Robert sat down and let his shoulders sag.
“I need to tell you something.”
“Robert,” I warned.
He looked at our children.
“Your mother can’t handle what’s coming.”
“What happened?”
Steven set down the water.
“What does that mean?”
“It means she wants a divorce.”
Hanna’s grocery bag slipped. An apple rolled across the floor and stopped beside the pill in my hand.
“That’s a lie!”
Robert rubbed his forehead.
“She said our marriage has been over for years.”
“What does that mean?”
“Stop talking, Robert!”
Hanna stared at me.
“Mom?”
“Your father just told me he wants to leave me for Claire.”
Robert closed his eyes.
“Please don’t make this harder, Greta.”
“Stop talking, Robert!”
“Harder?” I stepped toward him. “You told me you loved another woman, and now you’re making me explain your lie.”
Hanna moved beside him.
“Dad just told us it’s stage four. And now you want to leave?”
“I don’t want to leave. Your father does.”
Steven looked at Robert.
“Dad, did you ask Mom for the divorce?”
“I don’t want to leave.”
Robert said nothing.
That silence should’ve saved me.
Instead, Hanna reached for his hand. Nothing I said would make her believe me.
“How could you leave him now?” Hanna asked.
“I’m trying to stay!”
Robert looked away. “Just let her go.”
Robert said nothing.
***
Three weeks later, I signed the divorce papers.
Robert gave me the house, most of our savings, and part of his business money.
The adviser reviewing the papers called the terms unusually generous.
Robert sat across from me in a gray suit and the blue tie.
“Why are you giving me almost everything?” I asked.
“I won’t need the house.”
I signed the divorce papers.
“That’s not a reason.”
“Sign the papers, Greta.”
“A guilty man can still be generous.”
His mouth tightened.
“I’m not doing this out of guilt.”
“Then why are you wearing my tie?”
He glanced down.
“Sign the papers, Greta.”
“It matched the suit.”
“You haven’t worn it in years.”
“Not everything means something.”
I signed.
***
Outside, Hanna and Steven waited near Steven’s car.
I walked toward them.
“Not everything means something.”
“Hanna, please. Let’s sit down somewhere and talk, honey.”
She stepped back.
“Did you get the house?”
“What?”
“Dad said he gave you everything you wanted.”
“I didn’t want a divorce.”
Steven folded his arms.
“Hanna, please.”
“He’s dying, Mom.”
“I know that.”
“Then why make this about money?”
“Your father was the one who wanted to leave.”
“Then why would he lie?” Hanna asked.
