Page 43 of The Husband Contract

“Yeah, I guess,” I say, not really believing that we’re having a conversation about Sergio right here and now, and she doesn’t even have the gumption to look embarrassed or regretful about what she’s done.

“Did you at least get some good presents from him?” I ask, keeping my voice light.

“Presents?” She stares at me. “What do you mean?” I watch as she fiddles with her ring.

“I mean, did he buy you anything nice or give you anything?” This is her out. She just has to tell me the truth. Tell me that she took his money. Tell me that she made him think she wanted more. Anything to show me regret and that what went on between her and Sergio was a mistake.

“Trust me when I say this man did not do anything for me.” She stares at the ring on her finger, and I’m almost blinded by the light as the sun reflects off it. I am almost positive that Sergio bought her this diamond ring, or at least she bought it with the money he’d given her.

“Oh, well, I guess the next time you meet someone, he’ll treat you better.”

“I kind of hoped I already had,” she says, turning to me with a small smile. I take her hand and squeeze it. “I think you have, my dear. I think I’m going to be the man of your dreams.”

I smile at her lightly, and she beams at me. I try not to burst out laughing or point at her face and tell her that she’s met her worst nightmare. But no, she’ll figure that out soon enough.

“Oh, wow, we’ve been walking for a really long time.” Willow is huffing and puffing as I help her up one of the rocks. She stumbles slightly and takes a few deep breaths.Her face is a deep red, and I can see the sweat soaking through her shirt.

“Not really,” I say, shaking my head and looking at my watch. “I think we’ve been walking for about ten minutes.”

“It’s only been ten minutes?” she says, coughing slightly. “Wow. It feels like ten hours.”

“You’re funny,” I say. “It’s beautiful here. Absolutely stunning.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of cool.” She points out some daisies on the ground. “Ooh, can we stop for a second? I love flowers. Can we admire these for a moment?”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

“Yeah, don’t you? Those are daisies, and I love daisies. I was thinking, if I ever had kids, I would name my daughter Daisy.”

“Is that a hint?”

“A hint?” She looks at me with a confused expression.

“That if we have kids, you’d like to name our first daughter Daisy?”

“Oh, no, no, no.” She blushes a deeper red. “No, I was just saying that... Well, anyway, let’s continue.”

We walk for another five minutes, and then she stops again. “Oh, look. Do you see that? Ooh! Is that a red-breasted robin in the trees?”

I stop and look to the right, to the tree she’s pointing at,but I see nothing. “Sorry, what are you looking at?”

“Close your eyes and listen. I swear I hear it loudly, the chirps.” She takes a deep breath.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“Close your eyes,” she says, practically pleading. “Let’s just stand here and see if we hear it.”

I close my eyes and hear a slight chirp, but I swear she’s the one making the noise. My eyes fly open.

“Was that you, Willow?”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“Were you chirping like a bird?”

She licks her lips nervously. “I mean, I was, but only because I was hoping it would attract the bird I just saw so that we could see what it was. Because I love birds and flowers and butterflies, and when I go on hikes, I like to take a lot of breaks and a lot of stops, because I just like to admire the nature all around me. Isn’t nature beautiful?”

“Nature is very beautiful,” I say. “Quite like you.”