4: 4
When I first said I wanted to cancel the wedding, part of me still couldn't quite let go of these three years together.
On top of that, I'd suddenly felt unwell during this business trip.
I went to the hospital, and only then found out I was already seven weeks pregnant.
So if Boris and his mother hadn't gone too far, if they hadn't killed Buddy, I wouldn't have brought up breaking up or canceling the wedding at all.
But now, every last knot in my chest had come undone.
I looked up at Boris and said each word slowly:
"If it's a waste, then let's not keep wasting it."
"Boris, tomorrow you and your mother move out. The wedding's canceled. We each tell our own family and friends."
There was a finality in my voice I'd never had before.
Boris's pupils flickered.
Beside him, Carla suddenly dropped the bullying tone from a moment ago and shifted into an offhand, casual voice:
"Oh, come on. Every young couple squabbles. It's perfectly normal. There's no need to talk about breaking up."
She strolled over to the dinner table on her own and picked up a fork:
"Come eat. The food's getting cold."
Boris stole a glance at me, then followed her and sat down at the table too.
I laughed, furious.
I picked up my phone and made a call:
"Hello, I'd like to report a crime. Two people have forced their way into my home and refuse to leave no matter what."
At the table, both of them set down their forks at once.
Boris lunged over in one stride, and when he saw the call on my screen was to 911, he panicked.
He snatched the phone out of my hand and hung up.
His eyes were full of disbelief:
"Teresa, you, you really mean it?"
Only in that moment did he believe it.
That I really was breaking up with him, really was canceling the wedding.
Carla came over too, but she didn't believe I'd actually called the police:
"Teresa, dear, don't take this the wrong way. A woman can throw a little tantrum, that's fine, but threatening your husband with breakups and calling the cops every other minute, that's just not right."
"So the dog died. What's the big deal? Boris can just buy you another one later."
"Mom, stop talking!"
This time it was her son who cut her off.
Boris said resentfully:
"This is all your fault. You said Teresa had a temper, that we should use the dog to teach her a lesson, or she'd walk all over us once she married in."
"Well, now look. She actually called the police!"
Carla froze.
After a long moment, she mumbled:
"But I wasn't wrong, was I? You're not even married yet and she's already fighting with you, going on and on about how she earns more than you do."
"If we don't set her straight, how are you supposed to live with her later?"
My heart went cold, most of the way through.
So they really had killed Buddy on purpose.
The night before I left on my trip, Boris and I had argued, and his mother had overheard.
So she'd egged Boris on, waiting until I was away from home.
They shut Buddy out on the balcony.
In my mind, I could almost see him clawing desperately at the door.
His tongue stretched out, barking loud, doing everything he could to beg for help.
And the two people inside stayed hard as stone the whole time.
I closed my eyes, then opened them again.
Boris leaned in close to me and said, uneasy:
"Teresa, I was wrong. I shouldn't have listened to my mom and let Buddy die."
"I'll find you another one exactly like him. Just let it go, okay?"
I pulled away from the hand that was trying to reach for me.
"Do you really want me to wait for the officers to come and see you out?"
In the struggle, my handbag dropped to the floor.
Everything inside spilled out.
Carla's gaze happened to sweep across a slip of paper on the floor.
She suddenly bent down, picked it up, and looked at it again and again.
Then she straightened her back and said loudly to Boris:
"Son, don't be scared!"
"This woman can't possibly break up with you. Don't let her bluff you!"
