The Night Before I Left Him

4: 4

Morris came striding over.

He stopped across from me, holding the umbrella over Savannah.

He reached out and wiped the rain from my face, and there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

Maybe ten seconds passed.

Then I heard Morris say quietly,

"The rain's coming down hard, and this umbrella only fits two. Savannah's on her period, so let me take her back first and then come get you. Go find somewhere to wait out of the rain."

But this was the middle of the morning market strip.

Where exactly was there to shelter from the rain?

The two of them brushed past me.

I waited until they were well ahead, and then I finally called out to Morris, my voice steady with resolve.

"Morris, let's break up."

But of all the timing.

A car drove past just then, its engine noise mixing with the rain and swallowing my voice whole.

Morris looked back at me, blank.

"What did you say?"

"I said—"

But before I could finish, Savannah, standing at his side, suddenly grabbed his arm, her voice going weak.

"Morris, my stomach's starting to hurt again..."

"Whatever it is, it can wait. I need to get Savannah home first."

With that, he looked away, took hold of Savannah beside him, and hurried off toward home.

"I said, let's break up."

But the two of them were already long gone. Only the downpour answered me.

I laughed.

And started running through the rain.

For seven years, Morris was always making me wait. In the wind, in the rain.

But not once.

Not once did I ever wait long enough for him to come.

And now.

I wasn't going to wait anymore.

It was just a bit of rain. Really, it was nothing.

When I pushed the door open and stepped inside,

Morris was carefully blow-drying Savannah's hair, murmuring the whole time.

"Your hair has to be dry or you'll catch a cold easily. You were like this as a kid. I just ordered your favorite, the cold-brew yogurt parfait. Have some first. Whatever you want for dinner, I'll make it."

At the sound, the two of them looked up on instinct.

Seeing it was me, Savannah pursed her lips at me, her tone put-upon.

"Lottie, how do you even put up with Morris? He fusses so much. Can't you rein your boyfriend in?"

In the past, if Savannah had said something like that, I would definitely have smiled and answered,

"You're his best friend. He's only doing it for your sake."

And Morris would follow it up with,

"Our Lottie really does understand me best. I wish you could be as considerate as Lottie someday."

But now.

I only tugged the corner of my mouth.

And turned to walk toward the bedroom.

I had a ten o'clock meeting with the wedding coordinator.

After he finished drying Savannah's hair, Morris came into the room, wrapped his arms around me from behind, and studied me in the mirror.

His gaze landed on my very short skirt, and for once he frowned.

"You're going out?"

"Why are you wearing a skirt this short?"

In all the years I'd been with Morris, I'd stuck to long sleeves and long skirts.

All because of one offhand remark of his about feeling insecure.

So I put away all my short skirts, and I even cut off contact with every male friend I had.

I slipped out of his hold on instinct and said flatly,

"I like it. Is that not allowed?"

He froze.

As if something had suddenly dawned on him, Morris sighed, and when he spoke again there was a helpless note in his voice.

"Lottie, are you angry?"

"Just because I was a little late coming to get you? But you're back now, aren't you?"

With that, he reached out to pull me toward him, and there was a coaxing edge in his voice.

"Come on, let's not make a fuss."

"I bought your favorite breakfast dumplings. Come eat breakfast."

But the one who loved breakfast dumplings wasn't me. It was Savannah.

In seven years.

I'd told Morris countless times that I didn't like breakfast dumplings, yet every day after his morning run he'd bring me a portion of them.

"I've got somewhere to be, I'm heading out. You two take your time."

I couldn't even be bothered to argue with him.

I just picked up the bag beside me and walked right past him.

But Morris grabbed hold of me again.

"What do you have to do? I never heard you mention anything."