I opened the door before she could knock. James, she looked better than she had at our last meeting. Hairstyled, makeup applied, wearing clothes that fit properly instead of the griefstricken casualness of before. She looked like someone who'd started to move on. Thank you for letting me come by.
You still have keys. You don't need permission to enter your own house. I stepped aside to let her pass, though. I suppose it's not really yours anymore, is it? She flinched, but said nothing.
Just walked past me into the living room and set down her box. I'll try to be quick. I know this is hard for both of us. Is it hard for both of us? I gestured toward the dining room.
Come sit down first before you start packing. James, I really just want to get my things and sit down. Rachel. The steel in my voice made her obey. We walked to the dining room together.
This house we'd shared becoming a museum of our ending. She saw the envelope on the table, looked at it with obvious weariness. What's that? That's why I asked you to bring your birth control pills. Did you bring them?
She pulled a small pharmacy bag from her purse, set it on the table next to the envelope. I don't understand what this is about. I sat down across from her, the table between us, for what I knew would be the last time. How long have you been taking those pills, Rachel? What?
I don't. Why does that matter? Humor me. How long? She frowned, calculating.
5 years, maybe six. Since we decided to start trying for kids, and my doctor recommended I regulate my cycle first. And you've been taking them consistently. Of course, every day, same time. You know that you're the one who's been asking me about getting pregnant for the past year.
Her voice took on a defensive edge. Why are we talking about this? I reached across the table and took the pharmacy bag, pulled out the pill packet, examined it slowly, deliberately. These are from Dr. Morrison's office, right?
Your gynecologist? Yes, James. What? And she prescribed these to help regulate your cycle so we could conceive. Yes.