did Tony, I won’t be so nice. Unlike him, there’s no way she can claim that I took something from her.”
“She just wants to reconcile!”
I laugh mockingly. “If she wanted that, she should’ve apologized, not tried to manipulate Jo behind my back.”
“Edgar…”
“Dad, you’ve made it clear that Mom is everything to you. You don’t care about anything else. So be with her and be happy. But don’t expect my blessings.” I hang up, then block his number.
I go back to Linda’s report. I have more urgent matters to take care of.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Jo
Yuna comes over only hours after Edgar leaves. Then she moves in, claiming she’s worried about me being alone when I’m in a “delicate state.” Since I can’t drink, she does double shots and gets drunk, and we trash-talk stupid men. Men who make you wish for things they were never planning to let you have.
I didn’t know Yuna was so good at disparaging people…and without using a single nasty or vulgar word.
Now that it’s a new day, I feel kind of bad about all the things Yuna and I said about men. But as the day goes on, and I see one client after another, and Edgar doesn’t make any attempt to contact me, I start to feel less guilty. Maybe I should’ve been meaner.
I tell myself he’s going to try to text me, because that’s the easy cop-out some of my exes used. Just text Sorry. Maybe add some idiotic excuses. He might even try to tell me I heard wrong.
Just like a store clerk at a boutique shop who tries to tell you you’re wrong to return an item for not looking right because there’s nothing wrong with the brand.
But Edgar doesn’t text. He doesn’t try to get the penthouse back or take his things.
And with every passing hour, my heart seems to deflate like a ball with a small hole in it. Why? I was so angry and upset when I overheard him. But with more time and better emotional stability, maybe I want to yell at him. Tell him what I think about his “she’s perfect because I’ll never love her” bullshit. Get my closure.
Because even though I’m telling myself I’m done with him, there’s a part of me that says it’s not quite over. And I have to agree. Unsettled feelings churn in my heart. My life at the moment is like a murder mystery that doesn’t reveal who did it. Or a romantic comedy where the couple doesn’t get back together after a fight.
But I’ll be damned if I contact Edgar first. I know whoever makes the first move is going to be at a disadvantage.
So the rest of the week passes. I look at my calendar app. I have an appointment with Dr. Silverman next week. Should I ask her assistant to gently nudge Edgar about it so he’ll have to show up?
Or would he ignore that, too?
After a client appointment on Saturday, I head to Manny’s Tacos for a family dinner. Mama asked me to bring Edgar, but I haven’t told him because I don’t want to see him at the dinner when we haven’t hashed everything out. Also, I don’t want my family finding out about our separation at the dinner.
Normally Mama would be the first person I’d run to if I needed to talk. But I’m so reluctant at the moment. After her encouragement and conviction that I could do it, admitting out loud that I screwed up again is just going to make my failure unbearable.
And I’m terrified of the possibility that I might never have what I want in my personal life. Edgar seemed so perfect, the kind of solid, great guy I could build a life with. My brothers will probably all find the loves of their lives and get married and live happily ever after before me. Hell, I might even become a cat lady, who has twenty tomcats because they’re more reliable than men she dates.
But at least I have the baby. I place a hand over my belly. I’ll give him all my love, and maybe that’ll be enough. If Edgar tries to start a custody battle, I’ll sic Samantha on him.
When I walk in, everyone except Hugo’s already in the private room. We hug each other, exchanging kisses.
“You look so skinny!” Tía Bea says, running her hand along my arm. “If you hadn’t told us, I would’ve never thought you were pregnant. You gotta start eating better.”
I smile at her as