My heart felt clamped in a fist, throbbing with each of her sobs.
She was only an eighteen-year-old kid. None of this should ever have fallen on her.
After a while, Lila had to get to her part-time job.
Right before she hung up, she gave me an address.
"Mom, this is where Dad and Aunt Wanda live. Go see it for yourself, and you'll understand everything."
I peeled off my gloves, hopped on my little scooter, and rode straight for Oakridge Manor.
A mechanical voice chimed, "Welcome home."
At the entrance to the complex, I caught sight of a familiar figure.
The Sylvester I knew always looked haggard, winded after just a few steps. This man strode through the gate in a crisp suit, glowing with energy.
"Well, Mr. Delgado, buying flowers for the missus again!"
Envy filled the security guard's eyes.
Sylvester gave a small smile.
"My wife loves a little occasion. It's Valentine's Day. I can't let her down."
The guard praised what a devoted couple they were, then watched him go with a respectful nod.
I trailed behind, like a thief spying on someone else's happiness, a sour ache spreading through my throat.
All these years of marriage, Sylvester had never once celebrated Valentine's Day.
He said marriage was about the daily grind, that all those impractical little rituals were just schemes companies used to squeeze money out of people.
Yet here he was, all eager delight, planning a surprise for Wanda.
A door opened, and a dainty figure slipped into Sylvester's arms.
The moment they came together, they were kissing, unable to help themselves.
Just like that year they'd kissed on the street, oblivious to everyone around them.
And I, once again, was the one left to witness it.
"You're not staying the night today either?" Wanda pouted, a little crestfallen.
Sylvester laughed and ruffled her hair.
"Tonight's all yours. That old drudge just took a big order. She'll be stuck at the shop braising all night long."
Wanda gave his chest a coy little punch.
"You really do know how to handle her. A few thousand dollars, and she's happy to slave away in that kitchen all night."
My chest tightened. First thing this morning I really had taken a three-thousand-dollar order.
The customer needed it fast, and I'd meant to turn it down.
But three thousand was enough to cover Sylvester's dialysis for the month, so I'd gritted my teeth and said yes.
So it turned out my all-nighter was nothing more than Sylvester wanting to give Wanda a romantic Valentine's Day.
"Daddy!"
A crisp little voice snapped me back to myself.
A boy of seven or eight ran over and wrapped his arms around Sylvester's leg.
"Can you play one game with me before you have your alone time with Mommy?"
Sylvester laughed, scooped him up, and kissed his cheek.
"You little rascal, of course I can. What do you want to play?"
The door closed.
I stood frozen where I was, my hands clenched so hard the knuckles creaked.
So it turned out that back then, when Sylvester said he'd cut things off completely with Wanda, it was all a lie.
He'd simply kept his pregnant mistress somewhere I couldn't see.
All those times he made excuses about business trips and entertaining clients, he'd been watching another child grow up.
While my daughter Lila could only cry herself to sleep, aching over "when is Daddy coming home."
As I walked out of the complex, Lila called me again.
"Sweetheart, don't worry. Mommy knows what to do now."
Lila asked, a little anxiously, "Mom, Dad even hired someone to pose as a creditor. You have to keep yourself safe!"
"Don't worry. This time I won't believe him again."
After daybreak, I walked into the hospital and scheduled a full round of tests for myself.
