The Last Stitch Between Us

"Shawn, what's that you're holding? What kind of junk did you bring home this time?"

"We've got guests, and there aren't enough rooms. Find somewhere else to stay for a few days."

My wife, Zoey, stared down at me coldly. Before I could answer, she tossed my suitcase into the hall.

The door slammed shut.

Clutching Leo's urn, I stood alone in the dark hallway. Laughter spilled from the apartment, and pain stabbed through my chest.

Just hours ago, after years of illness, Leo had finally passed away.

Zoey had said she was going overseas for work. Her phone had been off for days.

The doctor had warned us three times that Leo might not make it. Still, he held on through the pain, hoping to see his mom one last time.

I still couldn't reach her before he took his final breath.

But minutes ago, I'd opened our apartment door and found Zoey—who was supposed to be overseas—sitting right there.

With Peter's whole family.

They were gathered around the dinner table, eating and watching TV like one big happy family.

The second I walked in, the laughter died.

Their faces fell like I was the stranger crashing their night.

Rage hit me hard. I wanted to demand why Zoey had lied. I wanted to tell her Leo was dead.

But she'd just called what I was holding junk.

If she'd looked for even one second, she would've seen the urn.

Leo's name was engraved right on it.

I dragged myself out of the painful memories. Through the wall, I could still hear them talking.

Peter's mom said, "Zoey, thanks to you, Peter finally moved on from that awful marriage.

"You're so thoughtful. You even brought our whole family back from overseas and cooked for us.

"It's a shame things didn't work out between you two. His ex-wife was nothing like you. She wasn't successful or devoted to her family."

Zoey sighed. "Mrs. Cole, Peter and I just weren't meant to be. After we broke up, I thought he'd find someone better. Who knew he'd end up in such a terrible marriage?

"But don't worry. From now on, you and Mr. Cole are like my own parents. I'll take good care of you."

Zoey bent over backward to win Peter's parents over, sweet-talking them nonstop.

Nothing like the cold way she'd treated me minutes ago.

Zoey hadn't cared whether Leo lived or died. She'd thrown me out of our own home just to comfort Peter after his divorce and give his family a nice place to stay.

Everyone said Zoey was the perfect wife and mother. She supported our family, crushed it at work, and always sacrificed to give Leo and me a better life.