Chapter 3

"This makes seven birthdays we've spent together, doesn't it."

There was something coaxing in his tone now, as if he'd finally understood that getting the date wrong really had been a mistake.

But Denys still kept his face stiff.

I could already picture it. If I blamed him now,

he'd come back with a pile of work excuses, trying to patch over and explain away what he'd done.

So I didn't say much. I just went along with him.

"Right. Every year before, you were beside me for my birthday. Today just barely counts, I suppose."

Seeing that I wasn't fighting with him over the forgotten date,

Denys actually softened.

The truth was, it wasn't that I didn't want to be angry. I was just too tired to be.

Something you've waited this long for with nothing to show for it should end.

Before we slept, Denys reached around from behind and pulled me by the waist.

He apologized.

Said he hadn't forgotten my birthday on purpose.

Promised he'd make it up to me properly with tomorrow's day off.

I still didn't say much, just listened quietly while he explained.

Listened as Denys brought up, on his own, what my parents had said in the group chat.

For once, the two of us were this calm about it.

"Lucia, whether it's your parents or your friends, we don't have to let them get to us."

"You know it. The thing I hate most is other people meddling in our relationship."

"We have our own pace. We don't need to worry about them."

If this had been before, maybe Denys and I would have started fighting again.

Because I couldn't accept that he'd forget my birthday and still throw one for his colleague.

Couldn't accept that he knew I wanted this to lead somewhere, and still fobbed me off with there's no rush.

Even if his reasons were fair.

I'd gone from not understanding to understanding his work.

But understanding didn't mean I had to accept all of it.

So today, I didn't argue anymore.

I just answered Denys with a single word. Okay.

Then I pulled free of his arm.

Rolled the blanket around me and moved to sleep on my own side.

Denys was used to it too.

We said good night to each other and didn't say another word.

4

We never made it to the aquarium the next day.

The birthday cake from yesterday had a little mango filling mixed in.

I'm allergic to mango.

I only noticed in the small hours, when I couldn't breathe and my neck burned unbearably.

Denys took me to the hospital.

Seeing me leaning back in a chair with an IV in my arm,

with several more bags of fluid to go, likely a whole morning in the hospital ahead,

Denys took a few work calls, and his face darkened. He started to complain.

"We've been together this long. There's no need to put me through this over something so small."

"You could've texted to remind me yesterday was your birthday. I was just busy and forgot."

"If I'd ordered the cake, I definitely would've told them no mango."

I gave a small smile, the corner of my mouth pulling, and murmured an agreement.

I'd just started to tell him he could go to work first, that I could take care of myself,

when Denys took another call.

This time he was visibly tense.

After he hung up, he asked me, a little awkwardly.

"Lucia, do you remember I have a colleague named Zelda Delgado?"

I nodded.

How could I not.

Yesterday I'd watched the two of them share a birthday meal.

"Her client came to the firm making a scene. She just called to ask if I could go help."

I watched the panic plain on Denys's face and waited for the rest.

But seeing how pale I was, he hesitated a moment.

After the nurse came by again to insist that someone stay with me to watch for the allergic reaction,

he finally sat down and didn't say anything more.

"You can go, actually."

I looked at Denys with a smile.

"You threw her a birthday yesterday, didn't you."

"And if the client really kicks off, it's probably more serious than my allergy."

Denys frowned, as if trying to work out whether I meant it or was just sulking.

He didn't even notice how it was that I knew the two of them had celebrated her birthday together yesterday.

His phone lit up again.

I saw it. Zelda again.

The call cut through Denys's hesitation.

He nodded, turned, and hired a care aide for me.

Said he'd found the most expensive aide to look after me, that he'd just run over there and be back soon.

I didn't say much. I just agreed.

5

Expensive really was better.

The aide not only bustled around fetching me water and buying me food,

but chatted with me all smiles, praising how good Denys was to me.

Aides were in short supply at the hospital, she said, and Denys had paid five hundred a day to bring her in to look after me.

But then she turned to gossip with someone else in the hallway, and lowered her voice, and told the truth.

He was just keeping me happy.

If he really cared, what family member wouldn't stay and watch over you themselves.

Who would hire an aide to do it.

In my memory, it did seem that was how it had always been.