The Coming of the Quiet Rain

Jake froze.

Winnie cradled her stomach and cast him a glance before saying something to him.

Jake turned his head to look at me.

“Luna, you don’t have to lie to me like this. No matter what, I’m not leaving Winnie behind.”

They left and never once turned back.

At that moment, disappointment filled my heart.

A child whose own father did not long for him should not come to this world.

Cracks had appeared in our marriage, and it was going to crumble to pieces.

When I returned home after my abortion, I found the house still dark.

He did not come back for a few days, and I did not call him to ask him where he went either. I just focused on recovering at home while I also called a lawyer to ask about getting a divorce.

I saw Jake again from Winnie’s Instagram.

He never liked taking photos, but he had gone the extra mile and worn a cartoon hair clip in a pregnancy photo with Winnie.

They caressed her belly gently as they stared at each other lovingly. They looked just like a loving couple, eager for their baby’s birth.

For that instance, I liked the post.

Jake, who had not called me for a few days, called me right then and told me to go to his parents’ house for dinner.

I had already packed up pretty much everything, and my lawyer had also finished drafting out the divorce agreement. It was time for me to tell him and his family about my desire for a divorce, so I agreed to it.

When I arrived at his parents’ house, I found Winnie sitting in my spot.

Gertrude, Jake’s mother, held Winnie’s hand while she spoke amicably to him. Over the past five years, Gertrude had never smiled at me, but at this moment, her smile never faded.

Gertrude had always been displeased with me, and since I had never gotten pregnant despite being married to Jake for five years, she found me even more of an eyesore.

I had wanted to use my baby to improve my relationship with Gertrude, but there was no longer a need for it.

Seeing me, Winnie gave me a bashful smile.

“Luna, Gertrude insisted that I come here after learning that I was pregnant because it’s easier for her to care for me. Don’t read too much into it…”

I could not be bothered dealing with her act, so I pulled out a chair and sat down.

Gertrude sized me up and patted Winnie’s hand while she said earnestly to me, “Luna, you’ve never gotten pregnant even after being married to Jake for five years. I can’t wait to hold a grandchild now.

“Winnie is also a pitiful girl. Her husband passed away, and she’s all alone. Thank goodness she has Jake taking care of her.

“She’s also pregnant with Jake’s baby. Are you fine with me bringing her over so that I can take care of her?”

She might have phrased it as a question, but she was really reprimanding me. In any case, I was used to it.

Even so, no matter what happened between Winnie and the Greens was no longer any of my concern.

I nodded.

“Yeah. I’m okay with it.”