Chapter 5 - DANIEL CAME TO THE HOTEL ROOM WITHOUT CLAIRE
Daniel appeared at the room just after sunset.
Claire was gone.
Emma was asleep in the bedroom after crying herself tired.
I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me.
Daniel looked terrible.
Good.
“Maya.”
“No.”
“Can I explain?”
“You have explained enough to several people.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“I screwed up.”
“That phrase is too small.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I never meant for it to happen like that.”
I stared at him.
“How was it supposed to happen?”
Silence.
“Was I supposed to cry quietly?”
“No.”
“Was Claire supposed to take your hand?”
His face tightened.
“Maya.”
“You looked at another woman in front of our daughter and told me you married the wrong wife.”
“I lost my head.”
“You planned this vacation.”
“No.”
“You invited her.”
He said nothing.
“You booked this resort knowing she was coming.”
“I wanted to make a decision.”
I almost laughed.
“A decision?”
“I’ve been torn apart for months.”
“Then go to therapy.”
“I tried to tell you I wasn’t happy.”
“You told Claire I had left you.”
He went pale.
“She talked to you.”
“Yes.”
“She shouldn’t have—”
That sentence destroyed whatever remained of my patience.
“She shouldn’t have what? Compared your lies?”
“I didn’t lie about everything.”
“Congratulations.”
He stepped closer.
“I loved her before you.”
“I know.”
“I think part of me never stopped.”
“Then you should have told me that before creating a child with me.”
He looked toward the door.
“Emma.”
“No. Don’t use her now.”
“I’m her father.”
“Yes.”
“And you humiliated her mother in front of her.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I panicked.”
“No. You performed.”
He looked at me.
I continued.
“You thought Claire would take your hand. You thought I would walk away. Then you could tell yourself the universe finally corrected some mistake.”
His face told me I was close.
“You wanted a movie ending.”
“That’s not fair.”
“And when Claire pulled away, suddenly you needed to explain.”
He went silent.
That was the moment I stopped wondering whether he would choose her.
The question had become irrelevant.
I chose myself.
“Go somewhere else tonight.”
“This is my room too.”
“Then I’ll leave.”
“Maya.”
“Emma and I are leaving in the morning.”
“With you?”
I stared at him.
“Yes, Daniel. Our five-year-old is not staying at a resort with two adults sorting out an affair.”
May you like
He looked ashamed.
For once, I let him.
