Page 25

Atlas

It was the next day, and I had been sitting in the hospital waiting room since I’d left Ashlen at the house. I couldn’t shake the anger that had gripped me since finding out the truth about Dion. I sat in the visitor's lounge, staring blankly at the vending machines, but my mind was somewhere far darker. Kairi had been slipping out of the hospital with Dion to avoid me, and now I knew why.

When I thought about it now... he looked like me. He had more red hair than brown. How could I not have seen it at first? Maybe grief?

My grip on my phone tightened as I thought about confronting her, but something held me back. I didn’t want to explode—not yet.

When I couldn’t sit still anymore, I made my way toward Ms. Shirley’s room. I knew Kairi and her father weren’t there—they were at home preparing for her return. The sound of my footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway. As I reached the door, I could hear her talking softly with one of the nurses. I waited until the nurse left, then stepped inside.

Ms. Shirley smiled when she saw me, but I didn’t smile back.

“Atlas, what’s the matter?” she asked, her eyes sharp, already picking up on my mood.

I hesitated, the words feeling heavy in my throat. “Did you know?”

She blinked, her face a mask of confusion. “Know what?”

Ms. Shirley had been like a second mother to me, practically raising me when my own parents were more concerned with their careers than me. When my dad wasn’t giving me life lessons on how to be a man, Ms. Shirley was teaching me about compassion, about paying attention to the things that mattered. She was always there when I needed someone—her soft voice guiding me through all the confusing parts of life.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I had hoped she didn’t know about Dion. I hoped she hadn’t betrayed me.

But Kairi? That was something different. Kairi hadn’t just kept a secret—she’d kept my child from me. I replayed the last few weeks in my head, over and over, trying to pinpoint why she hadn’t told me. Was it because of Ashlen? Was she afraid I’d lash out? Did she think I wouldn’t want Dion?

The more I thought about it, the more it ate at me. Why the hell hadn’t she told me?

“That Dion is mine.”

Her face went slack, and for a long moment, she just stared at me. “Atlas... I didn’t know,” she said softly, her voice breaking the silence. “I assumed the boy belonged to Davis. That’s the only man she’s spoken of. But when I think about it, he was just recent.”

I watched her carefully, looking for any sign of deception, but all I saw was genuine surprise. She really didn’t know.

She took a deep breath, her hands fidgeting with the blanket. “But how? How is Dion yours? You’ve been married longer than he’s been alive.”

I sat down heavily in the chair beside her, running my hands through my hair. “It happened at the first baby shower. Kairi and I... well, I... I didn’t know how to tell her I cornered her and forced her to do what we both wanted. Well, ‘forced’ is a heavy word. ‘Things happened’ will have to suffice. I didn’t know she was pregnant. I didn’t know anything until now.”

Ms. Shirley’s eyes softened, and she reached out, resting her hand on mine. “Oh, Atlas,” she sighed, her voice full of empathy. “You’ve put yourself in a difficult situation. But so has Kairi. She’s been carrying this alone, and I can’t imagine what that’s done to her.”

I wanted to say I didn’t give a fuck about how Kairi felt, but Ms. Shirley wouldn’t let that slide.

“I get that she’s been going through her own struggles,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “But that’s no excuse for keeping this from me. She had no right.”

Ms. Shirley gave me a long, measured look, scolding me. “She had her reasons, I’m sure. You have to remember, you’re married. She probably didn’t want to blow your life apart. Her life apart. And with all the babies Ashlen lost? Lawd. I can’t see her just outright telling you. But she should have. Now that you know, you have to think about how you’ll handle it. There’s a child involved, and you need to think about what’s best for him, not just yourself.”

Her words made more sense than I wanted them to, and I felt the knot in my chest tighten. She was right. Dion was the only thing that mattered now. But I couldn’t ignore the anger simmering beneath the surface. Why hadn’t Kairi told me? Why did she let me walk around in the dark for almost three years?

Maybe losing so many kids wouldn’t have been as hard if I— I ended my thought there. It wouldn’t have made it less hard.

Ms. Shirley’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Is Kairi the girl you mentioned back in college? The one you liked?”

I hesitated, feeling the truth settle in my gut. “Yeah, she is.”

Ms. Shirley shook her head. “Atlas, you’ve been tangled in this for a long time. But whatever you do next, you have to think about the consequences. Don’t act on impulse. Think carefully.”

Her words echoed in my head long after I left the hospital. I couldn’t act recklessly, no matter how much I wanted to storm over to Kairi’s place and demand answers. This wasn’t just about me anymore—it was about Dion.

When I got home that night, the house was too quiet. I walked into the bedroom and immediately noticed that some of Ashlen’s clothes were missing. My heart raced—but it wasn’t from panic.

I moved to my office and found the safe open. The ten grand I had stashed in there was gone.

For a split second, I waited for the anger to come. But instead, I felt... relief.

Ashlen had taken the money, and she was gone—at least for now. That meant I had time. Time to think. Time to figure out my next move without her breathing down my neck.

Ms. Shirley was right. This wasn’t a moment to let my emotions lead. I had to be smart about this. I couldn’t afford to act out and ruin everything. If I reacted the wrong way—if I lost my temper—Kairi might do something drastic.

And I couldn’t risk losing Dion. Not now. Not when I had just found him.