Chapter 3
The Iceland trip had been my dream for years. I'd bookmarked countless travel blogs, pinned photos of geothermal pools and Northern Lights to secret boards Vincent didn't know about. When he finally suggested it for my birthday, I'd almost cried.
"I've booked us the VIP package," Vincent said over breakfast, his phone buzzing with what I now recognized as Harlow's special ringtone. He silenced it without looking at me. "We leave tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow?" I set down my coffee cup carefully. "But that's—"
"Your birthday, I know." He smiled, that charming smile that once made my heart race. "What better way to celebrate than crossing something off your bucket list?"
I'd been so excited I hadn't even noticed the way his eyes kept darting to his phone.
---
The morning of our departure dawned clear and bright. I stood in our bedroom, surveying the carefully packed suitcases. Layered clothing for Iceland's unpredictable weather, my good camera, the journal I'd bought specifically for this trip. Everything was ready.
"Elizabeth!" Vincent's voice called from downstairs, urgent and strained. "We need to talk."
I found him in the kitchen, phone pressed to his ear, his face ashen.
"What's wrong?" I asked, though part of me already knew.
"It's James," he said, avoiding my eyes. "He has a fever. Harlow thinks it might be pneumonia."
James. The name of his son with Harlow. The child he'd kept secret for three years.
"I'm so sorry," Vincent continued, his voice breaking with what sounded like genuine concern. "But I can't leave him like this. Not when he's sick."
I stood there, watching him pace, listening to him explain why he couldn't go on our trip—why he couldn't fulfill my final birthday wish.
"The thing is," he said, finally meeting my gaze, "Harlow doesn't have anyone else to call. Her mother's out of town, and she's really scared."
Of course she was. And of course Vincent would rush to her side.
"What about me?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Vincent's expression shifted, almost imperceptibly. "You understand, don't you? This is an emergency."
I understood perfectly.
---
The house felt cavernous with Vincent gone. I moved through our bedroom like a ghost, touching the suitcases that would never be unpacked in Reykjavik.
Outside, rain had started to fall—a gentle, persistent drizzle that matched my mood. I sat on our bed, staring at the luggage, each piece carefully labeled with our names and the hotel information.
"Mrs. Austin - Iceland VIP Tour - Arrival 10/15."
The tags mocked me now, bright orange against the dark suitcases.
I opened my laptop and pulled up the confirmation email from the tour company. Everything had been arranged: the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle tour, the Northern Lights excursion. All cancelled now, with barely an apology from Vincent.
My phone buzzed with a text from him: "James is stable. Don't wait up."
Don't wait up. As if I were merely an inconvenience in his life—something to be managed around his real priorities.
I walked to the window and looked out at the rain-soaked garden. Somewhere across town, Vincent was holding his son, comforting Harlow, playing the role of devoted father and protector. Here, I was alone with my packed bags and broken dreams.
The realization hit me with sudden clarity: I was already a ghost to him. An obligation he was waiting to be free of.
---
Volunteering at the children's home had seemed like a good distraction. Something to fill the days until my next appointment with Dr. Chen.
"Mrs. Austin!" Little Emma waved excitedly as I entered the common room. "You came!"
I forced a smile, setting down the books I'd brought. "Would I miss story time?"
As I settled into the reading chair, a small figure caught my eye. A girl of about seven sat alone in the corner, clutching a worn stuffed rabbit to her chest. Unlike the other children, who buzzed with energy, she was still—watching with large, expressive eyes that seemed to hold too much sorrow.
"That's Millie," whispered Mrs. Davis, the director. "She came to us last month. Doesn't speak."
Something about her stillness called to me. When the other children scattered after story time, Millie remained, her eyes following me with an intensity that made my chest ache.
I knelt beside her chair. "Hello, Millie."
She didn't speak—of course she didn't—but she extended her small hand toward me, the stuffed rabbit clutched tightly in her other arm.
"Would you like to help me read to the younger ones?" I asked.
For a moment, she didn't move. Then, slowly, she nodded.
As I took her hand, I felt something shift inside me—a connection forming where I thought nothing could grow anymore. In Millie's silent gaze, I saw recognition—a kindred spirit who understood what it meant to be abandoned by those who should have protected you.
She tugged on my hand, pulling me toward the bookshelf, and for the first time in weeks, I felt something other than despair.
You may also like
