Chapter 1My husband's up on stage getting some Perfect Family Award. For "caring for an Alzheimer's mother for ten years while balancing family and career."
The one he thank most? His dead ex.
"Gotta thank my late wife, Kelsie. She died ten years ago. Her letter? That's what keeps me going. Couldn't have saved all those lives without her."
His eyes got this look. Real love. The kind I'd never seen before.
But here's the truth: That award was MINE.
His mom didn't remember shit. Didn't know anyone. Could barely move.
I'd been taking care of her for ten years. Cooking. Dishes. Wiping her down. Changing diapers.
When she freaked out at night and smashed things? I handled it. Alone.
Didn't wake Wade. Doctor needed his sleep.
Ten years married. Ten years doing this.
And I'm just "the caregiver, Ms. Reed."
I turned off the TV. Took off my apron.
If I'm just hired help? Time to send him the bill.
TEN YEARS. $792,000.
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Award show wasn't even over. Wade texted.
[June, clean up. Get fruit and snacks ready. Use the good coffee, that fancy organic stuff. Water temp at 185. Don't screw it up.]
[People from work are coming over. Put on something decent. Change Mom too. Don't embarrass me.]
I texted back real quick.
[Sure.]
Wade's a terrible husband. But at least he pays on time.
Long as he's willing to pay what I'm owed, I'll make this clean.
Hour later, they showed up.
Four guys, four women. Some brought fruit baskets. Others had champagne.
"Your mom looks great!" This resident with thick glasses got right up in her face. "Dr. Hale takes such good care of her. Everyone at County General says he's like the perfect son."
My mother-in-law Lana sat there in her wheelchair. Didn't look at anyone. Just stared at the TV.
I was in the kitchen making coffee.
"Hey, uh, ma'am." That same resident stuck his head in the kitchen. "You got any ranch? We brought wings."
Living room went quiet.
Nobody said anything.
Wade didn't even look up. "June, ranch's in the cabinet. Left side, second shelf."
I handed the guy the bottle.
He took it. Then asked, "Dr. Hale, who's this lady?"
"She helps out around here," Wade said. Didn't even lift his head.
I finished up. Sat in the living room next to Lana.
They started talking about that TV show. Going on and on about how Wade's so devoted to his dead wife.
That resident was the worst. "Dr. Hale, you just won the Young Physician Award last month. Now you got the Perfect Family Award. Double win!"
Someone else jumped in. "Dr. Hale, can I take a pic of that photo wall? Wanna post it on the department page."
"Yeah, go ahead. Just don't use flash," Wade said. Always so thoughtful.
The photo wall. Top spot's Kelsie in her ballet costume. White tutu, standing on her toes.
Below that, pictures of her and Wade together.
And below that, fresh white lilies. Changed every week.
"These were Kelsie's favorite flowers," Wade said. All emotional and shit.
The star of this house? A dead woman.
I spent ten years here. Couldn't change a damn thing.
Just smiled a little. Didn't say anything.
Timer went off. Soup was done.
I went to grab bone broth for Lana. She can't eat solid food anymore. Just liquids.
Carrying the bowl over. Wade suddenly turned around and ran right into me.
Hot soup splashed on my hand. I let go.
Crash.
Bowl hit the edge of the photo wall. Hot broth spilled all over the frame.
My hand turned bright red instantly.
"What the HELL are you doing?!"
Wade shoved me hard.
I stumbled back. Hit the corner of the sideboard. My lower back hurt like hell.
He didn't even look at me.
Pulled out his fancy handkerchief. Got down on his knees. Started wiping the glass on the frame.
Real slow. Real careful. Over and over.
"Today," he said. Sounded mad as hell. "You really had to pull this shit, huh?"
That resident didn't even notice my hand. Just stood there like, "Damn, she's clumsy. But Dr. Hale, dude, you're still not over Ms. Sterling? After ten years?"
"Yeah, that's what real love looks like."
Everyone crowded around that stupid photo wall. Talking about love.
Nobody looked at me. Nobody asked if I was okay.
I stood there holding my burnt hand. Pushed myself toward the kitchen.
These hands? Bathed Lana for ten years. Changed her diapers. Held her down when she'd shake at night.
Never had time to take care of them. Winter? They'd crack. Bleed. Looked like shit and hurt like hell.
But to Wade? Not worth as much as some picture frame.
That's when I knew.
I was done. For good.
Chapter 2
9:30 that night, Wade walked the guests out. Could hear him laughing with them in the hall.
He came back. Face went cold again. Same old look.
Pushed my bedroom door open. Tossed a paper bag on my bed.
"For you."
Gray rubber gloves. The thick kind with fleece inside. Tags still on.
And a small tube of cream. Label was all in some foreign language.
I froze for a second.
Ten years. First time he ever bought me medicine.
I picked up the tube. My throat felt tight.
Then Wade started talking.
"That cream's for Mom. Her legs are all dry and flaky. Put it on her twice a day. Morning and night. Don't screw it up."
"And Mom keeps scratching people now. When you cut her nails, wear the gloves. Don't let her scratch you. You get infected, you gotta call in sick. And nobody's gonna cover for you."
That tiny bit of warmth I felt? Gone. Just like that.
He didn't even see my burn.
Just stood in the doorway, unbuttoning his cuffs. Acting like it was no big deal.
"Next Monday's Kelsie's death anniversary. Go to Oakwood Cemetery early. Clean the headstone. Get nineteen white lilies."
"Wade." I stopped him.
He turned around. Frowned. "What now?"
"I want a divorce." My voice was flat.
He paused. Then actually laughed.
Pulled a stack of cash from his wallet. Maybe twenty bills. Threw it on the nightstand.
"So my resident called you 'ma'am' and now you're mad?" He looked down at me. "Fine. Take it. Go buy some decent clothes. When people come over, don't make me look bad."
I said it again. "I want a divorce. Tomorrow."
"June." He sounded pissed. "I just gave you three grand. First of the month, like always. You want more? I'll send it later. Stop with the drama. You're being ridiculous."
Then went to his study.
This place is 1,600 square feet. He's got the master. But basically lives in that study.
My room? Tiny. Dark. Never gets any sun.
Three people in this house. We don't talk. Like roommates who hate each other.
Lana's too sick to know what's going on. Taking care of her? Hard as hell. Even people who get paid for this quit.
And she only knows me now.
Why doesn't Wade wanna talk divorce? Probably scared of losing his free nurse.
But I'm leaving anyway.
Middle of the night, I got up to change Lana's pad. Walked past the study.
Door was cracked open.
Wade was at his desk. Had these white ballet shoes in his hands.
Kelsie's.
He was wiping them with some cloth. Over and over.
After she died, he put them up on the top shelf. Nobody could touch them.
"Kelsie, I got the award today. You saw it, right?"
The desk lamp lit up his face. Still good-looking.
Yeah, real devoted.
Real romantic.
But I waited ten years. Never got even a tiny bit of that from him.
I pushed the door open.
His face froze. "Who said you could just walk in?"
I looked at him. "Wade, I'm serious. I want a divorce. Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m. Courthouse."
He stared at me for a while. Then smiled. Looked back at his shoes.
"Sure. Go ahead. I'll give you a hundred bucks for your Uber."
He thought I was bullshitting him.
Thought I was just some woman who barely finished high school. Broke. No family. Some girl from nowhere.
Me saying "I want a divorce"? That was like a kid going "I'm running away."
Starve her for two days. She'll come back.
I closed the door. Went back to my room. Dragged my suitcase out from under the bed.
Same red one I brought ten years ago. One wheel was broken.
4:30 in the morning, I heard a scream next door.
Lana.
Chapter 3
When I ran into Lana's room, the bed was empty.
Window was wide open. Screen pushed up. Cold air rushing in.
My brain went blank.
I didn't even put shoes on. Just ran out, banging on the master bedroom door.
"Wade! Your mom's GONE!!"
No answer.
Master bedroom was empty. Study was empty.
He'd taken the car and left.
Once again, I couldn't find him in the middle of the night.
He's always doing this. Off to Oakwood with Kelsie, or just... gone. To places they used to go.
No idea where he went this time.
Can't count on him. Called the police instead.
Down at the station, officer pulls up the camera thing.
3:50 a.m. Lana's in her nightgown. Got her umbrella. Using it like a cane. Walks out. Goes east.
That way's the old mill area.
Her house from when she was a kid? Been gone fifty years.
I go down there. Hit every shop.
Seventh one, guy says, "Yeah, saw her. Went toward the river. Kept saying something about her daughter from school."
Sun's up. I found her sitting on a cement bench by the river.
Cold. Real cold. Lips are purple. Got half a donut. Must've found it.
She sees me. Face lights up. "Oh honey, come sit. I've been waiting."
She thought I was her daughter. From back when she was young.
I carried her to County General on my back.
She kept struggling. Slapping my head. Screaming that I was kidnapping her.
At the ER, they needed a family member to sign.
I called Wade again.
Eighth try. He finally picked up.
"I'm in surgery."
Then he hung up.
Ten in the morning, he showed up.
White coat all crisp. Hair slicked back perfect. Smelled like hospital soap. And that cologne.
That cologne. Same one Kelsie wore. He never changed it.
Lady in the next bed leaned over.
"Hey sweetie, you the nurse they hired? What do they pay you? I'm thinking I might need someone. You're real good with her."
I stopped what I was doing.
Didn't say anything. Just looked at Wade.
Waited him say something.
"She's my wife." Or just "She's family."
But Wade just smiled at the lady.
"Good help is hard to find."
He'll never say I'm his wife.
Ten years. Taking care of his mom. He thinks it's just... normal. Expected.
I set the towel down on the rack.
Then looked at Wade.
"I quit."
His smile froze. "What did you just say?"
I said it loud. Slow. So everyone could hear.
"I'm done. Your mom? You take care of her yourself."
Then turned and walked out.
He came after me. Voice low, hissing. "June! Are you insane?! This is a hospital!"
I didn't turn around.
At the end of the hall, there was a window. Wind blew in.
My eyes stung.
But that weight? Ten years of it?
First time it felt lighter.
