Without waiting for Roderick or Francesca to respond, I walked away with Danny in my arms.
Once again, Roderick offered to have Curtis drive me. Yet, I refused without hesitation. “Mr. Campbell, I’ll stay out of your life and won’t be any trouble.”
I was simply echoing the warning he had given me earlier.
…
Back at my rented apartment, Danny seemed a little downcast as he asked, “Mommy, do you think that man and woman from earlier don’t like me?”
He was smart and sensitive, so he picked up on everything.
I ruffled his hair and said, “Of course not. They don’t dislike you.”
The only one Roderick and Francesca hated was me.
Danny leaned into me, his small body nestled close as he nuzzled his cheek against my face. “Mommy, I love you the most.”
A warmth stirred in my chest at his words. At least I still had his love.
“I love you, too,” I replied, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
…
After Danny fell asleep, I received a message from Francesca. She wrote, “Savannah, do you have time now? I’d like to talk.”
Not wanting to get too involved with her, I replied that it would be better for us to communicate through text. But not long after, my phone rang.
“Savannah, I’m downstairs. Can we talk?” asked Francesca.
“I just wanted to ask if you’re planning to leave again. Rick and I both think it’d be best if you built a good life abroad. Your husband is still overseas, isn’t he? Being apart like this isn’t ideal.”
Her words carried only one implication—she wanted me gone.
I couldn’t help but find it amusing. She and Roderick had been married for years, yet here she was, worried about whether I’d leave.
