s mother and I had never been close.
She thought I was too sensitive. I thought she defended Eric too quickly. During our marriage, I rarely complained about him to her because I assumed she would always take his side.
After Eric left, Barbara stopped calling.
I assumed that meant she had chosen.
Still, that night, I called her.
She answered in a sleepy voice.
“Claire?”
And I told her everything.
I told her about the money, the pregnancy, the emergency delivery, the NICU, the pharmacy, Eric’s refusal to help, and the visit to Tessa’s house.
For once, I did not soften the story.
I did not make Eric sound better.
When I finished, Barbara said nothing.
