Chapter 2

I hadn't slept all night.

Ursula, on the other hand, was glowing.

"Honey."

I'd just come into the living room when I saw her walking out of the kitchen with breakfast.

"I made oatmeal today, and the veggie omelet you like."

Smiling, she poured me a glass of milk.

"The IPO date is set too."

"The consultant said," she settled easily into the seat across from me, "your birthday timing lines up perfectly, so we're locking it in for next month."

"Once the company goes public," she picked up a hash brown and set it in my bowl, "life's going to be even better."

All these years.

Ursula had taken over caring for me, right down to my meals, three a day, every day, all made by her.

Our friends joked that Ursula was the one on a tight leash, that I had her wrapped around my finger.

And Ursula wore it with pride.

"Getting to look after my husband is my good fortune."

And now.

The hash brown sat right in front of me.

It was from that place on the South Side I loved, and the oatmeal was slow-cooked until it was thick and smooth, hot enough to sting my eyes. I listened to her voice, watched the habits worn so deep into her, and I said her name.

"Ursula."

"What is it?"

She was looking down, playing with her phone.

"The third wish."

Her fingers froze.

"Have you decided?"

"Six months ago, I told you to use up your third wish," I watched something unnatural flicker across her face, "and you said you had to be careful, so careful, that the last wish carried too much meaning, that it had to be for the most important thing."

"Have you decided?"

"Ursula," and still, hope stirred in me, "what if we wished for an adorable little ba—"

"Honey," she cut me off, "we're still young, still building our careers. It's not the time for a child."

Ursula always put her career first. That was how she'd put off the wedding I wanted, how she'd brushed aside how badly I actually wanted a child.

Even when it left me disappointed, hurt, aching.

Ursula would win an antique at auction for millions, or buy an LED billboard in Bayport just to cheer me up, willing to spend time and money to earn one smile from me, and then she'd tell me.

"Honey, you'll always be the one person I treasure most. Once things are stable, I'll make up for everything I owe you."

And I believed her.

So as I sat there listening to the exact same excuse, the last bit of warmth in my chest went out completely.

"Sure."

I listened to her phone buzzing again and again, a reminder.

"Maybe it's something important."

I pointed at the screen, still lighting up.

"Go ahead and take it."

Ursula grabbed the phone in a fluster and went out to the balcony. I watched her stand there frowning, and in just a few seconds she hung up.

"Something came up at the company."

She didn't even glance at me.

"I'm heading out first."

She picked up her car keys and walked to the entryway.

"Honey," and as if she'd finally remembered I was there, she looked back at me before opening the door, "don't overthink things. I love you."

"Sure."

The door closed.

I sat at the table and got Grandma's reply, a single short word: 【Good.】

And then.

I opened the surveillance feed, tapped the balcony camera, and listened to Ursula's voice.