Page 9 of The Liar's Wife

“Palmer? What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone full of worry.

“Where are you?” I demanded, shaking.

“I took Gray to the park… Where are you?”

“To the park? He’s not even two weeks old, Ben.”

“Well, I didn’t put him on the slide, Palm. I just wanted to get out of the apartment, get some fresh air. Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay. I’m home and freaking out because you were gone.”

“You’re home?” he asked, sounding out of breath.

“Yeah, I came home early, and you were gone.”

“I’m sorry, babe,” he said with a light chuckle. “We’realmost home. I was planning to be home and have supper cooked before you got there.”

I sank down on the couch. “I was so scared, Ben.”

“What did you think happened? We ran away?”

“I didn’t know what to think.”

“The stroller was missing,” he said, and I glanced to the place in the corner where the brand new green stroller had been sitting before. “You should’ve known I took him somewhere.”

“I didn’t know the two were related.”

He snorted, trying to get me to laugh. “Wait, so you thought someone kidnapped the two of usandsomeone else broke in and stole the stroller, and the two were unrelated?”

“I hate you.” I laughed. “God, I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry we worried you, sweetheart. I’m walking up to the building now. See you in a minute.”

I stood up, wiping my tears away and hanging my purse on the coat rack. I grabbed the cooler, placing the bags of milk into the freezer and unpacking the lunch I’d merely picked at. When I heard their footsteps outside the door, my heart swelled with joy, and when he stepped inside, I could’ve cried again. I pulled Gray into my arms, scaring him so badly he began to cry, though he immediately calmed when he realized it was me.

“He missed you, Mama,” Ben said. He looked at my shirt, where white, dried milk stains now showed. “What happened?”

“I leaked because a client meeting ran too long.”

“Cumberland knows you have to keep a schedule to keep your supply up,” he said.

I rolled my eyes at his insistence that it should be thateasy. “Cumberland couldn’t care less about my supply, but this wasn’t really his fault. As much as I hate to admit it.”

“Even so, babe. You have rights. Whatever happens, you have to keep your supply up. It’s what’s best for Gray.”

“I know that,” I snapped, feeling like I was being scolded. I glanced down at the stroller as he wheeled it away from me without folding it up. “What’s that?” In the basket underneath the stroller was a small, blue bag with green tissue paper sticking out the top.

He looked down, and I was nearly positive I’d seen a hint of dread on his face. “This?” He pulled the bag out and held it up. “Jason brought it by earlier. A gift for Gray.”

“What is it?”

He pulled the tissue paper out and revealed a small onesie with a cute, smiling Earth on its belly.Hi, I’m new here.

I forced a stiff smile. “It’s cute. This was really sweet of him.”

“I thought so. Hopefully he can still fit in it, this chunkster.” He laughed, rubbing Gray’s belly.

“Why did you take it with you to the park?” I asked as Ben moved past me.