Another pause. “I couldn’t not come, Tina. We need to talk. It’s not what you think.”

“Really? So that woman isn’t carrying your child because you went behind my back and cheated on me? Because that’s what I think.”

“It wasn’t like that! I can’t do this from behind a closed door, Tina. Please…”

“I can’t deal with this now, Grant.” Part of her really wanted an explanation, but another part of her knew this wasn’t the time. It was too raw. She was near tears again already.

“When?”

“I don’t know. Tomorrow, after work. Come by then. Just leave now, Grant. I can’t do this.”

“Alright. I’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow night.” Tina clarified. “I have a busy day tomorrow. There’s a new shipment coming in to the store. Don’t come here in the morning, don’t drop by the store, just… wait until tomorrow night okay?”

“Okay. Goodnight.”

“Goodbye, Grant.”

Tina waited by the door, listening for his footsteps. It took a few moments but eventually he moved away from the door. The front door opened and closed, and Tina heard his car driving away.

She sagged against the door and slid down to the floor and sat there for a few minutes. Then she went from the bedroom, collected her purse from where he left it, and locked the doors before crawling under her sheets. She mushed up her pillow and tried to get comfortable. Facing up to things had never been her strong point. Maybe she had been wrong to put off talking to Grant until tomorrow, but she still needed more time to think. She sighed and tried to get back to sleep. She didn’t know what to do. Could she really just walk away from him? She couldn’t, could she? She loved him. She wanted to marry him. If Tina was honest, she still did… sort of. He had lied to her… cheated on her… but feelings didn’t just disappear overnight. Tina sighed. She didn’t know what she would say to Grant tomorrow, but she couldn’t figure it out right now. In the morning things would be clearer. Until then, she would sleep.