Everyone went quiet. Danny clapped. “Yay!”
“Now I can be your real son.”
Liam pulled out his phone, and then frowned.
“Why hasn’t she texted yet?”
Г
I never left Liam alone in the apartment for
long.
Liam always said he would be fine, he was a
grown man.
But I would text every ten minutes, asking if
he needed anything.
Danny ran through the room, and bumped
into me, holding his nose.
“You smell like that old lady.”
Liam sent a look my way, getting up to walk
towards me.
My heart raced. Serena pulled his hand,
pouting. “Liam, you’re not falling for Liv, are
YOU2“!
く
Liam squeezed her hand, “Never.”
“You’re the only one for me.”
Serena glared at me, and I rushed back to the
kitchen.
There was only one dish left, I just had to get
out of this house.
Everyone was piling food on Serena’s plate.
Liam’s father winked.
“Liam, when are you and Serena going to get
married?
You and Liv’s sham marriage must be nearly
up.”
く
୮
Serena blushed, covering her mouth.
“Dad, stop it!”
Danny piped up, “You should get married!
Then we can be a real family!”
Liam forced a smile, dodging the topic.
“Next year. No rush.”
He looked down, and everyone dropped it.
Serena glowered at me, and deliberately
spilled wine down my front.
Liam pulled out his phone, grabbing Danny.
“Danny, call your mom.
Tell her you’re home safe.”
I rushed out of the dining room, and as I did,
my phone rang.
Liam said “You, the server, turn around.”
Chapter Three
I fumbled for the mute button, paralyzed.
Liam’s footsteps grew louder, and Serena
pulled him back.
“Liam, it’s a family dinner. Don’t make a
scene.”
The Grants stared at me, and I wanted to
disappear.
Liam let me go, and I ran. “Go. You’re not her.
Г
She was proud.”
I left, pulling off the uniform, and clutching
the twenty dollars the chef shoved into my
hand.
Twenty dollars was a fortune to me, enough
for Liam’s pain meds.
He said his legs hurt every night, so I rubbed
them, kneading the muscles.
Five years, and my hands were calloused.
It was Liam who suggested it, who arranged
for my hands to be injured.
I got back to the apartment, and Liam’s
wheelchair sat in the corner.
The cartoon sheets were airing, waiting for
Danny.
I emptied the room, and ripped up every
photograph I had of Liam and Danny.
The phone flashed. It was Liam.
“Liv, I miss you.”
I laughed, remembering that I had been a fool.
Liam, I’m setting you free.
The sun rose, and the phone flashed. The
store I cleaned had been bombed.
Liam was on screen, trying to run into the
rubble.
<
“Let me go! My wife’s in there!”
Liam battered the firefighters, screaming.
“Liv! Come out!”
The reporters rushed to Liam, and everyone
thought he was wonderful.
I shut the phone off.
Liam enjoyed playing the loving husband. It
had nothing to do with me.
When I arrived in my new town, someone
tapped my arm. It was Clint.
Clint was a talented musician, who had
wanted me to give him lessons.
く
“Liv? What are you doing here?”
Clint was wearing a tailored suit, every inch
the gentleman.
“Clint, it’s been a while.”
“Do you still play?”
Clint smiled, then nodded. “I still chase the
dream.”
He looked sad, glancing at my hands.
“It’s a shame about the accident. You could
have been famous.”
Memories flashed. The wheels crushing my
fingers, the betrayal.
く
I would never forget.
