Chapter 8 8

The doctor was young, tired, and blunt.

"Your white blood cell count is elevated, and based on the location of the pain and your rebound tenderness, I strongly suspect acute appendicitis," she said, looking at the chart. "This isn't something you can ignore, Mrs. Carlson. You need to go to an emergency room for a surgical consult. Immediately."

She handed Alexia a referral form. "You need to reduce stress. You need to rest. And you need surgery. If you keep going like this, you're going to end up in the ER with a rupture, and that's life-threatening."

Alexia took the form. Her hands were shaking. "Can I... can I wait a day? I just need one more day."

The doctor looked at her like she was crazy. "Can you? Maybe. Should you? Absolutely not. I'm prescribing you the strongest painkillers I can, but this is a temporary, dangerous solution."

Alexia swallowed two of the pills she gave her right there in the office.

Her phone buzzed.

Aubree: Hey girl! I feel terrible about last night. Let me make it up to you. Lunch at Le Coucou? Just us girls. We need to talk about Jensen's birthday. I want to make sure I don't step on your toes!

It was a trap. Alexia knew it was a trap.

But if she didn't go, Aubree would tell Jensen she was being difficult. She would spin it.

Fine, Alexia typed. 12:30.

Alexia arrived at Le Coucou early. She ordered hot water with lemon.

Aubree swept in ten minutes late. She looked radiant.

"Alexia!" She kissed the air beside Alexia's cheek. "You look... cozy."

She sat down. "I ordered for us! The seafood tower. It's to die for."

The mere thought of food, let alone raw seafood, made Alexia's stomach clench. The smell of brine and shellfish from a nearby table was already making her feel lightheaded. "Aubree, I can't eat. I'm not feeling well."

Aubree waved her hand. "Oh, stop it. You're always on a diet. Live a little."

Then, Alexia saw him.

Jensen walked through the door.

He spotted them and walked over. He looked annoyed, but when he saw Aubree, he relaxed.

"Bree said you guys were making up," he said to Alexia, sitting down next to Aubree.

Alexia stared at Aubree. Making up?

Aubree grabbed his arm. "I just wanted to clear the air!"

The waiter brought the tower. Oysters. Clams. Sashimi. It smelled of the ocean and raw flesh.

Jensen picked up an oyster. "Eat, Alexia. It's rude to stare."

"I can't," Alexia said, her voice tight. "The doctor said-"

Jensen slammed his fork down. "God, you are impossible. Aubree is trying to be nice. Eat the damn oyster."

Aubree held one out to Alexia, a smirk playing on her lips. "Just one, Lexie. For peace?"

Alexia looked at the glistening oyster. She could feel a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead, the pain in her side a sharp, insistent pulse. She looked at Jensen. He was looking at her with pure contempt.

Something inside her snapped. It wasn't loud. It was quiet. It was the sound of a thread finally breaking.

Alexia stood up.

She reached into her bag. She pulled out the copy of the divorce agreement she had printed at a shop near the clinic.

She slapped it onto the table, right on top of the crushed ice and the oysters.

"I'm not hungry," she said. Her voice was steady.

Jensen stared at the papers soaking up the melting ice.

"Since you're both here," Alexia said, looking from him to her. "You can celebrate. Aubree, make sure he signs it. You're good at making him do things."

The restaurant went silent.

Jensen's face turned purple. "Sit down," he hissed.

Alexia turned around.

She walked out. She didn't look back. She didn't hold her side. She walked tall.