6
The whole situation started with Cooper’s good intentions. He figured that since we’d been out shopping all day, Dad was probably working hard. So, he wanted to share his
“delicious treat” with him.
Zach’s office happened to be near the mall, and I couldn’t say no to Cooper’s sweet request. So, the two of us eagerly brought the meal to Zach’s office.
But in Zach’s eyes, this “delicious treat” was just “junk food.”
And so began the interrogation.
“Why would you buy junk food for Cooper?”
I was caught off guard, but I couldn’t just throw my son under the bus. So, I took the
blame.
“Sorry, it’s for me, not Cooper.”
“So, you know it’s bad for kids, but you think it’s okay for you to eat?”
Zach frowned, and the crease between his eyebrows was so deep, I felt like I could fit a
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playing card in there.
“Fried foods are high in fat, which burdens the digestive system and leads to fat accumulation, increasing the risk of obesity. Not to mention, the salt content is loaded with sodium. Too much sodium can trigger cardiovascular disease and damage the kidneys. There are also aluminum–based leavening agents in the batter, which, if consumed in excess, could lead to cognitive decline.”
Zach’s words came out in a rush, none of which I fully understood.
“So, what you’re saying is?”
“It’s harmful to your body.”
He sighed, clearly exasperated.
That’s when I realized–he was concerned about my health, in his own roundabout way.
How… subtle.
As I stood there, speechless, Cooper wasn’t happy. He ran up to Zach, his little fists pounding on his legs.
“It’s my idea! I wanted Mommy to buy it for me! Daddy is being mean–Daddy’s so bad!”
Zach chuckled, then bent down and scooped Cooper into his arms.
For the first time, I saw a genuine smile on his face, and his dimples became even more
pronounced.
He gently tapped Cooper’s forehead.
“A McDonald’s meal won you over, huh? You little foodie.”
Then he glanced at me and picked up the bag of McDonald’s from the table,
I thought he was going to throw it out.
“I’ll be off work in a bit. You two go wait for me in the break room, and we’ll head home
09:32 Sun, 29 Jun
<
together.”
He placed the food on the table in the break room and handed Cooper back to me.
Just before leaving, he turned and gave me a look.
“Don’t eat too much. And don’t make this a habit.”
Does that mean… he’s okay with it?
I let out a huge sigh of relief, smiling at him.
“Thanks, Zach.”
Zach’s eyes deepened at my words. He gave a quiet nod before turning away, avoiding
my gaze.
Cooper was happily devouring his food in the break room when suddenly, I heard a knock
on Zach’s office door.
Soon after, a familiar voice rang out from the hallway.
“Got a minute? I’ve been feeling a bit off lately. Can you check my pulse?”
Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw Blair Quinn, an old acquaintance.
Back in the day, Blair and Zach were practically considered the perfect couple–everyone thought they were a match made in heaven.
Blair wasn’t just beautiful, but she was also incredibly intelligent. Top–tier, really.
She had openly pursued Zach for a long time, but he never gave her the time of day.
Eventually, frustrated by his lack of interest, she started dating someone else to make him jealous.
But Zach never seemed to care.
Now they’re colleagues?
09:32 Sun, 29 Jun
*
Zach’s tone was cold as ice. “It’s probably from lack of sleep. Try to get more rest.”
“We doctors can’t control our schedules. It’s near the end of the year, the department is
swamped, and we’re all working double shifts.”
When Zach didn’t respond, Blair coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.
“By the way, I heard you and Jenny are getting divorced? What’s going on with that?”
There it was–the gossip.
Blair sounded concerned, but her tone had a slight edge, like she was secretly enjoying
the drama.
Give me a break.
Zach raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.
“Funny, I didn’t know you were so into gossip.”
“Well, you did surprise everyone with your sudden marriage. Nobody even knew about
Jenny.”
Blair’s hand clenched slightly in her lap, her knuckles turning white.
“Honestly, from an outsider’s perspective, you two never really seemed like a good
match. You’re so amazing, and, well, she’s… not. You know I’ve never stopped-”
Before Blair could finish, Zach cut her off sharply.
“Blair, this is a family matter. It doesn’t concern you.”
“And as for us, we’re colleagues, nothing more. I hope you understand that.”
Blair’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“Got it,” she muttered.
She left, and the office fell silent again.
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Meanwhile, Cooper was happily gnawing on his chicken drumsticks, his tiny hands gripping them tightly. His mouth was covered in grensa,
Seeing me stare at him, he held out one of the half–eaten drumsticks,
“Mommy, want some?”
His big eyes blinked at me, but I wasn’t in the mood,
“You eat it, sweetheart”
Blair’s words kept echoing in my head. Maybe she was right–maybe I really didn’t deserve Zach. He was already a successful doctor at such a young age.
And me? I didn’t even have a real job. Plus, considering those scandalous clothes in my
wardrobe…
A terrible thought crossed my mind. What if I had been a… dancer or something?
But I couldn’t dance to save my life!
I was confused, but I kept thinking.
If I really had been some kind of dancer, then Zach’s comment about “having dinner with another man” might not be entirely off base,
Zach was a traditional doctor, and if his wife had been a free–spirited, provocative dancer, no wonder the marriage didn’t work out. No wonder his family didn’t support it. No wonder we ended up here, talking about divorce,
What should I do now? Keep pretending I don’t know anything, of…?
“Jenny!”
Zach’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I realized he had already changed into his casual clothes, looking surprisingly approachable.
I glanced at the clock on the wall.
<
“Are you done with work?”
“It’s 5:15 p.m. to be precise, which means I’ve been off for fifteen minutes.”
Zach added, “And you’ve been zoning out for exactly that long.”
I blinked, my brain processing slowly. Wait, even a workaholic like him keeps track of time when it’s quitting time?
For a moment, I felt like maybe we weren’t so different after all.
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